Make Sure You Check this Before Buying a Used Gun: 10 Things to Consider
Buying a used gun is an easy task for an experienced gun owner. However, for the new gun owner it may be intimidating and a not so easy task.
I know a guy who went to a local pawn shop and bought two guns. He was so proud of his purchases and wanted to show them to my dad. Afterall, the shop owner told him he was getting a great deal. My father was horrified when he saw them! He told the guy if he paid more than $200 for the two of them, he overpaid. The guy spent $600! My dad decided to help the guy out and clean up all of the rust, fix the cracks in the stock and fix a couple of the moving parts for free. Had he taken the guns to a gunsmith they would have charged hundreds of dollars getting the guns in working condition.
The last thing you want to do is buy someone else's problem. If you want to avoid making the same mistake there are many things you need to know before making your purchase.
10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Used Gun.
1. What types of guns are legal in your area .
Check your local laws to make sure the type of gun you want is legal. Remember, each state has different laws on guns. So, you may have a gun or parts in Texas that are legal but the same item in California could be illegal. Most stores in your area will not sale you a gun or parts if they are illegal. However, if you are buying from an individual you may end up buying an illegal gun. The last thing you want is the ATF breaking down your door because you are in possession of an illegal firearm.
2. Buying a used gun without knowing what it is or how to use it
This is a problem for someone who has never owned a gun before, but if you are buying one that's not your first time owning a firearm, make sure you research the specific type of gun and then either hire an instructor or learn on your own at home. Remember, dryfire training is the safest way to get familiar with a new gun.
If you have never owned a gun before and aren't familiar with the ins and outs of owning a gun you will need to understand how to safely operate a firearm. You can buy a training gun such as an airsoft gun to get the feel of how they work until you are confident enough to buy a real one. You can buy a quality blowback airsoft gun for around $125. These higher priced airsofts are more realistic, and you can tell the difference between them and the cheaper versions. They have moving parts such as magazine releases, slide locks, and safeties that mimic the real gun. You can work with the training gun until you are confident enough to buy a real one.
3. Making an impulse purchase
I am the worst at making an impulse purchase of Reese's cups in the Wal-Mart checkout line but impulse purchases are a horrible idea when dealing with firearms. Don't buy one just because you like how it looks. People can make impulse purchases without knowing what they're getting themselves into. The gun could be too big, have too much recoil, be too hard to manipulate the moving parts, or any of the other items on our list of 10. If you make an impulse purchase you could be buying something that doesn't even shoot, or even worse something that could be dangerous to use. If it's not something that you're familiar or comfortable with, then don't buy one on impulse!
When buying a used gun, you will want to take it apart to see if you notice any cracks, corrosion, or excessive rust.
4. Do your research and read online reviews.
As with any other purchase, you need to do your research before buying a used gun. The first thing you should do is identify what gun you are wanting. Make sure that it's the right size and model for you. Some guns are easy to load, rack the slide, clean, and shoot. However, for some people, these same guns are difficult to operate. You'll want a gun that you will not have problems using in various situations and one that is an appropriate size for you. Try searching "best guns for (women, new shooters, big hands, small hands, etc.). Then once you have narrowed down your options you can start looking at price versus quality. Once you have a few options search "problems with the (make and model)" and see what pops up.
If you are needing help identifying what type of gun you need to buy you can check out our article on : "Best Option for Self Defense"
You should also ask yourself why someone is selling the gun in question. Are they selling the gun because they just want to get rid of it? Or is there a specific reason why they're selling it? If you find out that someone is selling their gun because they have found something better, then this should tell you something about how happy or dissatisfied the current owner is with their gun. If they don't think the gun is good enough for them, why are you wanting to buy it? Some people are gun collectors and get addicted to buying guns and at some point they may decide they need to start getting rid of guns. Normally, collectors do a good job of taking care of their guns and they tend to be in good shape when purchased second hand.
5. Don't Rely too much on reviews
Online reviews are a great resource but relying too much on reviews when buying online instead of going in person can be a problem. Online reviews aren't specific to you. Most online reviews are done by experienced gun owners or by someone who already has their biases. So, after you have done your research and read your online reviews go in to a store and actually hold the guns you are thinking of buying and operate their moving parts. Most gun store owners are good at talking to you about firearms. (make sure you are handling them properly) If you don't know how to handle a firearm safely, check out this article: "Dont Become a Bad Stat and Learn How to Handle a Firearm Safely"
You might find a diamond in the ruff at a pawn shop. However, I have seen more issues with guns at Pawn Shops than Gun Stores. Pawn Shop gun owners focus on a variety of objects and aren't as knowledgeable about firearms. Also, they are less likely to let you operate the moving parts before making a purchase.
6. Don't buy a gun because it's cheap.
There is a saying if you buy cheap you will buy cheap many times, but if you buy quality you will only have to buy quality once. You don't want to buy a gun that will break down on you after firing it just once. You are buying a tool for a specific reason. Make sure your tool will operate when you need it to operate. Quality guns last for years and are more reliable than cheaper ones.
7.Check the gun for defects
Check the ramp and make sure it isn’t too worn down, there are not cracks or defects.
Make sure that the gun is in good working order before you buy it. You should always check to see if there are any signs of rust or corrosion on the metal parts of the gun. If you find something, can it be fixed with a quick wipe down and some oiling or is it a deeper issue? I would not purchase a used gun unless I could move the parts around to make sure the gun was in good working condition and all parts are moving smoothly. Most gun shops understand the importance of making sure all parts are working smoothly. However, I have been in a couple of pawn shops that wouldn't let me rack the slide or pull the trigger.
When looking at a used gun, always check the following:
Look through the barrel to make sure it's not rusted, cracked, or worn down. NEVER LOOK DOWN THE BARREL FROM THE MUZZLE END unless you have removed the barrel.
Check the loading ramp to make sure it is smooth and free of rust, cracks, or corrosion.
Check all other parts for cracks or corrosion. Remove the slide or cylinder to see if the gun has been properly maintained.
Look down the barrel to check for any issues or irregularities.
Rack slides, spin cylinders, cock hammers, push magazine releases, pull triggers to make sure everything is operating smoothly. (Ask for permission before pulling the trigger and absolutely make sure the firearm is unloaded. Also, if it is a rimfire firearm such as a .22 you could damage the firearm from excessive dry firing. So, you make sure the hammer doesn't drop on an empty chamber.)
8. What caliber should you buy?
Know what type of ammunition your gun can use, and make sure that you have enough for practice and/or hunting purposes. The most popular handgun rounds are .22, 9mm, and 40 caliber. The most popular rifle rounds are .22, 5.56/.223, 300 Blackout, and .308. The most popular shotgun rounds are 12 gauge and .410. You might love the gun but if the ammo isn't available or expensive you won't want to practice or shoot it too much. Check your local stores to see what ammo is readily available with reasonable prices.
9. Compare apples to apples
Does the gun come with any holsters, extra magazines, locking devices, or carry cases? Many people selling their used gun will have extra parts, pieces, or devices that are specific to the gun they are selling you. They may have forgotten that they have these items that they will no longer need once they have sold their gun. You may see a gun that looks expensive initially but it may come with a couple hundred dollars of accessories that would turn an overpriced gun into a good deal.
10. Don't get jumped or robbed.
When buying from an individual, make sure you set yourself up to not get robbed. Meet at a public place and if possible, have a friend come along who knows guns well so they can help out. I would prefer to meet up with someone in a parking lot with lots of cameras in the good part of town. I wouldn't go to someone's house unless you know them, they have a good reputation, or they have an FFL to sell guns.
Buying a used gun can be risky and tricky, but it doesn't have to be. With these 10 tips, you'll know what to look for and avoid when buying a second-hand firearm. What issues have you had in buying a used gun? What other advice would you give someone looking into buying a used gun?
