"Friends" using you, to use your guns...

I have a family member whom I took shooting once. We talk guns once in a while. He hasn't bought a gun but says he might soon. Recently he's mentioned that he'd like to go again, as well as bring his girlfriend along. I said "sure, let me know when you want to go." He then asked whether the range officers want proof that the guns belong to you when you go shooting. I said "no, of course not".

Then it dawned on me that he didn't really "need" me to go with him and his girlfriend. He just "needed" to use my gun(s). I told him they rent all kinds of guns at the range.
 
That has never been a problem for me,there are only a few that care to shoot more than a few rounds through most of my weapons. And they are serious gun nuts, just wish I knew a few more like them.
Alex
 
I have, on very rare occasions, acted as a "bodyguard" for freinds.

The most recent was when one friend was selling one of his handguns (Ruger) via a private party sale. Odds are the buyer was OK but..."you never know", and while my friend did have another gun he had basically no experience with it or trust in his ability to use it in a pinch. We passed me off as somebody who knew Rugers and could help answer questions, it was all freindly, went down great, but I think the buyer did understand why I was there and wasn't bothered by it.
 
Dear Abby was in the habit of saying "No one can take advantage of you without your consent".
Basically if someone is doing something you don't like, tell them to stop.
 
I don't cater to users. I have no problem with true friends and family shooting my firearms and my ammo. They are good folk and not moochers.....I shoot their guns and their ammo also. I have no problem taking someone new to the sport out with a few guns and a box or two of ammo. That's what it's all about. If someone at the range is genuinely interested in something I'm shooting and asks in a good way, I'm happy to let him shoot a mag/cylinder or two. But acquaintances that just want to shoot my guns and my ammo, sorry, it don't happen. At a restaurant with someone known for "leaving their wallet at home" I ask for separate checks. You make yourself a victim, someone will quickly take advantage.
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Perfect ;) same page


you dont have to say .......sure lets go, ill pick u up, pay all fees and buy u dinner. if u do the fool is u! if you let yourself be used.....dont complain!
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uuuh...sorry man, don't ever recall anywhere in my post or waking life that I've said I've been a victim to this. Just the kind of people that I've seen and know and asking if you guys have. No complaining going on here. Sorry. I'm also very far from being a fool. So swallow that one.


I've got a friend who uses me for access to my guns.

But that's OK, because I use him for access to his two 1970s Corvette Stingrays.

Seems to be an even swap in my estimation.
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Ha! Nice, vicious cycle! Can my newer school GT join in on your fun days? Please?





Also agree with a bunch of you and see the same things happen as well. Good times...lol I also "sponsor" the first range visit and never mind close family and friends. It's just annoying to be asked all the time to go when you know the person who's "inviting" is not going to give anything to the visit. It's like inviting yourself into someones home and eating their dinner with them and then leaving the dishes behind for them to clean and going on your way.


BACK UP!! :cool:
 
Nah, not a vicious cycle at all.

Fast cars and guns.

What's more American than that? :)

A few years ago I even gave him a semi-auto as a gift.

Hum... He's not reciprocated by giving me a Corvette. I'm going to have to rethink this friendship. :D
 
I really don't have anyone really trying to take advantage of me. There are a number of people at the range who look and ask questions about what I am shooting.

I usually offer them a magazine to run through the gun or 5 rounds out of a box.

They usually ask me if I want to shoot one of their guns. I have a REALLY good friend who loves .308. If he has a rifle at the range I will let him try the reload of the day and tell me what he likes. He ALWAYS has something interesting to shoot and I get to try that.

After a while, you get to know the good guys who are more than willing to share and those only interested in helping themselves. I just avoid the latter.

Geetarman:D
 
Sounds like the OP is still learning about "friends" and people in general.

I'll happily take newbies to the range to shoot my guns and ammo. First trip is on me, glad to do it.

I don't seem to have any "friends" who expect to get my guns and ammo for free afterwards. (Maybe my personality is sufficient to prevent the problem?)

I recently had an old friend who I took shooting once about 20 years ago resurface to tell me about how he'd gotten into guns, what he had and where he was shooting. I was his guest at a nice indoor range one morning. We shared ammo and guns back and forth. Very satisfying.
 
Like Smaug and some others have said, I will pick up the tab to introduce a new shooter to the sport, and I enjoy teaching them the basics. The second time they go, part of the lesson is the cost of range time and ammo. I can think of no hobby that requires someone else to pick up the tab. Mooching is not a hobby.
 
I must be very lucky when it comes to friends. Most of mine have their own guns, and the couple that dont always offer to pay for ammo, etc. if they want to shoot mine. I don't really have any anti gun friends (lol if I did, I don't think we'd be friends long). Even my wife's family likes me better than her previous husband, becuase he was anti gun, and I will shoot with them.
 
I often get called to ask to go shooting,,,

It's because I've encouraged it,,,
And I'm actually quite glad when they do,,,
Plinking is almost always more fun with someone along.

In fact I have two .22 semi's that are dedicated as loaners,,,
I keep the Ruger 22/45 and the Beretta NEOS for just that purpose.

I reserve my Thunder 22, Beretta Model 87,,,
And my CZ-75B Kadet,,,
All for myself. :D

My adult friends I tell to pick up a bulk pack of .22 ammo,,,
My "starving student" friends get free .22 to shoot.

Really, I don't have any friends who specifically "mooch" off of me.

Now centerfire ammo is another question altogether,,,
I'll let my friends run a magazine or a cylinder,,,
But if they want to shoot up a box of 9mm,,,
I tell them they must replace the ammo.

So far no one has been offended by that.

I do have one friend who is somewhat of a closet shooter,,,
Her husband is very much an anti-handgun person,,,
He doesn't squawk much when she joins me,,,
He's a raving liberal but is a very nice guy.

She's been a range buddy for 3 years,,,
I just keep wondering how much longer it will be,,,
Before he notices that her big purses are concealment purses,,,
And that she's owned a Baby Glock and has had her CCL for over a year now.

Aarond
 
I don't have any friends I go shooting with at this time. I did take my daughter a few weeks ago, as she had never shot a pistol before. When she was younger, she wasn't interested at all.

We shot my Walther P22 and she put about 200 rounds through it and loved it. She also shot about 5 rounds out of my HK P2000SK (40 S&W), but it hurt her elbows. I paid for all the ammo, but didn't mind at all. I just enjoyed seeing her shoot for the first time!

I usually go with my dad when I shoot. I use either my HK45CT or P30, and my dad shoots his Glock 19. We each bring our own ammo, but shoot each others some also.

I've never had anyone else mooch off of my concerning my pistols or ammo. I guess because I was an LEO my entire career my friends always had their own pistols and ammo to shoot.
 
I kinda hesitate to answer, last time I had to espklain many tings.

I really dont know anyone that doesnt have at least one gun. Maybe it is where I live (rural) I did have one friend didnt have a gun but now he has a ccw and 2 guns :) But then I dont hang around with just anyone.

I avoid antis, the anti this and anti that crowd just dont interest me. Most times I am working on my place, I dont leave much after getting home from work. Why leave paradise? :) and that is where I live.

I can shoot out back, work my hunting dogs on my place, hunt game in season. No city noise, nothing but song birds singing their tunes. Why if you wish to drop by you surely can. I will gladly share a bit of my peace with anyone wants to sit and listen, quitely :) have a drink, throw a steak on the grill.

That is what makes a friend. bring yer own guns and ammo LOL
 
My friends and co-workers are essentially the same, and we are all shooters, however not all of them have the same passion for firearms. When those who do not own any wish to go shooting I have no problem loaning them whichever of mine they wish to shoot, but the understanding is always that they will pay for ammo. I've also never had one come back dirty (all of us being military probably plays a role in that one). This has led to several of them finally being able to take their wives/girlfriends shooting, and has also gotten them to purchase their own firearms.

The situation now where I will pay for ammo for others is introducing my wife's friends and/or family to shooting, and that is already paying dividends. It definitely "justified" a few more purchases on my behalf.
 
I have a few "acquaintances" that would take advantage - if I let them ....but my stock response is ...."I'm like a drug dealer, you get the first taste free ...and now you're on your own ...."...and I just laugh it off.

I don't let anybody "buy ammo" from me ...I don't want the liability / or the responsibility if someone got hurt .../ so I just tell them no, they can't buy ammo off me - they have to buy retail or load their own. If they rent range guns - they have to buy range ammo. Same thing for me as a member - if I want to shoot a rental case gun - I have to buy range ammo too.

but I have a local indoor handgun range, where I'm a life member - and I pay nothing to shoot ....but they can meet me at the range ( pay a $ 12 lane fee, buy 9mm ammo at $ 16 a box - and rent a gun in the rental case for about $ 15 ) ...and they can participate on their own dime.

Where I get suckered sometimes - is by one of the grandkids ...can I bring a friend .../ but that's ok ...they're college or high school kids ...and as long as their good kids / pay attention ...its ok. But what I've done is taken each of the grandkids aside - and said ok, your friend reflects on you ...if they don't behave / I'm holding you accountable !! I'm still the adult in charge ...but they do not want me going back to their dad or mom ...and saying somebody didn't act right .../ just like when I was a kid, god help me, if my grandpa talked to my dad about something I did ...it was not a good day !! But teaching the grandkids to shoot - and their buddies - is part of being the cool grandpa...so its ok !!
 
If I invite, especially newbies, I cover bringing the guns, ammo, cleaning, and have the accessories already. If someone asks to come, or multiple invites, they simply need to pay for their ammo and range fee. It's not being a dick if you simply say "No problem, bring your ammo, and i'll provide the gun(s)." I prefer to clean my own guns anyways, and it's always better having shooting partners.
 
I have a friend runs an auto repair shop. He like to go shooting and buys his own ammo. I buy the parts and supplies the labor when it comes to my truck. In fact he liked an AR-15 I had I sold it to him for a fair price. He got it for less than a gun dealer would have sold it to him for and I made more than a gun dealer would have bought it for.

He saved me $1500 on my Truck A/C Repair and another couple of hundred on my front brakes.

I also help him out with advice for free..

It depends on the friend....
 
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