Posted on 01/11/2014 8:06:01 AM PST by rktman
GunBroker.com, the world's largest gun auction website, announced Friday it reached a historic occasion since its launch in 1999. The online firearms and shooting gear auction site reached $3 billion in online sales.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Cue the late Carl Sagan.
I have used GunBroker many times and any weapons bought or sold must be handled through FFL holders on both ends of the transaction and BATF paperwork must be filled out and background checks must be performed. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN BUYING ONLINE OR IN PERSON... THE DELIVERY MUST BE AT AN FFL BUSINESS AND ALL OF THE SAME PAPERWORK MUST BE FILLED OUT AND VERIFIED. I am shouting at shemp smiff.
One small point. Gunbroker doesn’t sell guns. It merely provides a meeting place for buyer and seller. It’s the ebay of guns.
I’m in the market for a NEW gun for the first time in years. My last purchase was a S&W 4506, but that’s another story...
I presume online is the cheapest way to go, so what’s the best online site?
Thanks
If by “new” you mean new from the factory/dealer, I don’t know. But if by “new” you mean a used gun that is new to you, try ARMSLIST. It’s direct between seller and buyer, it is not an auction site. If Gunbroker is the ebay of guns, I guess you could say ARMSLIST is the craigslist of guns, but a much better organized and presented web site thn CL.
I’ve bought a couple of firearms through the following sites:
or:
You have to look around some but the prices can be better than local but you have to find someone (FFL) that will receive it for you at the lowest “handling” fee and in a lot/most cases you’ll still have to go through the background check. Possible sales tax savings as well.
Then there was the boating accident............
I am seeing more people turn to FB private pages to sell their guns (man cave items).
I have used both those sites also. Both were true to their word.. only hassle was getting someone here to receive them (at a cost of about 25 bucks).
The last one I got nearly ended up what I would have paid locally due to the BGC and the “handling” charges. But I saved a few bucks+no tax. :>) I really gotta check out the “handling” fees closer.
I’m in the market for a NEW gun for the first time in years.
Either way, if your state permits it (most freer states do) find a gun from a private party in your own state. You can deal face to face, and have no record of the transaction.
The sites let you search by state of phone area code, so that helps to find them.
http://www.armslist.com.
You still really need to know what you are buying is worth, because some people like to try to sell their used gun for more than a new gun. Gun dealers can also list guns on Armslist. I found a really low margin gun dealer that is local based upon their listings in Armslist, e.g. $99 AR15 lower receivers.
You will also be surprised at the number of people that list their weapons for sale, but will not return answers to any of your inquires. Having said that you will also meet some really good people and good deals on some esoteric weapons.
I have bought and sold on Gunbroker. It works. My only problem with gun auctions is that people with too much money on their hands bid up prices to crazy levels. But, that’s the free market, so more power to them.
Guns America is very good too.
I have an account with three: Gunbroker.com, Gunauction.com, and Gunsamerica.com.
Gunsamerica is mostly way too expensive and I have yet to purchase anything off that site. I have several transactions off of Gunauction but am a regular purchaser off of Gunbroker and I have yet to be disappointed.
I have purchased everything from firearms to magazines, ammo and gun parts off of Gunbroker. They even have a page where you can find an FFL dealer to complete any transaction that requires one. I already have a friend who owns a range so I just use him but they have a pretty extensive listing of FFL holders in your area via typing in your zip code.
When you see the prices remember to look at the shipping and your fee for the processing of the FFL transfer to see how cost effective it is to buy. Sometimes the difference is so small I just buy from my local dealer and other times I save a ton of money.
just like Craigslist indeed. to be more like CL,they should first make an offer of trading for a lawnmower they have or offer you half your asking price without even first seeing it or asking a preceding question.
There is not single answer to your question. It depends heavily on what firearm you are in the market for...
Post or PM me what you are looking at and I’ll try and get you a few good sites to look at.
Gunbroker.com has a good reputation because they track trader ratings. If you are dealing with a party that has 100s of successful trades with a high rating you can be pretty confident in your purchase. I’ve made more than 50 successful purchases there.
Arms list has no rating system and there are a lot scammers. Every caution that applies to Craig’s List applies to Arms List. I would not buy off that site except in person. The one time I did, an internet buddy off one of the gun message boards picked up the items and mailed them to me.
Gunbroker.com has a listing of receiving FFLs. You type in your zip and it lists the closest ones and gives their price for receiving.
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