I have purchased used rifles at local gun shops that I deal with regularly with no problems so far. I do avoid the big box stores Cabelas, Gander Mountian, etc. The exception is shotguns. I have picked a couple shotguns that are really great. I found a modle 12 that someone had chopped off 2 inches to make a rabit gun. I had the barrel threaded and it now accepts screw in chock tubes. I will be my turkey gun this year. As if I needed another turkey gun.