I took a modern LN (realistically As New since it practically is) Browning BPS Magnum Pump shotgun to two reputable local guns stores I respect, to see what I could get for it with either an outright purchase or a consignment, and both stores told me $250 when the smoke clears. I was surprised. I'm thinking the market has changed quite a bit since I bought that gun about 25 years ago, and remained a safe queen the whole time. In this case the gun lost quite a bit of value taking into account general inflation and the "old fashioned" nature of that model. One of the shops said "too bad it's not a semi-auto". Damn, I'm behind the times. I have semi-auto shotguns, but I still love pumps for their simplicity and beauty (depending). Take any good Model 12 in good original condition, it's like shotgun heaven on earth. It seems the younger crowd isn't interested in guns like that any longer.

I trust those guys that told me that after they looked it up on their computers and their secret valuation resources for their particular shop and local market, and I believe they were honest with me since they gave me the same bottom line without me saying anything about either place or my own expectations up front.

I need to thin the herd but based on that experience it may not be as happy a transition as I was hoping for. Nothing is constant except change. I'm not sure what I could do on gunbroker handling everything myself, and what the comparative bottom line might be taking my chances vs just taking the hit at my favorite LGS. It's a little disappointing.

Oh well, life goes on. BTW Browning bottom eject pumps are extremely well made, 100 solid ordinance steel, all kinds of options and finishes. I believe mine was a Miroku though not sure. It's really gorgeous.

Times they are a changin.

I hear ya. Went with a friend to a nice local shop to see about selling a solid Remington Express 12 gauge pump 3 inch he owned. They were not interested at all in buying nor consignment either. I was a bit taken aback.

Yikes. Maybe all the really cheap Turkish shotguns that have flooded the market have hurt resale values of shotguns in general. Brand new Mossberg 500s can be had for around $480 when on sale around here.

I bet the wood is beautiful on that Browning! Maybe list here in the classifieds and maybe someone local might be interested or even with non local buyer you might do better net than what the stores offered you. Potential buyers want to see nice pictures though.

Good luck!

The gun market is soft in general, guns are a vote killer, even Kamala and Waltz have them! Remember when pump guns were hot during Covid and Remingtons were hot because they might no longer exist?

Yeah, I think it’s worth listing it in the classifieds here for $400 or so, with buyer paying for shipping, I think it might sell quickly.

Lots of inventory on the shelves right now, and it's not moving very quickly. Plus I've found that shops are typically only going to offer about 50-60% value for an outright sale, sometimes you can do a little bit better on a trade. They've gotta make their money off of it, too.

Private sales are typically the best value for both the buyer and the seller, but its a lot more work.

If you want to sell, I’d use that shop offer as guidance for the price at a private sale. I’m not saying to sell it for $250, maybe the $400 with slight wiggle room so the buyer saves $30.

I have 2 BPS shotguns, a 12 & 20, well made. In general pump shotguns don’t get a lot of notice.

Depending on State laws, you can always list then meet at a gunshop for the transfer. I know shipping has become more expensive for the non-FFL.

The market for everything is really soft right now. You think it’s hard selling guns? You should see what I’m seeing in the local boards for guitars and amps. Sweet mercy, people want a fortune for shit, zero trades considered and nobody is offering cash prices anything near a fair value. People are hurting right now.

Second the notion of putting it in the Classifieds here. What do you have to lose?

Gun sales are down, distributors are putting firearms on clearance to get rid of them and FFL’s are still not buying. It is a low industry wide and a good time to buy, not to sell.

Used guns are typically never worth what the seller wants. Do research, look at Gunbroker and other places to see what they are selling for (not what you think it should sell for). Unless you have something rare or in demand, you are not getting a lot for it.

I usually offer half of what I can sell it for. I won’t offer more since I clean and test everything I sell and I need to get paid for my time. There also needs to be room to make a profit or it is not worth buying.

Seeing more used guns lately coming into the shop. Higher end guns we put on GB as a consignment, lower tier we make offers to buy for our stock.

Pistols and AR platform rifles are stacking up, prices are depressed partially due to the sheer amount hitting the market. Guns like first generation Shields are so low it’s pathetic, I have one that is now limited to going off roading with me. If it got dropped in a mud slurry I’d be more upset with the ammo getting submerged, two full magazines and the .40 to 9mm barrel conversion are worth over what the gun is.

I traded in a Gen 3 G19 about three weeks ago towards a unusual S&W revolver. A month prior I was considering trading the Glock for another gun, in that thirty days the average prices on GB for the Glock went down by fifty dollars.

Add to it the economy, fear of future gun legislation (look at what happened to pistol braced AR pricing for awhile) and the approaching holidays, the perfect storm.

The market has been so flooded with plastic guns that wood and blued steel don’t get a lot of notice from younger buyers. Browning is not really in that market so many people may not even know the name and certainly not their reputation for quality.

I am pretty sure all BPS were made by Miroku.

The market is soft and not just for shotguns.

There are 3 shops close to me, 1 small and 2 large shops (indoor 12 bay range at one and the other is more hunting orientated with indoor archery range and huge selection of hunting clothes/accessories). The small shop and the 1 of the large shops aren't buying used guns as of 3 days ago. The other large shop is buying and a manager friend there told me they offer 1/3 value of what they can sell it for. They used to give 1/2 value but recently dropped it to 1/3.

Sell it on one of the many firearms forums for a competitive price and I'm sure someone will buy it. Gun shops have always been the worst place to sell or trade a firearm and right now the market is soft but depending on who wins in November the market could heat back up.

Resale now, as others have stated, is a hard time to sell. I have been to a few shops and they have a bunch of used guns on the shelves now and sadly shotguns, are a hard sell in my area. I had one I was gonna sell but had no takers and I thought the price was more than fair/lower than anything you can get anywhere.

You might try selling it here or on a local forum if possible and you might get better results.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
Take any good Model 12 in good original condition, it's like shotgun heaven on earth. It seems the younger crowd isn't interested in guns like that any longer.

Coming back to it, I inherited two of these. One in 12ga and one in 20ga. My father was enamored with them. I don't see what they do better than an 870, and they feel really clunky in comparison. I'm 41, he would be 72 today, so maybe you're right and it's a generational thing and us younger guys don't get it, or maybe it's just nostalgia for your generation. They sit in the back of the safe behind some 870's that also don't see any use.

I get what you’re saying—it’s tough when you find out your prized shotgun isn’t worth as much as you thought. I’ve had similar experiences with firearms; I was shocked when I tried to sell an old rifle that had been in my family for years, and it didn’t fetch nearly what I expected. It’s definitely a sign of the times, especially with more people leaning toward semi-autos these days. If you decide to go the GunBroker route, I’d recommend checking recent sales of similar models to see what they’re actually going for. It might take a little more effort, but you could end up getting a better deal.

I'm sure the gun store's would counter with... if your gun's so good, why are you selling it?

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
Take any good Model 12 in good original condition, it's like shotgun heaven on earth.

I remember a gun store owner I knew telling me about Model 12's, everyone supposedly loves them, for generations we read how great they were, but he wouldn't take them in any longer because he couldn't get rid of them. Despite what the old magazine's said, and what the price books say, nobody wanted them. Tastes change.

I have three nice bird hunting shotguns, and an ugly 870 Express Supermagnum pumper for hurricanes and antiaircraft use.

Haven't shot any of them in years, as all my bird hunting fields are now tract housing, and air assault hasn't happened in my area in a while.

I think that "nice" guns will get ever harder to sell for what we believe them to be worth. Yes, the collector will still buy the fine example for a collection, but the bird hunter wants the managed recoil semi-auto, with the weatherproof finish and shock absorbing stock. The hunter no longer wants the blue and walnut Model 70 CRF in .30-06, they want a carbon fiber stocked, stainless fluted barrel, or carbon fiber barrel in something like 7mm PRC.

Yes, I still want blue and walnut, but not so many younger people do.

It's going to be tough to sell some of the stuff that I have, not just for a good price, but in some cases, what I paid for it.

Even with respect to some semi autos, I hope I can get out what I have in them. Not sure what an Imbel FAL will bring these days, but if a DSA is $1500 new, there is a pretty hard ceiling there.

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
The hunter no longer wants the blue and walnut...

Took a coworker with me to the range last year so he could double check his zero before hunting season. With me I had a Steyr SBS .270, a great rifle but it's just a mannox (dull matte black) and a black plastic stock. The other rifle was a 70's Sako Forester, deep rich blue, tiger stripe like walnut full length mannlicher stock. And at one point he commented how nice/pretty the rifle was. (the black plastic one)


As for "tough to sell", I sure do seem to end up with a lot of them. Like that Steyr. The previous owner treated it poorly. The bore is very pitted. It still shoots great... for about 15, maybe even 20 rounds if you're really lucky. Then it becomes a shotgun. At which point you have to clean the heck out of it, using a bore scope to know when you're really done. It's fine for a hunting rifle. But I can never sell it, or even give it away to family. I'd have to sell it dirt cheap to someone willing to play that game, or sell it for parts.