TIP 1.
Most shooters can’t afford to spend $650-$1750 to buy a new rifle these days. They usually go for a good second-hand rifle. However, buying a rifle is never an easy task.
What I recommend you do is purchase a used, fairly current model fully guaranteed by a reputable dealer. With centerfire rifles, remove the bolt and check the condition of the bolt face. Has metal eroded around the firing pin? This indicates the rifle has been fired with hot handloads. Give such a rifle a miss because there is a good chance the headspace has been stretched or bolt-lugs and actions strained.
TIP 2.
Try working the bolt hard – lift the handle, pull it back, slam it forward, hard! Did the firing pin go off? If so, there’s insufficient sear engagement and a dangerous condition exists. Try to pull the trigger with the safety on.
TIP 3.
ALWAYS examine the rifle’s bore closely. Are the grooves in the barrel appear sharp and clean cut? If you discover fouling, its usually a sign the gun has not been looked after properly. Check the bore and chamber to make sure its not pitted or rusty. Remember that a badly pitted chamber can mean extraction trouble, especially in an semi-auto or pump action rifle.
Remember these points the next time you go to purchase a used rifle.
