Round Count and Gun Sales

[Steve S.]

So you can get fool by the looks or the looks may reflect actual use, you can get fooled by the seller or the seller may be honest, you can be fooled by yourself or you may conclude accurately, sometimes getting fooled will not matter and sometimes getting fooled will matter. Again the average net result of a longer string, the opposing opinions neutralize each other and you end up back at square one.

 

[bsparker]

So you can get fool by the looks or the looks may reflect actual use, you can get fooled by the seller or the seller may be honest, you can be fooled by yourself or you may conclude accurately, sometimes getting fooled will not matter and sometimes getting fooled will matter. Again the average net result of a longer string, the opposing opinions neutralize each other and you end up back at square one.

You are correct in several regards, not sure all is lost or neutralized. Some interesting thoughts on the thread, some helped balance my perspective and shed light on some areas I often disregard/overlook. Yes, nothing scientific or “official”. But I enjoy the banter and community (even a community of strangers with shared interest) makes The process more fun.

 

[DoubleMag]

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

pretty common for people to put one box through it and put it away.

My experience there are a lot of guns that have seen less than 250 rounds both rifle and pistol out there on the used market.

Right here folks

The worst abuser gun ppl THINK exist are ARs. In reality, ppl do NOT do mag dumps and quick reloads, get the barrel hot enough to cook bacon. Followed by a pistol,but even then based on what I've seen, ppl don't throw more then a few 100 rds downrange, call it good, clean it & stash it.

 

[DoubleMag]

NuShootr says
''I'm a super newbie, so forgive the potentially silly question. Isn't it worse to have a gun that was rarely used and stored for a long time, than one that has a lot of rounds through it? I would imagine that the one that has a lot of rounds through has been kept in reasonable shape?''

#1 NO SUCH THING as a silly ?
#2 repeat #1
#3 it really varies, again to the owner. Could be neither, either, or both ! Example, a person that 'broke in' their concealed carry handgun, then, relegate it to a holster for life. THANK GOD (think, don't have to use). Could have a dirtier gun then a safe queen pistol . OK, WILL HAVE a dirtier gun, pocket link, dust, sweat etc.

 

[tipoc]

So you can get fool by the looks or the looks may reflect actual use, you can get fooled by the seller or the seller may be honest, you can be fooled by yourself or you may conclude accurately, sometimes getting fooled will not matter and sometimes getting fooled will matter. Again the average net result of a longer string, the opposing opinions neutralize each other and you end up back at square one.

Helpless and cynical...a combination you can find often, whether it's buying guns, cars, Hummel figurines or politics. We're "back to square one" because we don't trust our own eyes or because we don't have the experience to make a sound call based on that experience.

We get to know guns by looking at, examining guns, owning and shooting guns over a period of years. We can learn some on the internet, books and magazines but where we learn is in actual experience. Nothing takes the place of that. Sometimes we get burned. We pay too much for a gun. We buy something that's a problem, etc. But you learn if you trust your experience and know the difference between a good gun and a worn gun and pay for the gun and not the story. The price should not exceed what you see and what the market is.

Leaning this takes some time and work. But if you like guns than learning about them is not drudgery.

 

[petavey]

I have a S&W Model 63 which I bought new in '81 and it has around 40,000 rounds through it. Mostly shooting double action with a lot of aerial shooting. It looks very good and there is no way anyone could tell the round count by looking at it. I replaced a broken mainspring and a cylinder stop. I put replacement grips on it and the originals look great. There is a moderate drag line on the cylinder.The bore looks excellent and it still shoots into 2.5" at 25 yards for 6 shots.
I have a Colt Combat Commander, satin nickel, in .38 Super I bought new in '75. It has been carried a great deal, consequently the finish is gone. It also rode a lot of miles under the seat of my farm pickup so the grips look like crap. Internally it is like new with about 700 rounds through it. I have an IJ top-break hammerless 5-shot .38 my great uncle bought in 1915. It is corroded inside and out. I inherited it in 1970 together with the box of Peters semi-smokeless ammo he bought with the gun. The box is missing 10 rounds. Round count means little in the condition of guns.