Range courtesy

[davlandrum]

I have never had a situation where others at the range wanted to try my guns, until I started shooting my .460 SW.

I was just curious how other feel about this and handle it. I will say everyone who has asked has been more than polite and would have accepted a refusal no problem. I had one guy shove $2 in my shirt pocket to cover the one round he shot. Other guy let me try out his TC in 30-30 in exchange.

I always hover and coach to make sure they are safe (cylinder gap, etc).

Just curious.

Thanks all

[Wiskey_33]

I've never been a fan of other people shooting my pistols. I had a guy plant a .357 slug in the ceiling at the range one time because he said he wasn't aware that it had a "hair trigger".

I told him to keep his finger off the trigger until he was ready for it to go off.:eek:

[Pahoo]

Don't think that there has ever been a time that I have gone to the range and not shared something. I may ask permission to hold a firearm to see how it handles but I never ask if I can shoot it. There are times when it is offered and I may accept or decline. However, I have never had anyone ask if they can shoot what I have. If someone shows and interest, I may offer it to them on a limited basis. Today, I introduced two guys to shooting one of my side cockers. They had a great time. One important point that I have learned the hard way, is never to loan a gun to anyone.

Be Safe

[grymster2007]

I've had people offer to let me shoot their guns and have accepted on occasion. And I don't have anything that is so dear to me I wouldn't let someone else try it out, as long as they demonstrate competence.

I've met some real nice folks who, after chatting a few moments, offer up their gun and ammo and say shoot away! The last time was a couple of young guys (early twenties) who looked a bit on the rough side. I watched them shoot for a bit. We started started talking and one of them hands me his P-22 and a box with 800 rounds in it. He said, please shoot these up, I have too much of this stuff! Turned out to be a couple real nice kids.

I was able to shoot a couple hundred rounds of his .22 and let him shoot a .357; something he'd never done before. That made his day!

I think sharing is a good thing!

[aroundlsu]

I always bring a stack of IDPA practice targets with me since they are cheaper than what they sell at my indoor range and they don't offer IDPA style silhouettes anyway. So a few weeks ago a kid walks right up to my bench and takes one. I didn't say anything I just let him have it. A few minutes later he walks up and takes another one. I said, "Look, I don't mind you taking a few targets but these things are my personal targets and aren't free." He said, "Oh, well how much are they?" I gave him a roll of pasties and said don't worry about it but paste up your holes with the tape.

I have a few unique weapons (HK P7, suppressed USP .45 compact) and a unique practice style so I always get visitors to my booth. I don't mind offering a mag of ammo but any more than that and they need to get their own.

[RandyStacyE]

This thread amused me :) I deal with a ton of people at work and it never ceases to maze me ... the nerve some people have. To take your targets off of your bench, to just pick up your weapon (unacceptable), etc …

[tplumeri]

I dont shoot at public ranges but its pretty common for members of the sheriffs dept to shoot out back with me. almost always swap guns at some point.
Not sure how i would feel about a stranger, but i dont think it would be a problem if they had something i wanted to shoot in exchange.
tom

[DMacLeod]

I've never shot at a public range so my experiences are different. I would find it totally unacceptable if someone I didn't know just picked up one of my weapons at our range. I've had guys come over to the bench and inquire about a weapon or 2 I may have with me that day. After a little conversation I may offer to let someone shoot one but have only had 1 person take me up on it.

When someone shows up and has something I am interested in I'll look but wouldn't think about picking it up.

[K Train]

i have a few glocks w/ internal laser sights and i hardly use the lasers inside the range, but when i shoot with the lasers it always brings someone over behind me. i disassemble the handgun and let people see what it is and how it operates, i've let a couple people pop a few rounds through the handguns, and most of the time they usually offer something up in return. i shot my first MK 23 in return for letting some guy shoot a glock 17 w/ internal laser. just make sure they know their range safety and i always hover over my weapons to make sure they don't do anything stupid with them.

[AirForceShooter]

I have never had a problem letting a female shoot one of my guns.
If mom or dad approves, a kid can shoot my guns.
If you're a guy and we've gone to the range together and I know you, sure, but you buy your own ammo,

If you're a guy I don't know, sorry.

AFS

[Scorch]

I always talk to other shooters at the range. If they are shooting something interesting, I ask, listen, comment, ask how they did this or that, and if they offer to let me try a shot I will gladly accept. If not, I chat for a while, then go back to my own guns. I would never go ask a shooter if I could shoot his weapon. Never! This isn't grade school where sharing is required, it's a shooting range, and many of the shooters are practicing for matches, testing loads, verifying sight settings, etc. Some folks are a understandably little tense about letting others handle their firearms. That is their right since the gun is their property. If you go to a range, you are there to shoot your guns, so remember your manners and enjoy the experience.

[CPTMurdoc30]

I will never ask to shoot someone elses guns but if we are talking and they offer I never turn them down. Then I offer to let them shoot mine. It does not bother me. most of the guys I talk to I watch them shoot for a while before talking to them.

[davlandrum]

Thanks all for your feedback.

I think it is kind of a case-by-case situation. I like to shoot new things, so I can understand wanting to try something (although I am with Scorch - I don't go around asking).

Obviously, if someone was being a knucklehead, that would be an automatic No.

The guy who gave me money surprised me. I wouldn't have let him shoot if I was worried about the money for one round.

[P5 Guy]

If someone comments about what I'm shooting I'll offer a few rounds. Most of the people that I run into at the range are polite and friendly so I don't mind. Sometimes it will make somebodies day and more happy shooters are good for us I think.

[exercion]

I'm not one to ask to shoot someone else's firearms, but I will gladly let anyone try mine, especially kids or new shooters. I have accepted a few people's invites to try theirs, and return the offer myself. Probably the 2 most interesting ones I have gotten to try this way was an old Ballard rifle in I forget what caliber, and a double rifle in .416/500 (I believe that's the right nomenclature for a 500NE necked down) which was quite impressive, but surprisingly enough not overly punishing.

Eric

[starshooter231]

I have shared my firearms with people at my gun club but never at a public range. I usually go with my buddies though so we share with each other. We don't pay each other for ammo since I shot yours you shoot mine. Of course at the time we all had 9mms. Now that I have my 1911 I haven't taken anybody to the range with me.

So if you see me at the range ask me and I will share that is how I was raised.

starshooter231

[Beretta686]

I have a few NFA toys, so when I'm ripping through mags on FA or playing with my SBR it draws LOTS of attention.

If I'm shooting 9mm, 5.56 or 12 guage I don't mind if folks shoot their own through it, but if I've got the 22 kit, I'll let them rip through a mag of my ammo just to see the look on their faces.

Tpyically I'll let people shoot my toys,so they'll let me shoot theirs.

I've never had anyone pickup my toys at the range and start playing with them, but I'd [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] a massive brick if they did.

My biggest problem at the range was a few weeks ago, when during a ceasefire some dumbass (from a country, far, far, way) walked up and just started cranking rounds downrange with people still down hanging targets. :eek:

[Nimitz87]

I've been approached more than once about shooting THEIR firearms...as they think theres something wrong with them:cool:

turns out its the shooter, I give a few quick tips...stance, slow steady squeeze, front sight post, etc. and they are more than happy when they are on target.

I've asked to handle a few firearms that I'm interested in most the time if they offer I'll take them up on it.

9x out of 10 when I go to the range I strike up a convo with someone who's new to shooting (hell im only 20 but it aint new) and try and help them out, if someone didn't would they come back?:confused:

Chad

[Mtdew]

I remember a few years ago I was at a public range and right beside me was a little boy and his dad shooting a bolt .22. He was pretty good and he kept looking at my pistols I had ( not touching them but just looking).

I asked him if he ever shot a pistol and he told me he hasn't, so I showed him the proper way to handle one and asked his dad if it was ok. I loaded up my Phoneix arms .22 and let him try it out.

After he was done he was grinning from ear to ear all the time they were there. I think I made his day.


Another time I was at the same range shooting my M44 and one guy commented on how loud it was and the fireball coming from the muzzle (he thought it was cool). I offered him the chance to fire a few rounds and he took one look at the steel butt plate and declined. LOL.

[JDG]

I once had a very nice guy offer to let me shoot his Barrett .50 , I took him up on that one:D

[butterboy]

I think that its a matter of respect for anothers personal property.
If someone just went and picked up one of my firearms I would definetly have an isssue.:eek:
But on the other hand If someone was polite and asked I may not have a problem sharing.:confused:
And I love getting the younger ones involved as long as Its ok with there parents.:D
And someone shooting down range durring a ceesefire thats just unexeptable and idiodic.:mad:

[speedracer211]

I have shot more peoples firearms than I can think of... Most of the time it was at a large shoot and a random guy will come shove a mag in my hand and say have a blast with the this. That was how I shot my first FA m16 and others. Not even a hey my name is so and so. Pretty cool if you ask me.

[WINSTON THE WOLF]

I let a range office shoot my 3" .44 with hot loads. He had a :D on his face.

[SavageMOA]

A guy once offered to let me shoot his H&K MK23. He was a really nice guy, it was actually the first pistol I ever shot. I would NEVER ask to fire someone else's gun. I mean, a gun is a sizeable investment. It's like going to a car show and asking a guy you've never met if you can drive his vintage Corvette around the block. Maybe it's just me, but i'd be a little upset.

[Nimitz87]

how you can compare a vintage corvette to a pistol is lost to me.

I'll let anyone shoot my weapons as long as they demonstrate the fundamental safety rules, and that they understand how the firearm works.

Chad

[SavageMOA]

I know there's a big difference between the price of the car and the gun. I was trying to relate it to something else.

[Venison_Jerkey32]

At all the cars shows i've been to, most of the "vintage corvettes" aren't able to drive around the block.

I like to go to the range and mind my own buisness and put 5 bullets into one hole and silently laugh to myself at the old guys next to me who can't get their high end rifle on paper.

I'm 18 and usually only go to the range on a slow college day so I'm usually by myself and sometimes I'll talk to the RO but I normally just go to the range to shoot, not make friends.

My favorite from last time I was at the range, 2 guys were trying to sight in a new rifle and something must of been way wrong because they couldn't get anything to work, I put up my targets and when the range is hot I fire off the first shot: X. Next shot: X and I notice the RO is glassing my target. Third shot: X. RO to me "[color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] son you outta just pack up now and save your ammo" :)

[AKGunner]

Like others I shoot other people's gun quite often if offered. I also allow other to shoot my 1911 or even s&w 500. I put my own reloads in my own gun when I shoot it. I never offer my reloaded ammo in the other people's guns.

Most people take me up on the offer to shoot my 1911. A little less than half decide to shoot the 500. I have some mouse loads, some medium loads, and a hot load for it. Most of the shooters only shoot the light and medium loads.

I only offer my guns to people that appear safe and generally familar with guns.

Sharing is part of the fun I have at the range.

[JAYBIRD78]

I was just finishing up at the 200yrd benchrest when a elderly man walked up. He asked if I was done for the day. I replied that I was (out of ammo). He then graciously let me fire his AR-10, AR-30 and M14 all in .308. He kept saying, "go ahead, finish off that mag! I ended up talking to him for an hour about rifles and reloading. It definitely made my day.:D:D:D:D

[davlandrum]

JayBird - probably made his day too!

[UniversalFrost]

yeah, I have gawkers all the time when I shoot my higher end or unique guns (i.e. surgeon rifle, schutzen rifles, encore and contender big bore pistol setups, etc...) but i always polietely tell them this

" Sure you can shoot my guns when you come back with a 100% cash deposit for the gun." (My surgeon rifle is a little over 5k just for the gun without scope, etc... and some of my schutzen rifles and carbines are over 110 years old and irreplaceable).

Only guy I have let shoot my rifles is a neighbor who I know would replace them if he messed them up and he is an even more safety conscience shooter than I.

One thing to think about is if you let someone shoot your gun and they hurt themself or others they might come after you legally or monetarily for damages in today's sue everybody mentatlity.

Me, it is easier to just give them my cash deposit speech and they walk away.

[Csspecs]

Yeah I'd let just about any sane person fire a few rounds off from my rifle, just the nature of target shooting. I take the request as a form of compliment.