I can imagine the comments that are going to follow this question about the moral outrage of sending any of my guns to go live with somebody else out of shear desire to thin the heard, but that seems to be where I'm at. I have a bunch of guns, mostly handguns and military style semi autos, that I simply don't shoot anymore and would just a soon not have or turn into something I will use. What is the most cost effective way to turn a couple ARs, a half dozen or so handguns, and a coupe tactical shotguns into, say, a Larue tactical AR with a suppressor?
Selling firearms.
- Thread starter GuyWithGun
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Sell the guns in the classified forum, get a larue on GB and get a suppressor at silencershop.com
Easy peasy.
Easy peasy.
Swing
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Just dump them on Gunbroker and move on. Time was I'd recommend Gun Auctions (fka Auction Arms), but it is a waste of time now, imho.
My collection is normally in some state of flux too. Changing tastes, shooting habits, or whatever. Meh, don't sweat it.
My collection is normally in some state of flux too. Changing tastes, shooting habits, or whatever. Meh, don't sweat it.
Selling 10 guns can turn into a real pain in the butt and time suck. Buyers will discount the price to account for transfer fees and shipping. By the time you discount and account for your time to package, ship, collect, negotiate, photograph, etc, the headaches and cost can be real. The time to turn all of those into cash could be months. In this particular case, i would take everything to my local trusted dealer work on a trade. They can order the stuff you want without transfer fee since they are buying it. They might be thrilled to get 10 guns to put in their case to offer greater variety to their customers. It will look better than having 30 different flavors of the same black plastic pistol filling up space, but i digress. Yes the dealer needs to make profit but cutting out ups and transfer fees helps close the gap in your savings. Most transactions with individuals go smooth, however, you have 10 or more which increases your odds of dealing with some bonehead. Do it in one transaction and lt your dealer deal with the headaches. Supporting lgs may pay you back many times over in the future. 1:1 i would handle myself, but 10:1, no way.
Sell them FTF locally for the most money, then using auction sites for the second most amount of money
Telekinesis
Member
Sell them on forums or maybe gunbroker, that's where you'll get the most return on your guns. It does take a little more work than just walking in to a dealer considering you'll need to take a few pictures of each gun and do a bit of research on what the going price is for each weapon, but it is by far the best way to go. Occasionally you'll get a shady character asking about the gun, but you can usually weed them out. Or you can just sell the gun and ship if to a FFL and have them worry about the background check, that way you never have to actually meet the buyer.
If you sell to a dealer, you're likely to only get 50% (or less!) of the used value of the gun. With the number of guns you're talking about, that could be a big hit.
Sell them here and let those giving you advice get a shot at buying them
If you sell to a dealer, you're likely to only get 50% (or less!) of the used value of the gun. With the number of guns you're talking about, that could be a big hit.
Sell them here and let those giving you advice get a shot at buying them
Swing
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That reminds me of a few years back when I decided (unfortunately) to sell a Enfield No. 2 in .38/200. It was 1943 marked, in excellent shape, and not modified in anyway. Not a holy grail by any stretch, but a nice collectible. The LGS offered me $20 for it. I did a double take and repeated the offer to confirm I had heard him right. I did hear him right, I walked, and sold it for many times that on an auction site. To the best of my recollection, I only bought one gun from that shop (snub revolver), but I never went back after that. There are bad deals and then there is just outright moronic behavior.
He just didn't want it so he made you an offer you would refuse
It's not something that would be in high demand
Since you know what you want to end up with, I would suggest one of tow options, BOTH will involve your local FFL.
1) Put your guns on consignment with the local guy and let the money sit till there is enough to buy what you want...........the downside is it may take awhile for the guy to get them all flipped.
2) Take em in and see about a trade, you will get more value as a trade than selling outright to a dealer.
Where are you at??
1) Put your guns on consignment with the local guy and let the money sit till there is enough to buy what you want...........the downside is it may take awhile for the guy to get them all flipped.
2) Take em in and see about a trade, you will get more value as a trade than selling outright to a dealer.
Where are you at??
CapnMac
Member
LGS is likely stuck between the same rock and hard place as a pawn shop--you will likely get 50¢ on the dollar of what you paid.
Unless you have a really, really good relationship with the LGS, and have the patience to wait out a consignment sale. And, you have to really have done your homework before a consignment sale, too. Does not matter what you think an arm is worth, it's what the buyers think it is worth.
So, you wind up checking on prices at Bud's, on completed auctions on GB and the like just to know what is being paid.
If you have that sort of info, it's not that much more effort to follow the suggestion above, and put them in the THR Trading Post. Be sure to get your State in the title, but use every character in that title you can.
How well you do this will be easily seen in the responses you get.
It's also a heck of a way to meet THR folks from your State.
Unless you have a really, really good relationship with the LGS, and have the patience to wait out a consignment sale. And, you have to really have done your homework before a consignment sale, too. Does not matter what you think an arm is worth, it's what the buyers think it is worth.
So, you wind up checking on prices at Bud's, on completed auctions on GB and the like just to know what is being paid.
If you have that sort of info, it's not that much more effort to follow the suggestion above, and put them in the THR Trading Post. Be sure to get your State in the title, but use every character in that title you can.
How well you do this will be easily seen in the responses you get.
It's also a heck of a way to meet THR folks from your State.
Valkman
Member
I have sold guns FTF locally and I've found it to be the fastest and easiest way. I list them on backpage.com.
CoalTrain49
Member
Shipping is becoming a hassle.
Offer them up locally on a forum like this one if you can do a private sale. Otherwise just drop them of at a dealer for cash, trade or consignment. I watched a dealer evaluate 4 guns and make an offer to an old guy who needed the money. The deal was fair at about 20% below market. The old guy walked out with cash and the dealer made a few bucks. You have to know what your guns are worth to do that though because a dealer can low ball you if you don't.
Offer them up locally on a forum like this one if you can do a private sale. Otherwise just drop them of at a dealer for cash, trade or consignment. I watched a dealer evaluate 4 guns and make an offer to an old guy who needed the money. The deal was fair at about 20% below market. The old guy walked out with cash and the dealer made a few bucks. You have to know what your guns are worth to do that though because a dealer can low ball you if you don't.
Swing
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CoalTrain49 said:
Agreed, at least respect to handguns. If you're a private party sending to an FFL, it has to go overnight air and the prices are absolutely nuts for many pistolas. You can have an FFL send it for you at a much better rate, but most, understandably, charge for the service.
Know your values and set reasonable expectations. I would suggest listing them on a couple gun forums and see how it goes from there. Next step other than local sales is Gun Broker. I would personally talk to a FFL dealer about shipping your guns to the buyer's FFL (for a fee of course) and avoid the shipping hassles. Most likely with handguns, they will go USPS Priority Mail insured. Long guns are more of a hassle to pack, but they ship the same.
Shipping yourself is expensive. I would just prefer to give my money to a dealer rather than FedEx.
The other easy way is to have a dealer sell them for you on consignment (for a price of course).
Shipping yourself is expensive. I would just prefer to give my money to a dealer rather than FedEx.
The other easy way is to have a dealer sell them for you on consignment (for a price of course).
I sell most FTF at local gunshow's. Sometimes private individuals and sometimes dealers. A PIA in Illinois but doable legally.
I have sold guns and purchased guns on forums.
I tell people that I prefer face to face within my state. We can arrange a safe meeting place and complete the transaction with a bill of sale.
IF I ship, it is ONLY through my FFL to their FFL. I am fortunate to have a dealer who cares about customer service and ships for me rather painlessly. He can ship cheaper than I can anyhow. Obviously, you factor shipping into asking price.
I have sold and purchased and never lost money. I enjoy meeting new people in the process. It is rarely instant gratification, however. Patience is key.
One last thing...KNOW YOUR LAWS. Don't assume the person you are dealing with knows the law. The first mistake might be your last.
I tell people that I prefer face to face within my state. We can arrange a safe meeting place and complete the transaction with a bill of sale.
IF I ship, it is ONLY through my FFL to their FFL. I am fortunate to have a dealer who cares about customer service and ships for me rather painlessly. He can ship cheaper than I can anyhow. Obviously, you factor shipping into asking price.
I have sold and purchased and never lost money. I enjoy meeting new people in the process. It is rarely instant gratification, however. Patience is key.
One last thing...KNOW YOUR LAWS. Don't assume the person you are dealing with knows the law. The first mistake might be your last.
Captcurt
Member
Local Auction.
It would depend on the laws of your state but a good auction firm would be one of the fastest ways to recoup your money. We have a local auction house that brings high prices on quality guns and this is in a little podunk town of about 15000.. You might get more by listing with Gunbroker but, like other have stated, it might take a year or longer to get rid of all of them. I have had some overpriced consignment guns online for 18 months.
It would depend on the laws of your state but a good auction firm would be one of the fastest ways to recoup your money. We have a local auction house that brings high prices on quality guns and this is in a little podunk town of about 15000.. You might get more by listing with Gunbroker but, like other have stated, it might take a year or longer to get rid of all of them. I have had some overpriced consignment guns online for 18 months.
I think I know what the problem is.
It's tough sometimes, but part of the deal with consignments is getting the owner to assume some reasonable expectation of what the gun will bring. Otherwise it never sells.
More like 1/2 of what it's WORTH, not what you paid.
I don't begrudge the LGS for the buy/sell pricing, kinda like trading in a car. Best bet monetarily is sell private (it's not that hard) and shop for the best price on the new gun.
Tinpig
Member
This is what I do when I thin the herd. That way I have some control over the price and zero hassle.
With reasonable expectations and patience I usually end up selling them within a month for far more than the shop would have given me, even allowing for their percentage on the sale. My dealer's stock is mostly new guns, so my well cared for oldies appeal to a definite segment of buyers. (oldies
)Tinpig
Shipping long guns is no big deal, they can go USPS; handguns are better off going through your FFL, because even with his fee, it is still cheaper than you shipping via Fedex/UPS
It depends on how personally involved you want to be in the transactions. The easiest way might be to place the guns on consignment with a trusted local dealer.
My personal opinion is to bring them into your local gun shop and see what you could work out for a trade towards the items you want. (Usually get a bit more in trade). If it's not a good enough deal then advertise on some local forums, give guys in your neighborhood a chance to enjoy what you're parting with.
And when I say local gun shop, I mean the mom & pop shop if you have any, not Cabelas
And when I say local gun shop, I mean the mom & pop shop if you have any, not Cabelas
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