My Latest Acquisitions - As Of Yesterday

[Glenn B]

Mossberg MVP LR-T (Long Range Tactical) in 5.56x45mm:



KDF Model 2005 in 22LR:



To read more about how and where I got them along with a bunch of ammo and some other things, go here:

BALLSEYE'S BOOMERS: I Am An Addict - A Regular Gun Auction Junkie

Yep, that's me, a gun auction junkie!

 

[freddy]

They look so, so, so EVIL, what with those baby killing detachable magazines and all!

You don't need that many boolits to kill a dee-ah!

 

[Gardnaaa]

Congrats on the new toys my friend!

 

[Bananabandit]

a new gun is always a good day

 

[Saltwater60]

That mossberg is really nice looking gun. I hope you have no issues this time.

 

[Russ Woody]

I've heard good things about the MVP. Get us a range report.

Russ P

 

[MikeyCNY]

This thread caused me to look into auctions... and even signed up for their e-mail newsletter.

My questions are, do you tend to get good prices, and do they have an FFL nearby to do transfers? (I know the site says must be shipped to FFL, is there one associated with the auction?)

Obviously prices depend on the item and how many people are interested. Are these "Realized Prices" the actual final bid (plus buyer's premium)?

Don't know if I'll get to one this year but sounds interesting.

 

[Glenn B]

This thread caused me to look into auctions... and even signed up for their e-mail newsletter.

My questions are, do you tend to get good prices, and do they have an FFL nearby to do transfers? (I know the site says must be shipped to FFL, is there one associated with the auction?)

Obviously prices depend on the item and how many people are interested. Are these "Realized Prices" the actual final bid (plus buyer's premium)?

Don't know if I'll get to one this year but sounds interesting.

You can get good prices at this auction but you can also get carried away and bid too much. I have gotten some decent to very good prices, even an excellent price on one or two guns (the first was a Browning Citori Lightning that I wound up selling for quite the nice bump). The most recent that I got for a good price were both the ones show above The Mossberg went for about 26% less than the lowest retail price I found for it. I am talking about the buyer's premium and tax included for the one I got at auction and about shipping and FFL fee added to the ones I looked at for comparison being sold online - or on other words the total cost of each. Then again, I have kicked myself in my arse for having bid too much on a few items. That was because I bid on impulse on something without first checking the going prices. Never did it really bad except once I bid on an item by mistake when they had two of the same model gun up for bids. one I bid on was a clunker, the other was the one I had planned to bid on but I had my head where the sun was not shining at he time. Still not to bad, I got an okay wall hanger for a bit too much.

As for 'Prices Realized" that was the high bid amount. You then need to add a buyer's premium of either 10% for cash/check or of 13% for credit card to that plus tax at a rate of 1.075%. You need to know how much you are willing to bid on any gun and then stop bidding if it goes over that amount. The thing is though, in addition to what you are willing to bid, you really should figure your high bid by also figuring what will be your buyer's premium and the tax before you bid. So, what you are doing is figuring the high bid you are willing to bid plus the premium and tax (what you are willing to pay in total) and then not going over the high bid amount (which will be lower than the total you are willing to pay with the premium and tax). Too many people go there and bid, apparently without considering they will also have to pay the premium and tax, then wind up going over what they would have had to pay in total at a retail store or online. That happens quite often. Always try to pay by cash or check, that extra 3% for credit cards can add up if you spend a lot. It is quite easy to spend 1K there, and I for one can use the $30 I'd save, by paying with a check, for gas money. They take checks drawn on banks within NY State.

If you go there in person, there is no need to seek out an FFL. Joe Hessney, the owner of the auction house holds an FFL. Thy do everything. There is no additional fee for the transfer or for a NICS check. You only need to arrange for an FFL on the receiving end if you bid on something and have it shipped to you.

As for absentee bidding, either by phone or online, I recommend against it. I have done it before but now shy away from it. The thing is you are not getting to examine that on which you are bidding. I now try to get there the day before the auction so I can attend the preview, usually from 3-6PM (this is for auctions at the main auction house only, they handle off site auctions differently). Sometimes they show three photos of an item - all one side. Not being dishonest, I truly believe whoever takes the photos does not have a clue on how to do it right, but that can lead to unexpected surprises. Bear in mind that everything is sold as is. So it is just best to visit the auctions in person. I do use the online catalog (which is usually never complete until 2 or 3 days before auction even though site says 'view complete catalog here' or something to that effect) to go over the offerings and to plot out for which ones I plan to bid. I print up my own catalog with my bid prices filled in before I leave for the auction.

It is better than a gun show as far as I am concerned - no dickhead dealers with whom to squabble and dicker. Joe Hessney, his family (it is a family business and his daughter is also an auctioneer) and crew are always respectful & courteous (unless you are discourteous to them and then they are usually quite reserved but if you are an asshole, they may let you know it - as they should). Just remember, items are all sold "as is" but yet I have seen them let a bidder back out of a sale once or three times for whatever reason but do not count of that if you suddenly realize you screwed up by not seeing some defect or by overbidding because you got bitten by the bidding bug. It is a business after all and they are in it to make money but as far as I have seen always do it with integrity.

It is quite the trip for me, over 300 miles each way and incurs a motel fee (and wow how the rates change up in that area depending on season or due to regional events for any given weekend). Then there are gas costs, tolls, food and other travel expenses but to me all that is just a normal expense for a nice weekend away. I like going because I am a bit of a gun enthusiast and an auction addict enthusiast and it gets me out for a weekend. My wife likes getting rid of me as often as she can and she never (as in not once ever) has complained that I buy too many guns. I don't think she even wants to know.

 

[MikeyCNY]

Thanks for the info. I'm only about an hour away, but I don't know if I'd bother to drive up for the preview the day before. Cool bit about the owner having an FFL.. then I'd only have to worry about handguns, but being an hour away maybe they'd hold while it was added to my permit.

Except for my M1 Garand, all of my guns are modern.. and someday I'd like to expand the collection.

 

[Glenn B]

Thanks for the info. I'm only about an hour away, but I don't know if I'd bother to drive up for the preview the day before. Cool bit about the owner having an FFL.. then I'd only have to worry about handguns, but being an hour away maybe they'd hold while it was added to my permit.

I highly recommend the hour there and back for the preview the day before. Of course you can also preview them the morning of the auction, for an hour or two, but for me that is not enough time. I also register the day before and reserve a seat. That way, I am in no hurry the day of the auction.

As for them holding handguns, that is what they routinely do until folks get their permit paperwork together. I don't buy handguns there anymore since my county discontinued giving out blank purchase documents in advance and shipping and FFL fees on my end would make it cost prohibitive. NY fucks us every chance it gets relative to legal firearm purchases.