Will you help a new gun owner or reloader that is caught short?

If someone who doesn’t own a gun but is considering purchasing one or who has never shot a gun wants to try it out, I’ll happily take them shooting and provide the guns and a box or two of ammo.

If someone is completely without ammo, it would depend. If we get to a point where ammo simply can’t be found and they need a box so they can protect themselves? Sure. Just to go shooting? I don’t know, if they can’t get it, neither can I, so I’m not terribly inclined to burn through what I’ve worked hard to amass.

As it stands right now, ammo is still available (at least what I shoot). Maybe not at the LGS, and it may not be cheap, but it’s still available. I’ll happily point them to places where they can purchase what they need.

I look at it similarly to lending a car to someone. I’m not worried about mileage or wear and tear and such, but you can fill the tank as easily as I can.

It depends. If my generosity enables the sport, I will be generous. If they're bad with money and I start to feel like I'm offering a subsidy I might defer my generosity.

FROGO207 said:

So otherwise have you in the past, or this time around will you help someone that has no ammo or out of primers to get by until things turn around?

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During the last Banic, I showed up for my LTC / CHL qualifier with a bunch of other folk, at least one of whom was depending on the gun store / range having ammo to sell him. When they informed him that they were out of stock and he was faced with not being able to complete the qual, I tossed him a spare box (handloads) that I had in my range bag. I dunno who else would have NOT.

Metal God said:

I think over the years my reputation is just that and get asked often . Although I rarely ask for anything in return it usually pays off at some point in the future .

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My mom always said, "No good deed goes unpunished."
Mom was wise, and right about most things. So I'm not so sure what she meant by that statement.
Like you Metal God, I'm firmly in the "It Depends" category when it comes to giving ammo and/or components to people. I've given ammo and components to friends in the past - even during shortages. But I don't give those things away to just anyone.

One of my best friends decided to finally get his CHL and get his first pistol here in NY. When he got his pistol, the LGS would only sell him 1 box of 25 rds of hollow points and 1 box fmj range ammo. I brought him to my personal private range and showed him and his wife how use the gun and shoot it safely. I also brought out a few of my pistols to let them both try them out. I reload, so I have quite a few rounds made up. He used up his range rounds and only had his 25 factory self defense rounds left. I ended up giving him 2 boxes of my self defense reloads for just in case. I explained to him that I reload and he would like me to teach him. I am always willing to help people when I can, if I can.

Have an open invitation to my core group of friends that they are welcome to use my press and tools with my instruction as long as they provide the powder or primers, preferably both. I cast so I provide any bullets. If I could afford the stockpile of primers in can now six months ago I'd be giving it away but alas student loans were more important to pay off. This also works to my benefit as the understanding is buy twice the primers they want want and I'll buy the other half off them.

As a new gun owner I do find it funny that Ive been playing catch up to the point I'm actually quite well stocked on ammo now, but my coworkers that wanted me to get a gun won't spend any money on ammo. I've offered to grab them a few boxes or even let them know the local store close to our work has some 9mm, but I get told they don't want to go shooting because they don't have a lot of ammo and they won't buy because they dont want to spend the money. I can understand not wanting to buy a case, but a box here and there isn't a big deal. I've definitely offered a few boxes if they want to go shooting but no takers

Mars5l said:

I've definitely offered a few boxes if they want to go shooting but no takers

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So, go shoot without them. Meet new people at the range, make new friends that shoot instead of just own.

I have friends with whom I trade bullets, powder, primers all the time. I load for a friend who plans to load his own someday when he moves out of his condo into a house. I load carefully for myself and am even more careful when I load his. What I have found more risky is buying stuff at auctions. I certainly will not buy reloaded ammo, but it happens all the time. I bought some shotgun shells once that were sold as new ammo and when I opened it, the ammo was clearly reloaded. The auction company quickly refunded my money.

I sold .22 ammo and 5.56 brass last shortage, gave away .22 ammo and 9mm ammo. What I sold was on the open market at non-scalper prices but certainly wasn’t willing to lose money selling to another reseller. What I gave away was to new shooters and a few friends.

This time around I trucked 250 rounds of 5.56 and 4 new magazines up to my BIL’s house who had none and was unaware of current market conditions. Will I help new shooters if given the opportunity? Yes. Will I help the same people I helped last time? No. At some point everyone learns a few painful lessons about planning.

Simple answer. Absolutely not! With that said, I would only give my 3 kids ammo or reloading help and my very best friend. I don't do charity when it comes to guns, ammo & reloading components. And now the times we are living in I keep it all locked up.

Depends on why they were caught short I suppose.
If they had the means to prepare and chose not to, then no I would not give them anything.
If they couldn't prepare because they didn't have the funds, then yes I would help them out.

There's been a lot of times in my life that I couldn't do a lot of things.
I hope I never forget it.

I gave three family members some 9mm defensive ammo. I am standardizing on one type and got rid of the extras.

I don't give any of my reloads away or sell. If a buddy wants to shoot with me they shoot for free with my rifles and reloads. I always take extra ammo and or rifles of 22lr for kids who are at the range with their father. During the last shortage I would see many parents take their kids with only a box of 22 and in a matter of minutes it would be over. I could see the sick look their father had after seeing the disappointment in their children. I would offer them bullets some would be grateful other offered to pay and all would say they could not buy any and were ill prepared. But the greatest thing was new friends were made on those days.

My neighbors son who is like my own son too mows my lawn. He won't take any money but has asked if I could square him away with some ammo as he bought a new 1911. I give him a box of factory ammo every time he mows and he accepts it with a big grin.

taliv said:

I’ve regretted helping people several times. I’m the last panic when ARs were hard to come by I sold really nice ones to two different friends who didn’t have one at pre ban prices. Both sold them quickly and made hefty profit.

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Why do you still call them "friends".

Sure, have a few times since this cycle of weirdness started. No sweat.

Situational.
If it was someone who I wouldnt trust with the judgement to use a firearm, no.
Stranger, no.
Someone looking just for practice ammo, no.
Someone who is a ranter and conspiracy idiot, no
If it was someone who simply has no clue to priorities (yes, here I can judge) no.
IF it is someone I know who does know how to use a firearm safely, maybe.
IF it is someone i know who is looking to have some shells for home defense but I know isnt holding out on me, maybe.
If someone is just getting into reloading and I was showing them the ins and outs, I would let them have some of our loadings for his gun if he didnt have them.
I have neighbors who have misc. shotguns etc. that havent seen the light of day in possibly generations. If the firearms were in safe shooting condition and they just wanted some shells for the house "just in case" I would probably let them have some. It is doubtful I would give out my reloads.
Despite what a lot of folks think, I have seen plenty of ammo on shelves. It may not be a great variety OR someone's cheap low dollar stuff, but it is there. If you dont have any ammo if you think you need it for self defence or whatever because you are cheap, tough. If we are living in dangerous and you think a gun is needed, it is just out right incompetent to worry about having a stash of ammo if you cant keep a dedicated box of rounds for your self defense.

I've taken in some stuff for a couple guys at work a couple times. Nothing huge -- a couple bricks of .22, a handful of boxes of 9mm range ammo, a handful of 4-count slugs or buck, etc. Compensated at cost. Another time, a gift brick of decent .22 for a guy who bought his daughter her first rifle.
At the club range, I've given a couple guys a 50-count box of .22lr who were struggling to find something their particular .22 liked with a, "Here, give this a try." Other times, when I have a brick or more of something they really dig for targets but that I find sort of "meh" through my rifles, I've offered it to guys at cost.
To me it's no big deal. If you're relatively flush, share a little bit.

Pudge said:

My all-time favorite baseball player is Roberto Clemente. My favorite quote of his: "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth."

I figure I'm blessed to have what I do, and if my generosity can make a difference for someone, then what I have is an even bigger blessing.

I also understand that I've received so much in the past from others who took the time to care, I don't think I can ever get even.

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I'm no Pirates fan, but No. 21 was something special in a lot of ways.

During the prolonged "Obama is gonna take our guns" panic i gave away thousands of rounds of .22 ammunition to folks who wished to take young folks shooting.

I'd certainly help a friend out.

However, this entire thread is based on the notion that I talk to people. I try my hardest not to.

460Shooter said:

... However, this entire thread is based on the notion that I talk to people. I try my hardest not to.

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460Shooter for the win

Friends and the guys I shoot with, no problems whatsoever sharing. We have a lend/lease program going where the borrower "replaces" what he borrows.

I also don't mind helping out the folks at work, especially since they're all either retired army or still in uniform. I've had some of them out to shoot multiple times and a bunch of us have gone in on an AR15 lower group buy at our post skeet club, So I'm kicking in the tools, workspace, knowledge(?) and test firing range when they come in and we start building them.

Strangers are 100% situational.