Cost for a Gunsmith to examine a used gun

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John_smith

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Hello,
I'm brand new to the sport, so i'm on the paranoid side when it comes to safety. Seems like the EE forums on this site are a great place to pickup used firearms. I think I would have to have a gunsmith examine any used purchase that i make to ensure that it is safe to shoot. How much would a gunsmith charge for such a service? Also perhaps having them clean it once would be a good idea as well?

Also I've read that having a gunsmith service aa firearm once a year is also a good idea. What exactly would they do for a yearly maintenance and what does it typically cost?

I'm interested in mostly handguns and shotguns to start..

TIA
 
It depends on how thorough an examination you want. If you are only worried about functional safety, he will probably just do a quick visual inspection and give you his thoughts for free, especially if you buy a box of ammo or a decent cleaning system from him at the same time. Most gunsmiths will do as much as they can to bring new shooters into the fold without trying to squeeze every dollar out of them. Just remember, they are businessmen as well and knowledge is not always free.

If you want an inspection that includes accuracy testing, throat erosion checks and a few other things like proper bedding and trigger funtions it will probably be in the $25 - $50 range. bearhunter
 
Is there a gunsmith near you? Otherwise the cost of shipping a firearm back and forth is going to be a factor,and moving a handgun is going to require paperwork.
Most folks do their own cleaning, and take the time to learn about their firearms. If detailed stripping is necessary, and you are not comfortable with doing it, might be worth paying someone who has the knowledge and experience. Why would a firearm need yearly maintenance? Of it hasn't been used, there would be no real need, apart from insuring that poor storge isn't causing problems. If it has been used regularly, it should receive ongoing care.
As far as cost goes, ask your nearest gunsmith. Minimum charge would likely be for an hour's time.
 
i charge for a complete disassembly, check up, and complete cleaning, test fire,clean again, usually for a gas semi. $40.00. to just do a quick look and check the action, barrel and trigger assembly while the customer waits , nothing.
 
$45 for a complete disassemble, inspection and detail clean. Some barrels (rifle) require alot of work to strip copper. If someone asks me if I can look at a rifle or shotgun that they are thinking of buying and what my opinion is, it's always no charge.
 
You can also buy from a CGN member with an excellent feedback rating who stands by their for sale items. Most guys offer a three day inspection period. Personally, I try to be as completely honest as I can and try to describe any firearms I'm selling in as great as detail as I can. When buying on CGN I always ask lots of questions & ask for lots of pictures. Haven't been disappointed or had a problem yet after 200+ purchases/sales.

For a quick looksee, most gunsmiths won't charge anything, especially if you're making even a small purchase, i.e., ammo. If you want a detailed inspection, that includes detail stripping/cleaning the firearm, check of headspace, borescope the barrel, etc...you're looking at 1-2 hours of shop time depending on the make/model of firearm and how hard it is to strip and reassemble. Depending on the shop, should run you anywhere from $35-$45 for the "easier" models, and possibly double that for really complex, pain-in-the ass, obscure, what-the-hell is this models. :)

That said, rules to live by on the EE is that if the deal seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Also, your first impression is usually the correct one; so if you get a bad or woncky feeling about a seller, run, don't walk away from the sale! If the seller is evasive when questioned about specific concerns or cannot provide decent pics within a reasonable amount of time, you may want to move on to another seller.
 
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