Getting guns both new and used is a viable way to buy them. There are benefits to both methods and neither one is wrong.
Some people may be scared to buy a used gun. There is more risk when buying a used gun, but if you follow the advice given in this article, then you can get some great deals.
We will cover some tips that you should follow when buying a used gun. After reading this you will be able to buy a used gun without any issues.
1. Buy from the right place.
The first tip to follow when buying used guns is to buy from the right place.
There are four main ways you can buy guns these days. The internet, from a gun shop, at a gun show, and from an individual in person. All these methods have their benefits and disadvantages none are wrong, but some require more caution than others.
Internet
We will start with buying used guns online. The great thing about buying online is that you have a very large selection to choose from. You can buy from coast to coast and this large selection can allow you to get some great deals.
Buying online though you need to make sure you are buying from a reputable place. If it is a dealer’s website, you can trust that the gun is not dirty, but if you are just buying on a random site, then you need to do your research on the gun and its numbers. Check the numbers is an important step for a few of the methods of buying.
Another good thing about buying online, is you can determine the value of a gun pretty quickly. You can look for similar ones that sold and see what they brought. This way you can know if you are getting a good deal or not.
You got to be careful with the ones way below market though because ones that may seem like a deal might not be. This is because online you can’t see the condition of the gun. You just have to go by the pictures and they won’t always tell everything.
Also, buying online you can’t get a feel for the gun. Online is still a great way to research guns and learn values to help when buying in other methods.
You also can buy the best scope for AR-15 on the internet, and on Amazon too.
From a gun shop or gun show.
I will lump these two together because they are similar.
The downside to buying from a shop or show is you will most likely pay full market value.
The benefit that you get from this though is that you can check the gun’s condition in hand.
This is very important. Also, a lot of shops will let you fire the gun first to see how it feels, and if you like it.
Buying from a show or shop is a great way for a beginner to get into buying a new gun because you can check it out and most of the time the person selling it will be reputable. They should also be licensed to sell used guns which means you won’t have to worry about getting ones that have been used in crimes.
Person to Person
The last method we will talk about for buying guns is person to person.
This comes with the most risk for getting a gun that has been used for illegal activities, so be sure to check the serial numbers in databases and make sure it is registered to the person you are buying it from. You can follow How To Check If A Gun Is Stolen to know more specific.
The good thing about buying from an individual though is that you can see the gun in person and exam the condition, but you still may be able to get a good deal like the online prices. The seller may not know the full value or have a way to get the full value for the gun and will take less than it is worth. If you know the value you can get a great deal on a gun that you have been wanting or resell it to make some extra money.
2. Condition
The next thing to consider when buying a used gun besides where you are buying it is the condition of the gun. This has already been mentioned, but the condition is key. The condition is a big part of its value, and a gun that can fire safely is worth a lot more than a gun that won’t fire. When checking the condition you want to exam all parts of the gun.
Key things to look for when checking a gun for its condition are cracks and rust. You don’t want the moving parts to be rusty and you don’t want the barrel or other parts to be cracked. If you are on a budget, then a gripe that is cracked or rusty screws may be okay to you, but you want to make sure to give the gun a good look over. You also, want to make sure the end of the gun is round where the bullet comes out and that the barrel is straight and not dented up.
Tied into the condition is if the gun fires or not. Try to buy a used gun that you are able to fire first. By firing the gun you can make sure that it is working properly and that nothing unexpected happens. Most good shops will let you fire the gun and most people selling a used gun will know that the person looking at it will want to fire it.
Also, one last thing when examining the guns is if it has any aftermarket parts installed make sure that they are installed correctly. If they are not installed correctly fix this before firing and also remember that because it means they might not have the rest of the gun put back together properly.
3. Ask Questions
The next thing to do is ask as many questions as you want. Ask the history of the gun, why they are selling it, and anything else that will help you with making a good decision. By asking questions you can figure out if the seller is for real and also learn any problems that they know about. If you are considering meeting someone from an online place, then starting with questions can help you determine if you want to meet or not to look at the gun.
Also, when asking questions it is good to learn if the gun has a warranty or return policy. If it does, then that will help give you some peace of mind if something goes wrong. This is especially helpful if you are buying sight unseen from somewhere online.
4. Reviews
The last thing to consider when buying a used gun is the reviews of it. Do a fast online search and see if others like it. You can also do a search on the person you are buying it from to see if they have a good reputation. Reviews aren’t everything though. If you think you will like the gun, then even if most don’t, you should still buy it if it is what you want.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you should now be able to buy a used gun and come out with a good one. Sometimes the only way you can get a certain gun is used, so by being scared to buy a used gun it may limit you from getting the gun of your dreams. Just be sure to consider where you are buying the used gun from and do your research. Exam the gun well if you can and ask as many questions as you need to to make yourself comfortable with the purchase. Buying a used gun can be scary, but it can allow you to get some great deals.
I currently am with the Virginia State Police’s VFTP (Virginia Firearms Transaction Program), the Division that sees whether a person can buy a Firearm legally. Unfortunate as it seems, when selling one of your firearms, the only safe way of doing this is to sell or trade it in to a licensed Gun Store so your name is completely removed from the firearm. The downside to this is that most Gun Shops only give you 1/3 of the guns value and then resell it for 2/3 and more of the price of a new one. The Federal and State Forms have to be filled out for the new owner, but you still lose money in the deal whether you purchased it new, fired it once and didn’t like it you still lose a lot of money to “legally” remove your name from the weapon. Should you elect to sell the firearm to an individual, your name is still registered to the United States Government as the active owner. Personally, I take a blank State Form from my VFTP Manual, make a copy of it and have the perspective new owner (who I generally know) and have them fill out the form and sign it and then keep it in my records just in case, later on down the line, the weapon is found illegally or found to have been committed in a crime. I can then provide the date, new owner of the firearm to alle. The any connection to me. This is an unproven way I sell my weapons to people I’ve sold guns to, but at least I feel somewhat covered. I
I felt passing this information on is critical to those doing private party sales. The next best way to “sell” a firearm is to find a Gun Shop that will take it in on consignment. You can name your price and if it’s sold, the purchaser has to fill out the Federal and State forms and legally purchase it, removing your name from the Firearm. The Gun Shop does take a percentage of the sale price, but at least you’re free and clear of any litigation that may come back on the firearm you used to own. Aside from that, protect your self at all costs.
~StillinSaigon~
It would be nice to buy a gun that is in good condition. Maybe it would be good to get a rifle from a shop. Then I would know that it was in good condition.
I like how you said that looking at the reviews of a preowned firearm is a good thing to do before actually purchasing the weapon. My opinion is definitely similar to this one because it just makes sense to do all the research you can before you purchase something. That way you can be sure that you choose the best possible firearm you can find.
It’s good to know that you can get good deals on guns if you buy from another person. My son and I want to get a hunting rifle and we were wondering where and how we should purchase the gun. I’ll be sure to consider buying from another person as we continue to search for a gun.
I found it helpful when you said that buying a gun from person to person is very risky. My uncle likes to collect guns. He will be interested to know this.
I thought that it made sense when you said that one thing to look for when you are purchasing a second-hand firearm is to make sure that it is in good condition and that none of teh parts of the firearm are cracked. I have been thinking about buying a used firearm but I have been worried that it wouldn’t end up working properly. I will be sure to consider hiring a professional to evaluate the second-hand firearm before I make the purchase so that I feel more comfortable buying it.
It’s good to know that you should ask questions when buying a used rifle. My brother wants to get a survival rifle. I’ll share these tips with him so that he can be sure to get the right one.
I’ve been wanting to learn how to shoot, that’s why I’m currently looking for a program that could teach me how to fire a gun. Speaking of which, after I learned the basic skills of firing, I’d want to purchase a used gun that I could carry around for protection. I’m glad you shared this by the way; I’d make sure to check the databases and if it the gun is registered to the dealer where I am buying it from.
Thanks for the tip to buy a gun from a reputable website. I can only imagine how complicated it would be if you ended up getting a stolen gun from someone on the internet. I’d rather avoid that altogether and find a trustworthy website to buy from.