Do let strangers shoot your guns at the range?

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DennisCA

New member
I own mostly C&R guns, nothing extraordinary or rare but a nice collection (IMHO) never-the-less. Once and a while when I am at a (outdoor) range, someone (usually someone next to me) ask if can shoot one of my C&R rifles (that I am shooting or ones I have with me). In most cases I have said yes, although I'll load it for them and then give them a short instruction on the rifle before handing it to them.
To me it's a great way to introduce someone who doesn't own a C&R rifle or has seen a particular rifle that may out on the range that day!
Short Story:
On one particular trip I was shooting my Steyr M95 (A.K.A. The A * * Kicker) and there were some young guys next to me shooting .223's. On one of the breaks we were talking about the guns each of us brought. One of the guy asked if he could shoot the Steyr and of course I said yes. I told him: "Hold it tight it kicks - a lot" I guess he thought I was kidding. After one clip (5 rounds) he looked at me and said "I'm done". When he got up he was moving his right shoulder a bit. I'm assuming the recoil was a bit more than he was used to.:D:eek:

So do let strangers shoot your guns at the range???

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I have several times, but each of those occasions was of my own initiative in offering to do so. More often than not it is a young person who is there with a dad or granddad. I've shot a few other folks' guns at the range, but only after being offered to do so... don't think I would ever ask anyone.
 
I let people shoot my guns all the time. I have also been offered to shoot other peoples' guns and have taken them up on the offer. Variety is the spice of life (no wife swapping though!) :eek::D

I have a decent collection of guns and a few that some that are on the higher end. Those include my Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special (EVERYONE falls in love with this gun), my Sig P210 (beware of the hammer bite), and my H&K P7M8 (gets hot after a while). I have been able to shoot quite a few guns that I would most likely never buy and am glad to return the favor.

I do use my discretion though. I am VERY careful when handling other peoples' guns. If the people give me bad vibes or look like they won't respect my property, I simply say "sorry, no can do".
 
It depends on a multitude of factors,,,

It depends on a multitude of factors,,,
Some guy comes up looking like a lowlife,,,
I doubt that I would let him near one of my guns.

But in general I have and will continue to let people shoot my guns.

I've also been allowed to shoot a lot of other peoples guns.

But I belong to a private Rifle & Pistol Club,,,
In theory at least, anyone on the line is a member.

That makes it a bit easier to allow a stranger to shoot my gun,,,
Or to ask them if I might be able to try one of theirs.

Like I said, there will be situations where I won't allow it,,,
But in general I lean towards saying it's okay.

Although sometimes it get me in trouble.

One time I allowed a darling little girl,,,
To shoot a few mags through my Beretta NEOS Carbine.

She had told me that her father promised her a .22 for her birthday.

After she shot the NEOS she turned to him and asked,,,
"Daddy, can this be my birthday gun?"

He actually blanched when I told him how much it was going to cost him,,,
But he was shooting a completely tricked out AR-Something,,,
And driving a 4-door GMC Denali pickup truck,,,
So I really had no pity for him. :p

Aarond

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I consider it as part of passing it on and giving back to the sport. As long as folks are careful, conscientious and polite, and shoot my guns as I have instructed, with my ammo, I see little or no harm that can come from it. I generally have summed them up for a while before I hand them over tho, and have also declined folks based on that observation.
 
I have people ask about my suppressed guns (especially the 10/22) ALL THE TIME. My usual response is "here, take a cpl shots".

Ive had no less then 10 people come up later and tell me they formed a trust and are waiting on their tax stamp.

I think it just helps the industry and the sport as a whole to share your passion with others
 
DennisCA said:
So do let strangers shoot your guns at the range???
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Sometimes -- once in a great while. But in general I'm not very accommodating if a stranger asks me if he (or she) can shoot one of my guns. If I think it's appropriate, I may offer.
 
I once let a giant scary bike like person shoot my Glock 21 for a few rounds as a trade for shooting his Colt Python with some 44 mag rounds. Not a big deal.
 
Never been asked and I've never asked to shoot someone else's. Would depend on circumstances. For example, if someone was interested in buying the same model, I wouldn't have a problem. If someone looked like they might turn it on me or run off with it, I probably wouldn't.
 
Yes, and it works both ways. I've had an opportunity to shoot several guns and cartridges that I'd never actually go out and buy. The 416 Rigby and 454 Casull were a couple of favorites. I'd have liked to have shot them more, but felt bad shooting up someone else's expensive ammo.

There were a group of older Korean War vets at the range one day that had never fired an AR. They had a ball shooting my rifle.

I've never asked, nor had anyone ask me. But I've extended the offer to others and had the same done for me.
 
I belong to a private club. Although this does not completely weed out the weirdos, I believe it helps.
99% of the time people there shoot what they brought, say hello and go about their business.

My stepdaughter and I met a member who let us try out his tricked out AR. Pretty cool, my AR is barebones. Then he brought out his Savage .308 with a 40 power scope on it. Not sure of exact model, but my kid was darn close to the bull at 200 yards (vertical string, maybe inch and a half to two inches), this from a girl who shoots her 702 .22 at 25 yards.
We didnt have much to offer him to shoot, but I loaded up a .54 smooth bore for him to try at 50 yards. Guy said he never shot bp before, showed him how to set the hair trigger, and he fired. Im confident that he didnt expect the trigger to break like it does. :D He shot a bit high and said some words we cant use on TFL. He was cool and asked how can you hit with that thing, I said practice. He declined to fire it again. I think that is the only time I have fired a strangers gun(s) or allowed mine to be used by a stranger.
Last range trip with my old man we were shooting bp revolvers on one of three outdoor pistol ranges. Over on the second range a man and his teenage kids were shooting pistols. After an hour or so the man came over and said he saw the clouds of smoke and had some questions about bp guns. I showed him several different revolvers and explained them to him. He said he had just picked up a TC .50 rifle and hadnt shot it yet but was interested in bp revolvers also. I didnt offer to let him shoot any of ours and he didnt ask to. Had he asked, I would have let him try all of them.
Im open to sharing with others, but I do not offer up my guns for anyone to shoot unless they ask or have offered to let me try one of their guns.
 
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A few times I've let folks shoot my 50 bmg, and even let them keep the brass casing as a souvenir. I know it's a rare treat for many and it's a good way to keep the peace after rattling the teeth of everyone down the firing line! :D
 
I will let strangers shoot mine, as long as ammo is available. 98% of the time I am shooting reloads, and I do not allow anyone but my immediate family to shoot those so I explain this to them. If they happen to have factory ammo on them in the correct caliber, I will let them shoot it. Or often times someone I came to the range with will have some factory ammo that we offer them.

But with factory ammo, I have never turned someone down who asked and I have offered it up on occasion if I know ammo is around.
 
I belong to two gun clubs. One shoots at a public range and the other shoots at a private range. What a great way to bond with fellow members shooting each other's guns. It is a source of conversation which leads to friendship.

On the other hand, I've been at a public range by myself or with a friend and we get engaged in conversation with another shooter. Doesn't take long before we are talking about our guns or the other guys guns and we usually swap guns for a magazine or two. However, before I hand my gun over to someone, i have to know, usually by observation, that they know how to properly handle a gun and be reasonably confident that they are not going to drop it.
 
I used to shoot at what could only be described as one step above a junkyard. It had a reputation as a place where stolen cars were dumped, etc.

The funny thing was it was really a fun and social place to shoot. It was common to strike up a conversation with the guy who was shooting down the same "lane" as you, and before you knew it you were shooting his Star PD, or Super Blackhawk, etc.

I might not be quite as open these days, but let's face it- most shooters are decent folks *just like us*.
 
I would, but no one has asked. I would love to find a small group that made this part of the meet and greet.

Lots of people shoot my guns, but so far all are family or friends.
 
Yes. I will let strangers shoot:

Glock 17
Ruger LC9
High Standard Sport King 22

There's nothing anyone can do to hurt these guns. The old Sport King was pitted and refinished - not going to win any beauty contests. I will let friends shoot my other guns.

It's just not proper etiquette for strangers to just wonder up to you and ask to shoot one of your guns. Would you wonder up to a stranger and ask to try out his car? His motorcycle? His wife?
 
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