Greetings to all! I'm new to the forum and joined as i recently discovered gun collecting. A bit of history to put this into perspective:
For years, i was happy to plink away with my .22 WMR killing water bottles and soda cans with great joy. I recently wanted something different, so a couple months ago i responded to an ad for a $75 rifle at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I wound up buying a Mosin Nagant 91/30 (it comes with a bayonet!), and found ammo locally at 300 rounds for $30. Definitely my price range (7.62 is cheaper than my .22!). What a cool gun!
Well, i new almost nothing about rifles, but fell in love with the old Mosin and soon learned that there was a whole world of military firearms waiting to be explored.
Moving right along, i just got my firearms C&R license (sending out my letters and copies tomorrow) and I’m ready to hit the market. So now I have questions about buying over the Internet and hope someone can give me some advice borne from experience.
I already know one has to do some good research and know what you’re looking for and what the market prices should be. But…
1. How do you find out if a supplier has a good reputation? Is there a way to check on this? Would it be appropriate to ask in this forum? What part of the forum would I ask this?
2. What’s this about $10-$20 for “hand picked?” Many suppliers offer this. If some guy reaches into a crate of Mausers and pulls one out, well, it’s hand picked. If there’s only one left, it’s also hand picked. Does anyone have experience with this “feature?” Is it worth it?
3. I’m looking for shooters, not collector items. Do suppliers have any responsibility to sell arms that are safe to shoot (assuming, of course, that you use them properly)?
I’ll certainly have more questions later, but it’s a start. Thanks for any advice you can give.
For years, i was happy to plink away with my .22 WMR killing water bottles and soda cans with great joy. I recently wanted something different, so a couple months ago i responded to an ad for a $75 rifle at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I wound up buying a Mosin Nagant 91/30 (it comes with a bayonet!), and found ammo locally at 300 rounds for $30. Definitely my price range (7.62 is cheaper than my .22!). What a cool gun!
Well, i new almost nothing about rifles, but fell in love with the old Mosin and soon learned that there was a whole world of military firearms waiting to be explored.
Moving right along, i just got my firearms C&R license (sending out my letters and copies tomorrow) and I’m ready to hit the market. So now I have questions about buying over the Internet and hope someone can give me some advice borne from experience.
I already know one has to do some good research and know what you’re looking for and what the market prices should be. But…
1. How do you find out if a supplier has a good reputation? Is there a way to check on this? Would it be appropriate to ask in this forum? What part of the forum would I ask this?
2. What’s this about $10-$20 for “hand picked?” Many suppliers offer this. If some guy reaches into a crate of Mausers and pulls one out, well, it’s hand picked. If there’s only one left, it’s also hand picked. Does anyone have experience with this “feature?” Is it worth it?
3. I’m looking for shooters, not collector items. Do suppliers have any responsibility to sell arms that are safe to shoot (assuming, of course, that you use them properly)?
I’ll certainly have more questions later, but it’s a start. Thanks for any advice you can give.
