Henry Rifle Forums

I have been going to this one indoor range and shooters seem to be a happy lot. We all smile and talk between reloads. When somebody seems interested in Henry's, I always offer to let them try them out. 2 out of 4 times they seem shocked that I would offer but take me up on the offer. I have no problem letting people try out my guns if they seem to know what their doing on the range. In exchange I usually to get to shoot theirs. I get a feeling the ones that turn me down don't want to share and I can except that. How do you ladies and gents feel about it?

With a background that gave me access to a lot more information about the state of affairs than the average shooter...
I would not be likely to offer a weapon to a walk in shooter on a public range that I have never met or had no knowledge of... but I'm also NOT likely to shoot at a public range due to the same information.

Now, if I was at a Law Enforcement Range (Teaching or taking a class before I left patrol,) or shooting in a match of some sort, then I would have no problem since the other shooters on the line would be vetted law enforcement affiliated shooters. At a private, members only facility, I would be a bit more cautious, but would still probably let them try my firearm if I had talked with them over some shooting time, since it's a members only range.

Meh, my career made me cautious, but I don't feel bad about it.... it's just me.

while at home I am fortunate to have access to ranges owned by family and friends .... on them, its common for us to exchange firearms .... while traveling, I have been to several different public ranges where I didn't know any of the others there .... I have had a few express interest in looking at my 45-70 and have offered them an opportunity to fire it .... so far, no strangers have taken me up on the offer

At $1 a round I shoot em all myself!

I have only done it with people that work at the range when I have bought a gun. But I know them fairly well and they work there. But I have not ever done it with somebody I dont know.

Ya but its along way to your house RR you live in the sticks

True.

I belong to an outdoor range. It is the norm there to shove your guns I others’ faces and make them shoot them. This can become very expensive, as it has cost me thousands of dollars over the past coupla year buying guns that I have suddenly “needed” after someone forced me to try theirs at the range. Sometimes, when someone invited me to try something really nice- oh, say a Colt Python, or an M1 Garand- I just flat out refuse and explain why.

I think my guns are like a cowboys hat. No touch.

I don't have a problem letting fellow club members try my rifles. I'm not sure whether I would trust a total stranger with them, though.

Interesting comments. I guess it just boils down on how much trust you have in your fellow man. I am a trusting sort and friendly open guy. I will start conversation with strangers and you will be surprised how willing people want to be friendly if you just break the ice. This talking to strangers was mentored to me by elderly gent way back when. He said try it , you'll like it. And I did. Just talk. Listen. This talking to strangers still freaks out my wife. She said that I could hold a conversation with a corpse. You know... I have.

And JEBar, once I get settled in your area next year, I would be honored to shoot your beastie 45-70. Still hoping to hook up with you at Christmas time.

And before I forget. Happy Holidays and stay safe come New Years, to everyone on the forum.

The Wiz wrote:And JEBar, once I get settled in your area next year, I would be honored to shoot your beastie 45-70. Still hoping to hook up with you at Christmas time.

hope we can link up as well .... our hope it to sling some rounds down range on Christmas Eve .... you'd be more than welcome to join us .... we have 3 Henry rifles that you'd be welcome to exercise

Little late on this one, but, generally, it's people I know and they're range regulars, anyway. Rifles, I may consider letting a stranger try, but more often it's me they ask to try their gun when they're having a problem. (Apparently they seem to think I know what I'm doing.)

NEVER, EVER will I let a stranger touch one of my handguns. Let's face it, it is so much easier to get stupid with where that muzzle is pointing on a handgun. No way to know if they have even the most basic training on handgun safety. I have taught some newbies and the first lesson before they ever load the gun is muzzle awareness (ask Bill) and I constantly reinforce that for the following lessons. Most of the stupid stuff I see at our range is with handguns. (Also the source of most damage to our target stands via lousy shooting ).

If one of the guys is admiring a gun I brought I usually let them take a couple shots, sure.
If they seem like a-holes, then no. It's just being neighborly most of the time. They will almost always offer up their gun for me to try, although I tell them I mostly want to shoot (and get better with) my own.
One nice old guy liked my BBS .44 carbine, he shot it pretty well, too.
It's fun. You get compliments on yer gun!

That's how my 44 mag Mr. Ambassador got his name. So many folks have shot it. Mostly friends and family. But also quite a few RSO's and regulars at ranges I visit. I don't just offer it up to anyone. But if it's someone I've been talking to and kind of have a good vibe going than yes maybe. Really just depends on the situation. But I've never had any issues.

Not handguns either.

I don't go to ranges nearly as often as most of you guys, but I guess I've spent my share of time there over the last few decades.

To tell you the truth, it's never come up. I've never had any desire to shoot anybody else's weapon, and nobody had any interest, as far as I can tell, in shooting any of my "quite run of the mill" guns.

Usually I try to find a place by myself at the end, and keep to myself while the range is hot. When the range is cold I relish the idle chatter about guns and often get into conversations, but back to hot and I stick to myself.

I freely offer to let a stranger try my firearms as long as they are outgoing, friendly, and appear to be safe with their own firearm. They are already at the range and shooting themselves, so it is not as if I just armed someone. However, I do keep an eye on them an make sure that they, me, and everyone else is safe.

I shoot at a club range. Everyone there is a member or with a member.

When they're shooting from a rest trying to walk that new MSR into the 300yrd gong and I show up with an old fashioned lever gun and start hitting the gong from a standing position, I get asked about it.

I feel I have an obligation to the sport to promote the "lowly" Lever gun.
Like others have said if everything is copasetic I'll ask if the want to try it.

Never yet seen anyone not finish with a big grin on their face.