Why I avoid gun auction sites online

[wrenchman]

I have never bougt a gun on line my father inlaw has and so has my brother inlaw.
Some guns are not as common in other areas of the countryor regonaly it can be differant also.
I have gone to gun shows all over the state of mich and have noticed if i am at a shows close to detroit it is mostly black guns and pistols go to to 30 miles west or south to a couple ag areas and it is mostly shot guns and blk powder if i go north more rifels and some shot guns.
I have seen deals and can say prices for used guns can be driven by local value.
I have noticed that on line model 10 sw prices tend to run a little more on line then you can get one around here.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I've bid on a few guns on auction sites, but never got them.....there is only so much I am willing to pay, esp. if I can't physically handle the gun; pictures can only tell you so much.
The last several firearms I've bought have been used....not so much looking for 'bargains' as it is they were just there at the right opportunity. I would imagine that if you were looking for a specific type & caliber of firearm, and needed it right now for some reason, then the auction sites would be the place to go.

Sometimes patience can be rewarding........

I looked for YEARS for a Stevens 311 in 16 gauge with 26" barrels and IC & mod chokes to go with my 12 gauge (same barrel length and chokes) and 20 gauge 311. I know they made them; I have an old Savage catalog that lists them....but they apparently weren't made in great numbers. I could find the gun with 28" barrels and mod & full chokes, but not the 26 and IC & mod that I wanted. One day I walked into a gun shop and found a Stoeger 16 gauge with I.C. & mod chokes, for the same price that the used Stevens were going for. I bought it and haven't looked back....I've been quite happy with the gun. And as fate would have it, the 12 gauge has since become dysfunctional and I gave the 20 gauge to a friend!

There are other places to find good used firearms locally....don't overlook small, out-of-the-way gun shops, pawn shops, local ad papers, and local websites.