Everyone likes to buy something new. That is true whether you are talking about a new car or a new deer hunting rifle. As with the new car, everyone knows that once you drive that new car off the lot, it loses value before you can finish inhaling that ??new car smell.?? When purchasing a rifle, much of the same principle applies; after you run some rounds through the chamber, the value of the rifle begins to drop.
There is some good news that can be had from this fact. If you know what to look for in a ??good?? used deer hunting rifle, you can use this lose in value to your advantage. You will be able to spot a bargain from a problem and get the best bang for your buck. Keep in mind, a used rifle is expected to have some scratches and dings, but if you see pitted bores and refinished bluing, these could be signs of trouble. Prepared with the advice below, you can find a great used rifle that will make you happy for many a hunt to come.
First, consider the overall appearance of the rifle. Does it show signs of neglect? If the outside of the Gun looks like it has been abused, it??s a good bet that the inside doesn??t look any better. Some signs of neglect or abuse would include pitting, dents and damaged screw slots. Though the latter is a bit less obvious, it could be a sign of incompetent care. If on the other hand the rifle looks well maintained, they investigate further.
If possible, removing the stock from the action would be advisable. This will give you a great insight as to the overall care of the rifle and you may find hidden rust near the trigger or receiver. Look at the stock itself. If it is a wood stock, check for black stains in the wood. This is a sign that oil has soaked into the stock. An unfortunate and potentially dangerous consequence of this sort of care is the stock could fail when fired.
Third, check the barrel. Though this would seem obvious, most potential rifle buyers only glance down the barrel with the naked eye. This just isn??t enough of an inspection when you consider that a new coating of Gun oil can hide many blemishes. While you expect to find a small amount of black powder soiling, a clean barrel can speak volumes about the owners overall care for the Gun. Have a small Gun cleaning kit with you, this is not a bad idea for any hunter, you never know when you will need it in the field. Take a clean patch and wrap it around a bronze brush. Run it through the chamber; look for any smudges of brown rust. Take another clean patch down the barrel to see if there are any signs of corrosion or excessive amounts of oil. This oil could simply be a sign of poor maintenance, but it might be the Gun o wner attempting to cover a more serious issue.
Did the Gun owner make any alterations to the gun? If he did, this takes the guns value down even more. If you are looking for nothing more than a basic, effective tool with which to hunt your next deer, then any alteration to the Gun works in your favor, allowing you to get this rifle for a bargain. If on the other hand you a looking for a rifle to use for a few years and you think you may consider selling it, any of these alterations will affect the price when you attempt to sell it down the road.
Lastly, though not necessarily a potential problem, consider only purchasing a rifle of a common caliber such as a.308 or.30-06. If you??re like most people, you live on a budget. Having to spend an arm and a leg to go hunting won??t be much fun once the newness of the Gun wears off. Some of the less popular cartridges are much more expensive than there more standard counterparts.
Hopefully these simple, yet important steps will help you select a used deer hunting rifle that not only fits into your budget, but will work flawlessly when you head out on your next deer hunt.
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