Online sales - staying safe.

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Online sales - staying safe.

Post by DaveZ » 25 Mar 2026, 3:36 pm

Looking at buying a rifle from interstate through one of the online sites, usedguns etc. I know there's risks with the quality of the item when you can't view personally, but I'll just have to deal with that. If you're buying from a private seller, how do you keep your money safe? Bank transfer seems sketchy, I'm not sure if a Paypal transfer has any protection either. Just wondering what people do in these cases to ensure they can get their money bank if the seller doesn't front up the product?

Cheers,
Dave.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by mickb » 25 Mar 2026, 5:35 pm

Mate others might have better suggestions. I usually ask them to take it into the transferring dealer and I talk to the gunstore to make sure the bloke is alright. Beyond that, you take a punt I guess.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by DaveZ » 25 Mar 2026, 9:37 pm

Thanks @mickb yeah I figure its going to be a bit of a gamble. I'm not sure that he's not a dealer, not listed as one on the site but has a lot of firearms for sale for an individual.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by Damo300 » 26 Mar 2026, 12:41 am

I rolled the dice when I bought one interstate. It was under 1k though.

I figured if he's going to commit firearm fraud then he can roll that dice.
Worked out well.
He got his money, I got my gun.

I am pretty sure you can pay the transferring dealer, and they will finalise it all when the gun arrives. Don't quote me exactly on that, but it's along those lines somewhere.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by bladeracer » 26 Mar 2026, 9:41 am

DaveZ wrote:Looking at buying a rifle from interstate through one of the online sites, usedguns etc. I know there's risks with the quality of the item when you can't view personally, but I'll just have to deal with that. If you're buying from a private seller, how do you keep your money safe? Bank transfer seems sketchy, I'm not sure if a Paypal transfer has any protection either. Just wondering what people do in these cases to ensure they can get their money bank if the seller doesn't front up the product?

Cheers,
Dave.


If you have concerns, he's going to have to send it via a dealer anyway, so ask him which dealer he's using. Call the dealer and ask if they know the seller and the firearm, they may have been his transferring dealer when he bought it. Or just ask him to take it to the dealer and let you know it's there so you can call the dealer and discuss it at that point. If the dealer says it's good send him the money.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by Bugman » 26 Mar 2026, 10:30 am

I have purchased privately in the past. On each occasion via a gun retailer at both ends. Fortunately, there was no problem and the items were as advertised. This doesn't mean that it will be the same for all. Some shifty buggers out there. As has been said said before, it wold be best to go through a registered dealer.
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Post by mchughcb » 26 Mar 2026, 1:08 pm

Bought and sold a few guns. No problems. 1 min on the phone and I can determine if they are serious or a scammer.
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Post by DaveZ » 26 Mar 2026, 2:45 pm

Thanks guys. I'll just be cautious and roll the dice, see how we go. Looking for a 22 Hornet to chase some problem foxes.
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Post by Fester » 26 Mar 2026, 4:58 pm

Have you researched the 22 Hornet as they can be funny things, with even reloaders finding problems getting them shooting without cracking cases and s**t.

Would be an interesting cal, apart from the problems.
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Post by mchughcb » 26 Mar 2026, 8:45 pm

I'd go 17HMR. Way less hassle
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by DaveZ » 26 Mar 2026, 9:06 pm

I think the case splitting is more of an issue for reloaders than single use factory ammunition?

The Hornet just sits in a nice niche for where I want to use it, small blocks so don't want anything too noisy or powerful but capable out to 130 ish metres. I feel like the 17hmr would be on its limit at that range.

There's a few good old Brno rifles around for reasonable money, probably put something like the DNT Zulus nv scope on it, should work a treat for what I want.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by mchughcb » 26 Mar 2026, 9:29 pm

135m is perfect for hmr on foxes. Shot plenty. I sold my brno fox hornet. Bought a sako quad and hmr barrel and never looked back
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by alexjones » 28 Mar 2026, 8:41 pm

When I have bought off used guns the gun has been at the dealer on like consignment so I just pay the dealer with credit card over the phone.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by alexjones » 28 Mar 2026, 8:41 pm

Credit card is the best Method of payment because banks guarantee against fraud and theft. You will get reimbursed.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by alexjones » 28 Mar 2026, 8:44 pm

I miss the days before registration when you would just buy guns out of the newspaper.

Rock up to some random house, give him the money and take the guns no questions asked.
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Re: Online sales - staying safe.

Post by Damo300 » 29 Mar 2026, 3:58 am

alexjones wrote:I miss the days before registration when you would just buy guns out of the newspaper.

Rock up to some random house, give him the money and take the guns no questions asked.


The trading post every fortnight.
Back when you were allowed to be an adult.

I often reminisce of the pre 90s lifestyle.
The local hardware store was our gun shop.
It's sad to have grown up in that, and now ending up in this.
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Post by bigrich » 29 Mar 2026, 4:18 am

DaveZ wrote:Thanks guys. I'll just be cautious and roll the dice, see how we go. Looking for a 22 Hornet to chase some problem foxes.


i played with the 22 hornet , couple of tricks . partially resize , only use your FLS die as far down the neck as you need to grip the seated bullet. being a rimmed case they headspace on the rim . partial FLS helps centre the case in the chamber for improved accuracy. use small pistol primers , the bullet will jump out of the thin walled case when the rifle primer goes off before proper powder burn has started , small pistol primers stop this, your only burning up to 13 grains of powder , a rifle primer is not necessary. i've had a custom cadet and a heavy barrelled krico , both would shoot bug holes with a 40gn vmax at 100 metres with these tricks , especially with lil gun powder which unfortunately is unobtainable . the 40 vmax has to be single loaded because of COL , there's also a 35gn vmax that will fit in magazines at it's COL . 22 hornet is up a power level on the 17hmr and not overly noisy . i forget what size groups it was shooting at 200, quite good from memory . i potted 3 ducks at a dam years ago at about 150 metres . nailed 2 before they realised something was going on ;) first two were headshot at that distance with me lying down and a bipod on the cadet . hope this info helps , at least with 17hmr you don't have to load for it , but with handloading, a 22 hornet is superior IMHO . as far as rifles go, i'd get a cz 527 if i were looking now :thumbsup:
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