Buying firearms over the Internet. Your experience.

[Furncliff]

Not knowing any better, I have purchased from online auctions on two occasions. First for a Marlin 1894c . It took me a little while to realize what I had been sent was way better than what I expected to get, and I let the seller know I was pleased. The second time was for a Marlin 60. This was advertised as a charity auction, for a family that had two of four members shot to death during a home invasion. I have no way of knowing if it was a fact, I just took it on faith and I didn't mind paying too much for it. I'm satisfied with the rifle.

I would buy over the net again, but I've moved and FFL transfer fees here are steep ($40).

What has your online gun buying experience been?

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

100% positive so far. I have been lucky.

 

[RobNDenver]

I have had universally positive experiences buying online with Gunbroker. I cannot speak for Guns America or any other site because I have not used them, nor have I used classifieds for guns. Everything that I bought on the auction site was accurately described and shipped promptly. I use the same FFL all the time and since I am an NRA member and only use him he charges me $10 for the transfer. Sellers have always stuck to $25 shipping, except when I bought a 90% Model 1911 mfrg in 1918 and the seller added about $15 for additional insurance;

My purchases online in 2008:

Sig Sauer .556
Marlin 1893 30-30
Marlin 1889 .32 WCF
Winch 1897 12 Ga
Colt 1911 .45ACP
Winch Mod 70 LH 7MMRemMagnum
Randall Trout and Bird Knife
Blackhawk Automatic Tanto


On close inspection, when I broke down the Mod 1897 I needed to replace a broken screw on the breech block assembly. I could not see it until I field stripped the gun and neither could the seller. I figured that was just part of the deal of buying a used firearm. I would not have seen it if I was buying the piece in a gun shop.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Here, too!

Bo't a firearm thru Gunbroker; transaction went smoothly, FFL handled it for a reasonable fee, no problems @ all.

Would do it again if the situation arose.

It is in the seller's interest to "do right" by the customer if they ever want to sell on GB again--this would be true of any similar sales medium.

 

[TStorm]

I was very pleased with the experience. I've seen transfer fees from $15 to $35 locally. Some FFLs will charge more for handguns vs. long guns.

Gunbroker has a locator for FFLs and it shows transfer fees. You may be able to find something less than $40.

 

[Tribal]

I've been very happy with deals done with THR and TFL. I've been a little less happy with GunBroker deals, with several instances where I bought a gun that was in the condition described but which I wouldn't have bought if I'd seen it in person (if that makes sense).

 

[halfbreed808]

Love buying from the internet. Living here is pretty expensive, so any type of savings are welcome. I have a good FFL guy and have nothing but good things to say about the stuff I've received from the internet.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Very positive. I've bought:

A Colt New Service in .45
A Colt Detective Special
A Colt Woodsman (made in 1938)
A Colt Officers Model Target .22
A Ruger Blackhawk in .45
A Stevens Favorite (antique)
An M1922 Springfield
A Colt Service Ace .22 Conversion Kit

 

[Rmac58]

I've bought one on gunbroker, had a bit of trouble with the seller, but everything finally worked out.
I've bought from AIM, very good experience.
I tried to buy from Impact Guns, many trials, and tribulations. I would not consider dealing with them again.

 

[moe.ron]

I've had good luck with Buds

 

[Eyesac]

I've had 2 great experiences. Got a better price than anyone locally could give me, and I got to order exactly what I wanted!

 

[Sixtigers]

Nothing but positive experiences on gunbroker. Not to embarass myself, but to be honest: I once won a revolver that, through the loss of a job, I could not pay for. I received a negative feedback from the seller--rightly so--and could not buy firearms on Gunbroker again. I apologized to the seller, and paid for his auction fees. After 6 months, Gunbroker allowed me to buy on their site again, with the caveat that I keep a credit card on file.

Losing the ability to purchase firearms on Gunbroker actually was a bit of a hardship. I don't buy a whole lot of guns, but I do buy regularly, and I get better prices (even with shipping) on Gunbroker than I do here in southern California.

I point out my transgressions only to show what can happen during potential purchases. I would have purchased the revolver a month later, but the seller had already found another (reliable) buyer by then.

Well! I feel better.
(closes confessional door).

 

[jkingrph]

Only purchased one, an 1871 Swiss Vetterli, I saw pictures and it was in reality better than the picture and description. The bore is one of the cleanest, shiniest bores I have seen and this a 135 year old rifle.

 

[Rmart30]

Positive for me so far also......

 

[jgorniak]

Bud's and Davidson's Gallery of Guns have both delivered for me; no complaints.

 

[B. Adams]

I've bought 4 shotguns, 7 rifles, and 2 handguns from various sources online. Some were great deals, others were OK, but they were all in advertised condition.

I still have most of them, but a few I wasn't happy with in the long run, or got something better, so I traded for nicer guns from local shops. Because of the deals I got online, I was able to get decent value from what I was trading.

I've sold one handgun online, on Gunbroker, and that was a positive experience as well.

There are several FFL's in my area who will do transfers for $10, so I guess I'm fortunate.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Good so far.

 

[cerberus65]

I've used GunsAmerica once and it worked out well. I would do it again.

 

[skyflyer]

i have purchased two hand guns on line.

a s/w mp9c from buds, very smooth transaction.
a s/w 629 from a private party on sw forum also very smooth deal.

my ffl does transfers at his liquor store,
i know it sounds strange but it work very well

 

[orvpark]

With new guns, I buy locally. By the time you pay shipping and a transfer fee you might as well find a dealer that will negotiate and have someone to complain too. Also I tend to but most everything from the same dealer so they know my name/face and will usually make me a deal.

With used stuff, I have had good luck buying from individuals on THR, I always get a name, address, phone number, and double check them in the white pages so I know I can track them down. I have bought two here, and am in the process of trading another. I have bought a LOT of accesories. All were fair deals, some were steals.

 

[JustinL]

I have bought from CDNN and Bud's and have been happy with both purchases.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've had some good and some bad experiences. I trust gunbroker over the other sites as it seems to have less outright fraud. I limit my purchases to firearms I'm familiar with and can trust. A ruger handgun or Mosin Nagant rifle for example. But for something like a Colt revolver, I really need to do a hands-on inspection to make sure it hasn't been abused or gone out of time.

 

[herohog]

I bought a rare gun (AMT AutoMag III in 9mm WinMag 9x29) from a guy I contacted on a forum like this one. The gun looked great on the outside but the springs and interior were rusted. It is a stainless steel gun so only the springs were affected. The sear etc. were fine. Don't ask me why only the springs rusted! It looked like it got wet and wasn't properly cleaned and dried afterwords. I contacted the seller and he offered to take it back or pay for repairs. I got a spring kit pretty cheap an replaced them all and all was good. Because he offered to make it right an it didn't cost much for me to fix and as the gun was as rare as it was, I didn't even make him pay for the spring kit as my way of saying thanks for being a stand-up guy.

Call it +1 for a good experience.

 

[Vaarok]

Every purchase, out of probably three hundred firearm-related, of which half were firearms, I've been satisfied with. Twice I've bought rifles I was slightly disappointed with compared to what I'd hoped I'd be getting, but it was my own fault for not reading the descriptions thoroughly. Even the nightmare Cue thread down in the trader feedback section turned out okay, just got the necessary paperwork to rescue my gun, and while late, it is what it is supposed to be.

 

[Prepster]

I've bought and sold guns on the internet, and gunbroker.com is the place for me. I've sold a handgun and a rifle, and I got a great deal on a Hi-Point that looked like it had been dragged behind a truck, but still functioned perfectly. I like to buy used at a considerable "fix-er-upper" discount and deal with the minor nuisances. Gun Broker is great for that sort of thing.