Round Count and Gun Sales

if they don't have a actual number of rounds shot they probably have no idea the real amount fired.

I’ve seen plenty of ads in which people state that they’ve fire multiple thousands of rounds through their gun, at least for pistols. Are you suggesting that people are dishonest when stating their round counts?

You can generally validate whether a stated round count is accurate based on wear. For instance, pistols will exhibit greater wear on the top of the barrel near the chamber and towards the muzzle, at least with guns based on the Browning design. You’ll also see wear on magazines although that is not a hard and fast rule since magazines can be replaced by a seller with minimal expense or a seller may have been using some previously used mags in a new gun.

I suspect a lot of people will buy a gun, run a few magazines through it and then the novelty wears off and they look for other guns. Right now and in the near future, I believer there will be a lot of low round count guns for sale, especially since people bought guns just to have or bought them with little ammo available.

My two most recent purchases were used guns. The one seller claimed he fire two magazines through the gun and the other stated he fired under 100 rounds through the gun. Upon inspecting the pistols, I am certain that both gentlemen were completely honest.

Also, the difference between 100 rounds and 5000 rounds is normally negligible in most pistol functionally. Cosmetically, you’ll see some more wear.

When I buy a gun second hand, I ask the seller upfront whether there are any issues with the gun whether they be functional or cosmetic. I’ve found most sellers are honest as I’ve probably bought 80 guns used and have not received a single one that was not as advertised. Your experiences may vary.

If I like a gun it will have a lot of rounds through it, but it won't be for sale. It is the ones that I buy that don't meet my expectations that I either sell or trade and it doesn't take me a lot of rounds to figure that out. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the gun. Just because it doesn't work for me, or doesn't meet my accuracy expectations doesn't mean it won't be ideal for someone else.

Ditto above. "Low round count" means either the seller didn't like the gun, didn't work out for him/her, but you never know why. A gun that's been used but well taken care of may be a safer bet, especially if you're not paying a premium for a gun they're trying to sell like it's "almost new". Don't give that description too much extra value. It doesn't mean all that much.

bsparker said:

A buddy and I were talking, as he's in the market for a new gun, that every used gun sale states "low round count" or "less than 100 rounds through it". For once I want someone to say, I carried this and have at least a thousand rounds through it. Same for pre-pandemic used market.

I'll state up front, my carry pistol I've fired at least a thousand through it 2 years to get comfortable and accurate with it. Just picked up a .357, and even with ammo shortage, I've put 200rds down range. And so on.

Are there that many people with low round counts selling or is it the new way of say condition is 90%? How much stock to put in "low round count" claims?

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I know alot of people that own alot of guns that never, ever shoot. My uncle comes to mind. He has some really, really nice rifles that don't get shot. I've had alot of friends over the years who never hung onto their stuff long, some always had new stuff, they just never had it long. It wouldn't surprise me if there are alot of used guns that get sold with very low round counts.

Some people have no frame of reference. They might think the 5 or 6 200rd bulk packs they put through their glock would be devalued by the "really high round count".

I sold a P365 on THR that had between 120-160 rds through it.
Hated the gun, no point in dumping more ammo and time into it so away it went.

Sorta like saying, "previous owner only drove it to church on Sundays".

bsparker said:

Are there that many people with low round counts selling or is it the new way of say condition is 90%? How much stock to put in "low round count" claims?

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People who put a lot of rounds through their guns, usually have a buyer lined up without ever having to advertise publicly.

The vast majority of guns never see a thousand rounds fired by their first owner.

General Geoff said:

People who put a lot of rounds through their guns, usually have a buyer lined up without ever having to advertise publicly.

The vast majority of guns never see a thousand rounds fired by their first owner.

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Agreed

I have just over 1,000 rounds through my Marlin by Remington .45-70 SBL. It looks like new and shoots like new and is like new. I consider it just getting broken in good. But I take care of it, clean and lube it properly. Not sure how many rounds it would take to truly wear it out. I am not sure I have ever actually worn out a gun. I can see burning out a barrel on a bench rifle or prairie dog rifle. I think the appearance and the care a weapon received is more important than round counting. I guess with an expensive target rifle and barrel it might be a concern but a pistol or revolver not as much.

The guy who sold me my first 9x19mm gun, a decent CZ P-01, told me that he might have fired about 10,000 rounds through it, but naturally the price was far below a new gun price.

Ben is an instructor who grew up here and moved to Israel, served in the IDF and then a security job.
That, combined with telling me about "easily 10,000 rds.in it"....a little bit of subtle irony here, if you see what I mean?

My Maadi A.R.M. has about 3,000 rds. in it and a buyer would hear about it, and might be glad that the gun is such a solid product. And...O.M.G- steel-cased ammo !

Trust but verify as the Gipper used to say. Take their word for it unless there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. If they lie about round count what else will they lie about?
I always ask if there are any failures to feed. Fire or eject...together with round count and apparent wear can tell you pretty much all you need to know at time of purchase

a thousand rounds and more doesn't mean that the gun isn't in great condition.

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That depends on the gun. Most of the above discussion seems to be directed toward handguns and 1000 rounds through most handguns isn't a big deal. But the life expectancy of rifle barrels can vary considerably. Depending on the cartridge accuracy will start to degrade after 1000-5000 rounds.

troy fairweather said:

if they don't have a actual number of rounds shot they probably have no idea the real amount fired.

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Exactly.

Amply illustrated when my wife and I were leaving the gun range where she shot her PPK/S for the first time:

HER: It didn't take long to shoot a hundred rounds.

ME: It never does.

Unless you are actually faithfully tabulating every box of ammunition you shoot, you honestly aren't going to have any idea how much you've put through a gun.

The only exception to this would be people who either haven't shot the gun, or have shot it very little before putting it away and not touching it again.

All of my handguns have thousands of rounds through them, exception being the one I just bought last month . The latest was used so I have no idea, but I know it has a couple hundred through it for sure. I shoot pistols often in the winter so mine see use across the board. For me I don't keep track of round count on rifles. I know I have some that only get fired 5-10 rounds per year. Some get more, and some sadly not at all.

-Jeff

I have more guns than I have time to shoot, so some have very low round counts. I have a small notebook with each of my guns. It has information about where and when I bought it, how much I paid for it, details on S/N Barrel Length, Caliber / Gauge etc. If I bought it new it shows the starting round count as the number of proof rounds assumed where fired through it. If bought used, it starts out with either the number of claimed rounds or an estimate based on wear. From that point on, every round I put through any of the guns I own get posted in that notebook along with the date and any other information I think is pertinent for that particular shooting. I.E. - Load, bullet weight etc..

Bob

P.S. - Yes I am anal retentive!

When you have a lot of firearms, there are favorites that get a lot of shooting time and others that just don't. With a busy schedule, its hard to get out to do a lot of shooting. Twice a month at the most. So yes I have a certain number of firearms that I purchased new with low round counts.

pretty common for people to put one box through it and put it away. I looked recently at a record for a SAA clone I have had for 16 years, 133 rounds in 16 years. In contrast, I put 3000 rounds through my 9mm 1911 in a year.
In many cases they're selling it because they don't shoot it. I think the average new gun bought by people I know will see less than 300 rounds entirely.

Sniper66 said:

Sorta like saying, "previous owner only drove it to church on Sundays".

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I would use almost that exact line when selling used guns, while working at a gun shop 20 years ago.
Guns don't come with round counters.

They will however, outlast you and your grandchildren if taken care of.

I don't know, I have several guns in the safe that I have never fired. Bought them and put them away. Lost interest or they were bought as a back up to one I do shoot. So a low round count could be right or not. Depends on who your dealing with I guess. If I were to sell something I would just be as honest as I could.

WB