used handguns

yes there are posts on here as i described. Sure its mainly non teir one gun companies, but the thing is

when you have posts on here about how they dont like a gun because they feel the crane doesnt latch the way they think it should, theyll send it to the factory or have a local smith fix it so that it seems ok and then theyll trade it off or sell it to someone just to get rid of future problems and agravations they may have with it.

sure its not everyday, but these posts are here. i read to many posts on here so i cant go find them for you, you can search yourself. there was several in the last few months. all revolvers.

the nearest store that sells used handguns is about 350 miles away on the other end of the state. i cant afford to go there as its way way to incovenient and never open when im not working.
that leaves me 1 independent gun dealer, and 2 chain stores sellig handguns within 80 miles of my house. and if i want to purchase anything its at MSRP. and because its a chain store, i have to wait a few months to get anything because the individual stores are given a specific number of each type of weapon/caliber. and i dont want to wait that long before some other store gets that exact weapon in its allowed inventory.

however the big concern with used guns is "getting it fixed". seriously, not every company is good at honoring a warranty on a product that needs some work.
I dont know how many people cna afford to buy a 50 year old smith and wesson, or even a colt revolver, and then have to deal with "hey, the manufaturer no longer does warranty repair work on these guns, and its going to be at least another 600 dollars to get the gun fixed, and at least a 4 month wait list for the only 5 guys in north america who can do the work i need gun"
i see it now "gee maw', i bought this here 50 year old colt/sw revolver for 400 dollars, sure the cylinder falls out when i pull da trigger but itll only cost 800 to send it to this guy 900 miles away and 6 months for his backlog to get taken care of. Man those idiots who buy a brand new smith revolver for 800 bucks, i save half the price'
 
the point is man most of these used guns don't 'need fixed'

i've seen 2 other posters on here from my state, only 2 of them, and i have a magazine sitting next to me with probably 150 guns for sale in i think 6 of the counties that the paper covers

the posts on here don't come close to reflecting the majority of used gun sales out there

not to mention that i've seen posts from guys selling guns because they pinch their hand when they insert a magazine, or because the slide lock lever is too small, or because they hit the mag release when they're shooting

nothing is wrong with those pistols, they don't need 'fixed', they just didn't work for that particular person

the thing you seem to be missing is that most of these guns that get sold aren't broken, it's just that most of the guns that are broken get sold

if that makes sense to you
 
as the great Larry Potterfield said.

"they don't make them anymore"

would not have been able to pick up my S&W 5906 9mm (better that an ANY new 9mm in its price range) and my Ruger original Vaquero 45 colt if I only bought new.

As the people that had them before me did not get rid of them because they had problems. They got rid of them because they didn't have any sense:D
 
I've had as good luck buying used as I ever had buying new. Learn how to inspect a weapon, do your research on the make/model and its "track record", and ask the right questions of a seller... and you can't go wrong.

All guns are just machines, some work better than others.
 
i see it now "gee maw', i bought this here 50 year old colt/sw revolver for 400 dollars, sure the cylinder falls out when i pull da trigger but itll only cost 800 to send it to this guy 900 miles away and 6 months for his backlog to get taken care of. Man those idiots who buy a brand new smith revolver for 800 bucks, i save half the price
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Yup. Please spread the word. Leave those old Colts and 5-screw Smiths in the pawn shop where they belong. (I'll stand a better chance of finding them that way. :D)
 
I've had as good luck buying used as I ever had buying new. Learn how to inspect a weapon, do your research on the make/model and its "track record", and ask the right questions of a seller... and you can't go wrong.
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I am in total agreement with the above quote. I carry a Colt Agent much of the time that was made in the 70's. I own a new Charter Arms Undercover that has been a great little gun so far but the Agent finds it's way into the rotation because of the extra round.
I picked up a 3913 last week that is amazingly accurate and fits my hands well.
It too will find carry time this winter.
Having said that I still enjoy buying new guns. Well actually I just enjoy buying and shooting guns. lol
 
The reason a lot of us recommend a used gun for a newbie is because all to often, what you think you like in that first handgun turns out not to be so after you've experienced it for a while. A used gun at least allows you to get roughly the same money out that you put in. In the case of something like a S&W Revolver (pre lock, pre MIM) or Ruger Six Series, often you may even be able to make a little money.

Buy a new Taurus or used Charter OTH, and you will probably take a bit of a beating if you sell it a short while later.

To use cars as an example, it is like buying a used Honda or a brand new Kia. You can buy the used Honda and sell it a year later for about what you paid for it. A new KIA? Not so much.

To continue the car analogy, I think a lot of people equate a used 20 year old gun to a used 20 year old car. Not the same thing. Guns just aren't that complicated, and if they've been abused you can nearly always tell.

I remember seeing a fellow on THR about 6 years ago who was nervous because his Sig was 7 years old and had 2500 rounds on it :p .
 
I 100% agree with the OP? Seriously why buy an OLD shoddy weapon by Colt S&W or Ruger? Pass on those piles of junk. Hopefully the obscene prices they want for them will go down, allowing us delirious buyers of these weapons to finally get them off the streets!

Especially when a quality NEW firearm can be had for less from Taurus or Charter arms! I can't believe I've never thought of this before...
 
The way I see it is there are so many wonderful used (not abused , or even fired much) guns on the used gun market is because most think they have to have the latest and greatest plastic wonder-pistol to be cool.

But it has been my experience that so many of todays new guns have 'issues' , from bad design , inadequate testing before release , 'new & improved' (re: cheaper to manufacture) , poor quality control , inferior sub-contractor supplied parts , and others.

I've already sent a brand new Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter back with so many issues , that the factory agreed it should have never left the factory , and sent me a new replacement.

But for guys like me who love the older vintage stuff , it's great. Many are trading in those beautiful old Colts , S&Ws , and other great guns that they think are obsolete.

Seems like every weekend when I'm out scouring the local gun shops , I'm finding like new-in-box classics that some nimrod inherited from Dad or Grandpa , and traded in for a Glock.
 
I just do not understand why a few members are putting down the Pre-Owned Charter Arms or Taurus Revolvers.
I have always had good luck with a pre-owned Charter Arms 2" snubs in .38 special caliber.. Especially the older guns. For the little money spent, that is one fine quality American made revolver.
It's an ideal, simple, and effective handgun caliber for the first time gun buyer.
 
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hey, why should i overlook ayoob when he recommends the taurus model 85 line to first time buyers because of the low cost and good quality and reliability? seriously, the guy makes his living selling seminars and training courses. hes considered extremely reliable, and everyone says that i should always follow his recommendations in weapons and ammo when it comes to self defense issues, why would i violate that "rule" and not get a low cost weapon that he personally recommendsand actually used himself?



i dont know about you, but lots of people prefer starting out with a virgin gun then with a used one. its alot like paying extra at the gunstore to get a rifle that accomodates your love of iron sights.
 
everyone says that i should always follow his recommendations in weapons and ammo when it comes to self defense issues, why would i violate that "rule" and not get a low cost weapon that he personally recommendsand actually used himself?
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The Taurus 85s are nice guns. Though of course so are many equivalents from S&W and Ruger. As long as the gun passes the checkout procedure, you very likely can't go wrong. New or used. So I'd go with whatever feels best to you (balance, weight, sights, trigger, controls, etc) and fits into your budget.
 
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finally we have some independents coming in now. exactly as i wanted.


i know some say chuck taurus and the like, and spend twice as much on a 60 year old smith or colt, but as the previous poster admits, if its mechanically sound and you like it in your hand buy it.

so if thats the great caveat given to women shooters so the big mean men wont make the little women buy desert eagles or sawed off shotguns for the purse, why cant EVERYONE be able to follow that advice?
 
wait, so you're basically saying that it makes more sense to buy a new Taurus than a used Colt?

that's like saying it makes more sense to buy a new Hyundai than a used Mercedes for the same price....

sure, the Hyundai might be new and shiny, and it might even function very well and be very attractive to you

but just because the Mercedes is 5 years old with one previous owner doesn't mean it doesn't function very well and isn't a better made vehicle
 
Buying used is good, just picked up a 92fs for $420 like new less than 500 rounds, barrel is mint. Buy from people who hold conceal permits.

New at local gunstores cost $600 no thanks. saved $180 I could put that down on 500+ rounds or just save it.


go buy a charter or taurus for 500 bucks and save frustratrion from a wandering zero?
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what? crazy? $500 for charter/taurus? no! :eek:

I wouldn't want to buy a used revolver, timing problems, autos are fine and rifles, depends on the shotgun.
 
I own all three makes in my revolver collection, plus others. Out of the 18 revolvers I own, 3 were purchased new and 15 were used. I've bought (in the past, in my less educated days) new and used guns with problems. I've also passed on new and used with obvious problems.

As for individual makes, I've passed on used examples most frequently (by brand) because:

S&W: Most common reason I pass on used ones is price. They are often priced like a 1st gen Colt SAA in my area. I've seen every day Model 10-7s priced at $675, 686s for $800 and x42s for $550 (no crimson trace). Most pass the checkout with flying colors, but like I said, they are priced like they are made out of gold. I do find great deals now and then though.

Rugers: Most often beat to total crap by the previous owner(s). This may have to do with Ruger's image of supposed "indestructibility", which I think must be taken as a dare to most people around here. Most Rugers that turn up used in my area show signs of massive abuse from atomic hand loads (hairline forcing cone cracks, loose wobbly cylinders ... yes, it can be done to a Ruger).

Taurus: Inconsistent quality, even in new guns. Some are great and some are total crap. Most common problems I see are out of wack b/c gap (either way too tight or way too loose) and wobbly rear sight assemblies on adjustable sight models. And some models in my area are priced the same as S&W equivalents (used Taurus 66s are frequently priced at $450 or so where I live).

In the end, the crappiest, most screwed up revolver I ever bought was new (my fault). Go figure. Moral of the story is to check out both new and used carefully.

BTW, Tauri's Customer "Dis" Service Dept is almost useless, at least when I dealed with them in '06. Maybe they've gotten better now. When I buy a Taurus (got a fantastic 3" Taurus 431 in .44 Spl right now), I don't even consider the lifetime warranty. If there is ever a problem, I'll just take it to a local gunsmith. At least he's polite, and he won't screw up the gun even more than it already was - ask me how I know this :mad: .
 
I buy mostly used gun, then sell or trade them when I get bored or want to try some thing different. As far as Taurus, 1 out of 3 were bad and the 2 Charters were OK. When a gun is sold or traded the buyer is given 30 days to bring it back for what ever reason. By buying used I can try a lot of different guns and not louse too much money. There has only been a few times that I got a gun that needed fixed, I have learned form those mistakes. For a person new to firearms, buying new, quality guns from a store may be the beast way to go. :rolleyes:
 
Newton24b,

I have to ask if you are not going to listen to the answers given why as a question.

The point that you are missing is that most guns do not get shot much at all. I believe that most guns bought in the US never see 1000 rounds down the pipe. Most guns that are sold are not sold because of failure they are sold because they are not used enough to justify keeping.

A lot of experienced shooters understand this fact and taken advantage of that truth when buying guns. You do not have to take this approach but why do you need to argue against others who do and have had success buying used?
 
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?
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Where did all these broken guns come from?
They were new guns that had problems.

Why did you leave Taurus/Charter out of you list of used guns?
 
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