By Paul Rackley, GunBroker Editor

I bought my first used gun quite a few years ago. A buddy had a Winchester 94 in .30-30 he wanted to get rid of and he offered it to me for a pretty good deal. It wasn’t the prettiest of rifles, as it had significant wear on the exterior, but it shot straight. I had quite a bit of fun with that rifle, and it taught me the benefits of lever actions. 

Since then, I’ve dabbled in gun trading from time to time, finding used guns I find interesting but trading them off when I lose interest or someone sees one and wants it more. I’ve even sold or traded a few guns I bought new. 

One of my better purchases was a Smith & Wesson Model 66 in .357 Magnum with a 2.5-inch barrel. It came with Pachmayr grips and a less than stellar trigger job. I had the trigger fixed and it is now one of my favorites. My worst involves a guy who talked me into buying a RG-14 in .22 LR. It would regularly fail to fire in double-action. I didn’t have that one long, but I also lost money to get rid of it. 

Other used guns I’ve bought over the years include a Remington 700, which I tricked out with an H-S Precision stock and a top-of-the-line Leupold scope. It was a tack driver that I eventually sold. I also bought a series 70 Colt 1911 in .45 that I still own today. On that pistol I added Crimson Trace Lasergrips and a SureFire Rail Adaptor. 

In all of the new and used guns I’ve bought and sold over the years, my best deal was on a National Wild Turkey Federation Winchester 9422, on which I tripled my money. Selling this rifle was my first experience with GunBroker back in 2008. Since then, I’ve tinkered on the site, never really understanding the benefits of the online gun marketplace. Going to work for the company was an eye opener.

Finding Deals on Used Guns

The first item, or items, I bought from GunBroker was a case of 9mm ammunition. This was after spending quite a bit of time scrolling randomly through listings. I feel I caught it for a deal despite forgetting about shipping and credit card fees. 

The first gun I bid on, I didn’t win. It was a Smith & Wesson Model 29. I didn’t really try very hard. It was more of a test run than a serious bid, but I would have bought it for the measly bid I offered. I didn’t win the second or the third either. On those, I was a little more serious, but I’m not the best about checking back, despite the email reminder. That’s when I learned about Penny Auctions. 

Penny Auctions are items that start out at a penny, with no reserve. These can be all kinds of objects, ranging from parts to ammunition and even firearms. And while some of the firearms are older with significant wear, there are actually quite a few excellent firearms offered. These include both new and used guns, and not just lower-end guns. Penny Auctions have pretty much everything.

I’ve seen GLOCKs, Tauruses, SIGs, Rugers and more. Those not interested in a specific brand or model should scan through the listings and throw anything interesting in their Watchlist. Make a note of when the auction ends and check back on the bid regularly. The best advice offered for potential buyers is patience and persistence. Utilize the site’s tools, including the price and save search features, and just wait until the right deal comes along. Or you can buy one quickly and wait out the next gun purchase. 

• Use the advanced search tool, especially if looking for something specific
• Advanced search allows narrowing by categories, models and even new or used guns
• Make note of auction ending times
• Look at the GunBroker Deals page, which lists rebates, coupons, free shipping and layaways
• Scroll through Penny Auctions; good deals can be found
• Be sure to add in credit card, shipping and FFL fees to the final price

Deals on Used Guns (that I’ve noticed)

There are a lot of reasons why folks find deals on guns. Some can be somewhat controlled, other can’t. For whatever reason, some guns just don’t resonate with shooters. It doesn’t make them bad guns. Sometimes these less-popular guns come back years later as collector items. Until they do, they usually offer pretty good deals. 

People also have to remember that deals are relative. Some folks consider any gun bought for $200 or less as a deal. However, getting a $2,000 gun for $1,200 or a $1,000 gun for  $500 also make nice deals. It all depends on what people are searching and willing to pay. Here are a few gun deals I’ve noticed in the Penny Auctions. 

AR-15 Rifles

What can be said about America’s rifle? It’s light, accurate, easy to use and adaptable. This semi-auto rifle comes in all kinds of calibers, from .22 LR all the way up to .50 Beowolf. It’s popular for many reasons, including its potential for deals. 

There are countless companies producing AR-15s. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago, think right before the pandemic, when there were a lot more AR rifles than buyers. The market became flooded, and prices plummeted. That’s not what’s happening today, but deals can still be found. 

An Advanced Search shows ARs made by Ruger, Smith & Wesson and even Colt in the $200 to $300 range. Those who don’t care about brand might want to take a look at a rifle made by one of the many smaller manufacturers. Some of these run for less than $200. Those looking for calibers other than 5.56/.223 will probably have to pay more. 

1911 Pistols 

There is only one gun in the world that has more competition in the marketplace than the Armalite Rifle — the 1911. There are more than 100 companies producing 1911 pistols in a wide variety of calibers. In fact, the 1911 is one of the most customized pistols in the world. Pretty much every major handgun manufacturer produces 1911s, as well as high-end custom shop like Wilson Combat. There is even small companies producing less-expensive versions of this iconic pistol. 

As such, there are thousands, or more, of 1911s in the market, including countless used guns that can be had for a deal. Some of these 1911s start at less than $200, providing an excellent base gun for customization. Or folks can just carry an older version of this great pistol. 

Mossberg 702 Plinkster

The Mossberg 702 Plinkster isn’t the most popular semi-auto .22 LR rifle. This doesn’t mean, however, that it isn’t a great little rifle. Mossberg has, in fact, produced around 600,000 of these rifles since introducing it in 2003. 

The Plinkster comes from the factory with a free-floated barrel and adjustable, fiber-optic sights for accuracy. It also comes with a dovetailed receiver for mounting optics and a 10-round magazine, 25-round magazines are available in some states. This is a fun little .22 for hunting and shooting. 

The least expensive model of the Plinkster retails for around $165, with other models running about $80 more. As such, folks aren’t going to save hundreds on this rifle. However, it is one of the few that can be obtained used for just over $100 or less. 

Remington 700 

One of the most popular bolt-action rifles in history is the Remington 700. Some don’t like the 700 because it doesn’t use controlled feed, but shooters have purchased more than 5 million models of this push-feed rifle. There was even a time when most custom rifle makers used the 700 action as the base of their rifles.  

There are millions of Remington 700 rifles, both new and used, on the market, in almost every conceivable caliber. Used guns can get pricey, depending on production year, model and features. However, shooters can also find basic models in excellent condition for $500 or less. Sometimes, this includes an optic. 

Taurus PT 111 Millennium

Taurus has long built affordable revolvers and pistols, including some pretty nice 1911s. The company brought out the Millennium for the concealed-carry and backup law enforcement markets. It was originally introduced in .32, .380, 9mm, .40 and .45, with capacities ranging by caliber. 

In 2013, Taurus brought out the G2 version in 9mm and .40, followed by the G3 in 2019. These pistols are quite reasonable when new, and can be obtained for a great deal if purchased used. In fact, folks can get their hands on one of the pistols for less than $150, if they’re patient. 

These are just a few of the used gun deals available on GunBroker. In fact, deals can be found on way more than most realize, from new and used guns to ammunition, optics and even hunting, fishing and camping supplies. You just have to be patient and persistent. 

Tags: 1911, AR 15, Mossberg, remington, Taurus