Can you share guns at a range?

[OakScout]

My experience is only from private/rural land, so I'm wondering if it's ever permissible to let someone else shoot your gun, and vice versa, at a range in California? (not counting Covid restrictions)

If so, how commonly do ranges allow it? (e.g. generally allowed, some do some don't, or very few ranges allow it)

And are there caveats? (do you have to be part of a group with the person beforehand to do that? Or perhaps leave the lane before swapping?)

[naz]

Usually you leave the gun on the shooting line and the other person comes to your lane and shoots it there.

Or you unload and case the gun and pass it to the other person’s lane that way.

Each range is different though so you should ask an RO if you aren’t sure

[D.A.V.I.D.]

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[The King]

Today Yes.
But if the wrong people take over this country, you may see transfer of a firearm change from transfer of ownership to transfer of possession.
Which would mandate federal forms and waiting period prior to me letting you try my latest toy.
Vote for Trump.

[RocketRider]

Like naz said, usually you leave the guns at the station. It is for safety reasons. It’s pretty common to talk with other shooters, and then maybe shoot a neat gun they have or let them shoot yours. Another example would be if you go shooting with a friend. They bring their guns, you bring your guns, you both set up your stations, and then rotate stations.

[dilbert40]

This ^^.

My indoor range would insist that you leave the gun on the shooting line in *safe state*. Guns do not move back behind the shooting line or move between lanes. (this is at REEDS, bay area).

My outdoor range would allow gun in *safe state* to move between lanes, although some RO would let people move them so long as muzzle points the safe direction the whole time. (this is at Los Altos Rod and Gun Club).

In general, sharing among friends at the range is perfectly ok so long as gun safety is observed.

[lastinline]

The outdoor range I use requires that you be safe and practice good muzzle discipline. Unload it, verify empty chamber, hand it to the other person who does same. Enjoy.
We aren’t a bunch of COVID masked ****ing democrats.
Pass the ammo!

[newbie1234]

Usually you leave the gun on the shooting line and the other person comes to your lane and shoots it there.......
Each range is different though so you should ask an RO if you aren’t sure

Yes.
The indoor range I go to, the rule is: You can switch the people between lanes, but you can not switch the gun between lanes.
You friend can come to your lane to shoot your gun and you can come to his lane to shoot his gun.

OR after you shot, you can put your gun into your bag, then he come to your bag and take the gun to his lane, after he done he can put the gun back to you bag. They want to limit the traffics of the guns in the range, the only gun traffic allow is from/to range bag to/from the lane.

Particular the rental gun, it must stay in the lane that rent the gun, period.

[JTROKS]

Yes as long as you have both hands wrapped around or handcuffed to the person shooting your gun.


Just kidding.

[Mr. Blue]

I’ve had people shoot my guns, as well me shooting theirs. I have done this quite a bit at outdoor ranges. Never indoor. I just hadn’t really thought about it, since its so loud at my indoor range and people are usually focused on their own thing.

About 3 months ago I went to my local public outdoor range at about 6AM. I was the only person there, or so I thought. I set up and started shooting. About 20 minutes in I saw someone out of the corner of my eye walking up behind me. It was some dude that just came out of the woods. I turned around super quick keeping my finger off of the trigger and my gun pointed at the ground. He looked like a drifter, and sounded like he hadn’t talked to anyone in a couple weeks. He was super nice, but I didn’t know him from Adam. He asked if he could shoot my smith and wesson shield, I just said “no, no you cannot.” As polite as I could. He then started to inch closer to me and try to talk more. I ended up telling him that I wasn’t feeling well and I had to go to back to the doctor because my Covid results were inconclusive. This seemed to do the trick, he was overly sympathetic, again just trying to make a connection with me. I was polite for as long as I could, then just got back to shooting and he eventually disappeared into the mist of the woods from which he came.

[ScottsBad]

When I take my wife or kids to the range, we either swap shooters at one bench or swap benches. But sometimes I'll change firearms by casing one, putting it on the gun rack and then uncasing another.

The outdoor ranges I shoot at have been pretty flexible as long as you handle your firearms safely. And that's the key. Once an RSA feels you are safety conscious enough, he/they won't feel they need to watch you so closely.

[omega]

a guy walking out of the woods at 6am asking to shoot your gun? that sounds very suspicious? these days I never let random people handle my firearms, if they ask about it, I hold it up so they can see it but never hand it to them. too many dumb@ss's at the range

Ive had people pick up my rifle without asking , dragging the muzzle across the cement table, dropping slides , drunk people at the range, thats why I never hand my firearm to anybody.

[edgerly779]

naz should not give advice. FUD from newbies. What range did newbie 1234 go to that said that. I built the Target Range in Van Nuys and we never put rules like that in place.
More FUD. Never go to that range again.

[lastinline]

Ive had people pick up my rifle without asking , dragging the muzzle across the cement table, dropping slides , drunk people at the range, thats why I never hand my firearm to anybody.

I NEVER leave weapons in a position in which some dildo could handle them without my permission first. Doing so is extremely rude, and an invitation to get ***** slapped, hard.

[lastinline]

a guy walking out of the woods at 6am asking to shoot your gun? that sounds very suspicious? these days I never let random people handle my firearms, if they ask about it, I hold it up so they can see it but never hand it to them. too many dumb@ss's at the range.

Yea, that was sketchy.
A good reason to go to remote places with someone else that you know, preferably family that has skill at arms.
Always, always, keep a concealed weapon on your person when at places such as that, just in case a lurker does something stupid.