Noticing a trend with used rifles
04-05-2019, 06:27 AM
#11
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NE PA
Posts: 288
If I was just getting into hunting and saw a used rifle in a gun shop for around $400. Why would I buy that when You could buy a new entry level gun with a cheap scope on for that price.
Surveying my rifle collection everyone of my rifles I use including muzzleloaders are used except my current deer hunting rifle that I won at a QDMA dinner.
Surveying my rifle collection everyone of my rifles I use including muzzleloaders are used except my current deer hunting rifle that I won at a QDMA dinner.
04-05-2019, 06:45 AM
#12
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
Why buy used rifles?
well theres a great many used rifles that are no longer available new,
a good many rifles that are no longer made were much better quality than the off the shelf, modern rifles.
while there are exceptions most entry level rifles are not well fitted, or exceptionally accurate,
nor do the feed and function as smoothly,
it takes time and experience to know, and fully appreciate, the differences, as too,
why a browning or a colt saur, or weatherby or sako
costs more than your average Stevens,marlin,savage,or Winchester
sure you can hunt and kill game with the entry level rifles, its a functional tool.
but you don,t get the same feel, or pride of ownership or in many cases consistent accuracy
well theres a great many used rifles that are no longer available new,
a good many rifles that are no longer made were much better quality than the off the shelf, modern rifles.
while there are exceptions most entry level rifles are not well fitted, or exceptionally accurate,
nor do the feed and function as smoothly,
it takes time and experience to know, and fully appreciate, the differences, as too,
why a browning or a colt saur, or weatherby or sako
costs more than your average Stevens,marlin,savage,or Winchester
sure you can hunt and kill game with the entry level rifles, its a functional tool.
but you don,t get the same feel, or pride of ownership or in many cases consistent accuracy
04-05-2019, 08:15 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,743
My point was it was just a car, and popular in its day. No different than a Rem 700 or Win 70 from 20-30yrs ago - they were just rifles of their day. We all want to think a 1985 CDL was a fine piece of craftsmanship, but it really was just a rifle, thousands of them made each year. So a low mileage Tempo really isn’t so different than a blued and walnut 1985 700 CDL... just a rifle...
A whole generation of hunters and shooters coached their sons, daughters, and mentees, the next generation of hunters and shooters to get a heavy barreled rifle for varmints, to get stainless rifles for wet conditions, and that dinging up a nice wood stock is criminal... They taught the next generation that buying used might mean buying someone else’s problem, and that buying new for the same price or just a little more as used is often good insurance. It shouldn’t be surprising that they listened and don’t buy blued and walnut rifles.
A whole generation of hunters and shooters coached their sons, daughters, and mentees, the next generation of hunters and shooters to get a heavy barreled rifle for varmints, to get stainless rifles for wet conditions, and that dinging up a nice wood stock is criminal... They taught the next generation that buying used might mean buying someone else’s problem, and that buying new for the same price or just a little more as used is often good insurance. It shouldn’t be surprising that they listened and don’t buy blued and walnut rifles.
I fully agree, nothing wrong with buying a good used rifle, but in today's world of folks with or THINK they have disposable income, most seem to want NEW to be in the newest coolest rifle, and most buy based on marketing, and don't really know a LOT about rifles , and what makes one better than another, or better suited for one thing over another
marketing tend to make more sales today than yrs back IMO
and you didn;t have so many models as you do now, due to things worked and most didn;t see a need to keep making silly changes to sell more
tried and true worked
then the modern era came upon us, and now its a crazy world where everyone NEEDS to have new things often!, or seems this way to me!
the more buttons silly names or gadgets an item has the more folks want them!
or if seen on TV or multi media being used by "X" person, they buy into the hype and HAVE TO HAVE IT Mind set so many seem to have today!
from a former gun store owner, I can tell you I made more money selling USED guns than I ever did selling NEW one's.
so, win win for me were and still are on used guns
pick up some great deals all the time on them, by folks caught up in marketing hype needing NEW ONE"S LOL
04-05-2019, 09:15 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,230
i know I once found a Remington Model 700 Classic in 6.5x55 gathering dust in a shop and I made sure it went home with me. Price was good, classic caliber, great hunting round. It has stacked up quite a few whitetails, mulies and pronghorns. If i could find one just like it in 7x57 I'd grab it too.
04-05-2019, 12:00 PM
#16
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Knee Deep in FL Muck
Posts: 286
I think some of it might have to do with the cost of the bottom tier new rifles. For basically $3-$400 you can go by a rifle with a tupperware stock and a cheap scope that is brand new. I love the older rifles I own a couple but I also own some of the new stuff. And the stuff coming out of the box right now shoots very well with little to no work. How long they will last compared to my older models is a different story.
04-05-2019, 12:50 PM
#17
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Trumbull County, Ohio
Posts: 9,519
The 7x57 in anything seems to bring top dollar. I know where theres an FN in 7mm that I would like to pick up.
My gun buying has been mostly put on hold until the wife finishes up school. Unless I find a crazy good deal
-Jake
My gun buying has been mostly put on hold until the wife finishes up school. Unless I find a crazy good deal
-Jake
04-06-2019, 04:57 PM
#18
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,230
I have a buddy that is a PH in 5 or 6 countries in Africa that has a Ruger #1 in 7x57. I did a couple safaris with him and on one of them my rifles got held up for a couple of days due to an airline misroute problem. I used the Ruger until mine showed up and was very impressed with the cartridge. I took several impala, a warthog or 2 and a kudu with it. It worked extremely well. There is a reason it is one of the old classics for African hunting. The original 30-03 cartridge the US Govt had was little more than a 7x57 necked up to 30 cal.
04-12-2019, 03:21 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,079
I am in my 70's and grew up with wood and blue steel so they are still attractive to me. I am stuck on the old calibers too, there isn't much that can't be done with a .243, 6.5X55, 7X57, 30-30, and 30-06 depending on the game. There are many larger calibers but I never used them because I only hunted in the Midwest. I have a weakness for these old guns when I see them in gun shops and have to talk myself out of buying them because I would never use them. Stainless has its advantages, I own stainless black powder rifles and also a blued one. I do not use the blued one, it is too pretty to use like a couple of shotguns that are "safe queens". There is a joy in oiling them from time to time and net shooting them. Am I rambling? Sorry.
