What Would You Say?

I answer this without looking to see what others said first - so it might be redundant.

I think you were way too presumptious in purchasing a gun for your friend. You only took him shooting once and he never indicated that he wanted you to look for a gun for him. In fact, he indicated the oposite by telling you "his wife" wouldn't let him have one in the house. Who knows if his wife really feels that way or not - what you did know is that your friend didn't want to own his own gun!!

What I think happened, is you found what you felt to be a good deal and purchased a couple of guns on impulse. Maybe you thought you were doing your friend a favor, but I don't think you really thought this through. You could have called the guy, told him about the find and asked whether he wanted you to buy it for him at the price it was offered.

I don't really see this as a problem so long as you have someone else to buy the gun, or if you are perfectly content on keeping the gun yourself.

It sounds to me like your friend only goes shooting when you invite him - maybe he's not too into it, or maybe he just likes spending time with you and occasionally shooting your gun. I frequently lend out guns when I take someone shooting - I don't expect them to clean them or go out and buy their own. The best I hope for is handling them responsibly and with care and chipping in for the ammo....I'll take care of the rest.
 
I think I would have told the friend "Well considering thats the same thing as saying "Why buy a car, you can just let me use one of yours", that argument doesn't really fly. Why should I bear the burden of the costs of the weapon, the ammo, the cleaning supplies, the time invested in cleaning the weapon, and taking care of the wear/tear?"

Some people think that whatever you offer once, is always available for use by them. Its better to nip that thought process in the bud before you get all aggravated after taking your friend to the range while he shoots up your ammo, and puts unnecessary wear/tear on your pistol.
 
Quote:
He could be the type who doesn't keep things from his spouse, and figure that it would upset her for him to use somewhat devious means to have "his own" gun.

Does such an entity exist or is this an urban myth?
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No urban myth my friend. I have never kept the purchase of any of the dozens of guns I've bought over the years from my wife. She doesn't keep any purchase she makes from me. Our obligations come first. Once they are taken care of we support each other's interests and hobbies.

And yea, I'm one very lucky fellow!

Dave
 
Spacemanspiff...

... please re-read the OP. The friend pays his share for ammo and food. The OP chooses to do his own cleaning by preference. Your arguments don't reflect the situation as described by the OP.

As far as urban myth goes, I don't make major purchases without letting my significant other know. She extends me the same courtesy.

Of course, it would be harder for her to hide a new Tad Coffin saddle. Then again, she stores her equine documents in my gun safe....

I personally wouldn't get seriously attached to somebody who disapproved of my major hobbies, or my defense philosophy, but some folks do. For them, it's healthier to disagree openly, then to agree to her face and then do things behind her back. (Good way to lose all those surreptitious acquisitions later on, or at least 50% of them...)
 
I say cut him some slack, he may already be catching some heat for going in the first place. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors. It would also be pretty hard for most people to stash away that kinda cash with out their better half knowing about it. In which case, from what you said. It wouldn't matter whether you were storing it for him or not.
 
A couple of points for clarification on this thread:

1. I did not buy a gun for this guy nor for anyone else. I found an
outstanding deal on a pair of 1911's...take both or take none. I chose to take both knowing that some one of my friends, not necessarily this guy, would recognize a great deal and take the extra gun off of my hands. And, on the outside chance that no one wanted it, I would have been very happy to have kept in my own 1911 collection.

2. Money is not an issue whether it be to purchase a gun for himself, or ammo, or anything for that matter. He is financially comfortable.

3. I am the only one this guy shoots with. None of his other friends are gun
enthusiasts. However, that is about to change which may add a different
twist to this little saga. I recently formed a pistol club from within a club
we both belong to. The opportunity will come up for him to shoot on a
regular basis. The other members in this new pistol club all own their own
weapons.

4. The fellow in this little saga is a good friend. We can say almost anything
to each other and I would never say or do anything to jeopardize our very nice friendship. Our wives are very friendly with each other also.

Human nature being what it is, has produced some very interesting responses.
I think I will let this run the course for another several days before I divulge
how I dealt with the situation. This is a great Forum and I appreciate the responses. Thanks to all that respond.
 
I took one of my friends to the range the first time this summer. He'd never shot a gun in his life before, I took him to my range, paid for ammo, and drove there. I offered to take him and i didnt expect him to pay for anything ( he had a lil intrest in firearms). After the range visit was over, he was hooked ( getting his pistol permit and buying a firearm probably over christmas break (we're in college). But he proceded to take me out to lunch and helped me hang shutters on an old mans house ( offered to pay him, he didnt take it). But also i kinda pushed him to try and get his FID so he could buy firearms right after the CCW class, and I got pretty much the same response, ( can't i just use yours till i get my pistol permit)
 
...I would like to hear how you would have handled it.
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It all depends on the friend.

I have a certain friend that talks that way (smart) all the time. If you don't know him you might be offended but then you realize that he is just that way. He means no harm or offense. So, if it came from him, I would just laugh it off. Of course, the friend I'm referring to owns more guns than me :D

Now, if it came from anyone else, I would likely feel offended and with good reason. That kind of language tells me that he doesn't really care for shooting (if he did, he'd have his own gun, or at least be planning to get his own gun) and that most likely he enjoys hanging out with you but shooting is just what you want to do, so he does it. But his flippant comment tells me that he could care less about it.

I suppose I'd just laugh it off and then quietly stop inviting him to the range. Other activities, sure, but no more shooting, especially with my guns.
 
This guy needs to grow a pair and get his own gun for your joint trips to the range. Even if it's only a .22 As for the wife not allowing him to have a gun at home as I said before, he needs to grow a pair.
 
MLeak,

glad you had the unmarried part there, I'm young, married, and my wife and I don't keep secrete. all in all, being who I am I wouldn't ave cared, just one more gun for me, and I'd still take the friend with, if he wanted to come.
 
dinsmore83

sorry, apologies due to young married guys, as well as young but sensible guys.

Should have said it was spoken like a man who wouldn't be likely to keep a woman around for long.
 
Sounds like something I would say

45Gunner said:
"Why should I buy a gun when I can use yours?"
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I sometimes start my mouth before my brain without considering how a sentence sounds to other people.

It does make rational sense. I have a buddy who has a (boat, cabin, gun, whatever) and we enjoy each other's company. It would be nice to supply half of a boat or my own gun, but not necessary, especially if I have a spouse who is over-sensitive about the hobby. Having a gun in the house or having a gun in the garage or having a gun at a friend's house may be all the same to her.

I would have (after I figured out how my reply might sound) probably explained more if I thought it necessary, that I REALLY appreciate being able to use your gun(s) and hope you don't feel taken advantage of. But sometimes really good friends don't have a need to explain themselves.

Twice in my life, I have given guns away to friends. Just because I knew they appreciated them. One was a three-way trade where a 44 Super Blackhawk was transformed into a Marlin .30 Carbine that my friend had wanted for years because he is fond of the cartridge. His collection at the time contained only a 30 Carbine Ruger Blackhawk, but he was thrilled with that 30 Carbine Marlin Leveraction, and loved that gun a lot more than I loved my 44 Mag.

Friendship. Priceless.

Lost Sheep.
 
MLeake + 1 your replies are right on couldn't said it better myself.
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10-4 grumpy... all good relationships require sacrifice. That may be the one this guy is forced to...

At the same time that goes both ways, so when push comes to shove. Who's doin the pushin and who's doin the shovin. LOL

Now on a totally different end of the perspective. You said this guy is is financially set for the most part, and you offered him a place to store it. Tends to make me lean towards telling him to find his own gun. But "I" personally wouldn't knock the guy for acknowledging his wifes wishes either.

I dunno, could be alot of reasons. I suppose this could take many different avenues. It's your call bro, he's your buddy and you know what he's all about more so than us. If it tends to **** you off more and more each time you go shootin. Start going with one of the guys from your "new club". He'll get the point after a while.
 
I got friends that always borrow the chainsaw or car jack or handtruck, etc. They would most likely say:

"Why should I buy xyz when I can use yours?"
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It's all good...what are friends for, if I had a spare car jack I might just give it to them, but anyone passing on a deal on a nice .45 is kinda strange.:)
 
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