beag_nut
Member
I will not pay money (ever) for a used gun. If I inherit a used gun, fine. Too many bubba's in the world. And most don't even know they are a bubba.
^^ In other words, never buy a used gun you can't hold, inspect and fire. Who would buy a used car without driving it first?
I only own two handguns that I bought new, and 2/3 of the handguns I own are over 40 years old. I trust them all, because I won't buy any firearm I can't handle and inspect before I purchase. It's next to impossible to buy a gun from a dealer and get to shoot it before you buy it, new or used. If you know how to check them out, you really don't need to fire them before buying them. Accuracy would be the only unknown, but you can reasonably guess how it will be from the condition and type.I buy used guns all the time. No big deal. You just have to learn how to shop for them, what to look for and what your non-negotiables are.
When possible but it rarely is.
It's always baffling to me that people actually trust new guns to be perfect without thoroughly inspecting them first. I treat them all the same, with a thorough inspection and expecting to find faults.Like was stated in a previous post, it's the newer guns I don't trust so much.
This is what I do as well with the exception of a good cleaning as I inspect it.Most of my guns are used, previously owned. With a thorough inspection, spring kit when applicable, shooting/function test, yes no problem
Isn’t the main concern, if concerning -modern guns- whether:
A) a previous owner did internal modifications,
I've got a couple dozen milsurps, not a one with a scope, and I'm not going to mount one on any, either. The only milsurps with genuine original military scopes were those produced as sniper rifles, and they are really, REALLY big bucks, but if you want one, they're out there. Friend of mine I see at the range from time to time has a couple - a Swede and a Swiss, if I remember right, and he competes with them....Poor scope mounting on Milsurps is so common its almost funny. ...
Same as a new gun.
Once proven in my hands, either are good to go.
It's always baffling to me that people actually trust new guns to be perfect without thoroughly inspecting them first. I treat them all the same, with a thorough inspection and expecting to find faults.
You might be better off, over in Czechia, your owners are going to be a bit more dedicated and committed to keeping their arms "good."
Now, that will have a flip side, too. If you can only have nn guns on your license, a person might be inclined to resell a less-than good firearm, rather than tinker with it.
Don't know which way to call that coin flip.
Most of the guns i'm interested in are out of production. Most of the best guns are.
Seriously though, I've bought 90% of my guns used, and 90% of my problems have been with the guns I've bought brand new.
Well, I'd say that's pretty much 100% of the time. And a junky gun stays a junky gun for its lifetime. But well-made guns, S&W revolvers for example, are likely to appreciate over their lifetimes, given a long enough time ... which is a whole lot longer than anybody would buy an item as an investment property, just to make money on it. So given a choice between a known excellent quality used gun for 80% of the price of the same model brand new, heck I'd buy the used gun over the new gun any day.Keep in mind, 90% of the time there's a sharp depreciation the instant a gun goes from new to previously owned...just like with cars. If the $ aspect means anything to you. It certainly does for me.