Buying used and shot count

powdergun

powdergun

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I know that for the most part fellows are reasonably honest regarding shot count on used rifles. Typically I view the " under a hundred" as meaning a few boxes of shells and so on. However, the reality is that few folks could actually inspect a rifle and give a true assesment of shot count. Reality is that its pretty much a crap shot and you have to trust the seller.


My question to you fellows is: What is a simple way a lay person can use to get a decent read on shot count without having to take it to a smith to scope or slug the barrel. ( Other than shooting the gun)
 
What he said. Then again I would bet (probably safely) that most of the folks that own guns have no idea how many rounds are down the pipe. Do you keep track? I sure as hell dont. I bought them to shoot not count rounds. I can make a fairly accurate guess but thats all it is and I expect that unless you are dealing with a person that has 1 or 2 guns that would be pretty much the case and you have no way to tell anyways. Then again thats what the trader rating system is for. 300 trades and no unhappy ones looks pretty safe. 0 trades and 3 posts well...
 
The condition is what you look at, Look for looseness , open gaps, NO ONE keeps a shell count. 100 or 1,000 really makes no difference. we have bought and use many used guns and we checked the condition, many have been through several owners.
 
CdnCombatMedic said:
I do.....
Click to expand...

Same here, since I shoot handloads only and maintain an accurate journal of all my reloading including quantities of ammo loaded, it is really quite easy to do especially with a new firearm.
I do that with my used acquisitions as well regardless of how much they were used before I got them.
 
I don't keep track while shooting but I do know exactly how many primers and bullets I buy and load (all recorded in my log book). If someone were to ask me the round count on one of my target rifles, I would be able to estimate that within a few rounds. Pistols on the other hand are another story.
 
Same here: all my loads are in the log book so when it comes time to count, it's all there in front of me. I think another useful thing to keep in mind is the 'accurate' barrel life of a given caliber. I say 'accurate' because afterwards, a barrel may not meet the bill for say a benchrester shooting 1/4 moa groups, but would be perfectly fine for hunting and say shoot 1 or 2 moa groups.

I pasted a link below that gives a ballpark idea as to barrel life. If you are buying a .308, the barrel life, depending how you play with the formula, is between 5,000 and 8,000 rounds. But if you bought a 7mm rem mag, you're looking at about 1,000 rounds. Personally, if the caliber is a hot caliber like 7mm rem mag, I will be more inclined to pass on a used rifle in that caliber; unless the price is right and rebarreling to a good match barrel is worth it. But if it's a 223 or a 308, I am more inclined to buy the gun as is. If a guy puts pistol info into the spread sheet, you'll find their barrel life is in the 60,000 round ball park, and that's a 357 magnum.

Enjoy!

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/handy-excel-formula-predicts-useful-barrel-life/
 
My round counts in my first rifle, a Reminton 700 BDL in .30-06, was based on the number of different bullets I reloaded and don't have none left.
This included some factory and US Military when it was $2.00 per box but it also consumed 110, 125, 130, 150, 165, 168, 180 and 220 which is undoubtedly over 1000.
Accuracy started to fade so it was rebarreled and "gifted" to my son after 36 years.
The .22-250 has consumed a case of 55 grain Imperials and countless reloads. The throat is eroded to the extent it will not seat a Sierra 60 grain HP.
It has been used for varmints and sniper matches and is well past 1000 rounds but it will still put 3 of the Imperials or handloaded 60's inside an inch at 200 metres.
Pounding away with my other center fire rifles does not occur so there is little concern of overdoing them.
However, riflemen and fishermen are some what similar in that all fishermen are liars except you and me but I am not too sure about you!
 
I would only be guessing at the round count of any of my rifles. I just shoot them when I feel like it and clean them when they need it. Never bothered counting rounds and if it needs a new barrel then I'll buy one. I haven't sold a rifle in a very long time ( I learned a long time ago that when they are gone, they are gone) but if I do again I would never feel comfortable giving a round count. For those of you that keep track, kudos to you, I'm just not that organized.
 
Horse96 said:
I pasted a link below that gives a ballpark idea as to barrel life. If you are buying a .308, the barrel life, depending how you play with the formula, is between 5,000 and 8,000 rounds. But if you bought a 7mm rem mag, you're looking at about 1,000 rounds. Personally, if the caliber is a hot caliber like 7mm rem mag, I will be more inclined to pass on a used rifle in that caliber; unless the price is right and rebarreling to a good match barrel is worth it.

Enjoy!

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/handy-excel-formula-predicts-useful-barrel-life/
Click to expand...

I have a modified version of a similar calculator. Even that doesn't help much. For example the 7mm RM you mention - of which I own several - will usually give much more life than 1000 rounds, but there are caveats. For example, you can expect ~850 round life with H870 (which I used to use) but up to 1500 rounds with powders such as H1000. Cleaning, or lack thereof can have a big effect on barrel life. What about moly coating? So there are factors that are hard to track and quantify on a used rifle - you really are rolling the dice. Also, a remaining life of 500 rounds may be fine for the person who shoots 2 boxes (or less) of ammo every year. For the fellow that shoots several hundred...perhaps not!
 
Most of my guns were bought used, I have no idea of how many rounds went through them, but since most are hunting rifles I'd assume less than a box a year in most circumstances. Ive gone hunting a few seasons over the years and never fired a shot.
With some of my newer guns, I'll keep track of how many rounds.
 
I keep track for the new rifles that I have. Some of my older rifles I couldn't even guess how many rounds went down the barrel.
But I do know this, I had fun putting the round count pretty high on some of them.
 
I too track my rounds - sorta. For some of my rifles (like my 223 Varmint, Ruger Mini and Cowboy Action guns) I have to count the remaining primers in my supply. Also, new boxes (for brass) plus primers are a good round way to guestimate for me. I buy used, not afraid to. I have no issue with slugging a barrel to find out it's shape.
 
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