Buying a used Pistol Question?

blueflash

blueflash

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When you buy a used car the first thing most people would look at would be the Odometer. Is it the same when buying a used pistol?

What would be average to good shot count, 500-1000 rounds? What would be considered a gun that has so many rounds through it, that things might need to be replaced soon, 2500+ rounds?

I know the type of gun must matter, but if we talking about the average used pistol in the $500-$700 range(GLocks,MP9,CZ75B,Beretta to name a few)
 
In handguns you generally don't get barrel burn-out issues like you might in high velocity rifles. The actual round count means very little.

500-1000 rounds is just broken in for many handguns and 2500 is a couple serious days at the range. :D

You should concern yourself more with overall condition and the level of maintenance that the particular pistol got. Modifications and customizing can do a lot more damage than a couple thousand rounds down the tube.
 
Although anyone can put down a number, I don't think anyone can tell you what is a "reasonable" number of rounds. Too many variables -- age of gun; steels used; use of "plus p" loads; etc. I've bought guns heavily used by competitors which were cared for,
and looked and functioned just fine. I've bought guns that were left in a drawer to get
rusty, were hardly ever used, and took work to make them function (and never really looked good). What I would suggest is looking at function and try to find out if it's been refinished. Sometimes refinishing matters; sometimes not -- look to see if stampings look smudged or almost illegible. There's a lot to consider, but in my mind function is the most important.

If it's a revolver, does it lock properly when cocked? Is there any side-to-side play in the cylinder? Does it have any bulges inside the barrel? Is hammer-fall strong? Things like that.

If it's a self-loader, does the sear engage properly? What's the release like? Are the magazines without dings and bent lips? Does the slide/bolt move freely? Barrel bulges? Extractor function?

You want to find out if the thing works as it should. Round count is hardly ever known (or confessed to), except for competition shooters. Most people don't really shoot very much. Most guns will far outlast most of us. Besides, most handguns made of modern steels won't show much barrel wear. You might want to look up the gun you're interested in and find out something about how it should work. There probably are sites where you can learn what someone has already thought out as the things to look for.
 
I personally hate seeing pictures of a pistol without at least one sitting at slide lock. It is funny to see the same pistol as you own, with apparently only 300-400 shots through, with a ton more wear than your pistol that has 1500 or so.

That and when the mags look like they were used to play fetch with Rover.
 
I am new to the handgun scene and I have been looking at one in particular here on the EE. It looks like a new gun, and he told me the rounds through it. ( about 1000) but who knows, anyone could put any number down. I just did'nt really know if I should buy one over the internet, just by looking at pics, and taking someones word for it. However it is a nice pistol, and it looks good and the seller has a good trader rating. I think it sounds okay.
 
agree to all replies above

Anything you buy sight unseen, not only on the EE, is a crapshoot.

You evaluate the listing and the pictures, the seller and his feedback, then you decide if the risk is worth the gain. Like anything in this world, caveat emptor (buyer beware).

A gun may look mint to the seller, and he could be totally honest about it.
But to you it is not....

And the feedback mechanism on this and other online venues can be skewed as well. Sometimes negative feedback will be withheld for fear of retaliatory feedback. Or perhaps we Canadians are just too polite.
 
for semi autos ...I want to look good and close at the breach face .for scaring .
and the locking block and rails for peening, or small cracks
then overall condition .
 
It all depends on how it has been cared of; If maintenance, lube and spring changes are done according to the user manual, a pistol can last for a lifetime imo. There is always normal wear and tear but pistol are mechanical devices after all...

When a pistol has under 1k rounds, it is still "brand new" or almost in my book. Depends on the use too, for some, 1k rounds is a year of shooting; for some others, it's 2 range sessions :)
 
Here are a couple of tips for an SAA. Pull the hammer to half #### then, try to press the hammer down with your thumb hard, if it remains at half #### that is good. Next #### it all the way slowly, the cylinder should rotate and lock with the chamber in perfect alignment with the barrel. Then try it by cocking it quickly several times to see if it still locks up with the chamber and barrel properly aligned. If it over rotates, in other words the barrel and the chamber are not lined up then look for another revolver.
 
"blueflash", I've bought on the Exchange and have had pretty good experiences. It's true that sellers rarely describe the condition of a gun very accurately. Guns are often said to be "pristine" and "as new" and "fine", when they really are much more ordinary. However, having said that, if you call and talk to the person, you can ask about function, whether or not any problems have occurred, how the surface may be scarred, condition of the breech face, and the like. You can expect to get straight answers. Generally, I've found that even if some exaggeration takes place, the gun is still pretty good. If you want new, then you should buy new. If you're willing to live with another person's gun, they buy used. I've rarely bought new. I've rarely had a problem with any gun I've been sent.
 
Well I finally have the deal finished on the handgun I bought from a fellow CGN member. The transfer is complete, and after 7 business days the CFO approved it. He just recieved the short term ATT, and is mailing it out today.

Now I just have to wait for 2 weeks for it to come from B.C. to Southern Ontario. Oh man, its going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life. LOL.
 
blueflash said:
Well I finally have the deal finished on the handgun I bought from a fellow CGN member. The transfer is complete, and after 7 business days the CFO approved it. He just recieved the short term ATT, and is mailing it out today.

Now I just have to wait for 2 weeks for it to come from B.C. to Southern Ontario. Oh man, its going to be the longest 2 weeks of my life. LOL.
Click to expand...

If it's being mailed today from B.C. you should get it a week or less.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
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