Buying Used Guns Online Isn’t What You Think

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

Some people get nervous when they hear “buying guns online,” especially when talking about used ones. They might imagine shady back-alley websites, federal law loopholes, and all that.

But the truth is a lot less exciting—and a lot more satisfying if you’re a gun buyer or seller. If you buy a gun online in America, you’re actually still going through the same checks and paperwork you would at your local gun shop.

Yet somehow, there are plenty of myths about online firearm purchases today, especially for the used gun market. Let’s knock them down one at a time!

Myth #1: “You Don’t Need a Background Check”

This one never dies. The idea is that if you buy a gun online, you somehow skip the system.

But that’s not true. Every firearm purchased online has to be shipped to a licensed dealer (also known as an FFL or federal firearms licensee) before you can pick it up.

Once it arrives, you go through the background check like normal. Only after you’ve passed it can you collect the gun from the dealer.

This means you don’t just click “buy now” and have your purchased guns dropped on your doorstep. Federal law requires the same process you’d face at a gun counter due to the permanent provisions of the Brady Law.

Myth #2: “Used Guns Are Unreliable or Unsafe”

Think about cars. A used pickup doesn’t automatically mean a bad pickup. Sometimes it’s just broken in.

Firearms are the same way. Many used guns have seen a box or two of ammo and then spent the rest of their lives sitting in a safe.

Veterans understand this. They’ve all handled rifles and pistols that went through multiple hands and still performed flawlessly. Condition matters. Maintenance matters. The label “used” doesn’t mean “junk.”

The trick is to know what you’re looking at… and to buy from people who put honesty first.

That’s why experienced buyers only purchase from trusted sellers when they buy guns online. You have to look for ones with a reputation for describing their inventory accurately.

Myth #3: “Buying Online Means You Don’t Know What You’re Getting”

This is related to the previous point, and to be fair, it used to be true—but this was back when listings were a single blurry photo.

This isn’t the case anymore. Good sellers now provide multiple photos, serial numbers, and details on condition. Buyers can ask questions, check reputations, and review descriptions before committing.

Platforms like FirearmLand.com offer reassuring transparency for gun buyers now. Weekly auctions show everything up front. You can see exactly what’s on the table before you bid.

You also get photos, exhaustive details, and options to ask for more information about the gun if you really need it.

Compare that to a face-to-face private sale, where you sometimes only have a five-minute look at a pistol in a parking lot. Online, you often have more information, not less.

Myth #4: “It’s Easier to Get Scammed Online”

First off, let’s get this straight: scams exist everywhere. But in online gun sales, there are safeguards for that on the better platforms. In fact, tthe FFL process itself already works to protect you.

Payment and transfer don’t happen until the firearm lands at your chosen dealer, for example. If something doesn’t line up, the sale stops cold.

That’s a safeguard built into most online gun selling systems. Add in auction records, seller reputations, and tracking, and the picture looks even safer.

Ultimately, here’s the truth: a legitimate FFL-run platform is a lousy place for scammers. Too much paperwork. Too much oversight. Veterans in particular know the value of accountability. The same rules apply here.

The Benefits of Buying Guns Online

Once the myths are stripped away, the benefits of online gun sales stand out.

• Cost savings. Used and preowned guns are often far cheaper than new ones. You can easily pick up a gun you’ve always wanted at a significant discount.
  
  
• Access. You can find models that aren’t in production or regularly stocked by brick-and-mortars anymore. Sometimes, even historic military pieces are available in online gun shops.
  
  
• Convenience. Instead of driving shop to shop, you can compare options on a single platform for most online sellers. You can even do it from home!

The Bottom Line

Buying guns online isn’t a loophole. It’s not the Wild West. It’s the same laws, the same checks, and can even have more transparency than a cash-and-carry sale.

So the next time you hear someone repeat the old myths about online firearm sales, you’ll know better. You can even point out the many perks of buying guns this way.

From the fact that it’s not only more cost-effective but also more convenient, there are a lot of reasons to consider online firearm purchases. Just remember to stick to trusted vendors and platforms. Otherwise, you’ll be asking for disappointment.