Buying a used gun for the first time? . . . Help

Status
Not open for further replies.
twofewscrews

twofewscrews

Member
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
310
Location
Rochester, NY
Hi,

My local FFL has a used Ruger PC Carbine (9mm) that I would love to snatch up from him at 600$(plus 35 for transfer fee). It comes with one Ruger mag and one Glock mag. I can order the same gun new from gunbroker for around 735$ after taxes, shipping, and transfer fee. Buying it used would save me 100$ plus the Glock mag, but I've never purchased a used firearm before (not because I'm some kind of snob but to date all the firearms I've purchased have been cheap enough finding it used wasn't worth the headache and/or was available new).

What are the pros and cons of buying a firearm used instead of new?
If I fail to notice some kind of defect (excluding aesthetically) in the product before I purchase it, what is my recourse?
If the firearm explodes in my hands through no fault of my own, what is my recourse?
Is the warranty attached to the firearm or the owner? I know Ruger doesn't actually issue a warranty with their firearms unlike Mossberg (who's customer service/warranty people I've dealt with) or Savage (who's customer service/warranty people I haven't dealt with).
As a second owner am I covered by Ruger's warranty or no?
Besides a function check (bolt holds back when it should, safety works, trigger resets properly, etc.) prior to purchase is there anything I should be on the lookout for?
I know some of these questions are dumb but I'd rather ask some dumb questions then find out later I should have asked some dumb questions.

Thanks for you help in advance,
Scews
 
beag_nut said:
Well, if one buys a Ruger of any kind, there is little chance that Ruger would not honor their lifetime warranty.
On the other hand, I will never pay money for any used firearm, because of "bubba". Someone leaves/donates to me a gun, OK, but I have seen first-hand the results of someone else working on a gun.
Click to expand...

"bubba" is who I fear. I assume my FFL wouldn't knowingly sell a firearm that had some serious defect or something but there is no anticipating "bubba"
 
My experience has been that if a gun has been tampered with, there are usually visible indications. Wrong size screwdriver leaving marks on screw heads or surrounding material is easy enough to spot. Scratches that don't jive with normal use, misaligned parts, etc.

I've probably only owned 20 new guns in my life and possibly as many as 1000 used ones over the years. Had one dud, and the shop it came from made it right. Used guns that aren't beat to death or show obvious signs of neglect/ disrepair don't scare me at all. Besides, the stuff I like has typically been out of production at least 50 years, so I can't afford NIB.
 
I've bought a number of used guns, but only from manufacturer's who's warranties follow the gun. Ruger is one of those manufacturers, and their customer service is excellent. If you trust your FFL and they tell you the gun hasn't been modified, I'd go ahead with it. If they're unable to determine this or it's a FFL you're not familiar with there's more risk as Ruger, or any manufacturer may not warranty a gun that's been modified.
 
I would add in that as far as I know, Ruger does not offer an explicit written lifetime warranty.

However their customer service is second to none and will likely take care of you if any problem arises.

Buying a used firearm is fine as long as it appears it's on good condition. Most people don't shoot enough to cause modern guns to wear out.

I had a buddy who only bought used, claiming it also saved money on ammo to break it in. That's if you believe in breaking in any specific firearm.

Guns are simple machines. New or used, you can have problems.

I wouldn't over think it.
 
Have them take it apart in front of you, that way you can inspect it for any unusual wear.

If you're happy with the way everything looks, buy it. Maybe haggle the price a little and see how that goes.

There's always a few options to buying used guns. The most important is that both parties are happy with the outcome. ;)
 
In my many years I have bought new and I have bought used.
Sometimes, Having bought new. I've had to deal with warranties and sending back for repairs. Not fun and not happy.
Sometimes, Having bought used. I've been disappointed. Unseen problems/repairs. And, At my expense.
But, You know what? If I'm going to have problems with a gun. I would much prefer it to be with a used gun. That way I can research the gun, The problem and the fix. Sometimes I even go out and look for guns that don't work. Just so I can fix them.
I guess thats the difference between a gun owner and a gun Nut. Fun.
 
Last edited:
JeeperCreeper said:
Buying a used firearm is fine as long as it appears it's on good condition. Most people don't shoot enough to cause modern guns to wear out
Click to expand...
I used to work at the LGS. Probably 1/3rd or more guns that were traded in had been fired very little or not at all.

One thing that does bother me is that somehow the dealer is supposed to know that a used gun is defective or malfunctions. Do you think every gun is taken to a range and has a bunch of ammo run through it? And, if there’s a problem, do you really think most customers are going to fess up that it’s a problem child? Or do you think they’re just going to try to get top dollar for a gun they know is defective?

From time to time you’ll see a “what’s the worst gun you’ve every bought” thread pop up. Virtually every time there will be scores of “it was a piece of garbage so I traded/sold it”. Well, somebody ended up with your problem
 
redneck2 said:
Do you think every gun is taken to a range and has a bunch of ammo run through it
Click to expand...
In all my years of gun shop treasure hunts, I've only encountered 2 that test fired used guns. Both claimed to test fire before taking them on trade or on consignment. One is a large shop with attached indoor range, the other a building behind the owner's house out in the sticks.

Strip-mall gun shops and those located in residential areas can't possibly test every gun they get. But if people are afraid of used guns, sweet. More for the rest of us.
 
Never bought new from storefront. Only bought FTF. Most gently used, some new only factory fired.

It is a leap of faith, but get familiar with the instrument (online, in person rent one at a range etc) before you purchase. Educate yourself. Ask to try it at the range, or watch the seller cycle a magazine at the range. Etc. Lotsof possible scenarios to get a warm fuzzy.
 
Rugers customer service is 2nd to none. I purchased a used 4 year old Ruger SR22. I broke the slide lock, sent it back to Ruger and requested that they go over the entire firearm and if anything was worn to replace it on my dime. 11 days later Ruger sent me a new SR22, charge to me $0. They also paid shipping both ways.
 
twofewscrews said:
Hi,

My local FFL has a used Ruger PC Carbine (9mm) that I would love to snatch up from him at 600$(plus 35 for transfer fee). It comes with one Ruger mag and one Glock mag. I can order the same gun new from gunbroker for around 735$ after taxes, shipping, and transfer fee. Buying it used would save me 100$ plus the Glock mag, but I've never purchased a used firearm before (not because I'm some kind of snob but to date all the firearms I've purchased have been cheap enough finding it used wasn't worth the headache and/or was available new).

What are the pros and cons of buying a firearm used instead of new?
If I fail to notice some kind of defect (excluding aesthetically) in the product before I purchase it, what is my recourse?
If the firearm explodes in my hands through no fault of my own, what is my recourse?
Is the warranty attached to the firearm or the owner? I know Ruger doesn't actually issue a warranty with their firearms unlike Mossberg (who's customer service/warranty people I've dealt with) or Savage (who's customer service/warranty people I haven't dealt with).
As a second owner am I covered by Ruger's warranty or no?
Besides a function check (bolt holds back when it should, safety works, trigger resets properly, etc.) prior to purchase is there anything I should be on the lookout for?
I know some of these questions are dumb but I'd rather ask some dumb questions then find out later I should have asked some dumb questions.

Thanks for you help in advance,
Scews
Click to expand...
I haven't bought a new gun (freshly manufactured, current year model) in ten years; every gun I've bought since then (and that's more than a dozen) have been older guns, several with multiple owners before me. You should be familiar with the gun before you buy it, meaning what a new one is like and how to strip it and test it for function, so you'll know if anything is not right about the one you're buying. If you do your homework properly, you'll get a nice gun that works well and won't need a warranty.

Go over the gun carefully, noting any marks on the outer fasteners that can tell you if it's been disassembled beyond the standard field strip for cleaning. look for scratches and blemishes that might tell you how it has been treated by the former owner(s). If you can, test fire it. Field strip it or have the seller do it, so you can inspect the mechanism. Shine a light down the bore from the breech end and look at the rifling; note whether the gun is clean or not.

Beyond that, you're sort of on your own. However, a firearm's overall condition is usually going to be pretty obvious, and most reputable manufacturers will continue to honor the original warranty if any issues can be traced to the manufacture of the firearm. You probably wouldn't buy the gun if it has been obviously mistreated or abused, with problems caused by that abuse. Manufacturers want to keep their reputations clean and will take care of second owners under warranty, at least in my little experience with a firearm that has problems.
 
I have bought mostly used guns through the years and a few new ones. I think in your case unless you are sure the used gun is sound you should just order the new one. Dealers do not test guns and they pass them through. It is up to you to decide if the used gun is sound.
 
I have heard of little being done to the Ruger that would make a second hand purchase doubtful.
I think it is a safe enough way to save $100, but don't buy something you are scared of.
A Glock magazine + a Ruger magazine = One magazine. The gun can be set up for either but not both at once.

An AR type PCC is a different matter, there are so many ways to get those Legos wrong.

Three of my last four gun purchases were second hand. Two were little used "My wife and daughter did not like them." Even with the better sights he had put on for them.
The other showed a bit of use, but only required a trigger adjustment to the same pull as my existing guns.
 
Hi...
I buy a lot of used firearms and have never had a serious problem with any used firearm. I have had a couple small issues that were quick and inexpensive fixes that I recognized when I was inspecting the gun before I purchased it.
I buy a lot of used guns because they aren't making any more Ruger three screws, Dan Wesson Monson or Virginian Dragoon revolvers. I generally buy only new SA clones from Uberti, Pietta but have bought a used 1875 Remington and a Schofield used because they were good deals and were shot very little by the previous owners.

I had a serious problem with one firearm that required being sent back to the manufacturer but that was a new Marlin lever action .44Mag I bought a couple of years ago that required a barrel replacement. The rifle was back in about two weeks and has been trouble free and quite accurate ever since the barrel replacement.
 
beag_nut said:
Well, if one buys a Ruger of any kind, there is little chance that Ruger would not honor their lifetime warranty.
On the other hand, I will never pay money for any used firearm, because of "bubba". Someone leaves/donates to me a gun, OK, but I have seen first-hand the results of someone else working on a gun.
Click to expand...

Ruger does not have a written warranty. Google it to find out the reason. However they will stand behind their firearms as plenty will attest to. I have never needed any help except with a couple of small parts which they sent right out and wouldn't accept payment for.

I have purchased numerous used guns over the years and never got a real lemon. Some didn't give the accuracy I wanted and went away but it was only that the gun wasn't capable in the first place, not that "bubba" had messed it up. Maybe I have just been lucky.
 
Last edited:
I've lost count, but I've owned in excess of 200, maybe 300 firearms in my lifetime. Not more than roughly 50 at any given time. Let's just say I've done my share of buying/selling/trading in my lifetime. The vast majority, probably 75-80% were bought used. I've had just as many issues with new guns as used. Most of my current go-to guns were bought used.

The primary reason I prefer to buy used is that if for some reason I don't like the gun after buying it I can turn around and sell it for very close to what I paid. Often more than I paid if I keep it a few years. If I buy a new one and don't like it, I'm going to be able to sell it for about what I could have paid for the same gun if I'd bought it used.

That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the guns I sell. Sometimes it works just as designed, I just find I didn't like it as well as I thought.

You can buy a used Ruger with a lot of confidence. If anything is wrong with it return it to Ruger. In my experience they will return the gun to factory new at no cost to you even if a previous owner did bubba it.
 
In buying quite a few used guns over the years I can only remember five that were what I would call seriously dysfunctional. One of those just needed a good cleaning and another was a Mini 14 which I later discovered were all that inaccurate. The others were an AMT Hardballer that wouldn’t feed, a Remington 742 that would leave the case stuck in the chamber, and a High Standard revolver that shot patterns instead of groups. Based on my track record I think you’ve got a prettty good chance of making a good deal.

If you lived nearby I would offer to sell you my PCC for $500. As a lefty it only took one case head failure in a 9mm blowback carbine (an AR) to seriously reduce my enthusiasm for that whole category of guns.
 
Am I missing something? Why would your "local" FFL charge a transfer fee. It's always been my understanding that a transfer fee is applied when having a firearm shipped in from elsewhere. I don't think I've ever paid a transfer fee for an off the rack item, always been the advertised price + tax. No transfer Fee
 
DustyGmt said:
Am I missing something? Why would your "local" FFL charge a transfer fee. It's always been my understanding that a transfer fee is applied when having a firearm shipped in from elsewhere. I don't think I've ever paid a transfer fee for an off the rack item, always been the advertised price + tax. No transfer Fee
Click to expand...

Transfer fee in this case would be covering the NICS check.
 
You don't want to get burned, and that applies to us, too.

Does a complete warranty, or return policy matter to you? I have ordered new and used, sight unseen on the web, in the past. I've ordered five through Internet sellers, and sold some that way, too.

Stores where I shop don't charge for the transfer of a rifle or pistol that is in inventory, under their roof. It was price w/sales tax and no transfer fee.
 
In around 40 years of buying firearms, I'm on the cusp of 30/70 to 40/60 New/Used.
In all the transactions I've made, I've only had to recourse to Customer Service only the once, and that was a NIB Taurus 945.
But, Your Mileage May Vary.
I've had some less-than great firearms, and I probably paid more than mete for them--or paid for my honesty in selling them off.

But, I've also had very good luck with firearms. Nothing broken that I could not fix.

Modern firearms are based in very mature technology and engineering--they tend to be very binary, they either work out of the box or they don't.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
No written warranty on new RemArms guns? I guess not.
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
herrwalther
H
D
  • Locked
Springfield Warranty - transferable?
Replies
7
Views
2K
DeepSouth
DeepSouth
S
  • Locked
S & W rebate scam
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
Nozoki
N
U
  • Locked
Things you didn't know about gun manufacturers
Replies
19
Views
1K
Robert
Robert
T
  • Locked
Tips on buying first gun
Replies
11
Views
791
Standing Wolf
S
Back
Top