GunBroker

GunBroker is the eBay of firearms -- if eBay required background checks and shipped everything to licensed dealers. Founded in 1999 out of Kennesaw, Georgia, it's become the largest online gun marketplace in the country by connecting sellers with buyers while staying on the right side of federal law.

The platform doesn't sell guns directly. Instead, it hosts over 100,000 active listings from FFLs, collectors, and private sellers. Every firearm transaction still has to go through your local dealer for the background check -- GunBroker just makes it possible to browse the entire national inventory from your couch.

Key milestones in GunBroker's growth and market dominance

GunBroker runs like an auction house mixed with classified ads -- most listings are 7-day auctions, but some sellers offer Buy It Now prices if you don't want to wait around bidding.

You create an account, find a local FFL who accepts transfers, then start browsing. When you find something you want, either bid on it or hit Buy It Now if that's an option.

Win the auction, pay the seller, give them your FFL's contact info. The seller ships the gun to your dealer -- not to you. You get an email when it arrives, head to your FFL, fill out the 4473, pass the background check, pay the transfer fee, and walk out with your gun. Leave feedback for the seller so the next guy knows what to expect.

Complete GunBroker purchase process from bid to possession

• •Auction fever -- set your max bid before you start and stick to it
• •Hidden costs -- that $500 rifle costs $600 after shipping and transfer fees
• •Bad seller research -- always check feedback and transaction history
• •State law ignorance -- some stuff can't ship to your state, period
• •Wire transfer scams -- stick to credit cards or GunBroker's payment system

The FFL transfer isn't optional or negotiable. Federal law requires it, and your dealer will charge you for the service. Call ahead to confirm their fee and process -- some shops are picky about what they'll accept.

The FFL transfer isn't optional or negotiable. Federal law requires it, and your dealer will charge you for the service.

GunBroker's inventory is essentially every gun legally available in America, all in one searchable database.

Don't expect bargain prices on everything. The real value is selection -- if it exists and it's legal, someone's probably selling it on GunBroker.

You'll find genuine deals on estate sales, dealer overstock, and poorly-photographed listings that don't attract attention. But you'll also see panic pricing during shortages and collector premiums on anything rare.

The ammunition section has become essential for finding oddball calibers that local shops don't carry. Same goes for discontinued parts -- if you need a magazine for a gun that went out of production in 1987, GunBroker's probably your only shot.

GunBroker runs the platform, but they don't control individual sellers. Think of them as the landlord of a giant flea market -- they provide the space and basic rules, but you're dealing directly with whoever's behind the table.

The feedback system is your main protection against bad sellers. A guy with 2,000 positive feedbacks probably knows what he's doing. Someone with 12 ratings and a few complaints? Maybe look elsewhere.

Returns depend entirely on the individual seller's policy. GunBroker doesn't standardize this stuff -- one seller might accept returns, another might not. Read the listing carefully before bidding.

• •You know exactly what you want but can't find it locally
• •You're collecting specific variants or historical pieces
• •You want to compare prices across hundreds of sellers
• •You need discontinued parts or uncommon ammunition

• •You're new to guns and want hands-on guidance
• •You need the gun today (auctions take time, shipping takes more time)
• •You want guaranteed returns and standardized customer service
• •You'd rather handle the gun before buying

GunBroker revolutionized gun buying by creating a national marketplace, but it's not magic -- it's a tool that works well if you understand what you're getting into.

The selection is unmatched. Period. If you're looking for a specific variant of something, a discontinued model, or just want to see what's available across the entire country, nothing else comes close.

I've found guns on there that I hadn't seen for sale anywhere else in years. But the experience varies wildly depending on the seller. You might get white-glove service from a high-volume dealer, or you might get a crusty collector who takes three weeks to ship and doesn't answer emails.

The feedback system helps, but it's not foolproof. The pricing is all over the map. Sometimes you'll find genuine deals -- estate sales where someone doesn't know what they have, or dealers clearing out slow-moving inventory.

Other times you'll see guys asking stupid money for common guns because they think everything's collectible. Do your homework on both the gun and the seller before bidding. Know what the gun sells for elsewhere, factor in all the fees, and check the seller's feedback carefully.

Treat it like buying a used car from someone you've never met -- because that's basically what you're doing.

For collectors and people looking for specific items, GunBroker is invaluable. For casual buyers who just want a basic gun and some face-to-face guidance, your local shop is probably a better bet.

• •GunBroker official site: gunbroker.com
• •BBB business profile and customer reviews
• •Reddit r/guns: GunBroker experience threads
• •ATF guidelines on online firearms transfers