What to look for in a used shotgun?

[16gauge]

Hi All;
I saw a used muzzleloading shotgun at my gunsmith's the other day when I went to pick up my bird gun. The gun is a 10 gauge and appears to be an original, although I can find no name of a maker or model on it. It is a double barrel caplock, and some of the parts appear newer, most notably the caps and the ramrod. The gun has been marked down to $225 from $450. Any thing I should look for that would discourage me from buying the gun (I want to use it as a field gun, not a wall hanger). Thanks in advance.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Make sure the bores are good, and the ribs are solid. Check for any cracks in the stock.

 

[robinghewitt]

No name doesn't sound overly hopeful, did you look on the rib? Problem is the things you want to look for is whatever is different from the hundreds of guns you've already looked at :shocked2:

Any chance you could post pictures? A close up side view of the lock and the front end of the trigger guard viewed from below perhaps?

 

[16gauge]

thanks for the input guys, but unfortunately I talked with the gunsmith today who is selling it (he was away deer hunting when I first saw the gun) and he said he is selling it as a wall hanger only.

BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dave K]

Well, without looking at it. Most sellers sell OLD guns as wall hangers only just to cover their tail. It "may" be a very worth while shooting gun.All of my Damascus guns were "wall hangers", before I bought them.

 

[rich pierce]

Make sure the locks work well, the triggers too, run a patch down the bore to see(feel) how rough it is. Then buy it and send it to me. I need a big bore.

 

[musketman]

Hi All;
I saw a used muzzleloading shotgun at my gunsmith's the other day when I went to pick up my bird gun. The gun is a 10 gauge and appears to be an original, although I can find no name of a maker or model on it. It is a double barrel caplock, and some of the parts appear newer, most notably the caps and the ramrod. The gun has been marked down to $225 from $450. Any thing I should look for that would discourage me from buying the gun (I want to use it as a field gun, not a wall hanger). Thanks in advance.

I suggest you visit our proof mark page in the forum links section, if no name is found on the shotgun, you can still find out something about it by matching up the proof marks...

Forum Proof Marks Section