I try to limit the amount of time I spend staring at the screen of a smart phone, but if I have a digital Achilles heel, it’s gun auctions. I’ll spend hours sifting through auction items at Rock Island and Gunbroker. These auction sites make it easy to search for exactly the gun you want, and oftentimes, that firearm is only one bid away.

Are Online Gun Auctions the Best Way to Purchase a Gun?

But are online gun auctions the best way to buy firearms? That depends. Because of their nationwide (or even worldwide) reach, online gun auctions are one of the few places where you can regularly locate specific firearms, and there are some guns that you almost certainly won’t find unless you locate one that’s being auctioned online. Your local gun store may not have any Winchester Model 21 shotguns on the shelf, but it’s not uncommon to find dozens of these guns up for sale at any given time through online gun auctions. There’s certainly more selection when searching for guns online.

“The best reason to buy from an auction? Selection, hands down,” says Joel Kolander, interactive production manager at Rock Island Auction.  “We accept consignments from across the country, so it’s not ‘if’ we’ll get a model or rare variant in, it’s ‘when.’  Plus, when you browse auctions, whether via catalog or in person, that variety means you’ll always discover something interesting that tries to find its way home with you.”

How do Online Gun Auctions Work?

It’s easy to assume that, in any auction, the item simply goes to the highest bidder. That’s true in absolute auctions, but not reserve auctions. Sellers can create a minimum amount they will accept, and if the gun goes below this pre-set price the firearm is not sold. It’s a bummer to believe you have won a gun you really want at a bargain price only to realize that you haven’t met the seller’s minimum. For this reason, the first question I’d ask when considering any online auction is whether it’s an absolute or reserve auction. The former favors the buyer, but the latter is more popular because it guarantees the seller that they will receive their minimum asking price. Some online auction sites like Gunbroker sell items at a “unit price” (final cost) or have a designated “starting bid” (reserve) as well as a “buy now” option that allows you to purchase the firearm outright without having to wait for the auction time to expire.

It's also important to understand the terms and conditions for each online auction, but most of these are specified clearly on company websites. It’s also important to understand that the “hammer price” (amount of the winning bid) is generally not the final amount you will pay for the firearm. There’s also a buyer’s premium that will be added to hammer price which will be added to the final bill. Buyer’s premiums vary depending upon the auction and whether you are bidding live or using a third-party bidder. There may also be an additional fee for using a credit card. When totaled, these additional fees may increase the final price 20 percent or more over the hammer price, so be prepared.

Drawbacks of Online Gun Auctions

The most common complaint about online gun auctions is that someone got scammed by an auctioneer because the firearm’s condition was not consistent with what the buyer expected. When a buyer doesn’t receive the same quality of item that they expected, there are almost always problems, but whether or not you can do anything to recoup your money depends on several factors. First, some auction companies offer an inspection period while others do not. The options open to a buyer who feels they were sold a firearm that was in poorer condition than advertised depend largely upon the conditions and terms established by the auction company, but buyers need to beware.

I’ve found that reputable auction houses like Rock Island do their very best to provide accurate assessments of the firearms up for auction, and I have been happy with the results of my Rock island purchases. That’s largely because Rock Island conducts thorough inspections of the firearms listed for auction, and they also offer lots of details about the firearm.

“Almost any place can provide basic information, and a few provide info that shotgunners and hunters want like length of pull, drop, choke, and so forth,” says Joel Kolander. “When you have a team of specialists inspecting each item, it not only allows you to find things other sellers might pass over but makes for a more informed buyer and collector.”

Items that are sold “as is” in gun auctions means just that—you get the gun in the condition it’s in. If the stock is cracked or there is surface rust on the gun then, well, you’re stuck. This is why it’s important to determine what, if any, guarantees the auction company offers. Also, do your homework regarding the particular model of firearm you’re buying. Also, be certain to determine exactly which model you are purchasing. Some guns like Browning Superposeds and Winchester Model 12s have been available in a wide array of grades and styles over the years and the price will vary with the desirability of the product. Do you want a high-grade gun for field use, or will a more basic and less expensive model suit your needs?

Finding a Good Gun at Online Auctions

I’m a stickler for good photos when firearms are up for auction. The image should be clear and well-lit and the file size large enough that I can zoom in to look for cracks and surface rust. I’m very cautious when a firearm is poorly photographed. Perhaps it’s simply a byproduct of a last seller, but it could also be an intentional ploy to sell you a firearm that has been damaged. If you can’t see images of the entire firearm (preferably the bore and interior of the action, too) then beware. If good photos are available, then study them carefully. If you miss a hairline crack that was visible in a photo but not specifically mentioned, you’ll likely have no recourse because the flaw was visible. As a buyer, you must always protect yourself.

You must also understand that sometimes, you find there’s something wrong with the gun that was not the fault of the auction house. I purchased a rifle from an auction that was part of a late hunter’s large collection. The gun was in great shape, and it was a desirable model, but when I began shooting it, I realized it did not always cycle properly. Every third or fourth shot, the extractor released the cartridge case before it ejected, leaving me with a jammed rifle. The problem, I realized, was that the action was gummed up internally. The former owner had applied a heaping helping of Cosmoline to the internals of the firearm at some point (likely during the Reagan administration) and the stuff had gummed up the rifle so badly that it would need a deep cleaning and part replacement. I don’t think the auction house fired the gun, and I expect that they did a routine check on the rifle, but they didn’t examine the gummed-up internals of the bolt.

That is, thankfully, the closest I’ve come to getting scammed on an online auction gun. I’ve been lucky, and I’ve had more hits than misses when it comes to buying shotguns online—although I’ve done my homework and suggest you do the same. If your gut and common sense tell you that you’ll regret your decision, I recommend that you listen carefully. For the most part, though, online gun auctions are a great way to buy upland guns—especially if you’re looking for something that’s not available in every gun shop.

“Getting any new gun should be a fun experience, but when you add the competition of an auction to the mix, it’s a whole new level of excitement,” says Kolander. “It’s surprising how fast your heart starts beating when the gun you want starts to cross the podium.”

I agree completely. Finding the right gun is a real joy, and online auction can make that happen. But you can’t let your desire to own an auction item compromise your common sense. Do your homework, understand the terms of the sale, and don’t let your desire to win an auction prompt you to pay too much for a gun.