Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What drives used gun sales right now?

I have noticed over the past month or two that guns listed for sale across several forums I frequent simply aren't moving. The prices are a little high, but not that much higher than a few months ago, and they seemed to sell fine then. What drives the slow market on these? Too many guns? Sellers asking too much? Both? Hunting season is over?

Credit card debt is maxed out, feds quit giving away free $$, confidence in the economy is down, groceries and other necessities are high, interest rates high etc.. it’s not just guns, it’s most superfluous spending.

I believe all of those things, and holidays etc. Tax returns coming in may jump start the market, but who knows.

Add to all that are the thoughts of adding dies, bullets, and possibly another powder to feed that new-to-me purchase...

I think it’s mostly folks asking to much…I’ve seen several used guns listed recently for more then I can go to the store and buy brand new ones. Folks seem to have missed that supply is finally catching up on some things.

The economy man. Thank your wonderful biden..

Mostly this.

Used guns have pretty much always been that way in this area. New guns in small shops as well. I try to support small shops, but I'm not paying $150-$200 more for something basic that I can pick up at Academy right down the road, or Sportsmans with an hour drive.

The economy for certain. Many of us here are retired or otherwise somewhat insulated from the worst effects of inflation, but working people must be really getting hammered, especially if they have families. Inflation had somewhat slowed down for a bit, if you believe the figures, but we’ve had three straight months where it’s been back with a vengeance. Even when prices stop going up somewhat, we’re still stuck with the increases that already occurred, costs aren’t dropping. Rents are almost 20% above what they were in 2021, and interest rates have priced many out of the home-buying market. Wages aren’t keeping up. The jumbo eggs I usually buy were back up to $3.70 the other day

I usually have something for sale locally and it’s dead around here. Besides the struggle to keep the wolf from the door, I suspect those who are buying prefer inexpensive new guns to used nicer ones.

This for sure….
I have been trying to sell a few and keep dropping prices….. btw, I have a 10/22 for sale here…wink wink

Desire to own, condition, originality and price of a used gun normally determine how quickly it sells. Quality guns almost always command top dollar and sell quickly, second and third tier firearms not so much.
Additionally, guns listed for sale on forums do not bring top dollar. How many times here does one see a seller say, “off to Gunbroker” about a gun that has languished here in the Classifieds?

The gun business is always slow between Christmas and Tax Day. People overspent during the holidays, some of them got new guns as presents and are selling their old ones, plus Uncle Sam is standing there with his hand out.


Okie John

I spoke with the guy at a local shop. He said he is getting a lot of sellers walking in. His used gun rack is full. Guns are one of the first things to go in tough times.

Yup. And I'm definitely noticing this right now

OK. That confirms what I thought. I just know I bought some rifles for let's say 700 bucks last year, and now the same used ones are being listed at 1300. Of course they aren't going to sell.

I was surprised to see assembled in Portugal BARs going for 1250 plus. 🤷‍♂️ maybe I’m wrong. I guess when 742s, 7400s are bringing a mint the BARs will also.

Just the opposite here. Local good shop/pawn shop used racks are bare. Academy etc are stocked up with mostly low end stuff. Shelves were full of ammo a couple months ago but it’s thin now.

Don't know as I agree. I have too many but don't have all I want. Price and other considerations I'd rather buy face to face with someone I trust than go thru a dealer to end up sending the sob back to Ruger for lack of QC & QA FOR WARRANTEE WORK ON A NEW ONE..mb

No clue. I’m the absolute worst at predicting gun trends. I thought for sure we would see an influx in trade in used guns about 2 years ago. I agree that some prices at first glance seem high but as stated above when you consider the price of everything else going up,up,up some of these gun prices really don’t seem that bad.

The time of the year also makes sense to me. I was told by a dealer at a local show years ago that after tax season and into late spring is super busy and slows to a crawl in summer until hunters start buying again. And when I repeated that to a local gun store owner this year he just… nah I’m busy all year long.