Selling your rifle - include a shot target?

I wonder how much a photo of an accurate shot target alongside your rifle would help it sell?

I would give one of the main reasons for buying a rifle to be that of accuracy.
I want accuracy, so if I see a rifle I like with an accurately shot target, I'm a lot more interested in purchasing.
However not many rifles are advertised along with 3 or 5-shot group(s).

So do you think a rifle sells much better with an accurate group target photo?
Or don't you think it matters?
And if it does matter, then why do so few sellers include a target when they list a rifle for sale?

Most people cant shoot for shit or have poor technique or maybe a gun just recoils too much for them

I have seen some guns that shot terrable groups with one person shoot amazing groups with another at the wheel

Being a sceptical old bugger, I would take it with a pinch of salt that the target was actually shot by the actual rifle for sale. I could go to the range across from me on a sunday and pick the best groups for the day out of the rubbish bin, then claim them as mine ;)

Or shoot them at 25 yards and claim them as 100 yards.

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Originally Posted by Pengy

Being a sceptical old bugger, I would take it with a pinch of salt that the target was actually shot by the actual rifle for sale. I could go to the range across from me on a sunday and pick the best groups for the day out of the rubbish bin, then claim them as mine ;)

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Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

Or shoot them at 25 yards and claim them as 100 yards.

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Did you two used to be used car salespeople in the past? :D
I would like to think that the average NZ rifle seller is honest...

Wot's wrong with the standard "shoots better than me"?

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Originally Posted by zimmer

Wot's wrong with the standard "shoots better than me"?

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Yeah that can work, but how exactly do you know the rifle does shoot better than you?
At least with a target photo you sort of 'prove' the rifle's accuracy to a degree.

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

Did you two used to be used car salespeople in the past? :D
I would like to think that the average NZ rifle seller is honest...

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I would disagree with that statement. There are a large proportion of "genuine good bugger" sellers o are a genuine pleasure to deal with, but I think a larger proportion of rat bags these days.
It really is a case of buyer beware, and seller beware too mind in some cases!

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

Did you two used to be used car salespeople in the past? :D
I would like to think that the average NZ rifle seller is honest...

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I think the average NZ rifle shooter is honest which is why they don't bother putting up target photo's.
You only need one or two ratbags to make it a futile exercise.

I would be a hopeless used car salesman, just ask my wife. "you sold that to cheap!!" and "you paid whaaat??! for that" fairly common reprimand's.:oh noes:

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Originally Posted by mikee

I would disagree with that statement. There are a large proportion of "genuine good bugger" sellers o are a genuine pleasure to deal with, but I think a larger proportion of rat bags these days.
It really is a case of buyer beware, and seller beware too mind in some cases!

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We sound like a cynical old bunch...

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

We sound like a cynical old bunch...

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Well I used to take people at their word, sent a Eotech 557 to a chap to "try before possibly buying" and it came back f&^ked with not a word.
After that.............................

I'm always happy to show prospective buyers targets ( both good and not so good) I've shot with a rifle, but putting up a picture without being able to give context isn't that useful . . .

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I'm always happy to show prospective buyers targets ( both good and not so good) I've shot with a rifle, but putting up a picture without being able to give context isn't that useful . . .

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Why? The target (if genuine - see above), will give a good idea of how the rifle shoots at 50y (.22) or 100y (centerfire). Yes, it may be a picked-out 'best group' but at least one can see what the rifle is capable of doing at best.

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Originally Posted by 7mm tragic

Or shoot them at 25 yards and claim them as 100 yards.

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neat idea but yeah I would not trust it - but thinking outside the square - if one knew a good shooter from the same place and they could pick up rifle and do a 5 shot group - then that would be worth a go - maybe a forum user could volunteer with a little koha their way ( $25 bucks in cash in the mail) I would do it for a forum user

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Originally Posted by mikee

I would disagree with that statement. There are a large proportion of "genuine good bugger" sellers o are a genuine pleasure to deal with, but I think a larger proportion of rat bags these days.
It really is a case of buyer beware, and seller beware too mind in some cases!

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Good excuse to buy new, If somethings fucked you can just take it back under consumer guarantee.
Downside is you end up with a lot of stuff if you can't be arsed selling second hand.

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

Did you two used to be used car salespeople in the past? :D
I would like to think that the average NZ rifle seller is honest...

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Not so ride on mowers, I got scammed a beautie the other day, showed me a cut lawn and all:(

So if you don't trust a target put up by a seller why would you trust anything? Age, round count, number of owners, condition is easy to disguise in a picture. There's always a certain amount of faith needed to buy on line and I find by far the majority of people are honest. While I have had the odd issue I wont let that taint my over all view.

Most rifles would shoot much better than I can. Unless they are old and poorly maintained bore and rifling condition is what I look for.

Trust no-one, believe nothing unless seen or proven by your-self. Less likely to be srewed over that way.been caught out once on this forum, so very wary.

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Originally Posted by woods223

Trust no-one, believe nothing unless seen or proven by your-self. Less likely to be srewed over that way.been caught out once on this forum, so very wary.

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I got caught with Tardme once. Descripton was very favourable, pushed the buy now. Received a lemon. Fortunately I was able to return for a refund. But still cost me the postage.
Will never buy second hand again unless I can collect/view then pay.

It cracks me up when people mention the "round count". Who counts the times it goes bang?

Count the number of boxes that went through, or how many time those 100 new cases got reloaded. You generally get a pretty good picture of how many round were shot.

Having sold a few sub moa rifles :ORLY: I have listed with and without target pics, with and without round counts and haven't found it doesn't matter too much, if what you have is desirable (trendy) or cheap or both it will sell.
I certainly don't "count the bangs, but often have a fairly good idea how many rounds have been down the spout due to my reloading records.
Having sold a few custom and semi custom rifles my view is that they generally do not return a profit you will often struggle to even come close to breaking even. I've never had anyone come back to me with concerns about accuracy.

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

I wonder how much a photo of an accurate shot target alongside your rifle would help it sell?

I would give one of the main reasons for buying a rifle to be that of accuracy.
I want accuracy, so if I see a rifle I like with an accurately shot target, I'm a lot more interested in purchasing.
However not many rifles are advertised along with 3 or 5-shot group(s).

So do you think a rifle sells much better with an accurate group target photo?
Or don't you think it matters?
And if it does matter, then why do so few sellers include a target when they list a rifle for sale?

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I wouldn't bother, most people are not sub moa let alone 1/4 moa shooters and it just opens you up to either being accused of lying, or having to explain to them that they are a shit shot. im happy to go show anyone who buys a rifle of my that it shoots the way i claim but most don't want to come have a look

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Originally Posted by Steve123

It cracks me up when people mention the "round count". Who counts the times it goes bang?

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many people do, most reloaders can tell by as they keep track of firings on the brass etc and target shooters do so they know when the barrel gonna be toast and need replacing so they don't get caught out in a match. and factory ammo people often keep the boxes

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

We sound like a cynical old bunch...

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if you want to get cynical ( realistic ) about people work in a service industry, you will see the good the bad and the ugly every day.

mate from the old days when we drove shuttlebuses told me this story which happened to him last weekend . . 2 guys plead for him to go back and pick their mate up who was running late but has to get to the airport in the next town and sadly he has a broken leg. Its going to put my mate well behind in time and his next meal break is now down to ten minutes but eventually he gives in and drives back . . when he gets there the guy walks over to the bus carrying his bag, No broken leg, another good story to add to his collection, we both laughed.

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Originally Posted by 199p

I have seen some guns that shot terrible groups with one person shoot amazing groups with another at the wheel

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Ne'er a truer word spoken.... or typed....

I'd rather see a decent photo of the bore condition, than a sample target.

Yea to hard that relying on the person selling being able to shoot that well, most rifles seem to out shoot the shooter

I say if youve got it then flaunt it.
A pic adds interest, just like scenes posing it in some hunting location or next to a dead animal.
Could be faked but probably not.
Of course if you post a pic, you have to be prepared to do it again with the buyer watching…

“Shoots better than I do” isnt really saying much - doesnt cut the mustard as a sales pitch.

A lot of people interested in buying an accurate rifle expect it to be a lot better than them so they can improve their skills, which you cant really do with a “ minute of deer” rifle.

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Originally Posted by Bagheera

“Shoots better than I do” isnt really saying much - doesnt cut the mustard as a sales pitch.

A lot of people interested in buying an accurate rifle expect it to be a lot better than them so they can improve their skills, which you cant really do with a “ minute of deer” rifle.

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I always wonder how a owner knows their rifle shoots better than they do. Does the rifle wander off and fire a few groups on its own?
Are their skills so terrible or did a more skilled mate shoot it. Or is it a mystique thing.

I love it when they include a group of what looks like 26 shots from everything from .22LR up to .50BMG and none of the holes forms anything like a group! Or it's a shitter and the group shot is all pills side on!

Or they show a target with one hole and say its a tight five shot group with all five shots going down the same hole :huh:

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Originally Posted by Steve123

It cracks me up when people mention the "round count". Who counts the times it goes bang?

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I can. I've got all my empty cases, so unless the gunsmith fired a test shot when fitting my can I can tell you with a high degree of accuracy. (42, lol)

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

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Originally Posted by Eat Meater

I can. I've got all my empty cases, so unless the gunsmith fired a test shot when fitting my can I can tell you with a high degree of accuracy. (42, lol)

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

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If it cracks people up so be it....
I too can count to within 1 or rounds fired on my 4 F Class rifles. I keep a log book with that info along other data pertaining to the rifle. A new chapter starts when a new barrel is fitted.

Sporting rifles, don't keep a running total but can determine it from my reloading diary. Never used factory ammo.