I was wondering if I was in the minority on this. I don’t like buying used guns. I also don’t like selling my guns. I have sold one in my lifetime and I regret it to this day. I have purchased one used gun and it’s a .22 Savage Arms rifle. I love that gun but have found that over the years I only like new ones. It’s weird as I am frugal and never buy new cars or boats. It’s only guns.

It's not weird but your thing. I've bought some used guns on websites before and to my own chagrin, I waste more money buying replacement springs and such and when added up, I am close to buying new. It happens and sometimes I can't help myself but there are some good deals on used guns.

I buy both. I buy a lot of collectables, so they are always used. Only buying new is way too limiting. To each their own of course.

I rarely buy new. The first place I go in any shop is the used section. Lots of people buy guns but never shoot them, or shoot them very little. I've found some quality like-new carry guns on the used shelf at deep discounts over the years. Other stuff I enjoy just because it's old and interesting, and I'll even pick up the occasional project just to restore it. There's actually very little new stuff that interests me these days.

I also rarely buy new. I looked it up, bought 8 guns in 2024 and none were new.

If you aren't comfortable buying used, then by all means stick to what you are comfortable with.

As far as selling, I always have some stuff in my guns safe that I'd be willing to part with. I currently have 3 pistols on consignment at a local shop.

I prefer used to new for the reasons already listed.

Additionally, if you want something that's no longer in production, then you don't have much choice, do you, unless you are determined to go on a quest for a 'grail' gun and pay a premium for New Old Stock?

Beretta M9A3, Glock 17.5 MOS, Walther P99, and HK USP Stainless are a few models that have followings but also recently discontinued.

This being SigForum, there are a lot members here who would like a P225 &/or P228.

I don't buy that many firearms but if I want a currently available firearm I buy new. Around these parts the gun stores price their used guns at a slight discount to their new prices and I have found better deals online for new guns than what they want for their used guns including the extra for shipping/FFL.

There's a "T" Series BHP / H&K P7 / older Colt Python for $600 right now at your gun store. You have some extra $ in your pocket.

What are you going to do?


Yeah, you'll buy a used gun.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
Yeah, you'll buy a used gun.

*gasp*

Are you suggesting that I would stoop to buying a gun that has already been sullied by some peasant?

For shame, sir!

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I rarely buy new. The first place I go in any shop is the used section. Lots of people buy guns but never shoot them, or shoot them very little. I've found some quality like-new carry guns on the used shelf at deep discounts over the years. Other stuff I enjoy just because it's old and interesting, and I'll even pick up the occasional project just to restore it. There's actually very little new stuff that interests me these days.

I abhor tupperware guns. I only carry and shoot all metal frame firearms. Have carried a S&W 6906 for years. But just switched to a P239. Found the first one at one of my LGS's for a song. Had it looked over by a GS and he replaced nothing. Said it may have been fired 100 rounds. 2nd one I just found at another LGS and the GS said it may have been fired 200-400 rounds. He replaced a couple of springs and didn't even charge me!

Yes, plenty of used guns not heavily used. For most, a place to shoot isn’t easy, ammo costs a little, won’t shoot as much as you think. There are exceptions of course.

I did buy a used Browning lever years ago, sight unseen except for a few pictures. That gun had problems, I’m sure known to the seller, as he sent it down the road.

Most of my experiences have been much better.

quote:

Originally posted by MobyClarke:
I abhor tupperware guns. I only carry and shoot all metal frame firearms. Have carried a S&W 6906 for years. But just switched to a P239. Found the first one at one of my LGS's for a song. Had it looked over by a GS and he replaced nothing. Said it may have been fired 100 rounds. 2nd one I just found at another LGS and the GS said it may have been fired 200-400 rounds. He replaced a couple of springs and didn't even charge me!

It's not that I hate plastic guns...they have their place and I own a few. But now that my defensive/practical needs are covered, I don't feel the need to amass more. But for some reason that old wheelgun or lever-action that I know will only see a fraction of the use of the practical plastic gets me to whip out my wallet when I find one for a fair price.

I've had more problems out of the box with some new guns than I have used ones...my Ruger MkIV and MkII being the perfect example. I bought the MkII used for $275, and it has been flawless since the day I brought it home...the most reliable semi-auto .22 I've ever owned. The MkIV was purchased brand new for over $600, and wouldn't get through a mag without a malfunction out of the box. I spent hours polishing, replacing springs, hundreds of rounds of ammo test-firing, and ultimately spent almost $200 on Volquartsen upgrade parts to get it to run right. It's great now, but no thanks to the Ruger factory.

There's a lot of facets to gun ownership. Some is 100% serious and practical, some is just for fun, and then there's also some blending in the middle. All of it builds experience. At this point in my life I've spent enough time inside of guns that I'm comfortable buying used even for the practical stuff because if there is something wrong I'm pretty confident I can diagnose and fix it. Occasionally you'll get burned on the financials and end up spending more than it's worth to buy and fix something, but there's also value in the knowledge gained from the process. That learning process is really what makes this whole thing interesting.

I abhor tupperware guns. I only carry and shoot all metal frame firearms. Have carried a S&W 6906 for years. But just switched to a P239. Found the first one at one of my LGS's for a song. [/QUOTE]
I agree on the 6906. I also have a 5906. These Smiths are the best ever. I’m not a fan of their new M&Ps , which is why I primarily buy HK or Sig now.

An interesting question.

For some years after I became a member here and with most discussion being about hammer-fired, Classic line SIG pistols and their metal frames, I started keeping track of the number of times I read something that made me think, “I wouldn’t ever buy that guy’s gun.” The reasons were usually abusive treatment, poor maintenance, and/or unwise modifications.

When we buy a used gun, we’re buying whatever was done or not done to/with the gun and whatever problems it has as a result. Not willing to accept that, don’t buy used guns (yes, of course new guns can have their problems as well, but that’s not what we’re discussing here).

Perhaps somewhat ironically, I’d be much more confident purchasing a used “plastic” gun these days than a P226 or P229 that were once my pistols of choice. Short of abusing the barrel which can easily be inspected and replaced if it turned out to be bad, there’s much less that the careless or incompetent user can do to a P320 that will turn out to be a, “I wish I hadn’t bought this POS,” purchase than an old S&W model 19, for example. The same is somewhat true of purchasing something like a used AR if I got it at a killer price because it would be relatively easy and inexpensive to replace anything that turned out to be a problem with the rifle.

On the other hand, unless I knew the seller personally and had absolute confidence in his skills and practices, I’d never buy a used precision rifle without expecting to have the barrel replaced immediately.

As for passing on problems to other people, in a direct sale I’d reveal anything I knew, but if it’s going through a gun shop, see my comments above about the risks of purchasing used guns. I’d never pass on a gun that I knew was unsafe for some reason, but doesn’t produce quarter MOA groups all day long, is accurate with only one expensive type of ammunition or not accurate at all (not due to something I did to the gun, it was just the way I got it), ejects fired cases in my face, etc., maybe all those things were my fault and buyer beware.

That’s especially true of a gun’s obvious characteristics such as a chintzy plasticky stock that you end up hating; we all find things about guns and shooting that we ultimately regret. When I gave away a virtually unfired SIG MCX SPEAR because I couldn’t operate the charging handle due to its stiff recoil springs I told the recipient the reason, but if I’d been selling it, a buyer could have figured that out for himself when he examined the gun.

At this stage of my shooting life I’m resisting the call of any new to me guns, and especially can think of no reason why I’d purchase a used one.

Not into plastic fantasticks, and don't own any. I prefer all metal guns , be it semi-auto, rifle, or wheel types.

I prefer to buy new, but if the right used gun came along, I would certainly consider it. I have looked at many used guns over the years, just haven’t found any that made me get my wallet out.

What guns do I buy? To quote the Terminator... "All"

I always buy used if I can help it. Last three pistols were all used. glock gen4 350, 228 800 and 226 for 500. All three look like they have never been fired. I saved 900 bucks over new price. So thats a win in my book. I wouldnt buy one with a lot of wear though unless it was really cheap!!!

Best deals are on used guns. I rarely buy new unless it’s suppressors or AR parts.

Farm equipment, non-electric tools, vehicles, rvs. You pay a premium for the “new” title. I’ve found it’s almost always not worth it.

I don't mind a used gun - if I either know it's history or can do a detailed breakdown and try to determine whether it has had a hard life before me. I am particularly careful with a stainless gun (lack of lubrication / galling). I have owned several used guns over my years without issue. That being said, most of what I have right now were bought new by me, but won't pass on the opportunity to buy a good used one for the right price.

As far as selling them, yes, I have sold many. Several I have (and still do)kicked myself for getting rid of them.

At the end of the day, you do you. If your preference is all new, there's nothing wrong with that.