Checking Out a Used Shotgun?

[Visor1]

I would like to look at some used pump shotguns, like the Remington 870, for home defense. I don't have any ides as to what to look for in the way of problems with used shotguns. Could someone give me some ideas or direct me to a resource?

I checked out the shotgunning 101 thread and found some useful other information, but nothing on this topic.

Thanks!
Bill

 

[husker]

Look for unacceptable slop in the action. cracks in the wood for arm. cracked receiver, bolt ect.
Rust. Look for any rust. Rust will tell you right off how this gun was treated.
If its for HD? You dnt want someones old shotgun thats been riding in the back of 1980s 4x4 for 30 plus years.
Look at Mossberg 500 pumps to.

 

[RaceM]

Shine a light up the tube to look for bad scuffs and rust. Sight along the barrel, looking for bulges, dings, or bends. Push in on the magazine follower to check spring tension. Work the action to check for proper function and smoothness. Pull the trigger to drop the hammer, hang onto the trigger and rack the slide, hammer should not fall unless trigger is released then pulled again.

 

[monkyboy1975]

"Pull the trigger to drop the hammer, hang onto the trigger and rack the slide, hammer should not fall unless trigger is released then pulled again."
This may not apply to some older designs, the Winchester model 12's Ithaca model 37's and Stevens 520's just off the top of my head have the ability to slam fire I.E hold the trigger down and it will fire as fast as you can pump new rounds into the chamber as they have no disconnector. But other than that look at all the above, and give the firearm a good look over to see how well it has been maintained and otherwise treated. Also don't hurt to look down the barrel and make sure it is straight, I have looked at some with a slight bend in the barrel.Seems somebody used them for prying tools.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Bill,

Main thing is, you have to know the make/model you're looking at well enough to be able to determine what's normal and what's not.

The very first thing I look for in a used gun I'm considering for purchase is evidence of abuse in the form of 'kitchen table gunsmithing.' Some folks just cannot resist taking things apart that don't need to be taken apart, and those folks are generally pretty ham-fisted in doing so. Evidence includes chewed-up screw slots, flared pin holes, parts and pieces that just don't fit right, looseness and play where there shouldn't be any, etc. That sort of thing is a flat out turnoff to me. Sometimes guns break and need to be fixed, but someone who knows what they're doing won't leave elephant tracks behind them.

Generally a certain amount of simple neglect and honest wear doesn't bother me too much in a used gun, if the price is right. Shallow external rust and dirt clean up pretty easily. Dings in furniture are to be expected. Even accumulated gunk, dried-out oil, etc. inside an action will clean up pretty easily. I once pulled the trigger plate out of an old Wingmaster I was looking at and had enough weed seed fluff fall out to line a couple of bird's nests. Sorta shocked the owner of the gun shop, who had given me permission to push out the pins (when 870 shopping I always carry a long wooden golf tee in my pocket to push pins with) so I could examine the trigger plate assembly for evidence of abuse or repairs. Gross negligence, deep rust, internal rust etc, are bad signs.

I know the owners of most of the FFL shops I deal with pretty well and they don't mind letting me look a little closer at used stuff. But I always ask first and stay out of the way while I look guns over. I've saved several of them from trouble with bring-backs by unhappy customers when I found problems with used guns the staff didn't catch in purchasing the item, and they appreciate that. In a place where I don't know the owner/manager I'm a lot more careful.

hth,

lpl

 

[Visor1]

Thanks to all of you who replied. The information will helpas i look around!