Buying Used, Buying Problems?

H

hblac

New member
So how many of you have encountered problems with used handguns? Don't you get rid of a gun if it continues to have problems like failure to feed or failure to eject? I know some folks sell because they just need the money or they're tired of it and want something new. I guess I'm just asking what kind of a gamble are you taking when buying a used hand gun that you're buying someone elses problems???
 
There was a thread on this same subject just a month ago or so. I love buying used, I've had more problems with new guns.
 
Generally, most guns that are initial problems are so because they were never taken care of properly---as in cleaned. That will usually clear up almost any issue. The other side is that there really IS a malfunction, in which a quick call to Customer Service of the manufacturer and a few weeks wait will have that cleared up too. Usually it isn't "buying someone else's problem", it's more like "getting a discount from someone else's ignorance".
 
I buy most of my guns used and have had good luck in general. My only real advice would be to really check out any used 1911's you may be considering. It seems like all the kitchen table gunsmith wannabes seem drawn to 1911's and can't seem to leave them alone. Know what you're looking at. Also online sales are a gamble because you really can't know what you're getting, so you really take your chances there too.
 
So how many of you have encountered problems with used handguns? Don't you get rid of a gun if it continues to have problems like failure to feed or failure to eject? I know some folks sell because they just need the money or they're tired of it and want something new. I guess I'm just asking what kind of a gamble are you taking when buying a used hand gun that you're buying someone elses problems???
Click to expand...


First, it's generally easy to tell if a used firearm has been abused. They are fairly simple machines, and learning about the signs of damage or abuse is pretty easy in the internet age. So step one is arm yourself with information

Next, the idea of getting a used gun is pretty accepted. I've never bought a new gun. Your question is valid, but also consider that "new" guns don't automatically equal "problem free" any more than a used one would. Do a search here for 'new kimber probs' or 'new SIG issues'

I always ask if I can field strip the firearm if its used. If I was buying new, I would not. I have never been refused, and no, I have no friends at gunshops. If they won't let me inspect a used firearm, what are they hiding? I don't make a scene, I say 'goodbye'. I've mentioned this in the past, but I think it's worthwhile to say it again: my money is supposed to be worth their gun, but my 100 dollar bills never could explode and drive steel into the seller's face. After I field strip, I inspect it with a borelight, etc. A small flashlight is handy too, as it directs your focus, and to be honest, the light at most shops is bad. I also ask to load a snap-cap into the firearm to check function, and I have never been refused

Also, most firearms apparently need this bizarre 'break in' period. Um. OK. Never had to do that, personally

The appearance of the firearm can tell you lots. A dirty bore, lots of wear on the inside, pits on the metal... maybe you should pass. Looks new, little wear, firearm is clean...could be a good one. Inspect it more closely

lastly, buying a used firearm is cheaper than buying a new one, or should be. The buyer may expect some percentage of purchases made this way to require work. It's a calculated risk to be sure, but you can temper that by the above points. I find buying a used gun about a thousand times easier than looking at a new or used car, which costs many times more!

I've bought used guns that are over 90 years old, and ones that are less than five years old. I look at used ones in really nice shape first, I don;t bother with ones that are obviously 'fixer-uppers' and when looking for a used gun, I'm not looking for a 'once-in-a-lifetime' steal becasue such and such a gun is a diamond in the rough that only I can recognize. I'm looking for a fair deal on a used firearm that saves me a hundred or two
 
Well, so far I have bought 4 pistols. 1 new Ruger KP90, 1 used Taurus 669 revolver & 2 used S&W. The only one that's given me problems is, you guessed it, the new Ruger. Feeding issues out of the box. I know... revolvers rarely have feeding issues...:D

I will say that I did pretty heavy research on pistols in general & used revolvers in particular so I had an idea what to look for going in.

Oh yeah. The Ruger was taken care of by the factory, no charge. A few phone calls and 2 weeks. They even paid the shipping.

Curious. I was making inquiries online about the problem & got a bit of "You can do this, you can do that..." with some bit of implication that there was something "wrong" with me for not wanting to fix it myself. Ummm... It's a new pistol. It's supposed to work. I shouldn't have to "DO" anything to it. There are some people out there who think it's OK to need to do things to their new pistols to make them work properly...:confused:
 
Almost all the guns I've bought in recent years have been used and I've never had a problem with any of them.

All the ones I've ever traded in, had nothing wrong with them either. I just wanted something new.
 
My gun purchases have been split pretty much evenly between new and used. Out of those guns, the only one that I've ever had an issue with was a NIB Taurus.

Like with any thing, it pays to inspect what you are interested in buying before you lay your cash out.
 
In my experience, most mechanical problems are identifiable upon inspection; and usually easy to fix.

Cosmetic issues are bargaining points when it comes to deciding the price.

Biggest worry for me, is if POI is way different than POA. Thankfully that issue is rare, but only way to know is to go shooting. jd
 
With the exception of revolvers, if it's rust free and funtions smoothly a used gun is probab;y going to be ok. If its from a major gun maker the odds are even better. If its a high end gun even better.

There's a sticky in the revolver forum that walks you through checking out a used revolver.

With one exception all of my guns have been used. I've never had a bigger problem than picking out the right ammo for them. I have done very minor repair and maintenance on a few of them. Basically that involved replacing springs and other minor parts.
 
I guess I'm just asking what kind of a gamble are you taking when buying a used hand gun that you're buying someone elses problems???
Click to expand...

Well, it is a roll of the dice. Lots of people get rid of guns for more sinister reasons than they get bored with them or simply need the money; including but not limited to the gun malfunctions for reasons other than being dirty or having weak magazine springs; intrinsic accuracy problems, safety issues and a host of other possible problem areas. Sending a firearm back to the factory isn't always the best option given the limitations a used gun might pose in terms of a warranty and some companies just don't offer much in the way of customer service, warranty or no warranty.
All that said, some of the best firearms I've ever got have been used ones. And, a couple of the worst ones have been nib. I found Chris_B's post insightful and if his advice is followed, you can minimize your chances for getting a loser. But buying a used gun, like buying a used car, outboard motor or lawnmower, especially if you don't know its history, will always be a dice roll.
 
I've probably bought better than 50 guns in my lifetime, most of them used and I've seldom had a problem. Honestly, I think I've only bought maybe 3 or 4 new guns. The only problems I've run into so far have been broken hammer pivot pin on a S&W model 36, some feeding/ejection problems on a couple of cheap .22 rifles and most recently, trigger issues on a KelTec P32. Buying used has allowed me to buy more of the types of guns I like and want than I otherwise would have been able to, had I paid full retail.
 
I have owned over 100 handguns and who knows how many rifles and shotguns. Maybe 30 to 40 percent were used and I only had 2 used handguns that had problems, broken firing pin in one ( a 5906 ) and dirt in the other a Browning Buckmark. I have had 3 new handguns with serious manufactured defects that never should have left the factory.

I have never had a long gun that didn't function properly, but had a couple new ones that left much to be desired in the accuracy dept. I think that examining a used gun thoroughly can help avoid a bad buy.
 
ive only bought one handgun new....saves me too much buying used to not do it....and I really havent had any troubles with the used ones ive gotten.
 
Most used guns are out there because we are a fickle bunch - Just bought a brand new XXXX and then I saw a YYYY and also need an OOOO. Oh and look at that nice ZZZZ!!
 
I buy a lot of used guns ...but I do my homework on a gun so I know what I'm buying and I've had very few issues / but I pass on a lot of guns that show wear or bad gunsmithing. I probably buy less than 3 of 10 I look at seriously.

If I was buying a common production gun (Glock, Sig, etc ) / I don't think its worth the aggravation of buying used ....to save less than $ 100 typically.

There are things to check on used semi-autos and revolvers / and some good guidelines on how to do that on this site and others ....or maybe take a knowledgeable friend with you to help you check out the gun.
 
Buy a new gun and if you don't like it you can sell it for about what it would have cost to buy it used.

Buy a used gun and if you don't like it you can sell it for about the same as you paid for it. If you shop carefully.

I've had the chance to own and shoot a lot of guns I otherwise could have never afforded by buying new. By actually owning and shooting many different guns I know what works and does not work for me.

I have kept what I really liked and let the others go without spending very much money. Quite often I have sold or traded guns for more than I had invested in them.

I only buy new if it is a new model not available used that I really like. In otherwords, almost never.
 
New or used?

I almost always buy a used gun rather than new (unless I can't find a used gun that I just have to own, then new).
Once you take it and shoot a "new" gun, it's like a new car, it decreases in value and you can't get your money back you paid for it. Unless, it like a older Python .357, etc.
 
Your odds of getting a bad used gun are probably less than getting a bad new gun. Older guns seem better made than new ones, but that's just my personal opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top