[12-34hom]

Went to a family reunion today, conversation drifted to the upcoming pheasant season with a relative of mine.

During this conversation, he asked to borrow a shotgun of mine [i only own one currently].

Because i work alot and don't normally hunt pheasants much anymore, he wanted to borrow mine. but i do hunt ducks and gesse that season coincides with pheasant for about six weeks.

I told my wife about this on the way home, she advised not to lend a gun to this individual.

I told him that i would "think about it" .

What are your thoughts on lending firearms to relitives or friends - on a short or long term basis?

Thanks for any replies.

12-34hom.

[Nightcrawler]

Hell, I've GIVEN guns to people. I've given away two rifles, a shotgun, and a revolver (the revolver, a Model 28, being a present for my friend's wedding; needless to say, she loved it.)

As for lending....well, depends on how well you know the person in question. I wouldn't hesistate to let MY friends use my guns, but anyone else...yeah...

Play it by ear.

[AZTOY]

There are only 2 people, in the world that i would give a gun too.

I will be leaving my gun with them for the next for 4 year, when i'm in the Army. I know with these 2 people, my guns will be cleaned and locked up in a safe. With that seid..........


No i don't normal loan out guns!:p

[MountainPeak]

Do it all the time, for friends and family members I trust. I've also given firearms to my ex, grandaughter, brother, friends and recently gave a Commander to a friends kid for graduation. He deserved it, and man was he thrilled! I had to laugh, but he told me, even after you're dead, I'll think about you when I shoot this! He was embarrassed when I said thanks, but since I'm only 52, I don't mind if you think about me a little sooner!!:) Ya know, when I was his age 52 WAS old!!;)

[telewinz]

As nightcrawler, I have given away guns and I have lent them. 1st rifle I lent out was a custom 30/06 Mauser I had purchased a few months previously. I got it back with a rusted/ruined bore, the loss was more than money I truely enjoyed that rifle.

[Edward429451]

Depends on who and the circumstances. I've loaned my MIL my Bulldog for a few years with some nice light handloads for her protection until she could get something of her own. I've given a 38 snub to my sister as she was getting ready to do a cross country drive by herself. Hunting buddies sometimes need an apporopriate loaner for specific applications that they don't have one for.

Phesant hunting for your bro. I can't answer that for you. Only you know him. My experiance with this issue & my wife is that she's generally got good sense in this area. I got one brother that I would loan to and one brother that I would not loan too.

Yoy may want to listen to the wife here. Wives generally know whos questionable (IME). If you loan it to him against her advice and he screws the pooch somehow..., you'll be in deep then.

Looking at it another way...If you had to ask, he's questionable and you already know the answer. Trust your gut.

[DragonRider]

If he just need a shotgun, tell him to get a 870. Price wise it cant be breaking the bank. 99.9 percent of the people I know may borrow any gun I own. Just ask me to accompany you to the range for you to try it out or I go with you otherwise.

Also, look at your knowledge of the person in question, does he take good care of the stuff that he already has? Are you willing to loan out your only shotgun? If I had multiple then I would consider it, but if it's my only one. NOPE.

John

[Spot77]

Almost never.

I let Norton take my CZ40B to the range once without me because:

He is extremely competent in the use, cleaning and transportation of handguns.

He's my brother, and teaches ME things about handguns.

There's nobody else I would trust; not even my wife.

[HankL]

Sweet little Model 7 in 7MM/08 usually gets to go on youth weekend, borrowed by a respected few for their child to use.
If my wife said she advised not to lend a gun to this individual. I would go with her in a heart beat.
Trusted friends, for a good cause, why not? A casual acquaintance will not get the chance.

Youth weekend one week before opening season and I only have one rifle?
Tell your kid to get a job and get their own!:neener:

[Backwoods]

I've got 2 friends (not family) that I would loan a gun to without hesitation. A few more that I might loan one to depending on circumstances. Not a good practice to get into on a casual basis.

Loaning is not the same as allowing a newbie shoot your weapons while you're at the range together.

Don in Ohio

[quick68]

I dont know many people I would even consider loaning a gun to. I'm pretty anal about my guns, they get cleaned and wiped down when I return from shooting. I know this is pretty basic for most on this site, but most people I know dont take aceptable care of their weapons. When I look at guns in a gun shop I try to only handle them by the wood ect. I would let my brother borrow anything any time, because I know he would take proper care of it. If by chance something happened, he would replace it or otherwise make it right without any question. I would hate to turn my father-in-law down on a request, so I hope he doesnt ask. He will wipe his guns down once a year whether they need it or not. He also used an electric engraver to put his name and ss# on the side of his recievers freehand. He wanted to know if I wanted to borrow the engraver.....er......NO!

[El Tejon]

Yes, as long as Title I. Like a library they are there to be shared.:)

[HSMITH]

Loaning guns is BAD. I loaned out a 7mag and got it back with a bulged barrel, it was WAY sub MOA too. I wanted to cry......
I loaned out a M36 snub that the guy "lost". If I ever see him with it or find out he has it only God will be able to help him...
I loaned out an 870 and it was rusted up when I got it back under the dripping coat of oil.
I will loan out the rusty 870 to a very select few people now, and loan NOTHING else.

I have heard the stories others tell too. Loaning guns in general when you will not be present 100% of the time is BAD.

[C.R.Sam]

Looking at it another way...If you had to ask, he's questionable and you already know the answer. Trust your gut.
Yup.

You can pick your friends.
Relatives are foisted upon you, for good or bad.

Sam

[gryphon]

There are a few people I would, but I trust my life to them and know that if they ask, then something major is going down and they probably need it.

[JeepDriver]

Last gun I loaned to a family member I still haven't gotten back yet!

My father borrowed my 10/22 several months ago to do some plinking on a camping trip he was going on. Now everytime I ask about it he makes up some excuse why he needs it.

But what the heck he did buy me my first .22 , plus I think I owe my parents a little more then a 10/22

OH well it's not like it was my only 10/22

[Standing Wolf]

I might loan a gun to my wife if I were married; as far as everybody else is concerned, however, the answer is "no."

[PawDaddy]

I've loaned a rifle to a friend of mine to deer hunt with. He brought it back without incident. I would not loan a gun to anyone that I did not know or trust very well.

[4v50 Gary]

Yes I have loaned out firearms, but only to people I know. If your wife advises otherwise, she probably has insights into her "relative" that you don't know about. Follow her advice.

[12-34hom]

Thanks for all the replies.

12-34hom.

[happy old sailor]

is he willing to leave a deposit, like, retail price of said firearm? the prospective loanee usually backpedals.

anyone that wants to hunt should have his own gun.

all my friends and family have plenty of guns, so i am not faced with this dilema.

[blades67]

I would loan any of my guns to my best friend because he would take care of them like they were mine. Also, my mom if she asked, just because she's Mom.

[GD]

When I go hunting with my buddies I always bring along a spare. You never know when your or your friends shotgun might have problems.
I would never loan a firearm to someone who was not familiar with the one you would give them.

[ysr_racer]

Neither a lender or a barrower be.

[Tamara]

Depends on who the person is.

I've cheerfully loaned guns, cars, knives, whatever to some friends.

There are others I know to whom I wouldn't lend a rock for fear they'd break or lose it.

[Doc]

beware the laws. Here in Michigan it is illegal to LOAN a firearm.
It's ok to allow its use in your presense, but to give it to another
for use outside of your purvey is NOT LEGAL.

[zahc]

To friends and family members whom I trust. I have several of my guns permanently residing in other's places, and several guns in my safe that aren't mine. If I ever need my gun I go get it, and vice versa.

I tend to do that with videogames too. It mean you have truly good friends.

[Guntalk]

I loaded a rifle to a "friend," for his son to use. It was a Remington 788 rifle in 6mm Remington. Very nice, inexpensive rifle.

After the season, I asked for the rifle to be returned. Then I asked again. And again.

Finally, I had to get pretty pointed about it.

When he returned the rifle, the stock had been shortened by about an inch and a half!

Just amazing.

I eventually gave that rig to a friend (it was a left-handed actio) who works at the NRA. He had a very nice varmint rifle built on it, with a new stock.

No, this guy is not my friend. That, and a couple of other items, wiped out that relationship.

Just goes to show that you never know.

[OEF_VET]

Loan a gun to a casual accuaintance? Heck no!

Loan a gun to a trusted family member / friend, maybe.

The only time I've given a gun to someone was my former BIL. I gave him a NEF 20 ga for his 15th b-day present. I paid $100 for it and an H&R 12 ga for myself, and you'd think I'd given him $1,000,000 from how happy he was.

[aerod1]

Yep. Every friend or relative I've loaned guns to has always retuened them in good shape.

Jim Hall

[TheeBadOne]

Yes