How to Sell a Rifle Online

How to Sell a Rifle Online

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Selling a rifle for fair value used to be a difficult process. Pawnshops offered the easiest liquidity but also the lowest prices. Gun shops were another possibility, but they might not have an interest in your gun, and if they did you would receive a low price. Depending on what state you live in, you might also be able to sell it at a gun show. The price was likely to be higher because the individual had an interest in your particular gun, as opposed to the shops where they were interested only in buying it from you at a low price so their profit would be higher. The Internet has changed how everyone can buy and sell firearms.

Items you will need

  • Rifle

  • Camera

  • Computer

  • Internet access

  • Gun auction website

  • Firearms dealer

Using the Internet

bolt action rifle image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com

Take a picture of your rifle. Go to an online gun-selling site---two are listed below, though it is not an endorsement. Type in the exact make and model of your rifle. Unless your rifle is extremely rare, several auctions for rifles just like yours should come up.

Gun auction websites: Gunbroker.com AuctionArms.com

sniper rifle on the tripod and optical sight image by Vladimir Melnik from Fotolia.com

Check the values people are bidding for rifles like your own. Decide what price you are willing to take as an absolute minimum. Register with the website. Put in the parameters on your rifle auction including minimum bid, a "Buy It Now" price you would immediately accept, the amount of time the auction will run, what method of payment you want. Upload the picture of your rifle. You will now have a dedicated page for selling your rifle.

fusil d"assaut image by indochine from Fotolia.com

Get information from the winning bidder, including name, address and telephone number, as well as the name, address and telephone number of the federal firearm license (FFL) holder to whom you will be shipping the rifle. It is law that in the vast majority of gun sales between individuals that the guns transfer between these licenses.

Main Battle Assault Rifle image by Peter Orsaeo Sr from Fotolia.com

Receive payment for your rifle. Take it to an FFL location, most likely a gun store, with the information you got from the buyer. Complete the paperwork for transferring ownership of the rifle. Pay the FFL transfer fee and shipping costs for the rifle. The FFL location will ship the rifle. Your online rifle sale is complete.

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