Every time I pick up a pump-action shotgun I still feel a slight vibration as my ancestors turn in their graves. Traditionalists, they would all have been horrified to see any descendant shooting with such a gun. The gunrooms and safes I grew up around tended to contain selections of…
Second-hand guns
Don’t be afraid to ask the seller to break the gun down into component parts, so you don’t miss anything
If you’re looking to buy a second-hand gun and want to know how to go about it, then you’re in the right place.
Our gun experts have come up with some key tips so you get the best available gun for your money and don’t make an expensive mistake.
If there’s a particular model you have in mind, browse through our gun reviews to see what our reviewer thought of it.
Different prices, different models
We also have round-ups on the best second-hand guns in different price ranges, best second-hand all-rounders and clayshooting guns. Or how about a prestigious English gun?
Like a used car, there are some excellent used guns out there and some that are definitely not a bargain.
Where to buy
Should you buy a gun from a friend? A registered firearms dealer? What’s best?
The important thing is to do your homework first – so browse through these articles which tell you what you need to know.
Quick checklist
- Don’t be afraid to ask the seller to have the gun stripped and shown fully
- Check the gun is not off the face
- Look for pitting in the barrel
- Make sure there are no cracks or oil soak in the stock
- If possible, fire the gun
How to buy a decent shotgun for under £500
If you're looking to buy a cheap shotgun, make sure you read this guide first
What to AVOID when buying a gun (and what to look out for)
Advice on what you shouldn't do when buying a gun
Classic Guns – Tikka LSA 55
Bruce Potts pays homage to the LSA 55 - Tikka's first bolt-action rifle made in 1967
Rabbiting with a second-hand CZ BRNO rifle
A classic CZ BRNO Model 2 E-S rifle lives up to expectations when Tony Jackson takes on the burgeoning rabbit population of south Some
Thinking of buying a second-hand Tikka T3 Lite?
When the Tikka T3 Lite first appeared it took the market by storm. Finnish gunmaking company Sako had intended to produce a budget-priced rifle that shot well straight out of the box to meet the exacting demands of an increasingly sophisticated body of hunters. They succeeded where others had failed…
How to buy a used air rifle
You can save a fortune by buying a second-hand air rifle. But if you don’t know what to look out for, it can also end up leaving you out of pocket. Here’s what to look out for so you make the right decision when it comes to acquiring a pre-owned air rifle.…
English boxlock shotguns for under £5000
If you are looking for an individual, well balanced side-by-side that is good to shoot, then inexpensive English boxlock shotguns always represent value for money. They represent a great way of owning a good quality English shotgun by a recognisable name for a more reasonable sum of money than might…
Browning Gold Hunter
The Gold model was introduced to the Browning catalogue in 1995 and was offered in a variety of configurations for the clay target and field markets. The target models tended to come in a 2¾in chambering, while the field versions were 3in or 3½in. The clay shot had a wide…
Yildiz Wildfowler
Yildiz has been producing shotguns for 40 years and manufactures some 45,000 annually in a variety of models. It takes pride in its customer care and after-sales service, and also offers custom-made guns and special finishes. Although Yildiz produces a wide range of side-by-side game guns under the model name…
Brno Model 2
The second largest city in the Czech Republic is Brno. It is the home of the Zbrojovka Brno factory, which has been manufacturing goods as diverse as tractors and typewriters, as well as firearms, for over a century. Although the light-machine gun designed there in the 1930s and later produced…
Bettinsoli Super Sport – a clay shooter’s dream
Bettinsoli Sport shotgun: Impressive or what? We give the new Bettinsoli Sporter shotgun, with great styling and a low price tag, the thumbs up.
What did our reviewer think of this secondhand Browning Medallist shotgun?
What’s the best starter gun? It’s a subject for constant debate, with guns from Lincoln, Lanber, Baikal, and various relative newcomers from Turkey all having their adherents.
Six popular air rifles for under £500
One of the greatest appeals of airgun shooting is its affordability. For a few hundred pounds — and sometimes significantly less — you can pick up an air rifle that should give years of reliable service. With Christmas looming large on the horizon, it is likely more than a few…
How about a hammer gun for the coming season?
A sealed bid auction ending this Thursday 5th July provides a unique platform for buyers to pick up a wide variety of sporting guns, rifles, antiques and associated (and sometimes completely unassociated) accessories and ephemera. Highest bid wins at full value Utilising the ‘sealed bid’ format, clients have a set…
20 best shotguns for under £1000
Lincoln Vogue Game 20-bore Country of origin: Italy Price: £925 new The elegance of this gun suggests that it should cost more than £1,000. The action is neatly blacked to match the barrels, and the inlaid gold-coloured game birds form a neat contrast with the trigger. Even the internal workings…
A gunsmith’s guide to buying guns second-hand
What’s the best way to go about buying guns second-hand though? What do you look for and what are the potential pitfalls? To find out more I visited The Country Sports Shop in Devon to speak to the experts. I met shop manager Chris Lamb, himself a keen shooting man…
Can I buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland on a budget?
Is it possible to buy a Purdey or Holland & Holland side-by-side on a budget of between £2,000 to £3,000? If so, would it be reliable for gameshooting all the time and not just for special occasions?
Which .22 rifle should I choose for rabbit shooting?
Rabbit shooting: I have been shooting air rifles and shotguns since I was 10 and now have my first firearms certificate after getting permission to shoot on a large farm with a rabbit problem.
Secondhand Browning – three of the best for an all-rounder
Max price: £1,250 Type: O/U game or Sporter Main purpose: clays, pigeons and game Preferred make: Browning Mike George’s buying advice for choosing the best used Browning for an all-rounder When John Moses Browning’s famous B25 model first appeared in the gun shops in 1926, the makers boasted that it…