A particular model's troubles should be fairly easy to learn about online. The specific example of one being considered for purchase is something else.
Judging used rifles
- Thread starter bricz75
- Start date
A particular model's troubles should be fairly easy to learn about online. The specific example of one being considered for purchase is something else.
I enjoy buying used guns. I make sure to get a cleaning rod and bore light into action. And I put a critical eye on everything. Is the wear "honest" or does it show signs of terrible neglect? How does the stock inletting look inside and out--is it tight or are there gaps? Look very closely for cracks in wood stocks at the front and back of the receiver, mag well, and trigger. Does anything have a "beat upon by a hammer" peened look? Are the scratches in the stock deep or will they clean up if you want to refinish it?
IMO, one of the most telling signs is the condition of the screws; particularly the action screws and the ones on the scope and mount. If those are ugly, then someone's had a tough time getting it to shoot well.
I look it with the mentality that "there are things wrong with this rifle; I just need to look hard enough to find them" as opposed to looking for what pleases me about it. Then you need to make a technical judgement whether the individual wrongs are important and , taken collectively, if there's signs of trouble.
I use that same approach when buying a car, new or used, and I bring an inspection mirror and a good flashlight.
IMO, one of the most telling signs is the condition of the screws; particularly the action screws and the ones on the scope and mount. If those are ugly, then someone's had a tough time getting it to shoot well.
I look it with the mentality that "there are things wrong with this rifle; I just need to look hard enough to find them" as opposed to looking for what pleases me about it. Then you need to make a technical judgement whether the individual wrongs are important and , taken collectively, if there's signs of trouble.
I use that same approach when buying a car, new or used, and I bring an inspection mirror and a good flashlight.
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You can't. IF you define "lemon" as something that looks good, but leaves a sour taste.
This is different from worn, or neglected, or abused. Those have visible signs to be seen, if you look.
Until you actually get shooting it, you really can't tell if any gun will, or won't be accurate enough for your needs, and wants.
I've seen, and even bought guns that were essentially worn out (barrels, not actions) BUT I won't pay "decent gun" prices...
I'm also in the position that I have, or have had nearly every gun that ever really interested me. I have almost zero interest in any new gun being made today. So, by necessity, those few I am still looking for are all "used". (and I'm not the kind that needs a still ASNIB discontinued model for an excessive price.
Don Fischer
New member
Over the years I've bought quite a few used rifle's, never got a bad one. Only thing I looked was the only thing I could really see, overall condition. I have this idea that a guy that takes care of his rifle, take's care of the whole rifle. The only used one I have now are my 788, which I just broke, :-( and a 700ADL in 25-06 I got close to 30 yrs ago, it shoot's great! But if I see a used rifle that's pretty beat up, I figure if the prior owned didn't care anymore about what a buyer could see, he wouldn't care about the inside either. Oh, I do have another used rifle. Mod 783 Mossberg in 22 mag. Got a great deal on it closer to 40 yrs ago. The place that had it said it didn't feed rounds through the feed tube. Looked at it and the feed tube was slid out about 2" beyond where it should have been. Pushed it back in, gave the guy the money and never looked back!
I would only pay based on the used value of the action for most common rifles with unknown history.
Round count? Critical on magnums and other throat burners. Could be that 7 mag has 50 rounds/very limited hunting use, or it could be shot out and needs to be set back or rebarreled.
Care and cleaning...I'd rather a rifle have never been cleaned, than cleaned by a hack with a segmented rod from the muzzle end.
If you're the type of gun owner that's perfectly happy with entry level rifles it makes no sense to buy used due to the risks involved for the few (very few) bucks that might be saved- just get the Ruger American (or whichever manuf) and you'll have new with warranty.
Back to the original post, with very few exceptions modern rifles are not "investments" any more than the new car you drive off the lot.
They don't appreciate- they depreciate, just like the car, as soon as you take possession.
Round count? Critical on magnums and other throat burners. Could be that 7 mag has 50 rounds/very limited hunting use, or it could be shot out and needs to be set back or rebarreled.
Care and cleaning...I'd rather a rifle have never been cleaned, than cleaned by a hack with a segmented rod from the muzzle end.
If you're the type of gun owner that's perfectly happy with entry level rifles it makes no sense to buy used due to the risks involved for the few (very few) bucks that might be saved- just get the Ruger American (or whichever manuf) and you'll have new with warranty.
Back to the original post, with very few exceptions modern rifles are not "investments" any more than the new car you drive off the lot.
They don't appreciate- they depreciate, just like the car, as soon as you take possession.
I got to thinking about this, and realized that while my very first rifle (of my own) was a brand new Winchester .22, as my 14th birthday present, all the other rifles I have bought in the nearly 50 years since, have been used.
From lightly used sporters to 100+year old milsurps, I've owned probably over 100 rifles over the years, and other than the one, I can't think of any that I bought "brand new".
Never had any real "lemons", though some were pretty beat, I knew that going in...
Not sure if this means anything, but in my opinion, if you ignore used rifles, you're missing out on a lot.
From lightly used sporters to 100+year old milsurps, I've owned probably over 100 rifles over the years, and other than the one, I can't think of any that I bought "brand new".
Never had any real "lemons", though some were pretty beat, I knew that going in...
Not sure if this means anything, but in my opinion, if you ignore used rifles, you're missing out on a lot.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
I have visions of Sumdood sneering at a good-used modern bolt action, but eager to whip out a Platinum card over a high-grade 1890s Winchester. 
Don Fischer
New member
Getting to the point that one of these days I either buy used or quit buying. The though of stainless is bad enough but plastic stock's are on everything these days. Can't handle stainless or plastic!
RaySendero
New member
I like old rifles!
I like old rifles - Especially if price is low.
Like to stop and look at various gun shops or gun shows.
When I come across one at a good price, I buy.
They can be few and far between - But I'm just looking and prepared.
I like old rifles - Especially if price is low.
Like to stop and look at various gun shops or gun shows.
When I come across one at a good price, I buy.
They can be few and far between - But I'm just looking and prepared.
Simply acquire an aftermarket wood stock for the rifle that comes with a plastic stock.
From reading this forum and numerous other gun forums on a regular basis there is another category of used guns. Those that an experienced shooter buys and get get to shoot worth a crap. They proudly get sold, traded or otherwise "sent down the road." I would assume always with full disclosure since we are a stand-up class of citizens.
If you're trading in the rare and collectable end of the market where you're paying, say, $800 and up for a gun, then $100 to a gunsmith to make sure everything is okay is simply a wise move to protect your investment.
If you're trading in the commodity end of the market then what you want to do is get a bore light like Art Eatman mentioned and if you don't already know what to look for in checking the bore, the condition of the rifling, the leade, the chamber, and the crown of the barrel, get someone to teach you.
Also research the type(s) of guns you are looking to buy and make sure you know the common trouble spots. Once you've got that, go out and get some experience. Yes, you will pick up a lemon here or there, but you'll learn from the experience and be more astute next time - and your losses will still be less than what you would have paid a gunsmith to inspect each one of them.
ndking1126
New member
There's some good advice given, but I think this is the best and most practical given.
I basically don't buy new guns anymore. I don't buy many used ones for the record, but only one problem to speak of. Bought a Romanian SKS that looked to be in decent condition. Shot 6-7" groups at 50 yards no matter what I fed it and I didn't keep it that long. Even giving full disclosure to the seller, I made money on it thanks to the market picking up.
Actually, one of the most accurate guns I have is an older Savage 10 in 243. It looked horrible inside and out. Price was low enough that I decided to take a chance knowing I could re-barrel if needed. Cleaned it really well, put a scope on it and was pleasantly surprised once I found the ammo it likes.
Sometimes you get what you pay for, other times you get lucky.
A used $200 Marlin turned out to be the most accurate rimfire I've ever shot. Under a half inch at 100 yards, under that it'll make ragged single hole groups if I do my part. I don't plan to ever part with it. Im thinking the original owner couldn't shoot well enough to see it's potential.
I like to check the crown, rifling, inspect for blemishes, you can estimate how used it was and some see very little.
A used $200 Marlin turned out to be the most accurate rimfire I've ever shot. Under a half inch at 100 yards, under that it'll make ragged single hole groups if I do my part. I don't plan to ever part with it. Im thinking the original owner couldn't shoot well enough to see it's potential.
I like to check the crown, rifling, inspect for blemishes, you can estimate how used it was and some see very little.
I have to disagree with this, slightly. Buggered up screw heads are not any positive indication that someone had a tough time getting it to shoot well.
What they are is proof that someone liked to tinker with the rifle, take it apart and put it together, possibly but not certainly to get it to shoot better. There could be a number of reasons. The ONLY thing the screw heads will positively tell you is that when they are messed up, someone used the wrong screwdrivers.
And, using the wrong screwdrivers is USUALLY a sign that the previous owner didn't care much about the rifle. The general assumption is, if they didn't bother to use the right screwdrivers, they MAY have done other improper things to the gun, and that's why its a warning sign.
J.G. Terry
New member
Used rifles that may or may not be a good deal....
I have gotten some good deals on used rifles. I'd rather have a good used rifle as opposed to some of the current entry level rifles. You have left out one or two classes of used gun. First up is the one Bubba took apart. He lost parts or put'um back together wrong. Runs down to the LGS to make a trade. The other is a light weight magnum rifle. Item can be found with part box of factory cartridges. The magnum rifle can be a super deal. Former owner can be found hunched over using a cane with a half circle cut w/stitches above his right eye.
I have gotten some good deals on used rifles. I'd rather have a good used rifle as opposed to some of the current entry level rifles. You have left out one or two classes of used gun. First up is the one Bubba took apart. He lost parts or put'um back together wrong. Runs down to the LGS to make a trade. The other is a light weight magnum rifle. Item can be found with part box of factory cartridges. The magnum rifle can be a super deal. Former owner can be found hunched over using a cane with a half circle cut w/stitches above his right eye.
I think I've done reasonably well buying used rifles. I can only think of two that were unsalvageable dogs. One a Mauser milsurp conversion to .358 Win. that I never could get to shoot anything but patterns. Sold it as an action only deal for $50 more than I paid for it. I had it on my table at a gun show and a guy walked up, looked at it and said, "I'll go $250." I told him the barrel was no good and he said he wanted it for the action which was i great shape. He's happy and I ended up happy.
Tale of two guns. I was looking for Ruger #1 to get the action for a build I was considering. Found a #1B in 25-06 that looked like it was rode hard and put away wet. Price was reasonable so I bought it. Never having had a 25-06 I mounted a scope, bought a box of ammo and took it to the range. It was a tack driver. Guess I have to look for something else. Found another in 25-06 with a scope that was reasonably priced. Like like it'd never been shot, beautiful wood, what was not to like. It must have one of the bad barrels Ruger was plagued with as accuracy was nil.
Frankly, if I was looking for something in a used rifle, I'd scour the gun shows and look for a J.C. Higgins M50 or M51. They came in .270 Win. and 30-06. Not sure if it's really needed but I'd change the trigger to a Timney and never look back. The original stock may feel a bit clubby to a person with smaller hands but a talented person in working with wood can slim it down to what ever level of thinness he wants. I've owned several (still do) and I've not yet found one with a bad barrel. Make nice FN Mauser actions for a custom rifle as well. I made one into a nice European style 7x57 and it's a favorite rifle.
Paul B.
Tale of two guns. I was looking for Ruger #1 to get the action for a build I was considering. Found a #1B in 25-06 that looked like it was rode hard and put away wet. Price was reasonable so I bought it. Never having had a 25-06 I mounted a scope, bought a box of ammo and took it to the range. It was a tack driver. Guess I have to look for something else. Found another in 25-06 with a scope that was reasonably priced. Like like it'd never been shot, beautiful wood, what was not to like. It must have one of the bad barrels Ruger was plagued with as accuracy was nil.
Frankly, if I was looking for something in a used rifle, I'd scour the gun shows and look for a J.C. Higgins M50 or M51. They came in .270 Win. and 30-06. Not sure if it's really needed but I'd change the trigger to a Timney and never look back. The original stock may feel a bit clubby to a person with smaller hands but a talented person in working with wood can slim it down to what ever level of thinness he wants. I've owned several (still do) and I've not yet found one with a bad barrel. Make nice FN Mauser actions for a custom rifle as well. I made one into a nice European style 7x57 and it's a favorite rifle.
Paul B.