Would you lend out your rifle?

Wow! I can't believe how many negative answers are on here. I don't have many friends that I hunt with (actually only 2) and I would lend either of them a firearm - it is only a thing. If it concerns you just remind them to be careful with it.
 
I do have rifles that I will & have lent out. I also have guns that I wouldn't lend. Along the same lines, I have no problems lending out my SUV but don't ask to borrow my hotrod.
 
I would not borrow nor lend any of my guns unless under very special circumstances such as not being to continue hunting, etc, as part of a hunting party.

It is common practice for most of my hunting groups to bring only one spare rifle for the group in case one of the guns breaks down. In this case, the spare rifle is usually not some one's prized possession.

Duke1
 
If its one of my normal hunting buddies and his rifle breaks down and I have a spare I would say sure. BUT just be damn carefull with it and if it aint it back in the same shape as what you received it in, YOU are paying for damages to it.

Last summer I lent a .22 to a fella for a day of shooting gophers with me. Nice respectfull fella and all. I had just finished redoing it as it had beautiful walnut on it,bedded etc etc..just a gorgeous rifle. We were done shooting and he put it back in the case and I came home. He was riding with me so I told him lets have a beer or 2 after I get the rifles put away in the safe. So run upstairs and lock things up...life was fine.Never even thought to look at the rifle.

Next weekend I was in a rush to get out shooting and grabbed a few rifles as well as this one cause I wanted to get a few gophers with it. Took it out of the case and went WTF...the first 3 inches of the bottom of the fore end was scratched like you wouldnt believe. I live by myself and never put it in a transport case with any thing else. Put 2 and 2 together and where we were shooting was lots of fenceline,he put the rifle fore end on the barb wire and was happily shooting away while the barbs were digging into the walnut...:mad:

I never said any thing to him about it....but lets just say never again to a person who cant treat my property better then he would treat his own.
 
I once owned a Belgian Browning B.A.R in 308 with a 3X - 9X Bausch and Lomb scope. The gun had 5 rounds through it after being bore-sighted and then sighted in. I had never gotten out hunting with it when a fellow who was my then best friend asked to borrow it for a week long moose hunt he was invited on. He didnt want to buy a rifle in case he didnt want to moose hunt again. He wanted to experience a hunt before comitting the $$ to a rifle. I said sure, no problem. Well my rifle came back in the case upside down, rifle jammed in and zipper broken, how he couldnt fit it in a case made for rifle with scope was beyond me?:confused: I took it out to put it away and the stock had gouges on the one side 3 inches long and 1/8" deep! The other side was scratched all over from the zipper of the case rubbing it and the receiver had the same kind of scratches in the bluing as the stock had.:mad: Should have known better after lending him my boat and motor and he scratched the crap out of the outboard cowling??:confused: That was the last time I ever lent him anything!! Now if someone comes along and they are a noobie who needs a gun, I keep a few beaters as spares. My good ones stay im my hands!My friends know better than to ask, LMAO!!
 
It's yours. Do what you want with it. Listen to your gut. If you don't loan it, it can't get damaged. If a part of you thinks that not loaning it might damage a friendship... then it ain't no friendship. Buddies, real ones anyways, never pressure a decision and always respect the outcome. The way I see it, if a guy values fine rifles, he'll have his own. Most schmucks in this world can't borrow a DVD and handle it properly. :(
 
Yup. Went hunting with a "family member" who has a history of not taking as much car as the rest of the family. I made the mistake of giving him a new gun. Oops. I think he realized at the end of the hunt that it didn't quite look the same as when I had given it to him. He bought it from me.

Know the person. Let them know what you expect and that you are anal.
 
Listen to your gun man... it will tell you what IT wants. If IT dosen't like the guy just tell him sorry man, the gun says no f****n' way brother. He isn't going to argue with a 375 H&H now is he?
 
Only a beater, not a prized one. It's for me to scratch or dent, not someone else.

Plus, You shouldn't hang out with people that don't own their own guns.
 
As said before what goes around comes around... I understand this is an important belonging but don't see why you would refuse the use of it to a good friends. However feel free to express your dilemma and stress the fact you expect him to care for it.
 
The questions: a) is your friend the type of guy that will take good care of your gun (following any instructions you give him), and b) if the gun gets busted or worse, will he cover any costs associated with repairing it or replacing it?

If yes to both questions, you could go ahead and lend it to him, provided there aren't any other issues that argue against lending.
 
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