Also what’s the best way to purchase a firearm and be protected on here? I always shy away from private party if it’s not local.
Find an FFL in the vicinity of the seller. If you think the seller is legit, you can use their local FFL as long as it's a real gun shop that you can call. If you're nervous it's a scam, find the gun shop on your own on Google and call them and ask if they will handle transfer and shipping for you.
When you agree on a deal with the seller, tell them you'll send the money as soon as it's at the FFL. Then call the FFL on the phone number that's on their website and confirm, "Hey, this is Tex, you should have Seller in your shop dropping off a RSS for me. Can you confirm it's a 223 Tikka in a weird-ass looking stock? Got the SWFA on it? Not rusty or anything? Cool thanks"
And then you text the seller back and say all sounds good here's PayPal FF.
I have had this work both ways - I've had the seller laugh and say yup heard you on the phone we're all good. And I've had sellers refuse to go to an FFL, say they were their own FFL, or tell me they were using a pawn shop FFL that when I called *independently* said they had no idea who or what I was talking about. As soon as I mentioned i'd be travelling through and we could handle it in person, they ghosted me. Imagine that...
Literally this method is easier/safer than Gunbroker. Had a sale on there that the item wasn't exactly as described and it was a HASSLE.