used handguns

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Newton24b

Moderator
heres a question that really gets some interest.

why is it that everyone says "buy a used handgun" for your first gun?

seriously, so many used guns on the market are being sold off because the owner doesnt want to , or be able to afford, gunsmithing work to make that weapon usable.

ie, parts not right, shaving lead, lots of small things that maek a gun less accurate should be avoided, so why is the general consensus to pay 7-800 for a used smith, ruger, colt revolver that most likely needs important maintenance needs in the box, instead of saying

go buy a charter or taurus for 500 bucks and save frustratrion from a wandering zero?
 
I will quote Charles Goodnight in 'Streets of Laredo'

"This is a pointless conversation"

Then he rides off.
 
I don't think so. While I agree that a person can hardly go wrong buying a factory-new quality firearm, I have found buying used to be relatively risk-free.

I have bought many a used gun in the past and have rarely had reason to regret it.

Do your homework and you can often get a bargain on a much better quality firearm than if you pay for new.

I believe it is rare for a seller to be trying to unload a problem on an unsuspecting buyer.

For the most part, gun owners, sellers, and collectors are, IMHO, pretty honest. At least I've found that to be true over years of buying used from both FFLs and from other private owners.

YMMV, but used can be a bargain and, if a person is new to firearms, it can give them an opportunity to try more than one platform before settling.

Best,

Will
 
Wrong premise....IMHO 99% of guns being sold on the used market are because the owner does not like them, shoot them enough or is in economic distress.

I have bought 80% of my collection used and have been stuck with 1 used count that 1 gun that did not function as advertised. The sad part is I have bought more NIB guns that have not functioned then used guns that did not function properly.

If you know what to look for and you buy smart you will be able to get bargains by buying used guns. YMMV.
 
A Charter or Taurus for $500.00 Dollars ????

Where?????...So I know never to shop there.

I can buy Charter Arms or Taurus Revolvers on gunbroker.com or on auctionarms.com way less than that.....NEW
 
I picked up a used Glock 34 with a nice trigger kit and Dawson sights - it's been great.

I also had a lot of confidence that if anything went wrong with a Glock - that Glock could and would fix it.
 
It is my opinion that about 70% of used guns in the counter (and on the rack) are there because someone reads a lot of gun magazines and thinks they gotta have a featured item. The article made it look good and the pics made it look better; then our stalwart sees one at his local FFL and the old gun goes in on the trade. T

If my experience is any indication, you'll almost always get a good used gun. Heck I have had more trouble with new purchases than I ever did with used guns.
 
hmm

Is it a fact that guns are most often sold for because of a maintnance need? I was unaware of this. I hear alot about police trade ins etc. I have never heard about a used firearm being damaged prior to its sale. Not saying it doesnt happen. My normal reccomendation would sound like this. " Better to have a used ruger than a new high point" Then again if a high point is all a man can afford to spend on home protection so be it good for him that he has anything at all.
 
My first gun purchase was only $250.00. It was a used LEO trade in. This Model 10 did not appear to have many rounds fired from it - no scratches - looked brand new! Added the Crimson Trace grips and they were a bargain also - this last July CT offered $50.00 rebates so I installed them on the model 10 and a Ruger GP100. Ain't nothing wrong with buying used!
 

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Gun are very simple machines.
If they were well made to begin with the odds are that they will still be good used.
The main problems with used guns is neglect and operator error. So if a gun is clean and rust free it's probably going to be ok. If it doesn't have obvious damage, that's a good sign as well.
Work the action and if possible break the semis down. If they function well the odds are that they'll continue to do so

There is a revolver check sticky on the revolver page that goes into detail on checking revolvers for function.

I have only bought one gun new, All of the guns I've owned have worked fine. I guess I'm just lucky.
 
Used Guns

Buy preowned at a reputable firearms dealer that has a gunsmith in the back room. Selling a defective weapon is not in there best interest. Used police guns are checked over by the armorer on site at the department. When they are traded on new, the wholesaler checks them again before resale. New firearms can have a defect, this is where a warranty comes in handy. :)
 
i don't think there's near as many people unloading broken firearms as you want to suggest

like someone else said, it's more people who just didn't like the gun for various reasons

yes, there are shady people doing shady things, but for the $300-$400 you're saving by buying a used gun, you can kind of afford to take that chance
 
Newton24b said:
seriously, so many used guns on the market are being sold off because the owner doesnt want to , or be able to afford, gunsmithing work to make that weapon usable.

...

go buy a charter or taurus for 500 bucks and save frustratrion from a wandering zero?
Click to expand...
In one paragraph you offer the unsupported (and IMHO erroneous) proposition that ALL used guns for sale are broken and require expensive gunsmithing to be returned to usable condition ...

And then you follow up with the preposterous supposition that a new gun from Charter Arms or (cough) TAURUS! has a better than 50/50 chancce of working out of the box. have you EVER tried to reach Taurus customer service by telephone?

There is a logical disconnect in your argument.
 
I have yet to see a used revolver (that isn't collectable/rare) go for $700-$800. Buying used saves you money up front. Plus, you get a gun that's already been "broken in". And, since you bought it used, you can sell it for the same price if you decide you don't like it. Heck, you may even turn a profit.
 
I almost never buy new, in fact the only gun I've had that had problems with FTF, FTE was with a new gun. I'm a semi broke 20 something, and I can't afford to own all the guns I have my eye on. So I do what my wife refers to as "renting" guns. Buy one I like, use it and enjoy for a while, then when something else comes along that I also like, I'll sell/trade the other gun to pay for the next one. While I probably have about 7 or 8 guns at any one time, I have cycled through about 20 in the last 3 years.

The key to getting a good used firearm, is to have the knowledge and wisdom to look over and thoroughly examine any used gun you are thinking about purchasing. Don't go rushing in headlong to buy like some starving dog chasing a meat truck.
I usually buy milsurp or police trade-in, because I can look past the finish wear, and focus on the internals and bore. This allows me to obtain a quality firearm that I otherwise couldn't afford, at a reasonable price.
 
Your glass seems half full, my friend. My experience has been just the opposite of what you describe.

Half my guns were purchased used. In fact, at any gun store I check out the used section before I look at the new section. Many used guns were very lightly shot and are a great value. Someone bought it, shot it twice and it sat in a drawer for 3 years. Or someone bought it and Momma doesn't like it, so they sell it. Or they need the cash.

If you know what to look for in used revolvers and used semi-automatics you'll find some great deals. I've never regretted any of my used gun purchases.
 
2 years ago you couldn't find ammo for a reasonable price or couldn't find it at all.
380 being one of the hardest to find.
I have since been finding some nice compact 380's used that look like they were never shot for a bargain prices. They probably were seldom shot. Yes 380 ammo costs more but the price of the ammo is made up for by the discount price of the gun IMO. I now have guns I would never had paid retail for.

My LGD gives you 30 days to try them out and return it for something else if they don't function properly. So far I have not had to return any of them. Used is a great way to go.
 
One of my first handguns was a used 1960s-vintage S&W Model 10 .38Spl revolver that I bought for $180.

The finish is worn, it came with the ugliest and most beat-up wood grips imaginable, and a former owner carved his/her initials into the sideplate and thereby ruined the collectible value.

It's also an absolute tackdriver with the silky smooth DA trigger that old S&W K frames are known for. :D

OK, to be fair, I had one problem with it. It had a few light strikes and I discovered that a former owner had filed down the strain screw to lighten the trigger pull (unfortunately common). S&W sent me a new strain screw for free. Problem solved. :)
IMHO 99% of guns being sold on the used market are because the owner does not like them, shoot them enough or is in economic distress.
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I would put the figure at more like 90%, but most of the 10% are easy to spot if you have basic mechanical skills. Most of the problems are obvious.
 
so why is the general consensus to pay 7-800 for a used smith, ruger, colt revolver that most likely needs important maintenance needs in the box, instead of saying

go buy a charter or taurus for 500 bucks and save frustratrion from a wandering zero?
Click to expand...

Because the Smith, Colt, etc probably WON'T need gunsmithing before the charter arms, taurus, etc.

Besides, (and I admit it's been a while) last time I looked, used S&W's weren't bringing 7-800 dollars. That's about what new one's cost (again, last time I looked). In fact, last time I looked at a J-frame, they were quite a bit cheaper than that.

Daryl
 
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