Gun Exchange Etiquette

[goodcleanfun]

Newbie here and looking to message sellers once my account meets the qualifications.
My question is this, beyond the legal requirements is there any etiquette I should be aware of for a private sale of a non-restricted rifle?
Is it considered rude to ask the buyer to field strip the item? How about dry firing? Would it be weird is I brought a bore snake to check the bore to see if it's filthy or otherwise damaged?

Thanks!

 

[gorby]

Newbie here and looking to message sellers once my account meets the qualifications.
My question is this, beyond the legal requirements is there any etiquette I should be aware of for a private sale of a non-restricted rifle?
Is it considered rude to ask the buyer to field strip the item? How about dry firing? Would it be weird is I brought a bore snake to check the bore to see if it's filthy or otherwise damaged?

Thanks!

Think it totally depends on the individual and the gun.

Personally, I would be fine with a boresnake and removing the action from the stock (I am a bolt action guy). As for dryfire, centrefire would be fine and rimfire only if there were snapcaps on hand.

To play it safe, I would just message before going to look at a gun and say what you would like to do. Then the seller can see if it is worth their time.

 

[Gatehouse]

Newbie here and looking to message sellers once my account meets the qualifications.
My question is this, beyond the legal requirements is there any etiquette I should be aware of for a private sale of a non-restricted rifle?
Is it considered rude to ask the buyer to field strip the item? How about dry firing? Would it be weird is I brought a bore snake to check the bore to see if it's filthy or otherwise damaged?

Thanks!

A bore snake won't tell you much, a bore scope will. I wouldn't care about dry firing but it's always best to ask if you can test the trigger, even at a store. Field strip depends on the gun and what the buyer is hoping to accomplish with the strip.

The more expensive the gun the more I'm willing to put up with pedantic buyers.

 

[FatCatsDad]

Newbie here and looking to message sellers once my account meets the qualifications.
My question is this, beyond the legal requirements is there any etiquette I should be aware of for a private sale of a non-restricted rifle?
Is it considered rude to ask the buyer to field strip the item? How about dry firing? Would it be weird is I brought a bore snake to check the bore to see if it's filthy or otherwise damaged?

Thanks!

Are you planning on doing face to face in person deals only ?.

I've sold plenty discreetly in parking lots in the trunk if the car, but field stripping in a parking lot etc, nope, I'll pass.

To much room for a disaster in the terms of lost parts, damage, people seeing what's happening and more.

 

[sillymike]

I've been on CGN forever (or so it seems) and the only face to face deals I've done, are with folks I already knew.
- As in, browsing the EE and realize that SoAndSo has a gun I want for sell...

At a gunshow,
- Field-stripping a firearm. Sure, but I'll do it.
- Dry firing? Why would you want to do that? If I have snap-cap, sure...
- Inspecting the barrel, sure.

As far as etiquette goes on the EE
- If in doubt, ask questions/details before making the purchase.
- Speaking of asking question, the gun is usually considered available for sale until someone says " I'll take it " ... So someone might comes along and buy a gun that you were interested in... Don't be upset.
- If you make an offer and the seller accepts it, it is considered a deal.
- Communication is key. If you agree to buy/sell something, the seller will expect your details/payment within a reasonable amount of time. In my, within a day or two unless we made prior agreement.

 

[mark k]

Sell your guns clean. I’ve received several over the years that I couldn’t tell the condition of the bore without a proper cleaning.

 

[goodcleanfun]

Are you planning on doing face to face in person deals only ?.

I've sold plenty discreetly in parking lots in the trunk if the car, but field stripping in a parking lot etc, nope, I'll pass.

To much room for a disaster in the terms of lost parts, damage, people seeing what's happening and more.

Are you planning on doing face to face in person deals only ?.

I've sold plenty discreetly in parking lots in the trunk if the car, but field stripping in a parking lot etc, nope, I'll pass.

To much room for a disaster in the terms of lost parts, damage, people seeing what's happening and more.

Thank you for your response!
I am open to buying via mail but I have seen a few ads for pickup only sales on my area that interest me. That is a good point about parts going missing so I will skip that step. One of my buddies mentioned field stripping but I wanted a second opinion.

 

[FatCatsDad]

Thank you for your response!
I am open to buying via mail but I have seen a few ads for pickup only sales on my area that interest me. That is a good point about parts going missing so I will skip that step. One of my buddies mentioned field stripping but I wanted a second opinion.

Well.....what do you consider fired stripping, it's different for bolt, lever an semi.

How would you field strip a lever or semi....?

Pulling out a bolt is not an issue but I wouldn't allow you to disassemble the bolt.

 

[goodcleanfun]

I've been on CGN forever (or so it seems) and the only face to face deals I've done, are with folks I already knew.
- As in, browsing the EE and realize that SoAndSo has a gun I want for sell...

At a gunshow,
- Field-stripping a firearm. Sure, but I'll do it.
- Dry firing? Why would you want to do that? If I have snap-cap, sure...
- Inspecting the barrel, sure.

As far as etiquette goes on the EE
- If in doubt, ask questions/details before making the purchase.
- Speaking of asking question, the gun is usually considered available for sale until someone says " I'll take it " ... So someone might comes along and buy a gun that you were interested in... Don't be upset.
- If you make an offer and the seller accepts it, it is considered a deal.
- Communication is key. If you agree to buy/sell something, the seller will expect your details/payment within a reasonable amount of time. In my, within a day or two unless we made prior agreement.

Thank you for your response! Would you have any recommendations for things to look out for when purchasing a used firearm? I am specifically looking at an SKS.

 

[goodcleanfun]

Well.....what do you consider fired stripping, it's different for bolt, lever an semi.

How would you field strip a lever or semi....?

Pulling out a bolt is not an issue but I wouldn't allow you to disassemble the bolt.

I will be honest I don't know. I am looking at an SKS and what I think I mean is removing the dust cover to check out the bolt and carrier. I am a total newbie and am just parroting what I was told by a buddy who owns one.
If you have any recommendations on things to look out for when purchasing an SKS specifically or a used rifle in general I would be very open to any and all advice.

 

[jjohnwm]

I'd expect a buyer to want to see the bore, cycle the action, dry-fire the trigger, etc. Sure, slip the bolt out on a bolt gun to peak inside the action and down the bore, but no way I am stripping a rifle much further than that in a parking lot somewhere. If we were at my home, that would mean that I know the buyer personally, and I'd have no issue with some minor disassembly and would offer some live-fire out back...but I don't invite complete strangers to my home to buy/sell/trade firearms.

After being stood-up and otherwise screwed-around a couple of times, I won't even set up a meeting until after I have received full payment by EMT; I describe my guns completely and accurately, and will provide any details or extra pics that may be desired while communicating. I'm done with guys who don't show up, or show up mysteriously short a couple of twenties when paying, or who just openly think they will start negotiating for a better deal in a Walmart parking lot.

And, yes, we can chat to a buyer's heart's content before the sale...but if somebody messages me with "I'll take it!" then the gun is immediately off the market for 24 hours and is marked SPF. If payment is not received, and if we haven't made other arrangements, it's back up for sale 24 hours later, as explained in all my ads.

 

[sillymike]

I'm done with guys who don't show up, or show up mysteriously short a couple of twenties when paying, or who just openly think they will start negotiating for a better deal in a Walmart parking lot.

I've been called a f#ck!ng j3rk before... because I'd agree to sell a magazine to a guy, setup a meeting a club at the range on a given day... guy showed with less than the amount we had agreed upon and try to haggle... Which in turn made me realize that on second thought, the magazine wasn't for sale... Ho well.

*-*-*

As far as buying a SKS, unless you get some great deal locally... It would probably be easier/cheaper to just buy one from a store. Marstar has some listed for cheaper than what I've seen on the EE/Gun post