New Or Second Hand?

[Gooner 143]

Well just got renewal back and have been given permission for .223 & moderator.

Budget for new outfit around £700 not sure what to look at, have read various reviews and am struggling to decide. Gun will be used for fox, if going second hand what should I look for? Any suggestions welcome, thanks

[coldweld 65]

My choice would be :-

 

SAKO pre 75

Tikka Pre T3

Remington that has been pimped

[sanibel686 29]

I would go second hand every time for the value aspect. If you are at all worried about bullet count try to aim for a gun that looks "as new" and you will still save on new. Make sure that the bolt locks up tight when a round is chambered, it dosen't matter if there is some play when the gun is empty. Some people use hotrodded home loads and this can prematurely burn the throat but you'll only see this with a bore scope at a (very) good shop. There is no substitute for shooting it with the sellers chosen (factory) ammo. Remember it is a buyers market.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Just buy a new Howa/Weatherby vanguard mate, you cannot go wrong with one of them, the Jap engineering is superb, built to very tight tolerances indeed, with your budget you will get rifle mod and a decent scope,as I have said before I don't know how they build such good rifles for the price

[steveio 39]

never buy 2nd hand.you will never be happy or trust it.i learnt my lesson..i allways buy new.

[b53hunt 15]

il second that pal save a bit more brass and buy new atb b

[coldweld 65]

And your reasons for not buying a premium used rifle as opposed to a cheap new rifle are ?

 

Just because a Tikka or a Sako is new it don't mean it is better than an older model, New models of both makes of rifles show signs of production cost reduction.

There are quite a few Custom Remington's for sale that have cost their previous owner 3 or 4 time's more cash to build than what they can sell them for.

 

There are 100's of BSA and Parker Hale rifles for less than £250 that will easily shoot sub 1" groups at 100m but are not in vogue !

 

If you want to buy new your budget will have to be doubled inc glass and mounts

Edited May 21, 2013 by coldweld

[stillair1 16]

I picked up a mint one careful owner sako 75vls for £600. It might be worth adding a mod at a later date, and spending the budget on a better rifle as a mod for a .223 can easily eat up £200 +.

[Deker 3,478]

GENERAL GUIDE ONLY

 

Buying used.......

 

Look for a well kept gun, not too many dinks or scratches, usually shows a careful owner. Ask about it, see what the RFD can tell you about it's background.

Look down the barrel, hold it up to the window or a shop light, see if it is clean and in good order, check the crown, check the bolt action, etc.

If possible see if you can try it. Check to see what warranty the RFD is offering. Know general prices and haggle.

 

 

Buying New......

 

Get what you like, what feels ok, spending a fortune is rather pointless in many instances for field use, 0.5" groups or 1" groups isn't going to make any difference on a fox. ALL new guns can shoot well enough, there is the odd bad one from every manufacturer, but if it doesn't work you take it back! There isn't a make that falls apart after a few years. Don't spend any sleepless nights worrying about the doom and gloom merchants if you want to buy a new lower priced make/model. Howas are worth a look and the CZ 527 range.

[steveio 39]

if i had to buy preowned it would only be from a very good dealer,knowing its been barrel scoped and completly checked..iv bought 2nd hand from friends of friends and been told ''its only had 200 rounds through it'' only to finf out (at my expence) that the barrel is heat cracked...another occation was a butcherd trigger repair..so....new for me every time.works out cheaper in the long term.and you trust your rifle from day 1..

[j316 119]

i buy rifles like underpants i dont buy seconhand underpants

[delswal 3,819]

save an extra £199 and buy a new howa 1500 kit.........comes with mod...bi-pod....scopes........and a hard carrying case EXCELLENT value

[PLEDGEY 496]

I always think there are 2 reasons why some thing is 'second hand'. 1, the last owner wanted an upgrade. 2, there was some thing wrong with it that could not be fixed, might only be some thing slight that you don't notice until you get to know the rifle. Think of second hand as 50/50 gamble. Personally i don't like to gamble.

[coldweld 65]

There is a used Howa 1500 on stalking ***** forum at the moment ! Not much more than a 30 year old Parker hale and still not sold. wonder why

[andyf 144]

I would of said that a second hand centrefire was not the best idea a few years ago.

But now in light of experience I have changed my mind. That said you have chosen a popular target calibre, so a high round count 'well worn' barrel

is more likely to come your way. Anyway, for what it's worth 'my' look list for a second hand rifle is thus:

Look at the screws, if any are burred or damaged don't buy it.

If the bolt knob is 'shiny' the woodwork is bruised don't buy it.

Outside of the above look at the reality of rifles bought for hunting, most are used a lot for the first 6>12 months then 'retired' to the cabinet because the ammo

costs a fortune and the old 22 rimfire suddenly becomes more favoured.

Many people get a centrefire on whim then when the FAC comes up for renewal, don't keep it.

I bought second hand a 22.250 Ruger #1 and a Heym 7x57, both are as good as new and shoot superbly with home-loads, the Heym must be 1980's, my SAKO

Finnfire .22 and Browning A Bolt .270 I bought new and they also perform very well.

My advice is pick a high end second hand. AndyF