used Ruger KGP-161

[Tubby Rower]

I've read up on how to check out a used revolver, but I'd like to get an opinion on the prices. I'm looking to get a Ruger KGP-161 (.357 mag, 6" barrel, SS). The local gun dealer will sell me a new one for $575. He had a used one yesterday that he sold to someone in Dec 2005 (I verified this with the serial number & Ruger's website). I have no clue how many rounds were fired though it. I'm memorizing the checklist so I can perform the checks on it this afternoon.

All that to say this... He's wanting $475 for this used one. That's only $100 off a new one. Would I be better served to just get a new one or to check this one out and haggle him down to a lower price. If the latter, what should I attempt to bring the price down to?

Thanks guys

 

[kmrcstintn]

$475 seems a bit high, but depends upon local marekt demand & pricing scale; $400 seems to be reasonable in my neck of the woods...again depends upon overall condition; stainless guns can be polished to overcome cosmetic defects; check top strap for flame cutting; higher volumes of .357 magnum loads will cause flame cutting; good luck...BTW: I have a used stainless Ruger GP100 w/ 6" barrel (dated from 1996) with an unknown amount of rounds thru it; very little flame cutting; tight lockup; I polished it up a bit; very enjoyable; very strong; very rugged

 

[Tubby Rower]

what is the "top strap"? and what would "flame cutting" look like?


I was talking to a co-worker and he suggested offering $400 for it and the dealer would likely take it. I just wanted to get independent verification.

 

[Tubby Rower]

Ok now I'm guessing.. the top strap is the metal piece over the cylinder housing that connects the rear of the gun with the front.

I compared the used gun with a brand new 4" model and the only difference besides a small scratch on the outside of the cylinder was that the used gun was in bad need of a cleaning.

The owner wasn't there today and he is the only one you can haggle with. The guy helping me wouldn't budge at all.

 

[kmrcstintn]

the 'top strap' is the area of the frame above the cylinder; the rear sight sits in it; I will refer you to the area on the underside of the top strap near the front of it where the barrel is inserted; look in the area that is above the gap between the front of the cylinder and the back of the barrel; 'flame cutting' looks like a linear cut in the metal running across the width of the underside of the top strap in the area that I described; with 'magnum' revolvers (.357 magnum; .44 magnum; .454 casull; .500 S&W magnum; .460 S&W magnum) this is a phenomenon that is 'normal' with shooting higher volumes of magnum loads (in this case shooting more .357 magnums than .38 specials); flame cutting occurs over time and stops (it will not structurally weaken the frame since it goes in @ 1mm and stops);

seems you posted while I was still writing this...sorry to hear that the guy wouldn't budge; he either hasn't had it long enough to consider reducing the price, he payed really good on trade in, or figures that someone who really wants it will pay his full asking; the downside to the latter is money is the primary driving factor and devloping customer loyalty goes by the wayside (if he let me have the gun for $75 below asking I would be giving him more business in the future)

 

[Zebraranger]

475.00 is way too high, I picked this one up with less than 100 rounds thru it for 325.00 with box, Grips, accessories & papers. Its a 2006, If you cant find used for less than 475. might as well buy new on sale for around 539.00. I would just keep an eye out locally. Good Luck.

 

[Tubby Rower]

@ kmrcstintn, thanks for the information. The employee didn't have the authority to negotiate. I'll be calling the owner tomorrow as today was his day off.

@ Zebraranger, those are two nice looking guns.. Which do you shoot the most? Where did you get the white insets in the Ruger?

 

[Zebraranger]

Thanks, the staghorn grips came with it. Honestly, I've been shooting the Ruger since I just got it a few weeks ago, It is just as accurate as the King Cobra. I just did a quick search, Here's a link with good pricing, new for 529.00 for a 6" ss.
http://www.riverviewsales.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RS&Category_Code=REV-RUG

 

[Tubby Rower]

If anyone cares.... the owner wouldn't come below $440 if I paid cash. for $529 I'd rather buy a brand new one from his competitor 0.5 mile down the street. So that guy has the same price as the online price above but I'm still supporting a local gun shop .

It's a shame though as I would have rather bought from the other store since they answered a bunch of questions and let me fondle their guns. apparently he paid too much for the trade-in or is too stingy to recognize market forces at work.

 

[Walkalong]

I paid $361 + $25 shipping for a like new 4" GP-100 not long ago and that was off Gunbroker. Yea, too much. It's a great little pistol.

 

[izmarkie]

I got a 3" used for $300.

Why is the stainless 6" $60 more than the stainless 4"? I can't imagine why a 6" blued costs more than the stainless 4" either. The MSRPs for 4" and 6" in the same finish are the same, and the 3" is $20 less (I assume this has to do with the fixed sights and not a discount for the 1" less barrel material).