used handguns

Well, ideally you should probably have someone that knows what they are looking at (your shooting buddy, mentor, trainer, whatever) go with you your first time out buying be it new or used to ensure that you don't do something dumb or get screwed.

How many people bought what they thought they liked the first time out and either ended up not liking it at all once they started using it? Or discovered that the hi-cap auto with a pistol bayonet on the lug that looked so darn awesome on the shelf at the store was a complete and total waste of money or a complete and total piece of crap?
 
why is it that everyone says "buy a used handgun" for your first gun?
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Not everyone says this. I don't. At least not for semi-autos. Too many little things that might not be right for a newbie to worry about. Once you get a bit of experience, that's different. In addition, there are plenty of new semi-autos out there that are both reliable and moderately priced that you shouldn't have to go the used route.

Revolvers can have issues as well but, if you stick to SW or Ruger, the chances of a problem are pretty small and they'll normally take care of them even if you're not the original purchaser. As another poster pointed out, police trade-ins are a good bet because they should be inspected by an armorer.
 
a good quality recognized name popular model such as a Colt or S&W even with problems is more valuable than a new POS.
 
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.
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Seriously? Your saying that most used guns are unusable and need fixing?

The firearm I bought brand new was a Bushmaster AR15 and a Mossberg shotgun. All of my hand guns are used ... and every single one of them worked perfectly when I purchased them. I have never seen a used handgun under glass at a gun store that ever needed work to make it usable.
 
may I make the observation that, if someone is getting burned with that many crappy used guns ie. 90% or whatever, that perhaps he/she has no clue about firearms. Seriously, how hard is it to NOT buy a gun that needs major gunsmithing work to function. Small little problems that develop later, or problems that can only be found when you shoot the gun ie. FTE, FTF is one thing. But you should be able to tell if the gun is obviously f'ed up :rolleyes:
 
Virtually all of my firearms, handguns, rifles and shotguns, have been purchased used.

In many cases, it's the only way I can get the features that I want because often what I'm interested in isn't the latest gee whiz trendy crap like integrated lights and lasers and doppler radar and crapatinny rails and lots of BOPOS.
 
I've sold 4 guns in the last year and only one was because I thought it was crap. It was a Taurus PT709 and I told the guy buying exactly how I felt. All the others were sold to fund new gun purchases or because I bought the gun on impulse (anybody else do that?) and decided I didnt want it.
 
7-800 for a used smith, ruger, colt revolver that most likely needs important maintenance needs in the box, instead of saying
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If you spend that much for a used Colt, Ruger, or Smith it should be in perfect working order, if its' not shame on you. Until you get into collector grade or interest grade revolvers there are lots of quality used handguns on the market in the $400.00 - $600.00 price range.
 
I was wondering the same thing, and had everything except the "bolt on" part.

Received a Christmas card one time that was a drawing of Santa, his sleigh and reindeer, and an outhouse, all in a horrible crash. The caption was, "Rudolph, you dummy, I said the Schmidt house."
 
I buy used.... but I also know what to look for. That being said... stick to QUALITY makes... and a reputable shop and you should be good to go.

Side note.. I would not look at Taurus or Charter... I would look at Ruger or SW for a revo.
 
There is a risk, I have read a lot of posts that went something like "I could not get it to shoot/work adn I sold it"/ Someone got a junker (that maybe could be fixed but.....

So, you look at why, the condition etc and make your decision accordingly.

There are a lot of guns that are for sale for a plethora of reasons that are just fine. I sold 2 lately that were just fine, I do not hunt big game anymore nor do I go after waterfowl. Good reasons to move them on and use the money for something else.

I have one I am selling because I won't use it like I expected, runs fine, excellent gun but will be moved on.

You can also get a gun that does not work or fails that is new or very new.

Advantage to buying either form companies with good servcie records and customer response as well as lifetime warranties.
 
Most of my 50 or so handguns were purchased used, largely because they stopped making most of the guns I'm interested in owning many years ago. If you learn how to look a used gun over (and it's not rocket science) you can usually get a better gun for less money than buying new, and I've never had one that I would consider a clunker.
 
Like in anything ....if you're buying used ....you have to know what you're looking at .../ if you don't want to take the time to do that - and learn - then you shouldn't be buying used / or you need to understand that you are putting all your trust in the seller.

Some gun shops that sell used guns ...have no warranty / they don't clean them, they don't fire them, etc ...so when you buy, it is on an "as is" basis. You have to know the deal...when you go into it ...and what will happen if there is an issue with the gun.

Yes, some guys sell guns with issues --- and its sad ---but it is what it is.
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Yet I still buy a lot of used guns ...but I know the risks / and I do everything I can to check the gun before I buy...

If its a gun, I'm really going to keep a long time...I'm even more careful / and have occasionally, paid a gunsmith to check it first ...if I found something I was not sure about / or just passed on the gun until I could research it more.

but equating a general discussion on used guns to buying a charter or taurus ...which I consider the bottom of the heap in terms of quality ..is patently absurd. There is nothing that charter of taurus makes - at any price - that is going to find its way into my hands or my safe.../ where I'll happily pay $ 3,000 for a semi-custom 1911 if I want it ...

I have no personal interest in bottom feeding ...for my handguns...from mfg's that I consider less than a decent quality level / even if they do go bang ...and I will continue to have a great time shopping used gun stores and gunshows ...for something unique that I want to add to my collection !
 
Mike Irwin said:
Virtually all of my firearms, handguns, rifles and shotguns, have been purchased used.
In many cases, it's the only way I can get the features that I want because often what I'm interested in isn't the latest gee whiz trendy crap ...
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for years now this also describes me. And in addition to no interest in stuff developed more recently, I also don't appreciate politically motivated 'safety' devices and I also prefer the older methods of making metal parts.
 
I've bought lots of guns new and used, I haven't found that the "batting average" is really any different between the two. On two occasions I've sold guns that did have actual problems (one I bought NIB, the other I bought used), but I disclosed/described these problems fully and sold the firearms in question at well below average price. I could not and would not in good conscience do anything otherwise. Everything else I've ever sold was because I didn't like it, got bored of it, wanted to consolidate calibers, occasionally had a sudden financial need, etc.

I think most people are the same way. There are tons of less nefarious reasons than wanting to unload junk on an unsuspecting buyer when someone decides to sell/trade their gun.
 
I've bought new. . . .and probably won't again unless I'm getting something really special. There's a lot of beat up used guns out there but there's also alot of good ones too at much better prices.

How many guys on this site to you hear talking about the guns they let go? I'm sure most were in fine shape when they went to a new home.
 
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.
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What he said.

In fact the only handgun I've bought that wasn't right was purchased new while I've bought several used handguns that were in excellent working condition.
 
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