Loaner rifles

[ID_shooting]

I've been thinking.

At work I get asked to take people shooting that have never been. Taken a few people out 3 years in a row now and tuned some in to real life gun owning hunters.

Since most of rifles are chopped down and do not fit most people, I have considered getting a loaner rifle. This really has been on my mind since my tack driving 308 got dropped from the hood of a truck.

Is the idea of buying a rifle just for people to beat up far fetched?

What do you think would be a good choice?

The shop has a nice marlin 30/30 w/ beat up wood but good metal for $250. They also have a NEF 30-06 for like $150. Or I can get a 788 in 308 for under $300. I was also thinking SKS w/ hunting ammo. Or I could go classic Win 30/30.

 

[FPrice]

"Is the idea of buying a rifle just for people to beat up far fetched?"

If you take a pot of people shooting, not at all.

"What do you think would be a good choice?"

How about a .22lr? It's a good starter rifle for one thing, good ones are inexpensive as is the ammo. Lots of choices out there in this caliber.

 

[armoredman]

Mosin M38 - looks like a nice little carbine, but the boom and push will remind them very forcefully to bring thier own rifle next time!
I love my Thunderboomer!

 

[ID_shooting]

The 22 idea os OK for just shooting, but I also take these people deer hunting. The MN idea might be ok. I was thinking somthing alittle more modern though.

 

[Can'thavenuthingood]

I think the Marlin 30-30 is best all round. It's an experienced rifle, it's a good solid round with a great history and taken many deer.

Stalking skills are probably more importantly emphasized than the weapon or caliber.
These folks may become your future hunting partners. Here's your chance to write on an empty and clean chalkboard. They will probably go out and purchase their first weapon based on the experience with you in the woods. Start em off right with the 30-30 lever and they'll probably keep your freezer full of venison.

There is just something about holding a lever action for the first time.
Ya want more.

Vick

 

[standingbear]

the sks is a good rifle..not a tack driver like a bolt action in 308.. but they can take some abuse.the yugo sks out there are good rifles..though the grenade launcher makes it feel unwieldy in heavy brush,just the same.. it works.ammo isnt expensive and seems commonly available everywhere.you can get a brand new one in the 170-200 dollar range thats never been shot,just made and packed away in cosmoline.

theres also a bunch of other surplus military guns on the market....mausers,nagants...6.5mm,8mm..good deals for what you get and big nuff to take down large game.the mosins..for 60 bucks..you get a powerhouse and alot of bang for your buck...all sorts of guns out there that are very reasonably priced.

do a comparison ballistically between the 30 russian(or 7.62x 39mm sks chambering)and the 30-30 winchester.its all in what you want the gun to do and the price you want to pay.still,theres absolutly nothing wrong with a 30-30 lever gun.its your choice.

 

[Johnny Guest]

I don't LOAN OUT firearms gladly, but - - -

My sons are family, and we use each others' firearms freely, so this doesn't count as "loaning."

If either Elder Son or I will actually be on the hunting trip, I like the idea of letting a "bring along" hunter use a good rifle. Usually, it's my old Ruger M77 in .257 Roberts. Lemme see - - That rifle has served to take first deer for both sons, my daughter-in-law, and at least three others.

We go out a time or two ahead of the hunt for practice and training. The newby hunter is almost always placed at a stand, so the heavy rifle is not much of a burden. A round is not chambered until in position.

This rifle is a little heavy for the power, but rock steady and easy to shoot well. Very little recoil. Good, clear scope. If the new hunter can reliably hit a soft drink can at 25 yards with a scoped .22 rimfire, we can have him/her hitting an 8" paper plate at 100 yards with the .257, on the first outing.

We only take out people with whom we like to spend time, and we want them to be successful. They get personal attention and the use of a good rifle.


I loaned my boss my .30-'06 one time. Unusual circumstance, and he didn't have a scoped rifle available. I explained it was sighted to hold dead on out to 275 yards, and gave him two boxes of cartridges so he could practice a bit with it. A week later he brought back the cleaned rifle, 39 rounds, and photos of a BIG eight-point buck.

ID_shooting, if I were to obtain a rifle especially to be a loaner, I believe I'd want something akin to my .257 - - Probably a .243 or 6mm bolt action, NOT be a featherweight, with a fixed 4X scope. I'd want the shooter to have the benefit of steadiness, and to NOT have a variable power scope to fool with.

I think the NEF is a nifty little rifle, but it's a little light for a new hunter to use in .30-06. I believe it would be fine in .243 - - maybe up to .30-30 - - but I'd make sure to have a scope on it.

Best of luck,
Johnny

 

[WhiteKnight]

I can't imagine a better loaner rifle than a rugged, durable, $125 gun that loves inexpensive ammunition.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'd take the lever action (though $250 is too much for a decent 336). New shooters seem to enjoy working that lever--makes 'em feel like John Wayne or something.

 

[FPrice]

ID_Shooting...

"The 22 idea os OK for just shooting, but I also take these people deer hunting."

I guess that I missed that last part. In that case I would suggest a lever-action .30-30. While I am not a hunter myself, it seems that this is a good general purpose round for hunting. You can get a good solid (used) rifle pretty inexpensively and ammunition is pretty common.

 

[Majic]

If I'm taking someone shooting who has never been before then it certainly won't be on a deer hunt with a centerfire. It would be with a .22lr at a range of some sort, but certainly not at game.
After they have learned to shoot then they can use one of my non-favorite rifles.

 

[dakotasin]

i have 2 rifles expressely to be used as loaners, so my 'nice' rifles don't get beat on. the first is a rem 721 in 30-06 and a bushnell scopechief. my total investment in this rifle and scope is $175 (got it from cabela's on the used rifle rack, and the scope came from cabela's in the used scope basket).

the 2nd is a rem m7 youth in 243 w/ a cabela's alaskan guide fixed-6. my total investment in this gun is about $450.

the guns only go out if i do...

 

[Badger Arms]

That 788 sounds like a great deal. They are accurate enough to make even the worst shot feel like he's fairly good. There is another way you can get off cheaper. Get some of them slip-on recoil pads for your guns. They add about an inch or so, but you can also install cheap spacers you make from plywood and a jig-saw. Another possibility is to make a spacer pad by basically building up a recoil pad again with some good-grade plywood spacers. Dress it just like a recoil pad but make it so you can remove whatever buttplate you have and install the longer plate for the Basketball players you invite shooting with you.

BTW: Loaner rifle... RIIIIIIght. Great scam. That one should make it past the wife, eh? Gotta use that one next time.

 

[Trebor]

If you're willing to spend the money to buy an extra gun to get more people shooting and hunting, more power to you!

Stick with the lever gun or bolt gun for a loaner rifle. I'd specifically avoid the SKS. The manual of arms is too dificult for newbies, in my opinion, and I'd stick with a manual repeater, not a semi-auto, for the loaner gun.

Just find a decent, solid, used hunting rifle and go to town. It's ok if it's a little dinged up to start with, as it's not going to get any prettier out in the field.

 

[Selfdfenz]

NEF gets my vote.
Rugged, accuarate, can be scoped and lots of caliber choices and frankly a new person to hunting might be safer with a ss break open rifle than something else.
Downside is the trigger could be better.
If you reload, get a 45-70 and let the newbies shoot the factory stuff as it doen't kick so bad. Reloaded right the 45-70 is a humgdinger.

S-

 

[ID_shooting]

Man, lots of choices.

ya, the SKS idea might be a bit much, while fun to shoot and follow up shots are easy, they may be too easy.

"bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, HEY, I GOT IT! EWWW, just look at that mess."

While I try my best to teach safety, they all go through hunter's ed first, then they must be willing to spend at least 6 months of range time with me or one of my other "guides" or both. There is still a certian level of uncertainty. An SKS could only magnify a bad safety situation. I think I have ruled out auto-loaders for this reason. BTW, we have only had refuse one kid who couldnt keep the muzzle pointed away from other people.

Not sure about single shot, alot of fumbling to get a follow-up if needed. I have no quams about "taking" that follow-up for somone else, but I would rather leave the whole expience to the first time shooter.

I guess now it is up to a lever or bolt gun, of course, I havent ruled out a pump gun iether. They have a nice .308 at the shop that has no furniture I bet I can pick up fairly cheep...and I do like my remmys...

 

[Selfdfenz]

"Not sure about single shot, alot of fumbling to get a follow-up if needed. I have no quams about "taking" that follow-up for somone else, but I would rather leave the whole expience to the first time shooter."

Well it's something they would practice, just like the 4 rules of gun safety.

One if the main issues learning to hunt with a ss is that there is a reload issue and the shooter has a obligation to place that 1st so it counts, or not take the shot in the 1st place.

IMHO

S-