A new rifle is a pretty big investment - generally between $700 and $1,700, making the purchase of a good used hunting rifle all the more appealing. It's possible to buy a used, gently owned hunting rifle from a reputable dealer that carries a guarantee from the seller. Gun dealers are happy to let you examine a used rifle very carefully before you buy - and you should definitely do just that, to make sure that it's in top condition.
With centerfire rifles, you should first remove the bolt and check the condition of the bolt face, to make sure that none of the metal has eroded around the firing pin. If there's erosions, that's a sign that the hunting rifle has been fired with hot handloads - if that's the case, don't buy it, because there's a very good chance that the rifle's been damaged in ways that are less easy to detect - the bolt-lugs and actions could have been strained, or the headspace may have been stretched.
Next, try working the bolt hard. Lift the handle, pull it back, and slam it forward - if the firing pin goes off, you've got a potentially dangerous problem on your hands. Now try to pull the trigger with the safety on and see what happens. You should also examine a used hunting rifle's bore to be assured that the grooves in the barrel are sharp and clean cut. If not, that means that the rifle hasn't been cared for properly. Under no circumstances should the guns bore be pitted or rusty - a badly pitted chamber is another hazardous problem, especially if you're looking at a semi-auto or pump action rifle.
It's also possible to buy used hunting rifles - and other gins - via the Internet. It's a legal process, regulated by federal law. If guns are to be shipped, it must be shipped to a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, who must run the required background checks before releasing the gun to the buyer. The FFL holder will usually charge a small fee for his services. This form of buying and selling used hunting rifles is more common than you might think - most sellers are just regular people looking to get rid of a gun they no longer want, and most of them are in very good condition.
Whether you buy a used gun from a local dealer, at a gun show or online, take the time to shop around and know what the going rate for that gun is before you do. Buying new is great, but if you can purchase a great used hunting rifle for a fraction of the cost, that's even better.