Shopping the used gun racks

Gil Martin · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject: Shopping the used gun racks

My favorite gun shop just finished their annual tent sale and sold a lot of stuff. I did not attend because the crowds are intense. I was in the shop yesterday and poked around the used gun racks. There was a lovely commercial Mauser rifle in .30-06 with a sporter stock and Redfield bases and rings. It looked like a Santa Barbara or Mark X action and there were no markings. The hang tag price was $249.00 and it was sold to me for $200.00. My plan was to rebarrel the rifle in .280 Rem.

When I got home and pulled the action out of the stock, the lower receiver ring was marked "FN", "Made in Belgium", "1951". What a deal! I just dropped the rifle off at the local gunsmith with an Adams and Bennett .280 Rem. barrel. Should be ready in a few weeks. All the best...
Gil

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Geeze you are one lucky guy! How many deals does this make now? LOL

-DallanC

Gil Martin · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Shopping the used gun racks

Dallan,
I stay in touch with three busy gun shops and know the counter sales folks very well. For some reason, the locals do not like military surplus arms, Mauser sporters, used muzzleloaders or 16 gauge guns. So I have very little competition.

I did learn some distressing news that nearly made me weep. The day before, they sold a Mauser sporter for $150 that turned out to be a genuine WWII sniper rifle with original scope and claw mounts. The previous owner had chopped the stock. What can I say? All the best...
Gil

Coyote_Hunter_ · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Shopping the used gun racks

So far I have been very lucky with used guns. Sure would love to fine a FN Mauser for that kind of price, though!

Hereâ€™s a rundown on the used guns Iâ€™ve bought over the last few years:

.357 Mag, Ruger Blackhawk, stainless, 4-5/8â€ barrel. $225 and a MEC shotshell reloader I couldnâ€™t get anything for. Love the gun.

.375 Win, Marlin 375, $350 but it included Redding dies ($50), two boxes of ammo ($40) and other goodies.

.45-70, Marlin 1895, $249.95 at a local gun shot. Made in 2000, bought it in (I think) 2003. This was a steal!

.30-30, Marlin 336C, $250

.257 Roberts, Ruger M77, with Leupold M8-4x scope, $400. I figure $300 for the rifle and $100 for the scope. Like new when I got it, its now my favorite bolt gun.

All of these have turned out to be superb firearms. Had a bent basepin on the .357 Mag which Ruger replaced for free. The Marlin in 375 had a heavy trigger but a Wild West Guns â€œHappy Triggerâ€ fixed that.

The shows have been good to me for used scopes, too.

Two Leupold M8 4x rifle scopes, $100 each. Have them on the Marlins in .30-30 and.375Win.

One Leupold M8 2x pistol scope, $100. Sits on my Ruger Super Redhawk .44 Mag.

One Leupold Vari-X III 6.5-14x, $350. Sits on the .257 Roberts.

For the most part though, I think the majority of used guns at gun shows are over priced. As to new guns, it always makes me laugh to see two vendors selling identical guns but with a difference in price of $100 or more. Guess the high-priced vendor just likes to cart his goods around?

Best deal I ever walked away from (and I'm still kicking myself) was a like-new Hornady progressive ProJector reload press for $100. Just call me "dumb".

Guest · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Shopping the used gun racks

It's merely my own opinion. I haven't been too happy with most of my new guns in the past ten years, and honestly feel that the guns of the 1980s were of far greater quality. It might take a while to work up a good, accurate load, but once shooting well that was it. No problems with poor quality of components. Todays rifles are often a crapshoot. Some are good, many aren't. Many of the bores and rifling are mediocre, chambering is poorly done. There's just a host of problems we can live without. Just my own thoughts. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

515034s10ring · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Shopping the used gun racks

You can get some killer deals almost always this way, and talk 'em down even further if you know what to look for.
I bought at Freedom Arms 83 PG from a shop that just wanted to get rid of it because they tested after they bought it and would get hit by shrapnel with every shot (bent pawl). So $800 later and a few bucks in parts, it was good as new.