Used gun condition questions

[1L19]

I'm currently in the market for a used handgun and I have two questions as I've never bought from a private seller.

1. How can I be sure the firearm is in good condition? It it reasonable to have it inspected at the point of transfer? Are test fires common? I don't want to insult a seller but I want to ensure I'm purchasing a firearm that is in good working order.

2. Often I see ads where the seller mentions how many rounds they've put through the gun. I'm not experience enough to know, for example, if 2000 rounds is a lot, a little or somewhere in the middle. What's the range/scale?

Any insights would be most welcome.

Thank you!

[Garv]

Which gun are we talking about?

Some sellers will allow a test fire, esp. if you pay for the range fees, not a common practice though.

It is more than reasonable to give the gun an inspection at the meetup.
It could be a POS when seen in person.
Do you have a friend that knows guns well enough to do an inspection?

I have bought about 10 used guns here and the worst problem was I had to scrub the chamber to clean out a bit of stickiness that was causing some FTEs (failure to extract the empty shell.)

Buying from a seller with a high I-trader count and 100% rating can help since most sellers want to maintain their reputation.

2K rounds is not much for most "good" guns, many guns can tolerate 10s of thousands of rounds with minor maintenance such as replacing springs.
(And cleaning of course.)

More to come from others here.

Good luck.

[cannon]

Hi, Test firing is uncommon to say the least.

Most here have learned to evaluate a gun from experience and/or friends who know.

Do you have a friend that can teach you? If not and you are in SoCal, I'd be happy to help you.

As to rounds fired...

How do I say this. People lie.

I shoot a pistol on a regular basis that was in WWI & WWII. The barrel was replaced but the rest of the gun is original. Do yourself a favor and ignore the "Only 5 rounds fired." Just like a used car where you check for pedal wear to see how many times the odometer has gone around. You can check grip wear etc.

Really handling guns with a knowledgeable person is the best way to go.

[PatC415]

"GLOCK 19, GEN 4 $1000
ALMOST NEW, ONLY TWO HUNDRED ROUNDS FIRED."

Stay away from those.

[1L19]

Which gun are we talking about?

@Garv I'm looking for a Sig Sauer P229 .40/.357.

I really appreciate the rest of the information you and @Cannon provided. Especially regarding the inspection process and what's normally expected. I don't really have a friend that I could take with me but perhaps if the transfer was a gun store they would look at it for me if a paid a fee.

Additionally thank you for the data on the round count.. especially about how people lie. I guess I should expect that and I'll stick to an inspection to determine wear and tear.

@PatC415 I hear you and I will remain skeptical.

[Garv]

perhaps if the transfer was a gun store they would look at it for me if paid a fee.

Worth asking if they will do that.
Some of the "mom and pop" gun stores might offer for free, check first before selecting a place for the PPT.

Oh, and a semi-tradition here: New thread with pics when you get it!

[AreWeFree]

I'm currently in the market for a used handgun and I have two questions as I've never bought from a private seller.

1. How can I be sure the firearm is in good condition? It it reasonable to have it inspected at the point of transfer? Are test fires common? I don't want to insult a seller but I want to ensure I'm purchasing a firearm that is in good working order.

2. Often I see ads where the seller mentions how many rounds they've put through the gun. I'm not experience enough to know, for example, if 2000 rounds is a lot, a little or somewhere in the middle. What's the range/scale?

Any insights would be most welcome.

Thank you!

1. If it aint rusted, and the seller seems ok, it's in good condition.

Modern guns are rarely used or abused, and the people heavily using them are usually honest and upfront about it.

Guns basically need recoil springs changed every 5,000 rounds and very minimal oil applications to maintain function and prevent rust.

Perhaps around 30,000 rounds you may experience additional parts failure or not. It's not like cars, where literally everyone drives them in to the ground and lies about it, guns are infrequently used, generally.


2. 2,000 rounds is not a lot, but it is used. That's between 5 - 20 range trips for most people, so basically 20 hours of continuous use.
Depending on the gun, that will affect value because if it's common, you can find other examples with less "wear" although it's not really worn, just common place that people compare/negotiate deals.

A glock 19 with 2,000 rounds is functionally the same as one with 0 or 200 rounds, but with market value, if you have 3 sale ads at 500 rounds for $450 each, the 2k gun has to be lower or provide more value.


Value or "wear" needs more investigation than round count, it's just a data point for your consideration.

[vg247]

@Garv I'm looking for a Sig Sauer P229 .40/.357.

1. Test firing before you buy is an uncommon practice

2. Thorough inspection at point of sale before purchase is possible pending FFL you choose , whether they have time for you to disassemble and fondle the sellers gun, and pending the sellers patience.


What I strongly suggest is know what to look for in a Sig 229, German/US made etc what round counts on Sigs look like e.g. barrel, frame/slide wear, knowing how to date the Sig by serial number. Things like this and asking for detailed pictures would help you best and also not waste a sellers time.

Also you can always place posts up here and ask for help/feedback on any potential Sigs you might come across.



Here’s an older article on inspecting Sigs to get you started OP:

https://grayguns.com/guide-to-sig-sauer-pistol-inspection/

[heidad01]

Much good advice offered above. That should give you a good starting point.
A Sig 229 should be good for at least 50K rounds. Look for one advertised as LNIB (like new in box) if you want to spend close to or a little less than store price. Or, one with less than 500 rounds, for less money, which is about the same as the one mentioned even with the fudge factor in the round count.
However, if you are just not mechanically inclined to check for yourself, take a knowledgeable friend with you. Do not solely rely on the guestimation that the counter clerk provides. That is because you may be listening to any one from a war veteran who knows much about guns to a guy who came from working Taco Bell to selling guns.

Good luck to you.

[phdo]