Do you consider it rude

[Bowlcut]

For someone to ask to shoot one of your guns? Like if you are at the range and been talking to the range mate beside you or someone for the whole time you are there....Then he says "hey can i shoot your _____?" Is that rude to you, do you feel like you are being rude to ask? Most people seem to offer at times but sometimes I forget.

I know I dont consider it rude. If Ive been talking to someone about things and they say "hey since you been talking that up can I shoot it once or twice?" I dont mind it. Like with cars. I dont find it rude for someone to ask me to take my car out for a spin if they are interested in the model/make My friend back home said it was rude. I think its flattery a little.

If Ive gotten to know you I always try to make it known you are welcome to shoot anything I have. If I just got to know you I tend to forget to mention it tho...

Your opinion?

 

[Gophfer]

If I know you well enough I will offer to let you shoot it. I don't ask to shoot someone else's unless I know them well.

 

[Kharn]

I dont give people a chance to ask. If they strike up a conversation about my guns and seem interested in one, I'll ask if they'd like to give it a try for a few shots.

Kharn

 

[Mikel]

I usually don't ask, but I often offer.

My car is a different story, no one is going to learn for the first time what 500rwhp feels like in the driver's seat of my car. I'll be more than happy to take them for a ride though

 

[FPrice]

I don't consider asking to be rude, it depends upon how it is done. If someone comes up and without introductions says, "Hye! Lemme shoot that there gun." I would probably not. But if we are talking and the person expresses a desire to try it, I would probably let them do it. Also would have to depend upon my comfort level with that person.

 

[TechBrute]

I won't consider it rude to ask, if they don't consider it rude for me to say no. I usually offer to let people shoot what I've got, but there are times that I'm just not up to it.

 

[Peetmoss]

I wouldn't consider it rude if it was done right. I would expect them to be polite and introduce themselves if I don't know them. Then say something like hey that is a nice gun could I try it or something like that. I however usually don't give them that chance. I almost always introduce myself and offer them the chance to try anything I have with me.

 

[winwun]

It's all in the feeling. I usually offer, if the person seems compatible.

Usually, they'll fire a couple of rounds and then try to hand it back, and I usually say, "Go ahead, empty it".

A while back, a guy with an Uzi squirt gun insisted that I eat up 2 mags full. What a fun blast that was. I brought enough 9 ammo and my little plastic doohickey loader the next week and loaded 3 mags for him as repayment without asking. I think I made a new friend.

A pet peeve I have on range behaviour are persons who will ask you something and then put their "ears" back on before you have a chance to finish talking, or say something without taking their "ears" off.

I realize the electronic mufffs are pricey and not everyone can afford them, but it would seem that sooner or later everyone would have them.

I dunno. Turnover, I guess.

 

[Feanaro]

I don't think it's rude though I normally don't ask. If they get to shoot mine I ask that they either pay for the ammo or let me shoot their gun.

But sometimes I would prefer not to let people do that. I will politely say no and offer them a rain check. If that upsets them then no gun, ever.

 

[ojibweindian]

I don't consider it rude, but I do reserve the right to say no. Most of the time, I'll offer to let someone shoot it if the person in question and I have been talking throughout the session.

About the only time I flat out refuse is when, during the course of a session, I've observed unsafe or immature behavior in the person wanting to "have a go" with one of my weapons.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Never really thought about it. usually when I'm at the range there's very few in anyone else there. Those that I do see there most always have a common model so I never really see it neccessary to ask them to try thier gun. More often than not they will do the "whatcha shootin'?" I'll freely show them and if they express a significant amount of interst, I'll offer them a few rounds to try out one of mine.

 

[BallisticTip]

I always seem to offer, before they ask.

 

[mdsteele]

What Peetmoss said! I will definately offer if they seem cool.

 

[P95Carry]

General concensus - agreed ... nope, it ain't rude as such ..... but if some newbie dork comes up and interfere's or is plain irritating then .... not so happy!

As with most tho .... sensible person, interested .... more than likely offer a chance .. and like someone said .... if they shoot 2 and seem competent and capable ... then hell yeah ''empty it''!!!

 

[fastbolt]

Okay, I'm a bit particular about allowing someone to handle, let alone shoot, any of my weapons ... and that also goes for handling my edged weapons & tools ...

I have to have at least some minimal reason to extend that sort of trust to someone ... I require some reason to believe that someone is capable of receiving one and handling it safely, even if I'm going to be standing next to them the whole time ... and that someone isn't going to deliberately do something stupid & unsafe with it ...

Sorry, but I've seen otherwise normal-appearing folks do some incredibly stupid things with guns ... and blades, for that matter ... and I'm a bit less trusting than I was as a young man ...

I seldom ask someone if I can borrow their weapon ... and I'm even careful about whether I'll accept an offer from someone to shoot their firearm, especially if I don't have sufficient reason to feel compelled to offer them mine in exchange. I feel it only fair that I shouldn't expect to borrow theirs, even if they make an overt offer, if I'm uncomfortable reciprocating the courtesy.

This isn't like sharing toys in a playground, you know ...
Okay, I'll admit I was a bit fussy about sharing toys as a child, as well ...

 

[zahc]

How can it be rude to ask a question? Now, a demand is different. And some peopple are rude. But I have no problem with saying no.

 

[cool45auto]

I don't think its rude. I had a guy come over the last time I went to the range. I was putting everything up and he started up a conversation about my Neos. I would have gladly let him shoot it but I didn't have any ammo left.


BTW: Mikel, 500 rwhp? What the heck are you drivin'?

 

[TallPine]

Well, I would consider it rude for me to ask that question, but I wouldn't necessarily get offended if asked that by someone else.

How I would answer would depend on the circumstances - probably "No" unless I was already about to offer.

What if someone said: "That sure is a neat wife you have there, do you mind if I ....?"

 

[fastbolt]

What if someone said: "That sure is a neat wife you have there, do you mind if I ....?"

Simply & eloquently stated ... that was great.

I'm very fussy about someone wanting to "borrow" my wife, my guns, my knives, my motorcyle or my books ... and not necessarily in that particular order ...

 

[chaim]

I'm in the "it depends" crowd here as far as whether it is rude or not. If demanded then yes, if they come to you out of the blue then yes, if you've been talking to them and checking out each other's guns then no.

Usually I've offered before anyone has asked though (I can't remember anyone asking) and I've been offered but never asked to use theirs.

Edit:
Correction, actually the last time I went to the range one of the employees asked to try my Charles Daly and asked several questions. It seems the store got in several of them used and he is thinking about picking one up but they don't even let employees try non-rental guns there until you buy them. I was more than happy to let him try it.

 

[eotp]

What if someone said: "That sure is a neat wife you have there, do you mind if I ....?"

I disagree with both Tallpine and fastbolt.

Someone asking to shoot a gun that I have at the range and someone wanting to go to bed with my wife are not in the same category.

For that matter my guns and my wife are not in the same category.

If any of you guys are in my neck of the woods and want to shoot some of my guns, that is OK with me. Just don't ask the stupid question regarding my wife.

 

[Navy joe]

I'm usually on the offering end when people ask me about my guns, but I really hope I didn't sound rude when I made a new aquaintance and he had an MP-5. No wait, I don't care how I sounded, it was just too much fun burning up that ammo.

 

[Powderman]

I guess it may be a regional thing. Up around here, I don't think that I've ever heard anyone ask outright to shoot another person's guns. The way I do it, and have seen it done, is to introduce yourself, strike up a conversation and wait. Usually, the person will offer themselves to let you shoot. If not, I don't even mention it, and I don't feel insulted in the least if they don't offer.

 

[TallPine]

eotp: humor impaired, are we ...?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I think this same sort of question was posted a couple years back on the old TheFiringLine board. I was surprised to see how many people did think it rude if someone asked to shoot one of their guns.

To suggest that it is rude is really counter reasoning. Proper manners obligate one to ask to use/borrow/try something belonging to another short of that something being your spouse.

If someone I have seen shoot asks or if I offer to let someone shoot one of my guns, I usually load just one round in the gun to see how well they handle it. If they handle it well, I will usually let them shoot a mag's worth, often on the premise that I get to shoot their gun as well.

Kharn, you remind me of a guy my wife and I met while shooting one day at the local public range. It was just the three of us on the range and he must have had 20 guns with him. Come to find out, he liked to take all of them to the range at least twice a year to shoot and then thoroughly reclean before storing them again. As with chatted about guns, he offered to lets us shoot some of them. In fact, he told us that he would appreciate it if we put about 50 rounds (his ammo) through some of his pistols as he didn't think he would have time to finish shooting before needing to leave. For each new gun, he explained the controls and let us shoot it. That was a really cool day of shooting sponsored by a really neat guy.