When buying, new or used?

[larryh1108]

I know that when I buy a gun, I like to go used. It's for many reasons but price is a good reason to get more gun for the money (IMO). There are a lot of barely shot used guns out there and many times the price is too good to pass up. Some new gun aren't available used (yet) so do you get a new one or wait for the kinks to be worked out?

So, do you buy only new, only used, mainly new or mainly used?
4 choices is enough. Mainly means more than half. Easy stuff.

I believe we (gun enthusiasts) buy more used than the general public. I often wonder how many used guns exchange hands for every new one sold. Some guys never, ever, sell a gun and some continually trade up until they get "the one" they've coveted for years, then start the process again. This is just for general discussion but if you have a preference and feel like sharing the reason, please do.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

i voted for mainly new guns. id figure for every 3 new guns, i buy 1 used gun. my reason is when i buy a gun i have something very specific in mind, usually has to be ordered. nothing aganst used guns just availibility of what im looking for.

 

[kurt1305]

Lately the price of used firearms is high enough, I just buy new. Occasionally I find a deal on a used gun, but that is pretty rare these days.

 

[Quentin]

I also voted mainly buy new but often buy used. It just depends on what I want and what's out there.

 

[243winxb]

Used if 1/2 of the full retail price. Rifles that dont group become used very fast. Same with jamamatics

 

[newfalguy101]

I buy AND sell mostly used, its easier to make money selling used...

 

[AntiSpin]

There's a choice missing; I buy about half and half, but that choice is not listed.

 

[Swing]

Mine is almost, literally, at exactly 50/50.

 

[jcwit]

I buy the gun that hits my fancy.
It may be new.
It may be used.
It is the one that hits my fancy.

 

[P5 Guy]

Most all my long guns are surplus so they are used I guess. Some of them are 'new' as in not issued but were made in the 1950s thru 1980s.
Handguns are a mix. Some I went out and bought as soon as they came on the market others were from trades with friends or at gun shows.

 

[orpington]

I have never bought a new firearm. I once purchased a used firearm made in 1993. Other than that, everything I have purchased has been pre-1935, and mostly it is pre-1899 stuff.

 

[vamo]

I've only bought one new gun in my life and it was a cheapo that was on sale.

 

[forward observer]

deleted

 

[redneck2]

Kinda depends on the availability of what I want. For example, for a .22 I wanted a CZ 452 Varminter. Chances of coming across one used is non-existant. Bought new. Same with the CZ 527 in .204 Ruger.

Right now I have an unfired Weatherby .243 on lay-away. With the scope, it's about 1/3 of new price. Probably wouldn't be the exact combo I would have picked, but the price was too good to pass up. I can live with it.

Probably 2/3rds of what I have are "used", but most looked new when I bought them. There are screaming deals out there if you just look around.

 

[tarosean]

I probably by more used with the advent of rails and poly..

 

[barnbwt]

You need an option for 'demilled,' which is the condition most of my recent purchases have been in (even the R51 almost counts )

TCB

 

[joed]

I can't answer the poll because I'll go either way depending on the gun. I've seen some people trying to see used guns for as much as I can buy a new one. If it's close in price I'll buy new.

On the other hand I bought a Remington 700 Classic in .300 H&H because you can't buy them anymore and the price was reasonable. I will not buy a pre 64 Winchester though, most that own them think they have gold. Heck, you can buy new and have a gun just as good.

I used to collect S&W revolvers, no choice but to buy used there.

The last 2 rifles I bought were new, I wanted a Featherweight stainless and a .22-250 VS stainless.

 

[oneounceload]

20 plus years ago when I had a FFL, and before the net, I bought new mostly. Now, my last several are have been used - so for me it has been half and half

 

[dook]

I buy about 2/3 used. I have found that in general, firearms made before the last twenty years are usually better quality. I have seen what mergers and aquisitions have done to the integrity of firearms manufacturers.

 

[40-82]

Used may be a unfortunate term. Calling a pre-64 Winchester, an A.H. Fox, or an early Colt single-action used may be akin to calling a Monet or a Turner used.

 

[bigride]

I have purchased one new pistol. All others have been used...primarily because they are no longer in production. I want the best quality I can afford, which means best value...new or used.

 

[TanklessPro]

I voted I don't care,mainly because I don't care if it is used or new and I would have to check my book to see the last one I bought. Sorry it has been over a week since my last purchase.

 

[Warp]

As it happens, the only used guns I have are milsurps.

 

[MedWheeler]

I didn't read all the replies, but none of the poll choices fit me. Mine would have been "I buy what I see that I like, used or not."

 

[Teachu2]

Many used guns are selling locally for 90% of new - I pass on those. I've bought used guns that were bargain-priced, and some that were simply what I wanted and hard to come by used. Glocks are sometimes very hard to get here, and it's hard to find a "bad" used Glock. I have a 17L, a 21SF, a 23, a 30SF, and a 36 that were purchased used when new ones were not available. All my Glocks that were purchased new are now used, anyway. Sometimes the CA rosters make it very hard to get what you want...

I generally find used bargains in long guns. I've been known to buy a bolt action rifle that "won't shoot a decent group" and remedy that problem with an evening of inletting and bedding. I've also bought some guns from friends who were desperate for cash - and sold them back if circumstances improved for the person.