Gunbroker: Advice for a newbie please

[Capt Steve]

I have never used Gunbroker, only scanned their website a few times. I know lots of you folks are regulars there so here is my request. What advice/how to info would you offer up to a first time prospective Gunbroker buyer like myself? I am not sure about some of the terminology and how the bidding process works. I do understand that any purchase will have to go through a FFL dealer here in Tucson. What are some of the things I should watch out for?

I will be shopping, budget around $600, for a decent 44 Magnum, preferably a 4" and of course a S&W 629 would be my first choice. I'm also open to a Ruger or Colt and can live with a SA though would prefer SA/DA. Obviously I'm not looking for NIB/collectable, just a reliable gun with cosmetics being secondary to form and function. I am wide open to suggestions on the make and model as well as alternate locations to find it. Saw a few here of course but GB obviously has a lot more to choose from.

We will be taking an extended camping trip in September in what will be mostly bear country and I am not sure my Ruger 357 is enough gun if we encounter a bear that doesn't want to be nice. I won't ever be hunting with it so no need for a scope or long barrel. I prefer a shorter barrel, 4 to 5" so that it can be easily carried/brought to bear (no pun intended). (o;

 

[Duke426]

I have roughly 100 happy transactions on Gunbroker. About half were firearms purchased by me.

My rules for purchases:

1. I only purchase if the pictures are crystal clear (NO dark and/or fuzzies). The more pictures the better.

2. I ask ALL my questions before I bid and only bid if the answers are to my satisfaction.

3. I do NOT get into bidding wars. I bid one time, bid what I am comfortable paying for the item and forget about it until the auction is over.

I keep it simple and I have not been burned yet - even dealing with folks with little or no feedback.

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

All good info listed here....also ask for pictures of anything that is not shown.....i.e. if they don't show a certain area of the gun, ask them for shots of that area. Don't settle on just the pictures they provide. Treat the deal as though you were FTF with the seller.

 

[retiredtech]

Always get the "Return" option!

 

[doublesharp]

Good advice so far. I especially agree with asking questions first and I give points for accurate and timely response. If seller doesn't do email timely, that's a red flag. I like a phone conversation, too, if I think it's necessary.

Unless it truly does not matter, I'd hold out for what I want. If a 4" 629 is what you really want, it's cheaper to buy it right off the bat. Buy the best the first time then you don't have to wonder and a 4" N frame .44 mag is about perfect in my book. $600 is in the ballpark in my area. Cash is king. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't get some for sale offers from this post..

 

[jimmyj]

My advice: buy from this Forum's Classieds

 

[snowman]

You've received excellent advice re: dealing with Gunbroker. I've had no problems in the dozen or so transactions I've made through them, but there is always an element of risk that goes with online buying that one just has to live with. I too would avoid dealing with anyone who won't allow the item to be returned. I bought a M29 a few years ago that had been tinkered with in ways that couldn't be corrected. Had the seller not allowed a return option, I would have been out a LOT of money. Fortunately, he was an upstanding dealer who just didn't know Smiths well enough to have recognized the problems himself.

Talk to the seller on the phone if possible. I've found I can get a pretty good feel for the kind of person I'm dealing with if I can actually talk with them. I know that's pretty subjective, but I believe the impressions received are generally accurate.

I would definitely avoid a SA only gun if there were any possibility of having to use the gun to defend myself against a bear.

Best wishes, and don't hesitate to post more questions if you have any.
Andy

 

[chief38]

GUNBROKER

I have purchased on G/B over the last 5 or 6 years and probably racked up 40 to 45 purchases. I have had only 2 bad experiences, one of which was a Rookie Cop from the LAPD selling a 2" model 60 that he bought as a BUG when he went through the academy. When the gun arrived it was in the condition as stated, except that it was double action only - not what I had wanted. When I contacted him, he apologized and said that he thought that was the way they all were. Since he was new on he job and was not a "gun collector" he had no idea most model 60's were both S/A as well as D/A. He felt terrible and payed all my expenses as well as the return freight.

The only other issue I had on G/B was a fellow that sold me a Colt .22 Scout advertised as a 22LR. When it arrived it turned out to be a .22 Magnum. Again, the seller said he did not realize this, but refunded my money and payed all the freight costs.

Other than these two instances, my G/B experiences have all been great. Usually the condition of the gun received is as good if not better than described. As others have stated, only buy guns that have perfectly clear photos and guys with excellent feedback, and shy away from ambiguous phrases like: "looks unfired", or "the previous owner told me....", etc. My personal advise on bidding is if you have been looking for a certain gun for a long time and you find one in the condition you want, then paying 40 or 50 bucks over what the average example is going for is worth it in the long run. Since I am not in the gun business, and do not buy guns with the intention of selling them for a profit in a few months, I will quickly forget the extra $50 cost, and will be enjoying the gun for a long time to come.

chief38

 

[Capt Steve]

You guys are amazing, as I knew you would be. Lots of good advice/info and I'm sure more will follow. I am about 2 or 3 weeks from having my financial ducks in a row. In the mean time I will be watching GB and will start haunting the local shops. I have until September to find the right gun but the sooner I do the sooner I can get it dialed in. As noted a 4" 629 is at the top of my list but any specific recommendations on what vintage to seek or avoid? Don't think I can go wrong with another Smith but my buddies Colt Anaconda is one hell of gun as well though probably beyond my budget. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[DeadAye]

Your .357 Ruger not up to taking on a bear? I don't think so!
They aren't like people though - Meaning you don't want HP ammunition - You need penetration. This holds true with the 44 too.

 

[Ogandydancer]

Another thing you might run into is the seller charging an up charge for using CC's. Some charge maybe as low as 2% but I have seen as high as 3.75%. Most of the time this little detail is in smaller print and mingled in with other writing so as to be easily overlooked, so if you are not willing to pay this extra charge for using your CC then you are going to be unhappy with the final price. Sellers with this stipulation get passed by by me. Other biggest thing to look for is their feedback rating. The higher the better.

 

[mountaingun629]

Capt Steve,
If a seller has any negative feedbacks, read them to see why they were given and see what the seller's RESPONSE was! That will give you a feel for the type of guy you are dealing with. If he calls the complainer a ******* or worse, he isn't someone you want to deal with.

Myron

 

[Capt Steve]

Your .357 Ruger not up to taking on a bear? I don't think so!
They aren't like people though - Meaning you don't want HP ammunition - You need penetration. This holds true with the 44 too.

You may be right my Ruger is one hell of a gun . A friend was a pretty fair gunsmith and tricked it out nicely. It's a Police Service Six, originally a 4" that he took 3/4" off, crowned the barrel 11 degrees and triple ported it. Hogue grips and reworked the trigger. In SA it breaks at just an RCH under 2 lbs. It is a lot of fun to shoot and hands down the mosty accurate handgun I have ever fired. Stoked with 185 grain Winchester Partitions it's a freaking cannon.... but I still really want a 4" 629. Here's the only photo I currently have, sorry for the poor quality.

 

[jubela#4]

I have made several purchases off Gun Broker. You have received good advise from this forum. I would add one thing to what you already have been told.
If you are serious about a gun, email the seller for a phone number if they don't already supply one in the add, call them and talk to them about the gun, ask all your questions. I have found that this works well for me. I haven't had one bad experience in over 20 transactions.
If a seller won't supply their phone number BEFORE a sell I would not deal with them.