What to know: Buying a used gun?

[WayneT]

Hello I apologize in advance if this topic has been discussed before. I searched and couldn't find what I'm looking for. Basically I would like to know what I need to know before I buy a used gun from another person posting an ad in the Private For Sale forum here. Should I ask in advance for the serial number? Is there a way to check if the gun has previously been involved in crime or stolen? How do I know if I'll be buying from another fellow gun enthusiast and not some gangster or psycho off the street? How and where should I be meeting the seller to ensure my own safety? How should money be changed hand (before or after the FFL transfer)? How to check for excessive wear or abuse on the gun?

[Stewdabaker23]

Meet at an agreed gun shop. Pay him, do paperwork, pay shop, leave.

[Stewdabaker23]

Is this your first gun?

Being your 6th post and this thread makes me think you have never owned or possibly even shot a gun.

[BigL]

Make sure this person is the registered owner of the fire arm. Ex. Have him show you proof bill of sale and id works

[Librarian]

Hello I apologize in advance if this topic has been discussed before. I searched and couldn't find what I'm looking for. Basically I would like to know what I need to know before I buy a used gun from another person posting an ad in the Private For Sale forum here.

1) Should I ask in advance for the serial number?

2) Is there a way to check if the gun has previously been involved in crime or stolen?

3) How do I know if I'll be buying from another fellow gun enthusiast and not some gangster or psycho off the street?

4) How and where should I be meeting the seller to ensure my own safety?

5) How should money be changed hand (before or after the FFL transfer)?

6) How to check for excessive wear or abuse on the gun?

Easier when you split the questions to separate lines ...

The answer to (2) is "no", so the answer to (1) is probably "no" as well. Unless you have another use for the serial number, like checking a manufacturing date.

3) You don't. Using an FFL is probably a good sign, as offering to sell in CA without one is mostly illegal.

4) I always have met at the transferring FFL.

5) Up to the parties; I've paid both before and after. Don't pay before inspecting and being sure that you want that gun.

6) Two threads on that in the Handguns forum - Revolvers and Semi-autos.

[Librarian]

Make sure this person is the registered owner of the fire arm. Ex. Have him show you proof bill of sale and id works

Can't reliably do that - not all guns are registered, nor do they need to be. They'll get registered, in the California way, as part of DROS.

[stix213]

Hello I apologize in advance if this topic has been discussed before. I searched and couldn't find what I'm looking for. Basically I would like to know what I need to know before I buy a used gun from another person posting an ad in the Private For Sale forum here.

Should I ask in advance for the serial number?

Typically no, unless it is some kind of collectible (serial number 0000001 type of thing). Otherwise, how is the serial number going to affect your decision?

Is there a way to check if the gun has previously been involved in crime or stolen?

If it is a handgun and was reported stolen, that should pop up during DROS of the firearm. Not super helpful though since you've already handed the money to the seller by then. I don't believe there is any other way to check. This will probably be the same for long guns starting January 1st.

How do I know if I'll be buying from another fellow gun enthusiast and not some gangster or psycho off the street?

Bangers typically don't want to show up at an FFL, provide ID to the FFL, and go through a legit sale. But there is no real way to be sure I suppose.

How and where should I be meeting the seller to ensure my own safety?

Typically you meet at the gun store and do all the show and tell there. If you're concerned for safety, meet inside the store.

How should money be changed hand (before or after the FFL transfer)?

Every one I've done the $ exchanged hands during the FFL transfer after all the paperwork (likely computerized) has been filled out, but there is no official protocol.

How to check for excessive wear or abuse on the gun?

This would be before you get the FFL to do the transfer when you meet at the store. Take a look at the firearm, do all your checks then. As to what to look for, I suppose that depends on the type of firearm.

If this is happening inside the store, often the shop will want an employee there just to make sure no one does anything stupid in their shop.

[WayneT]

Is this your first gun?

Being your 6th post and this thread makes me think you have never owned or possibly even shot a gun.

I've bought several new guns from gun shops, but never bought a used one so I'm a bit nervous about how the process go....I'm looking to buy an off roster gun which I can't buy new from a gun shop.

[Off the Roster]

the only serial number question i ask is if the gun has all matching numbers. aside from that, meet at an agreed upon FFL, check out the gun, and do the paperwork. i usually find myself paying the seller mid-paperwork when i get bored.

[CrippledPidgeon]

4) I always have met at the transferring FFL.

5) Up to the parties; I've paid both before and after. Don't pay before inspecting and being sure that you want that gun.

Just an addition to this: it is best to ask the FFL in advance what their procedures are for your inspecting a firearm. Many LGS require that an employee open the box and verify that the firearm is unloaded before letting customers handle it. Failure to do so can get you yelled at, kicked out, or in extreme cases, shot.

[Ritchie8719]

A used gun means at least one person doesn't want it. Used is usually a good deal, but you might find out why they didn't want it.

Just ask the gunshop what the deal is with the procedure, they get the question all the time. Ignore their attitude.

You won't know for sure if the gun is stolen until the process is completed. If it is stolen, you are probably out of luck, having paid for it. You will be able to have a copy of the seller's ID, and go from there. However, the seller does not have to be the owner.

[hermosabeach]

The most important thing is that you need to know how to check out the firearm you intend to buy


I posted links to a series of videos on S&W revolvers.
Midway did a series designed to inspect and repair revolvers. The series is also an execs lent way to check out a used gun.

Each platform has different things to look for. Some parts normally show wear and other times you will find guns that show signs of abuse.

If you are newer to shootin and it is a modern firearm that is still being made, I would suggest buying new from a local store. Pick a local store that will offer you service for disassembly and reassembly for cleaning.

You can find some great old guns for sale. But if you end up with someone else's problem then you get to drop $$$$ to get a gunsmith to fix your new lemon