Firearms owners in Australia are increasingly turning towards the second-hand market when looking for their gun purchase. As with any significant purchase, spending a little time and knowledge checking the potential acquisition can make sure you are satisfied with your used gun purchase.
Buy From a Reputable Source
It goes without saying, but this is the most important thing any firearm owner should follow. Ensure if you’re buying a firearm online that you’re buying it from a legitimate legal source – whether that’s a licenced dealer or individual. If you’re unsure whether the owner selling the firearm is appropriately licenced, do not complete a transaction with them.
Ensure you always follow your relevant State or Territory firearm laws at all times. If you’re unsure on the process, contact the relevant firearm’s registry department who can help guide you on how to remain compliant through the process.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For More Images/Video
Buying anything used online can make it difficult to establish the exact condition of the item. If the firearm you’re interested in has limited images not showing all parts, or the images are blurry/difficult to clearly see ask the buyer for more. GunHub even allows users selling their firearms to embed a video in their listing to provide a full display of the firearm being sold. (To make use of this, just upload the video to your preferred platform and put the link in the “Video” field when adding your listing.
Compare Apples with Apples
With such a large variety of firearms on the market, model variations and versions of each model, it can be confusing for the buyer. If you’re looking to negotiate on prices or determine whether you’re paying fair value for the potential purchase, compare against other similar listings on the market. Using websites like GunHub you can look up what other firearms are listed for and get a rough idea of where the market is sitting for each model around.
Inspect if Possible
If the rifle is in the same City/State as you, try to arrange a time to inspect the rifle. This will allow you to take a better look at the bore, action and overall firearm for any signs of rust, scratches or damage. If you’re purchasing a shotgun, check the action is tight.
If you’re unable to inspect in person, you could otherwise arrange for the rifle to be inspected by a gunsmith/dealer in the seller’s area but this comes down to the discretion of the seller.
Remember, there’s a large amount of used firearms on the market at any one time so if you’re unsure about a particular firearm, wait until something better comes along. Spending the time to find the right firearm for you will ensure your new purchase lasts the test of time and not become an ongoing headache.
If you’re looking to purchase a new or second hand firearm in Australia, check out GunHub’s latest listings for all your firearms and accessories needs.
