Suggestions for buying a used gun

[nontypical176]

I'm not actually buying a used gun, but possibly trading for one.  Can't help but wonder what some of the things are a guy should be looking for when eyeballing/handling the weapon.  Don't have a lot of experience with it, most of my guns were bought new or from good friends or gun shops.  Is there any tell tail signs that the gun might be worn out, or damaged even if it looks good on the outside?  And another thing came to mind....the guy that wants to trade with me looks a little shady and I kinda wonder if it might be stolen, so is there an easy way to run serial numbers to do a check on it?  The guy wants to do it as a partial trade plus cash for an old truck I have...the gun looks good in the pictures, swears its been shot less than 40 times and he is willing to meet with me to have a better look, but I don't want to end up with a worn out or stolen rifle.  Any suggestions would be apreciated.

[rtspring]

Tread lightly,

I would not purchase a rifle from a stranger. I would for sure run the serial number...

[singleshot12]

Stay away from shady   other than that always examine inside the barrel for rust or pits and find out what the model is worth in good shape before hand

[nontypical176]

How do I run the serial number?  He isn't in a hurry to make the deal, he's still trying to come up with enough cash to cover the rest of the trade, and I'm really liking the gun....Its a remington model 770, 270 win.  He just looks a little shady, don't sound like a crack head.  Most of the guys I see out in the woods look like they could be on Americas Most Wanted......just sayin, not trying to offend any of y'all.

[Biggerhammer]

Take someone with you that knows WTF their doing and what their looking at or stay away from it.

[jaymark6655]

Will he let you shot it first?  Also get the S# and run it.  Plus do some kind of bill of sale that includes all his info.  Always look down the barrel.  I think think way it probably would cover everything that could come back to bite you later.  Seems like if he refuses any of this you might be better off walking away.  I think running the serial # just requires calling up the sheriff and seeing if comes up stolen, but I have no experience with this so I am not sure how it works.  Just remember 40 rounds is still used and who really counts rounds or only shoots 40 rounds.  Remington 770 are only like $300 new and I think I heard you can't replace the barrels on those so once it wears out its worthless.

[nontypical176]

I was only asking 1500 for the truck, He offered 1000+gun and some ammo.  Seemed like fair negotiating and I did price the gun new, 300 was about what I found.  Maybe it would be better to not mess with the gun....But it would be nice to get rid of that danged truck too.  Thanks for the help.

[high country]

Ask him to send you the ser # in advance so you can check it as a cya. If he freaks....run.

[Wazukie]

Just remember to make sure its unloaded before you look down that barrel!

[fish vacuum]

I contacted my local sheriff's office about checking serial numbers on a gun and they gave me a website to use. I can't remember the web address but the site didn't seem all that official. I thought it was pretty lazy on their part since I was trying to do a good thing.

[MikeWalking]

I contacted my local sheriff's office about checking serial numbers on a gun and they gave me a website to use. I can't remember the web address but the site didn't seem all that official. I thought it was pretty lazy on their part since I was trying to do a good thing.

I found one web site to check S/N's.  It was based on people reporting the guns stolen from them.  How many gun theft victims even know about it?

[high country]

my local sheriff said the same thing, but when I call the front desk and tell them the situation with the number, they ran it for me.

[jrebel]

Know what your buying and what it is worth first.  No need to run a serial number in my opionion as long as you get a bill of sale.  I always check the guys drivers license and prefer a photo copy of it with gun, serial number and sale price bought for (on bill of sale).  I will also covertly write down liscense plate numbers and never loose the phone number you used to contact the seller.  If you have all this information and the gun come comes up stolen they will be able to track that person down.   

[high country]

having been the buyer of a stolen rifle and having it confiscated, no restitution, no option to contact the original owner about possibly purchasing it.....I would run it.

[kckrawler]

If you can, shoot that 770 before you decide you want to make the deal. I bought a 243 for a coyote/plinking gun and put about 50 rounds through it, decided it was a pile, and sold it to buy a Savage. Everything on them is plastic, the action is really rough and sticky, it wouldn't group for sh*t...the only good thing about it was the sticker price. 

If you like shooting higher end guns, that 770 will be a safe queen if you make the deal