used firearm etiquette at the gunshop........

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duck911

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Feb 18, 2006
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Loveland, Colorado
Hey guys,

I found a gun at a local shop today that has been sitting in a gunrack, barrel up. What looks like 2 months worth of dust and grime has settled on the objective glass of the scope. I also want to know if the scope has heavy ring marks.

Long story short, is it reasonable to ask a dealer to clean the glass and remove the scope for inspection? I guess I am asking hypothetically, as I plan on asking anyway (worse they can say is no, or kick me out I suppose) but I am curious anyway if I am crossing some invisible gunshop line of etiquette.

Incidentally, the reason I ask is, I was at a local gunshop that shall remain nameless and in the rack I saw a very interesting setup:

The rifle is a Howa .243 with Hogue overmolded stock. In and of itself, not a spectacular find (~$400 new, maybe a tad more). I noticed it was wearing a pretty nice scope, a Bushnell 6500 Elite 4.5-30x50.

The price tag caught my attention too: $829 but I bet if I flashed $750 cash they'd flinch (though I'd probably start at $700! :neener: ) The rifle is in great shape. I running short on time and didn't have time to go over anything in detail.

Separately, I probably wouldn't consider either of these items sitting on a shelf at retail price. But combined at this price, if they're in good shape, it's a pretty good find, and I could flip the scope to pay for the gun or flip the gun and have a nice 6500 Elite scope for a few hundred bucks.

It may be worth a second look if I make it back out that way!

--Duck911
 
Should not have a problem cleaning the objective lense.

Pull 1 cap off at a time if they are worried about loosing zero or use an alternate method. I could understand them not wanting to disturb the scope. I would if I bought it though to check the install.

Offer less - I see a lot of guns for sale now that aren't moving.
 
I'm sure they wil clean it, I'm just as sure they won't remove the scope. And who really cares if it has ring marks anyway? They are covered up by the rings. Personally whenever I have bought a used rifle and scope I remove it after I get it home and make sure it is properly mounted and loctited, but I can't imagine a dealer taking a scope of for you to look at ring marks.
 
Hold it up to your eye and look through the dust and say 'Hey man this is fuzzy and I'll give you $500 for it." Having the money in your hand is a good thing.

Never be ashamed to make an offer. All they can say is yes or no. If they have more to say you don't need to play with them. Walk out.

....MJ...
 
Any hesitation on the shop to show you anything reasonable about any rifle/scope/pistol etc. leaves me suspicious.
I can understand not wanting to deal with lookie loos all day, but you have cash in hand in a poor economy, don't be shy. They wouldn't hesitate to take your money would they, nor would they hesitate to ask about a bill you hand them that didn't look quiet like they thought it shoud? Why should your desires to inspect be less served than yours?
If they are less than hospitable or customer service oriented run, don't walk to the nearest exit.
 
at one time, Gander mtn was selling that rifle, which If i did not allready have a 243, for 279, just the rifle. Lets say you could get it new for 300 to 350. Would that scope be worth that much more money?
 
About six months ago I was in Gander Mountain looking at their pre-owned pistols. I came across a SIG P226 that interested me and asked to see it. They allowed me to handle it, but when I asked if I could conduct a simple fieldstrip to inspect the parts, they refused. In addition, the counter help refused to fieldstrip it so that I could inspect it. Needless to say, I don't purchase pre-owned guns there.
 
I would say there is a limit to what one can expect as far as teardown for inspection. How serious you are as a buyer should have some bearing on it but I doubt if I would remove screws and even field strip for anybody that asked.
 
Taking a day off work and showing about 30 minutes after they open on a Monday or Tuesday when things are dead slow is likely to be a better time to ask for this sort of stuff. Maybe if they don't want to disturb it at least removing one cap to check for mount wear would be a compromise?

As for a field strip of the pistol I'm amazed that they would refuse such a thing unless they are total losers or if the store was crowded. Again, pick a quiet time and this sort of thing becomes more resonable. Even an early weekday and stop in on the way home before they close.
 
I'm sure they wil clean it, I'm just as sure they won't remove the scope.
Click to expand...

I fully agree with the above quote ---- I was part owner of a gun store and worked in another for about 5 years --- we would never take a scope off a gun for a "inspection" -- I do not see ANY problem with asking to have the rifle's bore cleaned with a DRY patch and the scope lens cleaned.
 
All that causes wear at the very least to the finish when compounded by the numbers of people who may want the same service.
Consider if every person interested in a used car insisted on their own personal compression check or brake lining inspection.
I have said before, used is used so pay accordingly, do what is a resonable visual inspection, decide if the price is right or make offer contingent to scope inspection or field strip. If the dealer consents then hold your end up and buy the gun but don't expect somebody to open things up just so you can have a look and walk out.
 
If I was behind the counter I'd ask how serious you are while cleaning the scope, if your convinceing and not like the 80% that "will come back tommorrow with the money" then I would remove the rings for you. YOUR attitude would make this much easier............ Consignment guns are different, they are not the shops property. Nonone would like to post on here that there rifle/scope was dinged up while on consignment....

Tony
 
A couple shops around here would take the top off of a ring to show the wear if they truly thought you were buying. A couple others act like handing you the rifle to inspect is too much work. I would think if you had cash in hand ready to pay and said it just depended on what it looked like under the rings at least a few would go for it. If not i doubt they ask you to leave. Might as well ask, just do it politely and know you may not get very far.
 
Around here, they'll clean it if you bring money. If you want to do more than that, they'll eyeball you and ask you to buy it and return it if something doesn't work right. I've only had to do that once, and the pistol looked new in the shop!
 
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