Anyone do business with Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore?

[chaim]

They have what appear to be good deals on used/police trade-in SIG 220 DAK. However, I'm noticing that the on site reviews for those in "fair" condition tend to be very happy and most seem to think the condition is much greater than listed, while many of those with guns listed in "good" condition are equally unhappy feeling the gun is rougher than listed. I'm wondering if it is best to ignore the stated condition because when they have a batch of guns they don't pay close attention when grading them (so you may get a better than "fair" condition gun if it is listed as "fair" but you may get one in less than listed condition if it is rated as "good). However, there are two other possibilities. Maybe some of the fair guns were in better than fair cosmetic condition but with other, less visible defects (maybe the crown is chipped, or the rifling isn't so sharp anymore, or there could be corrosion issues). While the guns marked "good" may be on the lower end of "good" cosmetically, but be in terrific condition otherwise. Finally, people may simply have too high expectations as to what constitutes a used gun in good condition.

So, before I buy, has anyone bought from them before? Both seem to be good deals, but if (like the reviews on their site suggest) the "fair" guns are in better than "fair" condition, I may as well save $40 and go with "fair."

 

[Hugger-4641]

Never bought a used gun from them. I have bought a couple new ones from them with no issues.

 

[Zahn]

Never bought a used gun either, but I have bought two new rifles from them over the years.

I have noticed the "fair" vs. the "good" feedback, too. I imagined it was because those that bought "fair" had low expectations, and those that bought "good" were expecting nicer guns. And for the same reasons I hesitated, pondering the differences and missed out on them entirely.

I decided that I would buy the best rated ones if/when they get the model I'm looking for again. Edit: SIG P220R in DA/SA. Still kicking myself.

 

[Insignificant bill]

I have also purchased from them with no problems

 

[vkeith]

SOSS is GTG.

I've bought several things from them including a folding stock Remington 870 ONG shotgun.

They tend to sale large lots quickly so grading may not be their forte.

Personally, I would take a chance and spend the extra $40 if condition was important to me.

 

[hemiram]

I bought a P226 DAO PD trade in from them a few years ago. It was fine, really dirty inside. I would have to say I agreed with the "good" condition, the right side of the grip and frame was a little chewed up from it banging around while in the holster. I ended up converting it over to DA/SA with Ebay parts for about $50-60. I put on some new grips and the new hardware was nickeled too. The gun had pretty much no real wear from shooting it, it was all from being carried.

 

[1KPerDay]

I’ve bought guns from them. GTG

 

[Ks5shooter]

New only....no issues.

 

[chaim]

I think if I go this way, I'll go with "good" condition. If they are going with NRA ratings, "fair" is a significant downgrade in function (not cosmetically necessarily, but with far more parts wear). The extra $40 is worth knowing it is in good working condition.

I'm close to a decision, but I'm between this and a few other options still on the list. One is to spend about double for a new P220 from Buds ($880 cash, $909 credit) or to pay $1000-1200 for a new one at a LGS. Both the new ones at Buds or the LGS will have working night sites, the police trade-ins may or may not, though a set of XS Big Dots are just a hair over $100. Going new will also allow me to get a DA/SA gun and that would be my preference, though I've never tried the SIG DAK trigger and I hear it is pretty decent (I have two DAO SIGs, the P250 Compact this would replace, and a P290RS that I replaced with a P365). The other option is a different gun. I'm also considering the S&W M&P 45 (both full sized and compact) and the HK 45 (both full sized and compact, both standard DA/SA and LEM). I love SIGs and this will replace another SIG as my home defense gun (a .45ACP SIG P250 Compact). However, I also love S&W and have a 1st gen M&P40c so that is in the M&P's favor, and I have never had an HK and maybe I "should" which could tilt it that way. The M&P has the advantage of only being $100-150 more than the used SIG for a new gun. But, the SIG is a SIG (and I love SIG almost as much as I love CZs, 1911s, or S&W revolvers).

I'm close to a decision, having had both the Buds new P220R and the Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore "good" condition used P220 in my basket just waiting for me to finalize at different times last night and today. I'm (obviously considering the prior sentence) leaning strongly towards the P220. Though, the M&P is a strong 2nd place to them, and I do find myself wondering if I should give HK a try. Just so long as I don't wait too long to decide and the SOSS P220 isn't available anymore (unless I decide to go with something anyway).

 

[Handshaker]

I have bought new guns from them. I have always steered away from LE trade-ins, it seems to me the LE trade-ins have had the shyte shot out of them with many thousands of rounds. For a little more you could get a new unfired one. I also would never buy a used gun unseen unless there's a huge barrage of pics of all the major parts are given, included the bore to make sure its not damaged.

 

[Styx]

Purchased 4 NIB guns from them over the years. No problem.

 

[hemiram]

I have bought new guns from them. I have always steered away from LE trade-ins, it seems to me the LE trade-ins have had the shyte shot out of them with many thousands of rounds. For a little more you could get a new unfired one. I also would never buy a used gun unseen unless there's a huge barrage of pics of all the major parts are given, included the bore to make sure its not damaged.

None, not one of the dozen or so LE trade in guns I've ever owned had any real wear from shooting. The worst looking one was a 4586 from Bud's that had one side that appeared to have slid on concrete, it was pretty messed up, but the gun itself was in decent shape. I really disliked the DAO function, so off it went to a new owner. The rest of them range from what I would call good, some finish wear, to excellent. My Beretta 84 looks hardly used, and my S&W 5906, which is a Puerto Rico Territory Police gun, looks like someone put 2 mags through it and put it back in the box. I found the officer it was issued to and he said it was his "dress" gun, used for ceremonies, his other 5906 was carried and he bought it when they switched to whatever new guns they went to.