Purchasing a Broken Firearm

[SouthernSlammed]

Would you purchase a broken (will not fire) firearm? Known or unknown issue?

How much do you take off of average resale value? If known issue, just the cost of repairs or more for possible surprise problems?

What are some other things to think of, if purchasing a broken firearm?

 

[AtlMedic]

Things I would consider:
-Rarity of the gun and available parts, as in can you order parts from midway or brownells or have to search all over for a part gun

- if it's a gun smith repair or something you can do at home

- Likelihood of the gun being safe to shoot after repairs

- amount of time spent refinishing the metal and wood if needed.


If the issue is known I would want the cost of parts/repairs plus 10-20% off the normal used price.

If the issue is unknown then I wouldn't pay more than 50% of a normal used price.

The way I see it, if the issue is known and the seller can fix it and get a good price for it. If they don't want to do that then you need to have the cost of repairs and additional discount for your time and energy to get it fixed.

If the issue is unknown the cost of repairs may be substantial or the gun may not be repairable at all. So it's a gamble on your part which is why I wouldn't pay more than half the going rate.

 

[EugenFJR]

Would you purchase a broken (will not fire) firearm? Known or unknown issue?

How much do you take off of average resale value? If known issue, just the cost of repairs or more for possible surprise problems?

What are some other things to think of, if purchasing a broken firearm?

What are you thinking about buying? The only thing I'd buy that might be broken/have issues, would be a Glock, or a AR...

 

[DoglegArms]

Price of part and labor ($75/hr). If it requires machining, I'd ask a lot more.

 

[SouthernSlammed]

What are you thinking about buying? The only thing I'd buy that might be broken/have issues, would be a Glock, or a AR...

Just curious on others thoughts. Looking for bargains that might be easy repairs. Might first thought was, what other problems could there be with problematic firearm, other than the known issue.

 

[AtlMedic]

I think yourfairly safe buying anything common and simple.

870 or 500 shotguns, 10/22, 30-30 lever guns, etc are all simple with easy to find parts.

 

[Rwjeter]

Bought a BNIB Mossberg 500 Cruiser that would not feed. $100. Had a bent tube. The guy tried to take it off with channellocks. I'm sure you can guess how that ended. I was able to work the tube until it fed flawlessly. It was still scratched from the channellocks, but for $100, who gives a damn!?

 

[chance]

If its cheap enough, sure

 

[permaneo vox]

Can you function test it?

Is it likely to be illegally converted to fully automatic?

 

[EugenFJR]

Can you function test it?

Is it likely to be illegally converted to fully automatic?

This I didn't think about^^^^ .....

Yes some Dick Farmer, who screws with the rifle to make it full auto, I would be able to tell if it was a AR rifle ( if I bother to look at the sear/trigger ) But to be honest, I'd have no idea on a AK of other rifles. There is the old Norinco MAK-90 rifles that the 3rd pin, and I know thats a no-go. And I've seen one rifle that had the S/N removed.

 

[Mac11FA]

Bought a BNIB Mossberg 500 Cruiser that would not feed. $100. Had a bent tube. The guy tried to take it off with channellocks. I'm sure you can guess how that ended. I was able to work the tube until it fed flawlessly. It was still scratched from the channellocks, but for $100, who gives a damn!?

The OEM should have repaired that one for free.

 

[Rwjeter]

The OEM should have repaired that one for free.

He was too lazy to fool with it.

 

[Mac11FA]

In my opinion, there are plenty of inexpensive firearms out there to not worry about buying something that doesn't work or a fixer upper gun or a gun in a box. If you are purchasing for a wallhanger then maybe 40% or less of gun' s original value.

 

[SouthernSlammed]

The OEM should have repaired that one for free.

this is another thing I was thinking, if someone doesn't want to take the time to contact the manufacture then hopefully it's an easy deal and you get a great gun at an unbeatable price!

 

[cbh13]

all matters, I've had great luck with the two I bought. one was an sub2000 that came in a bag of parts because the original owner couldn't get it back together, I will admit it was a giant pain in the ass but I had it put back together in a day. the best one I ever had was a custom 22/45 that had a tacsol upper on it that they couldn't get to run reliably and that it had a stripped out screw for the rear sight, took it home and replaced the rear sight with a full length rail (that didn't end up even using that screw hole) so that was easy then went through and cleaned it up and also found it seemed to be using the wrong magazines, not sure if they were for an MKII or what but they wouldn't drop free and just felt tight so went and bought some new MKIII mags and it never had a single hiccup

 

[Kobayashi]

Great question for Bypass. He is a subject matter expert as he buys only broken firearms.

Well, you're talking about KNOWINGLY buying which is totally different.

 

[dial1911]

I'd buy it- but only because I like projects. And the price would have to be right- even if it's a simple fix, I wouldn't go over 50% retail.

They have an extremely limited number of buyers for a broken firearm.

 

[SouthernSlammed]

Great question for Bypass. He is a subject matter expert as he buys only broken firearms.

Well, you're talking about KNOWINGLY buying which is totally different.

 

[SouthernSlammed]

Whelp... I purchased my first known broke gun a few weeks back. Ruger 9E, contacted Ruger about replacement part. They said to ship it to them and they would have a look see. Came back repaired, test fired 50 rnds at the factory and threw in a cleaning cloth.

Solid service and great deal!

 

[Red Dawn]

Sounds like a win ! How do you like it