I got to thinking after reading the better deal post about all the gun deals I have happened across. I know that I am always looking out for good gun deals and I have run across a few really good deals in my day. I would have to say the best deal, value wise, I have ever run across was a Century arms mauser in 30/06.

I picked it up at a local pawn shop while looking for an action to have rebarreled to 35 whelen for a birthday gift to my father. When I saw this mauser I figured it would be perfect. Century arms had already done most of the work all it would need was a new barrel. It had a cheap looking hollow plastic stock and a small scope that had been painted black. The rifle looked brand new. I took it home and checked it out. The rifle was spotless, the blueing looked brand new and the bore was pristine, bright and shiny. The scope turned out to be a Leupold 2-7x33 VX II that had been spray painted black. It was a pretty handy little rifle, just under 7lbs. I figured I had better shoot it before I had anything done with it. Took it out and shot it with the cheapest box of 180gr ammo I could find, federal classic 180gr Grand Slam. The first three shot were two touching and one about 1/2" to the side. At first I figured it must have been a fluke so I shot two more. This averaged the group out to just over 3/4" group. I adjusted the scope to hit 2.5" high at 100 yards and shot several more groups. None were as good as that first group but they were all right around an inch to an inch and a quater. I couldn't very well mess with a gun that shot that well.

The best thing about it was the price. $250 out the door, easily the best bang for my buck I've ever had. I've kept this rifle for several years now and have only hunted with it once. I've used it mainly as a loaner ro spare rifle, or left it behind the seat of my truck along with a box of ammo.



What are some of your best deal stories? I have a feeling everyone has run into some killler deals at one tome or another.

A friend of mine inherited a bunch of guns from his dad, who had died around 1990. His dad was a lefty, so all of his guns were ambidextorous or left handed. He was tired of them taking up room in his safe, so decided to unload them. I bought a Ruger #1B, Liberty model, 22-250, with the most beautiful piece of wood, for $300. The gun was in pristine condition.

My dad, who is a lefty, bought from the same guy, a LH Weatherby Mark V deluxe, 30-06 and a Colt Gold cup 45 for $950.

Just before leaving on this deployment, I ran across a Win 94, 307 Win on consignment at a gun shop. Pretty wood, no handling marks, pristine shape for $395. I thought about it for a night and went back the next day to buy it. Not on the rack. Asked if it was sold. Nope, in the back, going on gunbroker.com in 2 hours for $600. Asked if I could still buy it for $395. They agreed and I walked out with it.

Well, My best gun deal actually revolves around what a lot campers consider an inferior rifle- a savage bolt action. Always one interested in home gunsmithing, I'd read about the supposed ease with which one can utilize the savage actions as a switch barrel gun. So, with a bit of scratch saved up, I started looking for one.
None of the local funstores had much for short actions (my goal was to build a 260 Remington/6mm BR), so I started looking online. It was on GunBroker.com that I found my "prize". Savage M10 Sierra, chambered in 7mm/08. The Rifle had a starting bid of $450, and a Buy It Now price of $500. When I read the text of the add, and looked at the photos to confirm it, I immediately checked the balance of my checkbook. The rifle came with a sling, case, Harris Bipod, AND a Leupold Vari x III 6.5x20 Scope.

The way that I figure it, I either bought a $300 rifle and got a $400 scope for an extra 200, or I bought a $400 scope and got a rifle for $100. Either way I came out ahead on that deal. The savage action is currently awaiting headspacing as a 6mm Br, the leupold now resides atop my Remington 7mm Rem Mag Sendero (Se-exy).

I also have a .223 700 ADL on a payment Schedule at the funstore that I found for $279, which I consider a good buy. I also have a 3006 ADL (another lay-away) and a 257 Bob ADL that i found for $299. I feel any time that I can get a functioning centerfire firearm in useful caliber, in good to excellent shape, for $300 or under, I'm getting a good buy.

The Kaiser

The Kaiser

See "Laredo 70" post below.

I swapped out scopes from one rifle to the other, and the guy GAVE me the old rifle, a heavy barrelled Savage .25/06, does that count? Sure, it took two days soaking, to get the copper out of the barrel, and the throat was pretty LOOOONNNNGGG, but it still shot pretty good, for all that. He'd used it PDogging a lot, and it was shot hard, but it was still a free rifle!

In the early 1980's, When my children were toddlers and I was flat broke, Christmas was coming up with no way to buy a present for anyone. I stopped in at a pawn shop and when I saw no guns I asked if they were now out of the gun business. The manager told me they were getting out but had three 30/30 rifles for sale. I asked how much and could I see them. He said $125.00 each and proceeded to bring out a pristine 4 digit serial number octgon barrel Winchester 1894, a five digit 30/30 and a five digit 32SPCL!! I asked if he would take $300.00 for the pile, he allowed as he would. I drove home and spent the next hour or so explaining to my wife why she should give me our entire months grocery money to go and buy three GUNS! It was one of the best sales jobs I ever pulled off! I bought the three guns, sold the octagon barrel model that afternoon to an aquaintance for $600.00 and immediately returned the $300.00 to my wife for groceries. I then asked the pawn shop manager if he had anything else for sale. Just two old pump 12 guage shotguns, $125ea. He showed me a 1950's vintage model 12 duck gun special with a 3" chamber and a clean model 1897! I offered him $200.00 for the pair, he took it, I took my pile of treasure to a gun show that weekend and I ended up with over 1,000.00 in profit. It was one of many times that God provided for me and my young family during tough times. He is good and he is faithful. We had a very merry Christmas, I hope and pray the same for all of you.

Colt .38 Super for $100 in the late 70's early 80's, too young and dumb and naive back then. But these days I wonder if it was stolen. Sweet shooter, great caliber that finally got some of the recognition it was due with the comp shooters. I sold it for $325 before I made the road trip to AK. Wish I'd kept it.

How about walking into a local drugstore and seeing an entire line of Weatherby Mk V deluxe marked $325.00. Yep, the whole line, up to and including the 340Wea; take your pick, $325 each.

The line started with a 224 Wea and a 22-250 in that sweet little Varmintmaster action, and included a 240 Wea, 257 Wea, 270 Wea, 7mm Wea, 300 Wea, and a 340 Wea.

Admittedly, the regular price on these beauties was only $650 at that time. But it was still a heck of a deal.

I, as a struggling student, trying to work my way through college, could only afford one. I had to borrow the money from a finance company at an usurious rate, but I took the 22-250 home.

I've had a three rifles given to me; two Pre-64 Model 70's in .270 WCF and .300 H&H and a 1968 Belgium Browning ATD .22lr, but a couple that I actually paid for that really stand out are a Remington 788 .222 and a stainless Remington ADL Mountain Rifle in .270 WCF.

I paid $325.00 shipped for the 788 .222 with a Lyman All American 20x target scope. Pulled the scope off and sold it on Ebay for $260.00. I found the Mountain Rifle for $215.00 at a local pawn shop. Like an idiot, I sold them both later on when something else caught my eye......

Bought a model 97 12 guage takedown model made in 1931 from the trunk of a guys car for $100 Canadian dollars. Serial # checked clean, and the guy was leaving town and needed gas money. I think it is worth more than $100. Sure is in nice shape.

Have stumbled into a bunch of good deals over the years... been led by the hand/nose to others. The Wal-Mart gun department manager for a while lived across the street. He called one day with news they had a ton of 700ADLs for 240 each. I drove there immediately as he said he could not hold them all for me. When I got there a guy had just said he would take them all! Twenty thousand dollars worth of 700s. He was kind enough to leave me three that had been opened, a 270, 243 and a 30-06.

He later sold me a pair of Marlin 444P levers for about the same money.

There have been a few other deals simply too good to admit to...
art

I bought my go to gun about 3yrs ago--Got to the gun show right when it opened first table guy had a bunch of shotguns and i rifle -a prewar mod-70 300 h-h the barrell said 300 magnum-he said he was sure it was 300 win mag wanted 600 i told him all i had was 450 he said ok. I had 700 with me and knew it was 300h-h at worst bored out to weatherby--its a great300h-h only thing not original was d-t and recoil pad.

Last year I visited a local gun shop just before Christmas and ended up with four rifles from a huge estate sale. No serious individual steals but very good deals on each that, in aggregate, mark my best single buying experience.

They included:

A Ruger 1B in 7mm RM with a fantastic custom stock and some of the finest checkering I have seen outside a museum for $560.

Two MarK X Whitworths -- a .30-06 in a nicely marked stock (now a .338.06) with SAKO mounts and a .375 H&H -- the former in like new condition and the latter with safe scuffs but still with the factory cardboard seals around the sling swivels for $350 each.

A like NIB #1 RSI in in 7x57 with box and papers for $475.

And to this day, I regret passing on a Belgian FN in 300 H&H for about $450.

1B

If you want to hear some really great gun deal stories, just ask the people that I've sold guns to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I took a pristine pre-64 ('54) M70 Fwt. in 30.06 for $575 and a Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag for $329 out of that same sale. BTW 2 weeks ago there was a never-seen-the-woods Ruger M77, tang, with rifle sights in 7 mag for $325... had a real hard time handing that one back over the counter after I inspected it...probably still there

I bought a Grade II, Browning BAR made in Belgium last year for $450 new in the box. Best deal I have ever had.

I recently trade a NIB Remington 700 ADL synthetic that I paid $317 for, for a minty Savage 99 R in 243 with a Leupold 8x Westerner in Leupold adjusto-mounts. I was happy.

The king of good deals is Bearrr264. I've seen him stop at a yard sale and come away with a Marlin 336 in 219 Zipper and a special order Winchester 1873 for less than $1,000. He bought a Savage 1899CD in 32-40 that had several special order features for $1,500 from a guy who heard him talking to a clerk in a gun shop in Norway, Maine. The old guy stopped him outside the store and ended up selling him $30,000 worth of nice pre-WW2 guns for less than $10,000.

Jeff

I made friends with an old electrician that worked at the same dam I did. We were on break one day swapping hunting stories, when he said he had a gun he wanted to sell me. I was pretty broke at the time, and told him so, but he said to come over and take a look at it anyway. When asked what it was, he said, "just an old .308 I bought new for my wife a long time ago". His wife had died about three years before. Well, I went to his house about two weeks later, and he came out of the back room with the cleanest Remington 600 I've ever seen. The bluing wasn't even worn off the muzzle from firing. I asked him if the rifle had even been shot. He went back into the back room and came back with an ancient box of .308 rounds. There were three empty casings in the box, the rest were untouched. "Yep, she shot it three times. Kicked her so bad she wouldn't touch it after that. Don't really know why I kept it". I asked him how much he wanted for it, and he said, "Same price I paid for it, 85 dollars". I about wet myself. "that gun is worth alot more than that, Bob", says I. " I know, but I also know you will take good care of it, so I won't be losing anything by selling it for what I bought it for". Bob retired that year, but died only a year after. I still have that gun, thought it's got some hunting "character" to it now.

Every damn gun I sold during my divorce in 93 was a good gun deal story for a bunch of fellows.....

I walked into a pawnshop about 4 years ago and was checking
out the handguns, they had about 40-50 on display. I was
checking out a S&W K-22 priced at 359.95 and wasnt really
interested in buying a gun, but told the clerk if they would
take 200 dollars for it. She went and talked to the mgr for
a couple of minutes and told me they would sell it for that
price. I was kind of shocked, but bought it anyway and gave
it to a relative as a gift.

One of my best deals just happened a couple weeks ago at a gun show. A guy was walking around with a .270 M70 SUper Grade from around 1950. He wanted $1000 for it. The gun was in good shape, but not excellent. I told him I would give him $500 for it as it did not fit in my collection. HE accepted and then said that he had the case for it out in his truck and would go get it. When he came back he said that the guy at the table next to me followed him out and offered him $650 for the gun and would I match it. I did match it and it was still a good deal but I had some choice words with the idiot next to me! The moral of the story is if the deal is good give the guy the money and don't worry about a $15 case.

About 12 years ago {give or take} I was cruising the isles at a Charlotte gun show and spied a Browning 71 .348 WCF Carbine. I picked it up and aside from a very light crease in the finish of the stock, it was minty. Even wore a Lyman peep. At this time the 71 repro's were fetching $500-$600, maybe a bit more. There was no tag on it so I expected I was wasting my time when I asked the guy how much it was. He scratched his chin and said "Would you go $375?" I nearly threw the cash at him. Considering the Brownings are bringing a Grand or better today, I think I did okay. Of course the original Winchester 71 Deluxe I was recently GIVEN beats that one....
A couple years ago the shop I work in took in a Marlin 1894CL .25/20 on trade. It was an unfired DU Banquet gun with the hang tag still on it. The boss allowed $200 on trade and put $300 on it. He passed it on to me for $240. These are bringing about twice that so I think I did okay on that one too.

My father-in-law asked, "You want a 22?"
I said, "Sure".

He handed me an absolutely 100% mint Colt Woodsman, First series, Match Target Model in the original box with the owner's manual.

I asked, "How much?"
He said, "Buy me lunch".

reading the local classifieds one morning there was an add for a double barrelled 12ga. I phoned the number and they didn't know what kind it was but it was old and they wanted $200 for it. i asked them to describe it and they said there was ducks carved in the metal on the sides and it said Parker. Said I'd come have a look, I got there and it was a Parker DHE. Guy about 45 showed it to me and asked me if I was sure I wanted to pay that much for an old shotgun....i couldn't contain my guilt and told him it was worth much more, he thanked me and asked if I had the $200, I didn't ask anymore questions.

I was at Walmart a couple years ago and they had a brand new Ruger M77MKII, stainless in 243 for $325. It was on clearance. They had two of them, but another guy beat me to it, but I still got one.

I also worked with a guy that new I hated my Mossturd shotgun. He told me he had a single shot laying around he never shot. So he brought it to work and it was an old Sears 16 gauge single shot. I asked him how much and he told me $20!!! Needless to say, I bought it.

My last good deal was a Browing 22 semiauto rifle made in Belgium. A buddy's parents were moving and he had this gun in their closet. He flew back into town to help them move and did not want to take it on the plane. He told me his late grandpa gave it to him, so he would assume someone like me should have it since he knew I would appreciate it. So he gave it to me for free!

purchased a Charles Daily (japan) 20 ga for $230 of course this was in 1965 while I was in high school

Back in 1995 at a local show, one of the 'not for sale' exhibitors had a bunch of 1899 and 1895 Savages displayed. I gave him my card and told him when and if he ever wanted to sell his collection, I would be interested. Turned out he WAS thinking of selling and within the next couple months I paid an average of $300 for a collection that included 3 1895 Savages, 34 1899/99 Savages including one factory ingraved and an MHG musket, a couple of Winchester 71's and a number of shotguns and other levers........I just can't seem to get this grin off my face! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

----another one-----
Last summer the local paper said 'for sale--6mm Rem 788--$125. I got there first--cond. 98% with a bushnell scope and 2 extra clips. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

----and yet another----

A pawn shop--Green River Wyoming--noticed a minty Rem 788. "$295" says the guy behind the counter as he handed it to me. Then I saw the ".44 Rem Mag" stamped into the barrel.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

---ok, one more--


Cody, Wyoming. Bullitin board in a local grocery store. The note said "for sale, .454 cal revolver, shot 3 times--$700" It was a custom Casull premium, hunter brushed with rose wood grips and a lanyard, leather holster and 3 boxes of factory ammo with three empty brass. I got it for $600.

I've got to quit this, you all will think I'm braggin'!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I believe it was in 1985 or 1986 that I went in a local gun store where I knew the proprietor. I'd been ragging him for a year or two about old guns. That day he was in the right mood and drug out an old hatbox full of handguns. I know this story sounds like lore but it is the truth. I dug through the box and came up with a Colt Peacemaker. I knew a little about old west guns at the time (I was 24), but certainly was no expert on them. I DID know that the $240 he asked me for it was a bargain. I bought it for that after trying to talk him down to $200 (which was obligatory lest he pull the offer because I took him up on it too quickly). It turned out to be an all-matching 1884 vintage SAA in 44-40, nickel-plated with about 2/3 of the "Colt's Frontier Six Shooter" panel intact. I would rate it about 60% overall. It was from a local collection.

kidd

Many others, but that's my all-time bestest.

Guy came by the house several years back to sell me a shotgun that belonged to his deceased father-in-law. He knew he had a good shotgun but did not know how good. Since he knew he had a good shotgun he asked a good price, at least to him.

I bought it. Holland & Holland Royal in traveling case $1000.00


BCR

Nothing to compare with some of the deals just described, but two Allentown shows back I bought, from a knowledgeable dealer who wasn't quite knowledgeable enough, a Bob Owen 1903 Springfield based on a NRA Sporter, mint bore, X out, $1600. And late last year, at one of the New Hamphire auctions, an 1898 Krag sporter by the good Austrian maker Peterlongo, Bavarian stock, claw mount scope, new condition, $350.

Oh, and at another Allentown show maybe five years back, a bunch of cheap Japanese 3/4" tube scopes sitting upright in a flowerpot, $5 each, among them a real Weaver M73B1 World War II sniperscope in mint condition. Even then they were bringing three hundred bucks plus. I guess that proportionately that is my best deal ever.

My best score:

1990 at the skeet range. A very accomplished shooter we all knew and shot with, and who was going through a divorce, walks in and tells us his soon-to-be ex needs to sell her 4 gun set of Rem 1100's. "Price?" Without a flinch, he says, "$800 for all of'em".

"SOLD" came outta my mouth before anyone else.

I asked the (ex) husband why such a low price???? He laughed and said that's what SHE wanted for HER guns and since she was ALWAYS RIGHT, he wasn't gonna argue with her. LOL!

I still laugh when I think about that conversation....

I meet his ex the next day, hand over the $800 and get 4 Remmy skeet 1100's; 12, 20, 28 and 410. The 12 B grade (nice wood) was used a bit, but still in excellent condition, barrel was ported, forcing cones lengthened. The 20 had been shot a whole bunch and needed worn parts and springs replaced. The 28 and 410 were all but NIB-two boxes of shells through each.

Still have'm-they're ready for 'lil Sako when old enough.

Sako

I knew the manager of a local pawn. She had sold me quite a lot of tools through the years. One day she asks me if I like guns. She brought out a like new 1100 rem from the 70's and a like new 444 timber carbine. I had never owned a gun, and the hole in the barrel of that win 94 looked huge. I started my gun collecting for 400 bucks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

O.K. Here is mine; At a real small N. Id. gunshow I espied a real nice 03 sporter. I was flat broke and could not afford the 300bucks. I told my father in law about it. We went back together and inspected it closer. It has a beautiful piece of walnut, with the original buttplate inletted in. The action has been polished and it has an aftermarket barrel. The trigger is superb. It has lyman peep and post sights. And this is pre-wwII as it is not an A3. All in all a beautiful conversion. The guy says "I'll take 250." My father in law whips out the cash and hands me the rifle!!! To end the story on a final note; After working up some loads...sub moa!!!

if rarity makes the deal then

browning micro medalion in 284 wearing a short tube leupy 1.75x6. absolutely mint. as new. shipped to my door for $550... i thought i had done good by selling rifle for purchase price....

dooh..............

woofer

My best buy was my first one. I had been shooting a hand me down Remington 721 when a guy in the hunting club asked me if I would like to buy a new rifle because he could get me one at cost. I wound up with a Rugar M77 7 Rem Mag for $175 and a Leopold Vari XII 3 - 9 x 40 for an additional $75. $250.00 for around 60 deer - and the darned thing was a tack driver. Finally retired old Thumper this year, but she still goes with me as a back up in case my new fangled Weatherby decides to go on the fritz.

I paid 175 in 1976 for the same gun, dies, two holsters, a handful of boxes of bullets, and a cleaning kit.

Like a dumb azz, I sold it a few years later. I REALLY wish I had that one back.

Man, can I relate....

My pride and joy pre 64 went for way too cheap, along with every other gun....

Sold the Winnie for 400 back in 1983.

My first one was a Browning B92 lever gun in .44 Mag that Dad gave me when he was going through divorce #2. He gave the� matching� Ruger Redhawk to my older brother and I�ve always thought I got the better deal.

Second one also started as a gift from Dad � a Savage 110E in .22-250 that was ugly as a pig�s hind end but shot beautifully for the first couple thousand rounds. When the barrel was gone I removed the scope and sold it for $250 to a guy who was only interested in it for the action. I took that $250 and another $150 out of my pocket and bought a like-new 1989 Ruger M77 in .257 Roberts. The Ruger had a Leupold M8 4x scope mounted in the rings.

There was a pristine Marlin .30-30CS for $225 and a pristine Marlin 1895 .45-70 for $250. A couple weeks ago I ran into an almost like -new 1975 Remington BDL in .308Win for $350. I got the dealer to throw in a one-piece Leupold base which was marked $19.99. I figure the rifle was $330 and the base another $20.

I was the range officer at Eielson AFB in North Pole Alaska one afternoon when a new kid showed up and started to fire a stainless Ruger Redhawk off hand at 25 yards, and missing everything.

I asked where and why he bought the revolver, and he said he bought it at the BX the day before, because his buddies said you "need" a hand cannon when you go hiking.

"However," he continued, "this one shoots like sh*t! I'd sell it for $150 if I could get it."

At that point the Colonel started to move in on the deal, and I had to respectfully body check him out of the action as I drew my wallet and gave the kid his money.

$150, and included holster and ammo.

After the kid left, we (me and the old man) took turns shooting it, and it was fine when you didn't flinch.

I bought a couple I think were good deals...
Marlin model 9 used very little--$100
1917 Enfield (Remington iirc) Not orig. but pretty good--$100

My first real gun purchase, about 10 yrs ago.
Remington 788,7mm/08 carbine, very good condition, with Charles Daly scope $250 iirc

Would a mint midgrip XP100 in 7mmBR with Leupy rings and bases holding a Tasco rifle scope , soft case, holster, and 2 boxes of brass for $150 rate a good deal? I thought so, so I gave the guy who told me about the gun a $50 tip.

After 9/11 happened i got laid off in Virginia and pretty much against my will had to take a job in upstate N.Y. Well...shortly after that Christmas a guy at work was asking around for anyone who would hock a rifle for him since he spent too much on Christmas and had a bill to pay.
I gave him $300 to "hold" a ruger #1 with a weaver steel tube scope and bi-pods until he could pay me back. Big hearted I am....
About march of the next year that company dumped the news on us that they were shutting down and all of us were losing our jobs. I asked the guy if he wanted his rifle back and he declined with a "I guess not now!". So I think i got a pretty sweet deal... considering how it shoots.

About two years ago I put up a wanted flyer in my restuarant for a used Rem. 700 30-06 for a project I had in mind. Two days later one of my older regulars shows up with his "700" that he wants 200.00 bucks for. I go out two the parking lot to have a look and am much suprised when his 700 is actually a 725 30-06 in near excellent shape. Needless to say I bought it. Four days after that another gentleman shows up with a 721 with a very beat up stock that I bought for 150.00. I decided to use it for my project. Interestingly no one showed up with an actual 700. I turned down two Savage 110 types that were offered. You never know what might turn up when you start asking!

Good luck and good hunting, Rob

Earlier this year I purchased new in the box guns from a local sporting goods store on closeout:
Marlin 444 lever gun with long barrel $235
Remington 700 ADL 270 $217
Weatherby Accumark 300 Weatherby $600
Weatherby Super Varmint Master $600
Weatherby Orion 12 ga $630

My other favorite deal was a Remington Model 700 Mountain Rifle in 7x57. Got that one new in box for $275.

My best deal was not exactly a gun, to be exact it was a book I bought a couple of gun shows back.

It is a copy of Warren Pages "One Man's Wilderness". I got it for the staggering price of $3.

Mark D

I was about 11 years old and my Aunt worked for the president of what is now Regions bank. Well when he died his wife gave a Browning BAR with Leupold fixed 4x scope to one of his friends. WEll he came back and asked if he could swap it for a side by side shotgun she had. She did and some time passed and the gentleman inquired about buying hte rifle. She had my Aunt bring it to Birmingham to have it appraised. My Aunt let me look at it and I immediately told her that I could not pay what it was worth but the I could pay the lady $300.00 for it. She told her and the woman told her that she had rather sell it to me for less than it was worth than sell it to him. Thus I bought a Browning Belgium BAR with Leupold 4x scope for $300.00. The gun was made in 1979 and will still shoot cloverleafs at 100 yards.

All of this took place about 22 years ago I guess.

I guess it would be a Paraordnance P-14 for $350 two years ago. The seller did not have any magazines - probably had only possessed the 14-rounders that he could not legally sell in California. So I bought just the gun for that price.

Now this might sound weird, but....

My best buy was an average condition TOZ .22 5 shot bolt action that was kicking around the back of the local sports shop, 50 dollars New Zealand (about $35 US). Then (and this is the bit that makes it my best buy)...

cut the barrel back to 16 inches, shortened the stock to suit, put on a pad and a 4 power scope, and my 9 year old son absolutely murdered the local rabbit population.

Son's 11 now, and still loves that little .22. It'll keep him going until he grows into my one.

The first, was my first deer rifle. I was 14 and had just got my first buck with my dad's 30-30. I had the fever bad, but not much money. So I started working, cutting lawns, and odd painting jobs and finally saved up some money. In the mean time, I had found a Savage 116E at the local Kmart, it was ugly and had been mishandled. So I checked and checked until one day a yellow tag was on it for $139 dollars. The job then was to talk dad into buying it for me with my money. He is very practical and did not see why I needed anymore than his 30-30. So I worked on him a little and explained that I had saved $150 for a new deer rifle. He caved and bought it for me. The first thing I did was buy some stain remover, sand paper, cherry stain, and clearcote. I took the gun apart, which also drove dad nuts, and pain stakingly got the hideous stain and sealer off. Next, I sanded and sanded, when I thought it was ready, I sanded more. Finally, I got it to the point to stain. Did it by hand, with about 10 coats. Then carefully applied a satin clearcoat. Well, the cherry stain turned out really light but I kept going. In the end, it was a striking rifle. Even dad complemented me on it. I think it weighed about 6 pounds and with it being a 30-06, it kicked me silly, but I used it for 7 years until I graduated from college. Traded it even for a VXII to go on my Weatherby I was given as a graduation gift. I often wish I kept it. By the way, it would shoot into an inch at 100 yards. Drove one of my rich buddies insane that it would out shoot his $500 Ruger.

The second was a Model 1300 Pump Gun that was a teaser for a local customer appreciation day at Franklin Sports. They advertised it for $35 and that is what I paid. Brand new in box. This was in 1996 for reference. Still a broke college kid but made the switch from Mac and Cheese down to Ramen Noodles for the next few weeks.

I was working in a gun shop up at Camp Perry when I overheard a fella say he had a 6.5 barrel he never shot. Being a 6.5 fanactic I asked him what it was. He said, "Oh, it's a 6.5 JDJ know anyone that would be interested I have it out in the truck and I would really love to buy some powder and primers?" I don't know let me see it.

It was a mint 14" SSK 6.5 JDJ with T'Sob base. I gave him the $80 dollars in my pocket for it. Turned around about 3 months later and sold it for $400... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The worst one I know of was a guy my father knew who would go through the obituaries and look for men who died that he knew owned guns. He would then go to the widows and ask about buying the guns. After looking at the guns he would take out his 40 year old Gun Digest and ofer the ladies the same, or a little less, than the price listed in his book.

This crook was buying guns at 40 year old prices!

What a sweetheart......

Best deals...

Back in the 80s I had an FFL. A guy I worked with said he wanted to get a Ruger Super Blackhawk and had an old Winchester M70 that his father had bought brand new back in the 30's I believe...it had 3 rounds throgh it...for trade. I told him that the rifle was worth a lot more than a Super Blackhawk but that was the deal he insisted on..new gun for old... I think I paid $225 for the Ruger and felt so bad he wouldn't take any cash I gave him 10 boxes of ammo. And the gun was I believe a 1938 vintage M70 30-06 with the stripper clip slot in the rear receiver bridge. Put it in a friend of mines high dollar shop and it sold to some Winchester collector for $750.00.

Two years ago I walked into a shop that I do a lot of business in. They had just taken in a collection from a small estate. I got an unfired in the box 1967 S&W M27 5" for $300.00 and a Remington M600 .350 Remington Magnum for $575.00 with tax out the door. I sold the M27 because I could not bring myself to "violate" it, but the M600 has become my favorite hunting rifle.

Last winter I walked into a big shop near by and found a mint Browning M71 Carbine in .348 Winchester with a price tag of $560.00. I ended up selling it later in the summer for $900.00.

Like they say...even a blind hog fiinds an acorn one in a while.

Bob

Bob,

It sounds like you're safe because of the geographical diff.

But if we lived in the same neck of the the woods, you might just be finding yourself with a new "best friend" as I take up residence in your back pocket! Now that's what I call some good deals. Congrats.

people change the subject title when they reply? I'm probably just having a bad day, but it sure seems to break up a thread in my opinion... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

My best gun deal is described here:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads...true#Post523247

Chris

Glad the one guy asked the question that was in my mind as soon as I read your story. WTF does a guy with that kinda luck have a handle like ML for???? Thanks for splaining.

BTW good thing you got so many firearms in the deal, well now that you have all of us as cyber hunting/shooting buds.

Will pm my addy so's youse can send me my rifle! (grin)

The moral of this story is, just buy guns, NEVER sell them!