shep854
Member
I'd be up to consecutive life sentences!
Ever offered your gun at the range?
- Thread starter gator1gear
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allaroundhunter
Member
If it is a person I know, or a person that I watch observing safe gun handling procedures then I will offer to let them shoot my guns without a problem. If there are younger shooters then I will offer a quick lesson and let them shoot any of the low caliber guns that I have (after they prove that they are safe)
I don't however, like someone just coming up to me out of the blue asking if they can shoot one of my guns...
I don't however, like someone just coming up to me out of the blue asking if they can shoot one of my guns...
Mr.510
Member
I've let strangers at ranges shoot all of my guns many times. I've also had the opportunity to shoot 100s of guns that I otherwise never would have. When I go to indoor ranges I tend to be really focused and 'all business' with my practice. This has led to at least a dozen strangers asking me to try their guns. Mostly because they want to see if it's "them or the gun" that's causing the bullets to miss the paper or the weapon to jam. So far it's always been the shooter. 
As long as people are nice I'll let them shoot my stuff. I don't expect them to reciprocate but they almost always do. I've let a couple people that tried my XD45C and really liked it put a whole box of their own ammo through it.
As long as people are nice I'll let them shoot my stuff. I don't expect them to reciprocate but they almost always do. I've let a couple people that tried my XD45C and really liked it put a whole box of their own ammo through it. Just One Shot
Member
I was at the range and ran into an older gentleman who was shooting a revolver and what looked to be his grandson who was shooting a Ruger SR9. I ask the young man how he liked his Ruger and he offered it to me to try. I returned the favor and let him shoot my Glock 21. I liked the Ruger well enough that I went out and found a used SR9 Compact with only 50 rds. through it to add to the safe. I've found the little Ruger is very easy to CC and after polishing the striker block and some dry firing the trigger isn't anywhere near as bad as some have made it out to be.
Dr_B
member
Yes, it was good times!
LJ-MosinFreak-Buck
Member
A month or so back I was offered a couple rounds through a Walther P99 in 40 cal and thoroughly enjoyed it, and I returned he favor with letting them shoot my Turkish Mauser an my K31. They both seemed to enjoy that experience.
AABEN
Member
Well here in IN we have a very good outdoor range 25 50 100 200 yards and there is a lot of good people that goes there. It is free to any one that lives in IN. They are kept in very good shape. They have 3 benches with a over head roof and places to hold about 5 guns. They have a trash can at every one so it is easy to keep clean. They have side walks on all except the 200. We fill out are cards when we get there and all they ask if we have are cards. Some will stand and watch us shoot.
Do it all the time. I reload a lot of light loads for all my hand guns for the kids and wife ok me too. Also take some factory loads just incase someone wants a try. Biggest suprize is the guys who say they want to get the wife/GF a 380 and I ask if they ever shoot one,usually NO and I'd pull one out and let they have a mag.
Nanook
Member
Sure, we do it all the time. I've shot guns I otherwise never would have even held that way. I'm not much of a big bore fan, but I've shot .44 Mags, .45-70, and even 7MM Mag on occasion.
I've offered guns of mine to be shot on many occasions, and each time it went well. One time I noticed a woman looking at my 1911, and I asked her if she wanted to try it.
She nodded, and I handed it to her. She asked about the grip safety, which was kind of new to her, but otherwise had no problems at all. She loved it, and said she would consider buying one.
It's actually quite common on the ranges I frequent here in IL. I think it's good for the hobby / sport for people to share like that.
I've offered guns of mine to be shot on many occasions, and each time it went well. One time I noticed a woman looking at my 1911, and I asked her if she wanted to try it.
She nodded, and I handed it to her. She asked about the grip safety, which was kind of new to her, but otherwise had no problems at all. She loved it, and said she would consider buying one.
It's actually quite common on the ranges I frequent here in IL. I think it's good for the hobby / sport for people to share like that.
SteampunkQueen
Member
I always let guys around me shoot my guns. JUst seems like the way to be polite and keep up the camaraderie at the range.
TonyDedo
Member
As the song goes, "the people on the range are happy to give."
When you're surrounded by strangers that are armed to the teeth, it pays to be nice.
Funny story. Was out doing some pistol shooting in the mountains one day with a friend. A group of teenagers came by and started shooting AR15's and shotguns. When a couple of them approached me, we talked and took turns shooting each other's firearms. I shot their AR-15 and a pump shotgun, and they shot a few of my handguns. They offered my friend to try out the AR15, as well, but she declined.
Afterwards, my friend commented that she didn't like the looks of them, and that they could have been trouble. My reply, "If they meant trouble, they certainly brought the right guns!"
Funny story. Was out doing some pistol shooting in the mountains one day with a friend. A group of teenagers came by and started shooting AR15's and shotguns. When a couple of them approached me, we talked and took turns shooting each other's firearms. I shot their AR-15 and a pump shotgun, and they shot a few of my handguns. They offered my friend to try out the AR15, as well, but she declined.
Afterwards, my friend commented that she didn't like the looks of them, and that they could have been trouble. My reply, "If they meant trouble, they certainly brought the right guns!"
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Nushif
Member
That *is* odd.
Seeing as I've never gone to a 100 m rifle range, I really wouldn't know how those work, but where I am it is more likely to happen in a small 25 meter range than on BLM land.
Personally I blame the proximity factor. At the 25m pistol range we're all crammed into a small building and kinda have to be around each other. Whereas on BLM land we usually all form little clusters and stick with those.
How do people well ... lay themselves at the range? Close or far? How about the pistol range?
(I assume 100m with a rifle is prone work. I know I'd be prone any more than 75 meters out. Probably kneeling at 50.)
allaroundhunter
Member
The public ranges that I shoot at are all shooting rifles from a bench supported by sandbags, never prone.
Nushif
Member
You Rifleists are an odd bunch, for sure. 8)
Scuba_Steve
Member
If I bring my S&W .500 to the range I am almost always asked by someone if they can shoot it. I will let them, but at $2-$3 bucks per pop, they pay for the ammo.
I don't reload (yet), but I have saved every piece of Brass on this and my .44 Magnum
I don't reload (yet), but I have saved every piece of Brass on this and my .44 Magnum
BigN
Member
Yesterday at the range is a good example of comaraderie and gun swapping. I was on the trap line and had shot 2 complete rounds already. I had just switched to position 5. Pull! I pulled alright but nothing happened. I messed around with the gun for 2 minutes, would not fire. There was not less than 4 people who ran to get me a gun to use. Some were the guns they were shooting with and a couple had brought spare guns. People are always happy to let you use their gun, as am I. When I got home and took the gun apart, I discovered the clip/spring that goes from the safety to the trigger had broken, so even though you moved the safety, it wouldn't disengage. As soon as I get the $8 part from Brownells, all will be well on the line again.
This Saturday at the range I offered a newly qualified member the handling of a Glock 17 and a Colt 1911 .45. On duty was the a-ret shoot director who would not permit firing (insurance/administrative records of bullet count), but the new member was still able to make an informed decision on his preference for G17 weight and handling over the Colt 1911 by handling both of the OP's handguns. No comments please on his choice for purchase.
That same afternoon I was offered to try a Swiss milsurp Schmidt Rubin ZFT55 sniper rifle with its original Zeiss scope. Nice, but a bit heavy charge to my taste; a Carl Gustaf (Swedish Mauser) original sniper rifle with its unbelievably clear optics. Wonderful boom, low recoil smooth action. I doubled two shots with. it at 100m - OK, yes I was lucky but an incredibly precise rifle nonetheless. In exchange the gentleman shot a few rounds of my AR15. All of the above inn a very relaxed and social atmosphere, while the shoot director still monitored everything for safety. The rifle range is a very comradely place compared to the usually overbooked and too strict 25 m gun range.
osted on lunch break:
That same afternoon I was offered to try a Swiss milsurp Schmidt Rubin ZFT55 sniper rifle with its original Zeiss scope. Nice, but a bit heavy charge to my taste; a Carl Gustaf (Swedish Mauser) original sniper rifle with its unbelievably clear optics. Wonderful boom, low recoil smooth action. I doubled two shots with. it at 100m - OK, yes I was lucky but an incredibly precise rifle nonetheless. In exchange the gentleman shot a few rounds of my AR15. All of the above inn a very relaxed and social atmosphere, while the shoot director still monitored everything for safety. The rifle range is a very comradely place compared to the usually overbooked and too strict 25 m gun range.
osted on lunch break:Afelt.tech
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At the pit in Lapeer MI, a guy brought out 30+ firearms on a Saturday. He let me shoot his .50bmg and an AR with a bump-fire stock. It was awesome.
Nushif
Member
Not picking on you here, but I keep hearing that and was kinda wondering why.
This is where I'm coming from:
If I feel like sharing my guns I could you know, let them shoot them, if I don't I can say something along the lines of "I just want to have a slow day at the range alonelike. Doing some therapy right now."
I guess I'm wondering where the harm is in being asked, or in a lot of cases where the harm is in letting people shoot your guns. If they use their own ammo, especially. (I can see not letting people blow through a mag at like ... three bucks a shot, that's obvious.)
Hey Nushif, sorry I just saw your question. 10 stalls at the 25 m, pistol calibre only, no shotguns, a small separator. It is a semi-indoor range, four walls, and roof over shooters and targets, open air elsewhere.
Same setup at the rifle range, but there is about a two meters between stalls, all mandatory bench rest, no standing permitted.
The rifle range is pretty much all regulars or new qualifiers, mostly milsurp collectors.
Pistol range has a regular crowd, but also many once a year defense shooters, mandatory trainees, and a few visitors from other towns.
grayhambone
Member
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people want my rtf2 glock 19....stock everything.
aim small miss small?
aim small miss small?
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