What is your opinion on buying used guns. Do you own any?

Used guns can, and usually are, great values.
Pawn shops are your friends and 'green' friendly. Most guns in pawn shops are there because the former owners needed money. Not because the gun had problems.
 
Most guns are those wonderful items that will work fine after 100 years or more if they're cared for properly. I know many people who almost never buy new guns, and I can't blame them - you're really not getting any less for your money. I would never have bought my H&K P2000 new, but used the price was more reasonable. Lever guns and bolt-actions are practically guaranteed good-buys regardless of age as long as the bores look good. Semis are more complicated so there is more to go wrong, but particularly if the gun shop is good on customer service, they'll work with you to figure out a solution if a used purchase isn't working right. Most shops test-fire their used guns before putting them up for sale, I believe. Nope, I wouldn't hesitate to buy used! After all, the best bang-for-your-buck guns in the world are milsurps, some of which have seen front-line action. :D
 
Reading your comments tells me I should not pass up a good deal on a used gun. I routinely find Sig P239 .40 for $525 in excellent condition. Last Thursday they had a Walther P99 for 369 and I though it had more than 300 rounds thru it. USP for 519 and even a CZ target SA for 469.

The only thing stopping me is that I am waiting for a 1911 but people don't seem to want to trade those in. They had a new looking Wilson Combat Sentinel but that was too rich for me.
 
I currently have about 20 semi-autos ( primarily 1911's-Kimber, Wilson, Baer and Brown and a few Sigs - 226/239's ) and about 25 S&W revolvers(all older models)...

In the semi-autos I have purchased about 5 used / and in revolvers - they are almost all used.

I make it part of my hobby to really understand the weapons I'm interested in - like 1911's and Sigs ...so its easy to tell if a gun has been abused or neglected - so I can make what I consider a fair offer on it. Same thing on my revolvers - model 19's, K-22, 27's, 28's, 29's, 66's, 686's, 629's, 617 ...

and I've never been burned on anything / but I've also passed on guns where I wasn't sure ...and just said, ok, there will be another one down the road / and there always seems to be. Part of it I've me / is trying to deal with a good local shop - that does some evaluation on the used weapons they sell as well ....and sometimes, its the fun of the hunt - for a certain model I really want ( like I want another model 27-2 S&W 4" in Nickel ...) ... I've passed on some at the gun shows / still keeping my eyes open.
 
I used to think modern technology had to be better in firearms, but then I started going to gun shows and learning and now it's a rare new gun that has any interest for me. For my favorite kinds of guns, the newer ones have politically motivated "improvements" that I will not own if I can get what I want without. Lever guns don't need safeties, and revolvers don't need locks.
So it became my business to learn how to pick good examples from the used guns, so that's what I do.

Trust my life to a used gun? I won't trust my life to any gun without first examining it, new guns aren't immune to malfunction or poor design. And being used does not make a good design less reliable, once you verify it's integrity.
 
I love used and new guns alike. Both make me ecstatic. Used guns because I like a challenge..and have a great gunsmith. New guns because they're like having kids I guess....Closest thing to me having kids...Besides the pet rabbit my girlfriend and I have.

lol really, used guns are not an issue. As long as you know what to look for and know your prices.
 
I've also bought a couple of Makarov's online and have had good luck.
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Yeah, how are you gonna get peachy deals like these little Maks if ya don't buy used? jd
 
I've bought and sold many used guns over the years. Some to shoot, some to rebuild and some as collectables. I have only had one used gun fail in the forty years I've been doing this. I'd say do it, but with caution.
 
Viper99
What is your opinion on buying used guns. Do you own any?
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80% of my guns are previously owned guns. The following are my personal rules...

- Stick with top tier makes.
- When buying over the 'net, the seller must have 99%+ positive feedback on similar merchandise and a good deal of transactions.
- Police trades are probably the BEST value around. Usually carried a lot, shot very little aside from qualification.

Most previously used firearms still have 90%+ of their lives left. Outside of people in these types of forums, most people don't shoot their firearms often. Top tier firearms (barring lemons) can usually outlast the shooter unless abused.
 
This may sound backwards but I have had more problems with new guns that I bought than the used ones. Maybe's it a break-in factor or maybe the original owner fixed the problems or maybe it is because after doing a little homeowrk the used gun I bought had a very good reputation for quality, reliability, and accuracy for some period of time.

Or maybe I'm a tightwad or gunnut who likes to shoot lots of different guns?
 
Almost all of my handguns are used.

The last NIB handgun I purchased was, IIRC, an EAA Witness in 10mm back around 1999.

Since then I've added nearly 20 handguns to my collection - all have been used.

In my case, with my love for older Smith & Wesson revolvers, it's almost impossible to get the guns I want NIB. Even if they are truly NIB, they're old enough that they really should be considered used.
 
For most modern firearms, I'm perfectly happy buying used. I'm a little more wary of a used 1911 because so many people like to tinker with them that I feel less confident that it's in factory or near-factory condition. I'd be wary of one of the "airweight" or similar revolvers built with the lightweight alloys that aren't necessarily designed to fire thousands and thousands of rounds.

In general, I wouldn't buy a gun that I don't think will stand up to ordinary use; and I wouldn't buy a gun that showed signs of amateur gunsmithing or random mall-ninja parts replacement, unless I personally know and trust the former owner.
 
My experiences

Here's my used gun experiences.

a) First gun, Ruger Mk. II Target. Great gun. Accurate, reliable, and it was not even broken in yet when I bought it. This is my favorite handgun. Highly recommended.

b) Bought a used SKS. They're a lot of fun, but they don't seem to be very accurate. This is pretty much accepted for these and AK-47s. Bought it for $125, sold it to a buddy for $100.

c) Bought a used S&W 64. Something was jacked up with it, the cylinder didn't want to come loose. Re-sold it at a loss. Didn't want to have to pay and wait for it to be fixed. It wasn't very accurate either, no matter what I did. I think it was a police trade-in from CDNN Investments.

d) Bought a used S&W 29. (44 Mag, 8-3/8" barrel) Great gun. But it shot loose with magnum loads. Sold it to break even and bought a Ruger Redhawk.

e) Ruger Redhawk Hunter, 7-1/2" barrel, 44 Mag. Ruger had a manufacturing defect in the 80s in which the barrel metal was damaged from using a bad barrel lube when the barrel was machine-tightened into the frame. On my first shot, the barrel broke off and tumbled downrange. With the scope attached. The scope (Leupold 4x) was undamaged physically, but picked up a scratch. I sent the gun back to Ruger with a letter telling them what happened. They replaced the barrel and sent it back. No charge. This is probably my second favorite handgun. VERY accurate, and easy to shoot with light hand loads. I can shoot 2-3" groups at 25 yds. with it all day long, and I'm sure the gun is capable of better. I think I paid about $450 for this, including the Leupold scope. The guns alone now have an MSRP of around $750. It was a good buy.

f) Marlin 39M. (carbine, straight-stocked version of the famous 39A, lever action 22) The lever was a little loose, but the gun has a lot of character and is very accurate and reliable. I love the break-down option. I think I paid $400 for this.

g) Taurus PT-92. This is a previous generation Beretta 92. It had the frame-mounted safety. Great gun, very accurate, reliable, and comfortable. I paid $300 for it. Sold it for $350 to raise money for a Glock 34. (competition 9mm model) Should not have sold this one; it was a far superior gun to the Glock, IMO. (more comfortable, more accurate) I'd buy another one of these in a New York Second, if I were in the market for a full size 9mm.

h) Bersa 383 (380 Walther PPK/S "homage") - Bought this off a friend for $100. I couldn't talk him out of his Makarov, so I "settled" for this. But this is the superior gun, IMO, even if it doesn't have the cult following of the Mak. The trigger's better, the sights are better, it is a more comfortable grip (kind of like a tiny Beretta 92) and ammo is easier to find locally. Fantastic gun; maybe my best used purchase. This was the predecessor to the "Thunder" 380s they make now. It is pretty much the same, but the mags are different and are a bitch to find now.

My bottom line is not to buy a used revolver sight-unseen, unless it is from a trusted source. Maybe autos are no different, but that has not been my experience. It seems like any hack (like Taurus) can make a decent auto, but revolvers are harder to get right and keep right. There's no such thing as timing issues on an auto, and lock-up is a lot simpler.
 
My only used gun right now is a MK III target stainless that I pick up at my lgs for $243 out the door. Mint condition. It is that gun that got me thinking that maybe I am missing out by not taking used guns seriously before.

Now? that is the first thing I check when at the store.
 
Trust my life to a used gun? I won't trust my life to any gun without first examining it, new guns aren't immune to malfunction or poor design. And being used does not make a good design less reliable, once you verify it's integrity.
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Thank you, Idahoser. Well put.

I prefer when gunmakers determine the direction of a company rather than shareholders wanting bigger dividend checks as there are less cost cutting measures involved. I prefer the older ones made with more TLC. Of course, one should be an informed consumer so one doesn't get stuck with someone else's problem. I always buy used and have never regretted it.

I mean, really, is a new Marlin 60 a better gun than a solid, old Glenfield? How about a new S&W Model 10 "Classic" compared to one from 1966?*

I can get a nice, solid steel 50 year old H&R .22 revolver for $150 almost anywhere online. Will those new Neos or Plinkertons or Rough Riders still be shooting in 50 years? Carl Walther would probably cry in his grave if he saw his name on a zinc gun like the P22 and I'll wager that my 50 year old beaters will still be shooting 50 years from now. For some reason, my '62 Valiant came to mind just now....

Thank you for letting me vent.

* I find it very telling that what was once their plain jane service revolver is now being marketed in their Classic line as something above and beyond. It seems that what was once regular is now special....
 
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I say a good 60% of my collection was bought used. I used to buy only new. Then woke up to fact many great guns in used market and many aren't that used.
 
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