Getting guns both new and used is a viable way to buy them. There are benefits to both methods and neither one is wrong.
Some people may be scared to buy a used gun. There is more risk when buying a used gun, but if you follow the advice given in this article, then you can get some great deals.
We will cover some tips that you should follow when buying a used gun. After reading this you will be able to buy a used gun without any issues.
1. Buy from the right place.
The first tip to follow when buying used guns is to buy from the right place.
There are four main ways you can buy guns these days. The internet, from a gun shop, at a gun show, and from an individual in person. All these methods have their benefits and disadvantages none are wrong, but some require more caution than others.
Internet
We will start with buying used guns online. The great thing about buying online is that you have a very large selection to choose from. You can buy from coast to coast and this large selection can allow you to get some great deals.
Buying online though you need to make sure you are buying from a reputable place. If it is a dealer’s website, you can trust that the gun is not dirty, but if you are just buying on a random site, then you need to do your research on the gun and its numbers. Check the numbers is an important step for a few of the methods of buying.
Another good thing about buying online, is you can determine the value of a gun pretty quickly. You can look for similar ones that sold and see what they brought. This way you can know if you are getting a good deal or not.
You got to be careful with the ones way below market though because ones that may seem like a deal might not be. This is because online you can’t see the condition of the gun. You just have to go by the pictures and they won’t always tell everything.
Also, buying online you can’t get a feel for the gun. Online is still a great way to research guns and learn values to help when buying in other methods.
You also can buy the best scope for AR-15 on the internet, and on Amazon too.
From a gun shop or gun show.
I will lump these two together because they are similar.
The downside to buying from a shop or show is you will most likely pay full market value.
The benefit that you get from this though is that you can check the gun’s condition in hand.
This is very important. Also, a lot of shops will let you fire the gun first to see how it feels, and if you like it.
Buying from a show or shop is a great way for a beginner to get into buying a new gun because you can check it out and most of the time the person selling it will be reputable. They should also be licensed to sell used guns which means you won’t have to worry about getting ones that have been used in crimes.
Person to Person
The last method we will talk about for buying guns is person to person.
This comes with the most risk for getting a gun that has been used for illegal activities, so be sure to check the serial numbers in databases and make sure it is registered to the person you are buying it from. You can follow How To Check If A Gun Is Stolen to know more specific.
The good thing about buying from an individual though is that you can see the gun in person and exam the condition, but you still may be able to get a good deal like the online prices. The seller may not know the full value or have a way to get the full value for the gun and will take less than it is worth. If you know the value you can get a great deal on a gun that you have been wanting or resell it to make some extra money.
2. Condition
The next thing to consider when buying a used gun besides where you are buying it is the condition of the gun. This has already been mentioned, but the condition is key. The condition is a big part of its value, and a gun that can fire safely is worth a lot more than a gun that won’t fire. When checking the condition you want to exam all parts of the gun.
Key things to look for when checking a gun for its condition are cracks and rust. You don’t want the moving parts to be rusty and you don’t want the barrel or other parts to be cracked. If you are on a budget, then a gripe that is cracked or rusty screws may be okay to you, but you want to make sure to give the gun a good look over. You also, want to make sure the end of the gun is round where the bullet comes out and that the barrel is straight and not dented up.
Tied into the condition is if the gun fires or not. Try to buy a used gun that you are able to fire first. By firing the gun you can make sure that it is working properly and that nothing unexpected happens. Most good shops will let you fire the gun and most people selling a used gun will know that the person looking at it will want to fire it.
Also, one last thing when examining the guns is if it has any aftermarket parts installed make sure that they are installed correctly. If they are not installed correctly fix this before firing and also remember that because it means they might not have the rest of the gun put back together properly.
3. Ask Questions
The next thing to do is ask as many questions as you want. Ask the history of the gun, why they are selling it, and anything else that will help you with making a good decision. By asking questions you can figure out if the seller is for real and also learn any problems that they know about. If you are considering meeting someone from an online place, then starting with questions can help you determine if you want to meet or not to look at the gun.
Also, when asking questions it is good to learn if the gun has a warranty or return policy. If it does, then that will help give you some peace of mind if something goes wrong. This is especially helpful if you are buying sight unseen from somewhere online.
4. Reviews
The last thing to consider when buying a used gun is the reviews of it. Do a fast online search and see if others like it. You can also do a search on the person you are buying it from to see if they have a good reputation. Reviews aren’t everything though. If you think you will like the gun, then even if most don’t, you should still buy it if it is what you want.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you should now be able to buy a used gun and come out with a good one. Sometimes the only way you can get a certain gun is used, so by being scared to buy a used gun it may limit you from getting the gun of your dreams. Just be sure to consider where you are buying the used gun from and do your research. Exam the gun well if you can and ask as many questions as you need to to make yourself comfortable with the purchase. Buying a used gun can be scary, but it can allow you to get some great deals.
