Hey all,
Where have you guys found the best place to buy used guns locally?  i.e. largest selection/fair prices?  Particular store? Pawn shops? Private sales?

Both my Glock 19C and Glock 26 I bought used in great condition, from Magnum and the recent gun show respectively, and I'm looking to add a .22LR pistol to the family.  I saw a used Ruger 22/45 at the gun show that I should have jumped on, but I hesitated and am kicking myself for it.  I personally feel that used guns (if legit and in good condition) are the best bang for my little dollars.  I know that there are places online that I can buy guns from but I really don't want to deal with the whole FFL thing.

Thanks!
K

Hey all,
Where have you guys found the best place to buy used guns locally?  i.e. largest selection/fair prices?  Particular store? Pawn shops? Private sales?

Both my Glock 19C and Glock 26 I bought used in great condition, from Magnum and the recent gun show respectively, and I'm looking to add a .22LR pistol to the family.  I saw a used Ruger 22/45 at the gun show that I should have jumped on, but I hesitated and am kicking myself for it.  I personally feel that used guns (if legit and in good condition) are the best bang for my little dollars.  I know that there are places online that I can buy guns from but I really don't want to deal with the whole FFL thing.

Thanks!
K

I have purchased guns from all of those sources over the years. But I have to say you can cross off pawn shops off your list of places to buy guns unless you are after relics. I found the best deals from private parties including a new never fired gun. I also have bought guns that were consigned. With those you can usually make offers on them depending on the shop. I have not bought any used guns in Hawaii as the ones I currently want are probably not available used. But I am always keeping my eye out for a special deal here.

Most of the guns I have bought have been used.  In fact, I think I've bought only 5 brand new guns over the counter from gun shops.  I've bought many used guns that were brand new (unfired), but they were consigned.  I don't think there's any pawn shops that are licensed to sell guns here in Honolulu, so I mostly cruise the gun shops in town and hope to get lucky at the gun show.

You've got to do your homework and know how to evaluate the condition of a piece and it's relative value, otherwise you could either end up paying too much, passing up a really good deal, or end up buying a dog.  Read articles on how to buy used guns, check online and print media to get an idea of "street prices," and if you are dealing privately always try to get a good "read" on the guy you are buying a gun from.

You also have to start building an encyclopedic knowledge about many types of guns--read books and examine lots of guns.  Knowing what a reblued gun looks like is very important, so is knowing which parts are original and which are replacements.  The blue book of gun values is good to have as a reference, and the books showing how to disassemble and reassemble guns are excellent investments.  It was many, many years before I bought a Luger but when I did buy the first one I knew how to take it apart and put it back together.

Knowledge is power, and it doesn't come free--you have to invest your time and learn what to look for.

As far as buying guns from the mainland, unless you are buying brand new guns from reputable dealers you could end up with a pig in a poke.  Would you buy mail-order shoes without ever having tried on a sample?  Would you buy a car online without ever taking it for a test drive?  If you're in a gun shop checking out Ruger .22s and you find one you like (especially if you can try the trigger first), why not buy it from them?  The gun shops will help you out, answer all your questions and provide follow up service should you encounter any problems. 

Finally, remember the #1 rule of the gun shows--if you find it, you like it, and you can afford it, buy it!  The minute you walk away from the piece, someone else will buy it and you'll be SOOL. 

Post in the classifieds and ask.
I got many good deals on here.

There doesn't seem to be a "king" of used guns on the island.  All of the stores seem to handle them, but none stand out as being "the" place to shop for a used gun.  Basically you just need to keep looking, making the rounds, waiting to pounce when that deal pops up.

Pawns shops in Hawaii don't deal guns, which is sad.  I never drive past a pawn shop on the mainland, and have brought home several treasures as a result.

And, of course, there is this forum.

There doesn't seem to be a "king" of used guns on the island.  All of the stores seem to handle them, but none stand out as being "the" place to shop for a used gun.  Basically you just need to keep looking, making the rounds, waiting to pounce when that deal pops up.

Pawns shops in Hawaii don't deal guns, which is sad.  I never drive past a pawn shop on the mainland, and have brought home several treasures as a result.

And, of course, there is this forum.

Hey all, thanks for the info!  This is all very helpful.  Its a shame that pawn stores don't have any.

On a side note.  I've been to OGC a ton of times, but I never really noticed if they have a used gun section or not.  I keep on getting distracted by the 1911s in the middle of the store. 

Yes OGC does sell used guns on consignment.  They are usually in the case on the left side the shop under the AK's and Saigas.  They have some good stuff once in awhile.  The best deal I missed out on was for a cherry condition gently used West Germany Sig 226 at Young Guns.  Like everyone said know exactly what you want, research it and be ready to pounce when you see a good deal or you'll end up crying to your wife like I did for a week about missing out on that Sig.  There is also hawaiiguntrader.com or something like that.  I think there's a Ruger .22 MKII for sale on there now.  That site doesn't seem to get the amount of traffic that this forum gets.

Yes OGC does sell used guns on consignment.  They are usually in the case on the left side the shop under the AK's and Saigas.  They have some good stuff once in awhile.  The best deal I missed out on was for a cherry condition gently used West Germany Sig 226 at Young Guns.  Like everyone said know exactly what you want, research it and be ready to pounce when you see a good deal or you'll end up crying to your wife like I did for a week about missing out on that Sig.  There is also hawaiiguntrader.com or something like that.  I think there's a Ruger .22 MKII for sale on there now.  That site doesn't seem to get the amount of traffic that this forum gets.

Ahhhh that explains it, I get distracted by the 1911s first then my eye jumps right up to the Saiga's.  Explains why I never end up seeing that case. 

Yeah I saw the Ruger on hawaiiguntrader, but I'm really looking for a Mark III or 22/45 version.  In my opinion the price is a little steep for that particular pistol.

Thanks!

Just checked out the hawaiiguntrader site... Wow, talk about overpriced.

Is it just me or is absolutely everything on that site priced ridiculously high?

Pass.

It seems that the best way to get a great deal on a firearm is just to check all available venues (stores/gunshows/forums) and be in the right place at the right time.

Wow, talk about overpriced.

Is it just me or is absolutely everything on that site priced ridiculously high?

I think the same can be said about everything in this state.

The problem with this state in which I'm getting increasingly fed up with over the past few years is the jacked up prices for everything. It seems lack of competition allows vendors to price everything over MSRP. Just one maybe not so great example is I asked a LGS for an uncommon complete lower that MSRP's for $380 and I was quoted $450. O_o. I found one online vendor that is selling it for $376 including shipping. The only thing that encourages me to buy locally is the hassle of mediating the sale through an FFL and waiting for it to arrive. But still with the cheapest FFL transfer here that's a $46 savings I could be putting toward an upper or an accessory etc.

Of course that's not the only reason I'm getting fed up but yeah everything is priced ridiculously high here and I wouldn't be surprised to see that in the used gun market either.