Anyone been dudded on a second hand gun buy?

[padaro]

Looking at buying my first second-hand gun.

I will buy locally so can see it before money changes hand but just got me wondering, anyone bought a used gun interstate and had it turn up to be way rougher than described?

[bigfellascott]

Yeah I've bought a 2nd hand dud before - such is life, sold it on.

[Gamerancher]

Yes it does happen. It comes down to what each persons idea of "condition" is. A gun that one bloke calls "good" may well be described as "poor" by another. There are some published guidelines on gun descriptions, SSAA has some, but unless quoted by the seller, it comes back to personal perception.
I've personally purchased a couple of guns that were less than described, luckily, they were cheap and one was able to be resurrected to a good usable gun and the other became a good parts donor.
My advice, if buying sight unseen, would be to get very detailed photos or get the gun taken to a gun-shop/dealer for appraisal.

[Octane]

Anything second hand I always approach as being 10% worse than they claim.

Works out to be about right when I see it

[Supaduke]

Unless a rifle is rare or somehow special, I see no point in buying unseen from interstate. Always endeavour to have a look before purchase. If you a buying sight unseen then the ol "caveat emptor" applies.

[wrenchman]

see if you can go to the gun range with the person and shoot it

[deye243]

no as their like cars no test fire no buy , would you buy a car without a test drive

[brett1868]

no as their like cars no test fire no buy , would you buy a car without a test drive

Where can you test fire a rifle new or used before purchase in this country? Used maybe but definitely no try before you buy on new firearms. Advice to the OP, the seller has to use a dealer to do the transfer paperwork so ask the dealer to provide a statement of condition. Offer to split the cost with the seller and ask for pictures. I got bitten on the a$$ on a "New" rifle by a major S.E QLD dealer so I'm doubly cautious even when purchasing new.

[Noisydad]

I've bought 5 off the various used gun website. All were (at the least) 2nd hand, three are over a hundred years old (one being 145), four came from interstate and ALL have been awesome competition winners. I guess I've had a pretty good run!

[happyhunter]

.

[6mmdasher]

I have bought a couple that were worse in the barrel department than I would have liked but luckily I can fit my own barrels so I have made them into really nice shooters. One of our club members have bought some very nice looking rifles but when you look up the barrel you see what a mess is up there! fire cracked and badly copper fouled. What I really think is a laugh is when the add says" lots of rifling left in the barrel" Seems to be said when it comes to 303"s and military rifles!

[Die Judicii]

Yes,,

The description was accurate,
The condition was accurate,

BUT,,,,

The seller simply did not send the Optilok rings and bases, that were advertised to be part of the deal.

The seller was one of Tasco Australia's marketing managers.

In the end, he refused to answer his phone or return sms messages.
I believe that Mr Karma caught up with him though.

[deye243]

no as their like cars no test fire no buy , would you buy a car without a test drive

Where can you test fire a rifle new or used before purchase in this country? Used maybe but definitely no try before you buy on new firearms. Advice to the OP, the seller has to use a dealer to do the transfer paperwork so ask the dealer to provide a statement of condition. Offer to split the cost with the seller and ask for pictures. I got bitten on the a$$ on a "New" rifle by a major S.E QLD dealer so I'm doubly cautious even when purchasing new.

I have never bought a second hand rifle without a test fire , I just asked the lgs and both said yep guess it pays to be known to be trust worthy

EDIT I am talking second hand rifles too

[wrenchman]

some guns the only way to get them are used and i have a good number of them i have a model 88 winchester the stock was cut down i got a great deal on it and replaced the stock.

[Gamerancher]

When your interest is old "obsolete" guns, you don't have any choice but to buy second-hand. Out of a couple of dozen rifles I have bought I have only gotten two duds.
As stated previously, one was able to be resurrected to be a competition winner and the other was worth its' purchase price in parts. As with anything second-hand, you take a risk that the seller may not be as honest as you would like to think they are.