buying shotguns from pawnshops.

[CoyoteSix]

Hey all, I'm thinking of buying a used pump from my local pawn shop. I like to buy guns like I get my dogs. I always get a rescue over a pet store dog if I can.


SoTHR What should I look out for when buying a rescue, ergh, used pump shotgun.

Thanks!

 

[CaptainChaos]

Well, if *I* were in your position - that is, living in America - I reckon that I'd spend a lot of time trawling the shops for old M37s.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Much depends on the manufacturer and model you're looking for...

Generic advice is to look for good solid mechanical condition and look past minor surface issues. But you need to know the gun well enough to evaluate the specific example you're holding. I'd stick with something of modern domestic design and production, as a rule. I do buy an occasional proven design that is out of production (High Standard Flite King or its Sears marked copy, Stevens 520/620 or their Montgomery Ward or other generic clones, etc). What I really prefer to find is a good mechanical condition 870 Express, older model, before the magazine tube dimples came along, or a good old Wingmaster.

You just need a basic working knowledge of what's out there and what's a good buy given what you are shopping for...

 

[oneounceload]

Realize that the pawn shop has a LOT of wiggle room. They will give .10 on the dollar, and if they have something that hasn't moved in a certain amount if time, they are more willing to accept a lower price.

Depending on the type of gun, what to look for can vary. On break action guns you want the top lever far to the right of center, and when it is closed there should be ZERO play, wiggle or a feeling of looseness - if there is any of that, you will be looking at a bigger repair bill than the gun is worth - pass it by.

Just like anything else, if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is

 

[CoyoteSix]

I'm looking for ann 870 or mossy 500. There was a shotgun by Smith &Wesson that caught my eye.

 

[Showman]

Which Smith & Wesson shotgun are you talking about? I know that Smith is back in the shotgun business again, so it may be one of those...but if you're talking about one of those old Model 916s or something, you may want to take a pass unless it's in really good shape and you really want one. Older shotguns (pre-1985) usually have fixed chokes. Newer models have screw-in choke tubes, which are a lot more versatile.

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, if *I* were in your position - that is, living in America - I reckon that I'd spend a lot of time trawling the shops for old M37s.

Regards,

Mark.

Those and BPSs hey Chaos?

ATB, Scrummy

(Also on PW by same handle)

 

[Virginian]

You started out on the right track; a Remington or a Mossberg. Stick to it. They haven't outsold the entire remaining other brands of pump shotguns combined for nothing. I prefer the Remington, but the Mossbergs work fine too.

 

[CaptainChaos]

Those and BPSs hey Chaos?

Hmm, well one of our club members did used to *use* a BPS but he's "defected" to Mossberg. I got the impression that the BPS was a bit heavy to lug around.

*Whereas*...

...my M37s are as light as a fevver.

Regards,

Mark.

P.S. I believe that my fellow shooter enthused about the large loading port on the BPS; he could stuff two rounds at a time into his gun.

 

[Scrumbag]

Hmm, well one of our club members did used to *use* a BPS but he's "defected" to Mossberg. I got the impression that the BPS was a bit heavy to lug around.

*Whereas*...

...my M37s are as light as a fevver.

Regards,

Mark.

P.S. I believe that my fellow shooter enthused about the large loading port on the BPS; he could stuff two rounds at a time into his gun.

Well, that is as maybe on the heavy side but I really want a BPS for fowling so don't mind a bit of weight. Am not "running and gunning" as you guys are.

ATB,

Scrummy
(PS, do you have any practical shotgunning contacts in Switz? Be good to know if you do. Cheers)

 

[CaptainChaos]

I really want a BPS for fowling so don't mind a bit of weight.

Perhaps that chap on PigeonWatch who's building a punt and gun should mount a BPS on the front, instead.

do you have any practical shotgunning contacts in Switz?

'Fraid not. Fancy a go at it, do you?

Getting back on topic, I've always thought it odd that a lot of Americans would prefer to buy a new Chinese or Mexican gun rather than a second-hand classic American one.

Regards,

Mark.

 

[Scrumbag]

Perhaps that chap on PigeonWatch who's building a punt and gun should mount a BPS on the front, instead.



'Fraid not. Fancy a go at it, do you?

Getting back on topic, I've always thought it odd that a lot of Americans would prefer to buy a new Chinese or Mexican gun rather than a second-hand classic American one.

Regards,

Mark.

I do indeed fancy a go at practical shotgunning. Sadly it doesn't seem so well known over here....

 

[oneounceload]

Getting back on topic, I've always thought it odd that a lot of Americans would prefer to buy a new Chinese or Mexican gun rather than a second-hand classic American one.

Because they only care about initial cost, not quality - read my sig line - if more folks went by that, we'd be better off

 

[loose noose]

I've bought a few firearms from Pawn shops over the years, but I knew the owner fairly well, and got some fantastic deals if I do say so myself, now my wife may beg to differ with ya though.

 

[Scrumbag]

Because they only care about initial cost, not quality - read my sig line - if more folks went by that, we'd be better off

I think you have a point, also I think a lot of it is marketing hype and the must have accessory. Plus, I don't believe that people actually keep firearms that long anymore. Seem to be flipped much more often than they used to be in my father's day anyway.

ATB,

Scrummy

 

[CoyoteSix]

There was an H&R. Single shot there for $100. How low do you think one could bargain for it?

 

[shiftyer1]

I have been a pawnbroker for 12? years or so........My advice to you is this,

Know what your looking at, do your research and know what market value is.

Realize that sometimes there isn't much wiggle room........but most of the time there is.
And if you have a good pawnbroker, he'll get you real good deals when he can.

If it's a topper model or similar I would price 120 hoping for 100 no tax and end up selling for 80 or so. If it was me personally i'd pay 65 or so.......because I don't need another and I can't pass up a 60 dollar working gun

Maybe offer 85 and see if they can throw in a nice case.....you'd be surprised how cases stack up.....some quite nice.

 

[CajunBass]

You started out on the right track; a Remington or a Mossberg. Stick to it. They haven't outsold the entire remaining other brands of pump shotguns combined for nothing. I prefer the Remington, but the Mossbergs work fine too.

Good advice, those two are always a good choice, but guns that seem to get overlooked these days are "house guns." Sears, Western Auto, Penny's and a host of other large retailers used to sell guns, especially shotguns under their own names. They were the same as the big "name brand" guns, with the exception they may have had a hardwood stock rather than walnut, they may not have had a vent rib, but the workings were the same. Sears used the name "Sears", "J.C. Higgins", and "Ted Williams" and possibly other. For a long time I didn't know there was any place to buy a gun except the local Sears store and catalog.

My Sears/Mossberg 500.



Sears/Winchester 1200



Don't overlook them.

 

[Doug S]

My first shotgun was a Sears 20 guage single shot. Nothing as exciting to a kid just starting out hunting as finding a gun under the Christmas tree. I used it for many years of fun hunting as a kid. My son now uses it. I believe it was made by Savage.

 

[farscott]

As someone who has rescued more than a few 870s from pawn shops, my advice is the following:

1) Be a regular at the shops. Go in at least twice per month and buy something. Be a customer, not a window shopper. You need not buy something expensive, and I often buy gun oils and other consumables like shells and boresnakes. The idea is to form a relationship that is mutually beneficial.

2) While there, look at the guns and get a feel for what the prices are. Figure out what you want and learn the guns and their values. In shotguns, I focus on 2-3/4"-chambered 12-gauge and all of the small-gauge Wingmasters.

3) When you find one you like, haggle with respect. I tend to focus on guns less than $300 and really like the ones below $200. Poor cosmetic condition can help you as many people will not purchase a gun that does not look perfect. One of my best purchases was a 12-gauge Wingmaster with a 28-inch vent rib barrel with a Modified choke from the 1980s whose bluing was well worn. That gun cost me less than $200 OTD. I cut down the barrel to 18.75", added a new bead sight, replaced all of the springs and magazine retainer, added Police wood, and stained the new wood for a total cost of about $350. That is about half of what Remington asks for a new 870P.

4) Have fun with it.

 

[oneounceload]

When you find one you like, haggle with respect. I tend to focus on guns less than $300 and really like the ones below $200.

Sure would like to visit pawn shops with guns priced like that - around here, they sell new guns as well as used - and both are priced above retail

 

[Deer_Freak]

You have to be careful with pawnshops. Many times I have seen used guns that were well below 80% marked higher than I could buy the gun new. The only guns I have ever bought from pawnshops are guns that are out of production. You need to know what you are doing when dealing with a pawnshop.

I don't feel the need to build a relationship with any business. I am there looking them in the eye, with cash in hand. If that doesn't get their respect they don't deserve my business.

 

[gamestalker]

I have to agree with the advice Mr. Fuller gave. Try to find an older non dimpled 870 Express or Wingmaster, and then work the pawn broker down. I've made some very good deals at PS's, but more so when you know something about the product, this provides you with viable facts to bring to the bargaining table.
But then, it is not a bad thing if you can find a newer model with the rem choke.

GS

 

[Fred Fuller]

There are pawn shops, and then there are pawn shops. Not all of them are run by people who think they have to get top dollar for everything on their shelves. Some or even most of them may be, but it is well worth your while to find a pawn shop that wants to move merchandise at even a small profit rather than sit on it forever at silly high prices.

Since I spent most of my working life as a Department of the Army civilian employee, I've lived in or near "army towns" most of my adult life. Military towns usually feature bars, tattoo parlors, car lots and pawn shops pretty heavily among their other businesses. So it's always been pretty easy to sort out which pawn shop or shops I want to deal with, as there has been a good number to choose from any place I've ever lived.

First of all, visit EVERY pawn shop in town. All of them. Look around, get a feel for the atmosphere of the place, see how customers are treated, how the merchandise is priced, etc just as you would do when evaluating any business you were considering for a purchase. Sadly, in my experience, one visit will be more than enough to let you know you're wasting your time with most of them. By the way, I literally grew up behind a store counter (my dad owned a small country store), and I know what 'good business' feels like. If I don't feel it in any business within in the first five minutes, I know there's no use looking any further there.

Once you find a place or two that seems promising, follow farscott's advice above. Go in regularly and buy the incidentals you'd be buying anyway. Talk to the counter help when they aren't busy with customers (but don't be a pain). Learn who the manager or owner is, they will 'drive' the atmosphere in the business. Get to know that person over time.

Look for good deals on previously owned items the shelf and don't be afraid to ask if they can do better on the marked price on those. If you are a regular customer and don't quibble over buying incidentals at marked prices (and they usually have little to no wiggle room on new items like accessories, cleaning gear, ammo etc), they will be more likely to help you as much as they can on items where there might be some flexibility in prices.

Not all pawn shops are alike, and it is well worth your while IMHO to find the good ones and give them your business.

 

[Kymasabe]

I had a used Wingmaster that I put over 60,000 rounds thru over years of trap shooting with it, was a great used gun find. But, like most older shotguns, had a fixed choke. Sold the gun and moved to Florida, when I had an itch for another shotgun, checked out the local pawnshops and bought a beautiful Mossy 500 for only $150, works flawlessly, managed to pick up two more barrels for it too. I'll have this one for the rest of my life and will probably will it to one of my kids. Pawnshops are a great place to find a good deal on a solid gun.