Quick question to everyone out there. Do you let friends or family borrow your go to gun/rifle?
The reason I am asking is that my cousins/brother seem to run to me when they need a deer rifle for the weekend. The thing is, the rifle I use is the only deer rifle I have and has sentimental value to me. Last year my brother used it, he messed with my dials thinking he was a sniper. Within a couple of weeks my cousin used it and someone swapped out my nosler ammo with some old dull remingtons. I let them borrow it once but they keep asking to borrow it. You would figure they would buy their own by now if they were getting serious about hunting..And they dont even invite, or at least buy their own ammo for the time they have it.

They can buy their own after the first time borrowing.

Email them the sales flyer for Academy, Cabela's, Bass Pro, etc... with something like: "I know how much you like my rifle, now here's a chance to get your own, on sale!"

As for me, once, maybe twice. After that, get your own.

When they ask again, you tell them exactly what you said here.
No, you messed with the zero.
No, you took my ammo and replaced it with cheap stuff.

Borrowing a rifle is not a three strikes situation in my book.

Depends on the financial situation of the family member/friend.

I don't loan guns to people I don't trust.

But my charity goes pretty far with family and close friends. Even when they mess things up.

I have enough rifles to outfit everyone in our family 3 times.

Lets put it this way, my brother in law has my Burris AR Saddle mount and Aimpoint on his M4 in Afghanistan. $1000 worth of fun.

I was there about 18 months ago, guns go through hell over there. I have no problem loaning it to him.

My go to rifle is a 270 rem 700 sendero. It is a pleasure to shoot for me and many, and is pretty darn accurate with my handloads. I have loaned it to several people, dad cousin and a couple friends have borrowed it.

My rules if I can find a scratch on it that wasnt there your in trouble. You shoot my ammo through it and you dont adjust the scope and bring my empties back!!!!!

matt

x2 especially after being knuckle heads about how they treat borrowed stuff.

More years ago than I care to think about I was with an old man when someone asked to borrow his gun. He said "Son, I do not loan my dog or my gun or my wife. And in that order".
Nuff said.

Thats good advise.

Nobody barrows my go to hunting rifle. I may loan out one of my other rifles but it has to be someone that has showed they respect others property and they must buy their own ammo.

thats exactly what I was thinking

Thats what i told my brother, he even went up to academy but he said they were too expensive..ha, this boy is something else

Yea i told em "seems like eveytime someone touches my rifles something comes back off"

I understand, my grandfather was the same way. But I think its different when u have several to loan other than just one or two. the thing is they dont want an unscoped model 94 30-30, no, they want the Mark II 270.

something like this i have no problem with, but when they take it just because "they dont have time" to buy one, come on..it take an hour and a few hundred bucks

My go-to gun? Nope, except for one person, but he's an acception to the rule. But I'll let them use it if I'm there with them. I have borrowed my friend's gun on occassion when somethin is up with my go-to gun, but I always treat it as good, if not better than I would my own firearm. My truck gun on the other hand... looks like hell and it's taken a beating and I have no problems loaning it out. Chances are they'll take one look at it and decide they need to buy their own anyways.

I let everyone that goes to the range with us shoot my rifles so if they were to borrow one they know the basics. but when i invite the ones that want to take it they always give me a lame excuse so its hard to lend em once they mess it up once

Wise man..

If a guy really wants to hunt, he would want to own his own gun.

That being said, I own quite a few rifles and have a couple that I use as "loaners", BUT if something ever comes back "off" or broken, the borrower will never be welcome to one again.

Im the same way, couple of years back my brother needed a rifle but we were going on the same hunt. So when we went to my grandfather for one he gladly lent us his 7mm mag. the thing is i gave my brother my rifle for the weekend while i took our grandpas. i could understnad if something happend to my rifle while i was there but there was no way i was gonna let him damage my grandfathers go to rifle

yea, and right before deer season when we meet up for family gatherings theyre like "so when are we going hunting?!" idk how theyre gonna hunt if they dont have a rifle..im sure if i could afford a hunting rifle when i was 16 they can set some money aside for a deer rifle

If I owned a gun. No I would not let anyone but my Dad or daughter use my go to rifle and when he is gone no one will use it except my daughter until I die. I will let family and friends use any of my other rifles but if they mess it up they will fix it or not use it again unless I am with them.

Three words. Lay a way.

I let my boss borrow a Model 700 BDL I had years ago to go to Colorado. Didn't want to, but hey, he was my boss. Got it back, little rust spots all over it, dings in the stock, and the scope was fogged where he "cleaned it" with liberal doses of WD40. there are a few I will still loan guns to, but it's a short trusted list.