Too protective of my guns?

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They are yours, use them as you you see fit, withn in the limts of the law. Loan or do not loan them to whoever, whenever you choose. There are only 3 people that I will allow to borrow some of my guns, and only 1 that I will loan them all to.
 
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$5,000 setup
$1,600 telescopic sight and rings

What would happen to your friendship if something happened to the sight? To the rifle? Why risk your friendship when any damage to the rifle would damage the friendship?

I would let a very good friend borrow a less valuable firearm if damage to it wouldn't be a strain on their finances to repair or our relationship. There's no way that I would borrow or loan a $5,000 shooting setup because the consequences of an accident.
 
I don't lend, my guns, my motorcycles or my jockstrap. It's rude to even ask. The reason you don't lend is simply because you don't want to jeopardize a good friendship if something bad happens. How would you feel if a buddy hurt himself with your bike or gun? Let's say he got killed on your bike, your friend is dead and you are out one motorcycle. The negatives outweigh any good that can come from this.

Thanx, Russ
 
This is not really about loaning a gun, it's about loaning anything. Does your friend understand that he must return it in the condition he received it? If it is lost, stolen, or damaged while in his charge, does he understand that he has to replace it, repair it, or compensate you?

Since it's a gun, some additional considerations may come into play -- does he imdenify you if the gun is used for an unlawful or improper purpose?

I wouldn't do it without a written contract. And I would expect something in return for taking the risk of loaning the gun.
 
If I am not present and you are not a super good friend then you better be super close family to borrow one of my guns!
 
I would say that you have every right to say no. I have friend who is closer than a brother to me and I would not lend him something like that. He asked to borrow my truck once so he could show it to his cousin (I have put a lot of money in this truck and it will beat a lot of sports cars in a race) and I said no. The reason was if anything happened to it, it would have set me way back financially and it could very well have damaged our friendship.
 
About 30 years ago, a mutual acquaintance asked a close friend of mine to lend him his motorcycle.

I remember the discourse to this day.

Bob: So, you think you know how to ride a motorcycle?

"Un-named individual": Hell yeah, I know how to ride!

Bob: Well, if you thought you knew how to ****, do you think I'd lend you my wife?

End of conversation, amidst much laughter...and lesson learned by more than one party.
 
I guess I'm a little outside the box. I don't get caught up in material things. I have guns that are worth thousands and guns that are worth a few hundred.

I remember when I was 16 and wanted to impress a girl, I asked my grandma if I could borrower their caddie. I'll never forget when she said, "have fun, be safe, but remember it's just a piece of metal" She knew I wouldn't have fun unless she convinced me not to worry about it.

Is this apples and oranges...yes, but my point is if you're comfortable with him and trust him, it's just a freaking piece of metal :p
 
A long time ago, I asked to borrow a shotgun. A nice little 20 ga. Browning O/U because I had never shot an O/U and knew I had a chance to shoot for a few hours. Returned it on the following Monday.I had it for two days. I felt really bad about borrowing it when I found out how expensive it was...and the fact that all I did was stand in a pig lot and shoot starlings all afternoon. I have not borrowed another gun since. He should have never loaned me his gun.

You have too much money invested in that rifle. tell your friend how you feel and y'all go shooting together. Let him shoot and you spot for him.

Its a rock and a hard place. I feel for you.

Mark
 
my best friend is like a brother to me and i would still be really iffy about lending him any of my guns. what guns i have i take good care of and do not have the money to replace at the time. plus a repacement is nice but it still isnt that same old rifle that you picked out, saved up for, and eventually brought home. there are maybe one or two guns i would lend out but for the most part it would be a no. just dont trust anyone else to be as careful with them as i am and if they get damaged, i want to be the one to do it or every time i look at that dent or scratch i will be reminded of there carelessness, if i do it then i look at it as more of a battle scar.
 
If you don't feel good about it, that's all the reason you need. Better to have him a little put off than risk losing a friendship over an accident/theft/damage, etc.

Back in my younger days I had a roommate who would inevitable damage anything of mine he borrowed- stained shirts, crumpled books, etc. Nice guy, but based on that I never let him borrow my car even though he asked a few times and would never have let him borrow a gun.
 
I would never lend out a rifle, and my friends would never ask.

To much of a chance for something to go wrong.


I don't really care about the weapon, a $5k gun can be replaced. I'd care about an accident and someone getting hurt. Than your named in a $200k lawsuit.
 
If you're not comfortable with loaning out the rifle, then don't do it. If he's truly your friend he'll understand. Personally I would never loan out any of my guns. If a friend wants to shoot one of them, he can do it in my presence. To much liability involved with a gun to let it out of my sight.
 
Make him a gift of the rifle. It will help you overcome being tied to material possessions, and he might learn something as well.
 
it's just a freaking piece of metal :p
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You obviously don't own sexy enough guns. :neener:

All my friends have heard my litany on this, "do not ask to borrow any of my firearms as refusal often offends"

It's not like I'm a tightwad otherwise, just, and I think justifiably, in this one area.

I'll take them shooting, they might be able to borrow a gun too, or we can go tandem on one gun. If I'm not present though they're not getting their hands on any of my firearms.
 
i agree that if you don't feel comfortable doing it, you shouldn't.

however you should be aware that you've just redefined your relationship with you friend. obviously he thought it was acceptable to ask and didn't realize that it would cause a problem. perhaps it's time to find out what other differences there are between the two of you as to how you view your friendship. if you don't address the matter, it will remain unspoken and could fester into something much larger than it is...at least to you.

if i were him and i were to read this thread, i would think that you've just established the monetary value of your friendship...maybe you're OK with that. i have very few true friends, but if they have gotten to that level of trust that i would call them "friend"...i don't think they would even have to ask if they needed something
 
Sorry, no, it's not "just a piece of metal." It's a deadly instrument that, if misused, can cause death or serious bodily injury. A car could also fall under that definition, but then, I don't lend my car, either.

Once, long ago, I let a "friend" ride my bike. He was gone a long time and finally returned. When I got on my bike to ride home, I immediately noticed the pedal had been bent, likely due to a crash my "friend" had. I mentioned it right away. Oddly, he didn't know what I was talking about. I suspect he tried some jumps/stunts that he didn't want to risk damagingHIS bike attempting.

I don't lend guns to friends. Not even my $20 Jennings.

I offer a time to go shooting together, so we can both have fun. If he can't go when I can to shoot MY gun, then that's too bad for him.

Don't feel bad or guilty about not letting your overly presumptuous friend borrow your gun.
 
I just started getting into guns last year. My uncle who has been collecting all his life routinely let's me borrow firearms but I always let him pick which ones and would never ask for a specific gun.
 
Yeah I don't think you are being over protective. I think I would be the same way. In fact there is honestly not a single gun I can think of that I would loan out. I have heard to many bad stories from other people.

One in paricular was a buddy of mine let his buddy borrow a Savage .270. When his friend didn't return with said rifle he was very upset. The guy said it was on the front of the 4wheeler and he hit a bump and the rifle fell off and landed under the tired and was all banged up beyond repair.

My buddy thinks the guy just pawned it. Well, eventually the guy did replace it with a brand new savage. In fact since he didn't need it another friend of mine bought the new rifle. Kinda wish I had bought it for a beater/ loaner.
 
I think Hso said it well. If it was me I would just explain how much money you have wrapped up in that particular rifle and that if anything was to happen to it while in his possession even if it was of no fault of his own that you are afraid it could put a strain on your friendship. Accidents do happen. I would however offer one of my more reasonably valued rifles for him have some fun with. But that is me, you have to make that call for yourself. I have learned anything I loan out, I am willing to lose. Another words if I cannot accept the lost then I do not loan it out.

Best of luck with your decision,

Shawn
 
Are you a sniper, or do you just have a nice accurate rifle?
Click to expand...
That was my first question as well. What constitutes a "sniper" rifle? The only weapon I would refer to as a "sniper rifle" is a rifle belonging to a sniper, not just any long-range precision target rifle.
 
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