Used Shotgun

[Alsteds 2]

Hi all,

 

Just sent of for my shotgun certificate so, hopefully, will be shopping for a used shotgun in the near future.

 

My question is, when buying a used shotgun is there certain things to consider and check?

 

I've, obviously, never bought a shotgun so wouldn't know where to start aside from checking it's all there and straight. So any tips would be appreciated.

 

I'm thinking in the context of buying a used car you would check the engine, body work, etc. So to approach buying a shotgun in the same manner with an idea of what to look out for would put me in a better position when buying. Don't just want to buy one blind if there are some things that I poke, prod, pull and look for that will give me a better idea of the condition.

 

I know 'fit' is very important so will be making sure that I can get that as close as possible and I'm assuming any obvious defaults will be an issue.

 

I suppose what I'm asking for is a kind of check list for buying a shotgun.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Ratsmasher 36]

tbh mate, the best thing you could do is get a friend whos experienced in shooting or if not someone off here to come with you

Its very easy to be had when buying a first gun - it happened to me

[halamrose 24]

Like a used car, if you don't know what your looking at then take a knowledgeable friend. The most important thing is not to get too exited or be over impressed by the guy selling the gun - which I have always found an impossible ask.

[Alsteds 2]

Thanks for the replies, both of which make perfect sense. Will have to call in a favour from a friend of mine who used to shoot.

 

I have planned to buy from a dealer rather than private as I'm assuming I'm less likely to have my pants pulled down and trust what they tell me to an extent. However if I go back to my used car analogy, theses big car supermarkets can't wait to rip you off. What's your experience of this in the shotgun world?

[SportingShooter 0]

Well with a registered firearms dealer you are always safe in the basic knowledge the gun is in proof and safe to fire. They simply aren't allowed to sell guns to you out of proof.

 

Much of it from there will be cosmetics and price being asked for it. It is always worth looking at several shops for similar guns and trying to play them off against each other as well as always dealing in cash. Something about a wedge of cash in hand that dealers like

 

Again, I would take someone who knows a bit about guns with you and always have a top price in mind that you don't go above. Even if you love the gun you've picked up.

[Freakmode 1]

Whatever you do buy a big cabinet, once you start buying it takes hold. A three gun cabinet is never enough and you end up swapping it out sooner than later.

[Alsteds 2]

Well the consensus is take someone with you, shop around and use cash. Definitely like buying a used car. Ha ha

 

Sporting shooter: thanks for confirming what I thought about dealer and proof etc, this is definitely the way I will be buying my first gun. Safety being the paramount thing on my mind. Even if I do get done for a few quid at least I know it won't fail. Also, having a top price in mind is a good idea as I can see how easy it would be to get carried away ha. And I'm sure the wife will be more than happy to enforce this. Ha ha

 

Freakmode: I've read this a few times and makes perfect sense, however I was given a 5 gun cabinet a good few years ago so this will do for now and leave more money in the pot for the gun.

 

Thanks everyone for their advice, I will be doing some shopping around whilst waiting for my certificate to get sorted and be badgering my old mate to come along to help.

 

All being well I'll post when I purchase and you can tell me if I got a deal or robbed. Ha ha

[GEOFF.223 83]

buy from dealer

inside barrel should be a black mirror like finish

stick to the popular brands

beretta

beneili

baikal

stay away from cheap semi auto's as if its not a beneili or a beretta it will probably be hit or miss.

the most reliable 2 shotguns i had were a s/s baikel and a bereta 302

[Hawkeye. 26]

This might be useful to you for comparison www.guntrader.co.uk

Edited January 24, 2013 by Hawkeye.

[jackinbox99 41]

Whatever you do buy a big cabinet, once you start buying it takes hold. A three gun cabinet is never enough and you end up swapping it out sooner than later.

 

What this guy said. Everyone i know, incl myself starts off with a 3 gun cabinet thinking that will be plenty, and before you can blink, you have filled it to the brim and have to sell it off and get a bigger one. Id go for a 6 gun cabinet at least. It wont be much more in price.

 

Id go to a gunshop and try a few guns for fit. See what you like the look & feel off. What sort of gun do you want depends on what you`ll be shooting really. Most people tend to go for an over / under as they are a good all rounder.

 

Take what the shop says with a pinch of salt. Sometimes they try and push certain guns more than others. Dont feel forced to buy one there & then. Make a note of the make / model you like, then go away and research it some more. Checkout reviews to see what other people think. Checkout the typical selling prices on here, on other forums and places like guntrader & gunstar. Then you will be in a good position to buy.

 

Buying from a dealer usually means its a good gun. You certainly have a lower chance of being ripped off to some degree. Id buy 2nd hand as like cars, the initial hit on the depreciation has been done. If your a member of the BASC some shops offer discount. My local one offers 10% off for BASC members, which on a gun can workout as a good few quid.

 

I normally check the guns condition, is the wood nice, is the action tight. Check for splits or cracks where the action meets the wood. Get some snap caps and check it all fires okay. Not much else you can do really unless they let you take it around a clay range. When I bought my beretta which was nearly a grand, the shop happily let me take it away for the weekend and try it out on the clays! Pretty trusting of them I thought!

 

Good luck!

[cyclonebri1 8]

I had a 3 gun cabinet, fine for a while.

 

Needed more space, so added a 2nd, a 2/3 gun cabinet.

 

This week both went, and I now have a 7/9 gun cabinet, it's a common theme.

 

Look, the most important issue here has been missed in my opinion.

Let me tell me experience.

 

My 1st shotgun, 40 years back was a Baikal, same as many others, I would never here a word said against them.

But I was lucky, went to the local gunshop and virtually asked for the cheapest gun in the shop.

 

That gun served me for a few years and was passed on to another then another "new" shooter.

 

But, and this is the "lucky part, that gun fit me perfectly, but I must have tried over 20 others when I changed that simply did not fit.

 

This really is the crucial part, give me a £100 gun that fits over a £2000 1 that doesn't, any day.

 

Look, a reputable gun dealer will not sell a dodgy gun and will point out any imperfections, if they don't then you need to go elsewhere, but only you will know when a gun comes to the shoulder correctly, triggers nicely, (pull length), and gives the sighting view down the rib that you want

[jackinbox99 41]

My 1st shotgun, 40 years back was a Baikal, same as many others......

 

...This really is the crucial part, give me a £100 gun that fits over a £2000 1 that doesn't, any day.

 

Thats very true. I did exactly the same. My first gun was also a Baikal. A nice o/u with 2 set of barrels and even had the original case. Cost me £120. I ended up selling it to a local gun shop for £150 and buying a lanber.... which ive never really got on with. Lovely gun, but just doesnt "feel" as nice to me to shoot. My brother loves it, so nothing wrong with it, its more down to gun fit.

 

The gun im using more than any other atm is a cheap spanish 12bore sbs which cost me £60. I love it. Im just as good with it as i am with my beretta. It just fits me perfect. Its a light gun, no recoil pad, and yet after 150 clays I feel fine. Seem to hit more birds on the sporting range too as its got tighter fixed chokes & im using a skeet choke in my beretta.

 

So dont feel you have to fork out loads for a decent gun.