What would you pay to test fire a gun before buying?

[NoVA Shooter]

As a customer, I would love to be able to shoot a gun I was looking to purchase. This has some value (both monetary and non-monetary) to me. However, I realize there are costs (other than monetary) and risks associated with this for a LGS owner. I would like to know what people think is a good value that can balance the benefit to the customer with the risk to the owner.

For the purposes of this discussion, let’s assume that NIB guns are not included (the way the gun market is and how guns depreciate, it is not reasonable to assume any shop will be doing this). Of course, this would only work if a range is accessible.

I have thought about this and come up with a scenario that I, as a customer, would be supportive of.
$10 all inclusive charge (covers 5 rounds of ammo, wear and tear on the gun, and any cleaning that may have to be done) that would go to the cost of the gun if I decided to buy it. If I decide not to buy the gun, I’m out $10 but I got to shoot 5 rounds with no strings attached. Obviously, there are certain situations that this wouldn’t work with, such as a rare/old gun where people would likely use this service as a chance to shoot it with no intent on buying, or if the ammo is prohibitively expensive, etc. But for the typical used gun sale, I think this would be fair.

 

[holdencm9]

The range I go to I think is $15 per gun, which I think is fair, but you have to buy their ammo. Not so bad since they charge $25 for a box of 50 .45acp, but they also charge $20 for 50 9mm which is a bit steep to me, even for a range.

You also have to have anti-suicide rules like a permit to purchase, carry permit, bring your own gun, or be with a guest.

 

[holdencm9]

That is for a full rental though, so you can put as many rounds through it as you want, as long as it is their ammo. Additional rentals are $10.

 

[MichaelK]

Ten dollars, no way! Maybe fifty? I myself, if I were a store owner, would not want to go through the trouble of walking over to a range area while leaving the gun counter less attended, then supervising the shooting ability of someone I've never met before, and finally cleaning a gun and putting it back on the shelf. That's really too much to ask.

Mostly I'd be scared to death that the buyer was an idiot ready to shoot me, or worse, a gun thief that thinks all they have to do is shoot me and then walk out of the store with their new peice!

 

[NoVA Shooter]

My LGS has a similar policy for renting guns ($10, must buy ammo there...), but not for test shooting guns for sale.

I think $15 plus ammo is a bit steep, especially when it could be the difference between buying or not buying.

 

[Creature]

Did you pay to test drive any car you purchased? Did the sales man who climbed into the car with you for the test drive ask you how many motor vehicle accidents you have been in or caused?

 

[NoVA Shooter]

Ten dollars, no way! Maybe fifty? I myself, if I were a store owner, would not want to go through the trouble of walking over to a range area while leaving the gun counter less attended, then supervising the shooting ability of someone I've never met before, and finally cleaning a gun and putting it back on the shelf. That's really too much to ask.

Good point. Not sure I was thinking about the time away from the counter (and a store with only one employee). However, cleaning wise, how much time is needed to clean a gun after 5 rounds?

Mostly I'd be scared to death that the buyer was an idiot ready to shoot me, or worse, a gun thief that thinks all they have to do is shoot me and then walk out of the store with their new peice!

Wouldn't this be true of any customer? How is handing a customer a for sale gun and 5 rounds of ammo any different than renting a customer a gun with a box of ammo for them to shoot at the range? Or for that matter, an idiot ready to shoot you coming in with their own, already loaded gun to rob you?

 

[sawdeanz]

My lgs has a range and rents out guns for $10 not including ammo. Additiomally u can rent any of the used guns they have for sale and put that towards purchasing it.

 

[Reloadron]

This will vary from range to range:

Gun Rentals:

$7.50 for 1st gun – trade in for 2nd gun at $2.50

That is an hourly rate. They have a wide selection of guns people can rent and try. I never looked close but would venture a guess there are 50 + guns available. You can use your own factory ammunition or buy theirs which is reasonable in price. The above rate is for a range where I happen to shoot and have membership. You also need to say you are proficient with firearms.

Must have previous experience to rent our firearms

That means demonstrate some proficiency before you leave the counter as to operating the firearm. Beats me as I never rented one.

Ron

Ron

 

[gym]

$5 bucks and my own ammo

 

[ColtPythonElite]

5-10 bucks wouldn't be worth the hassle of messing around with tire kickers.

 

[dogtown tom]

Creature Did you pay to test drive any car you purchased? Did the sales man who climbed into the car with you for the test drive ask you how many motor vehicle accidents you have been in or caused?

How exactly does test driving a new car equate to renting a gun?
It doesn't....and BTW....you or someone else are paying for that test drive btw.

Never been a dealer or run a range have ya?

"Test driving" a car by a felon is not a crime. A dealer who rents a gun to a "prohibited person" commits a Federal crime.

It's pretty rare for someone to drive that Kia over a cliff on a test drive, but it is not uncommon to have someone come in to a gun store/range, rent a gun, then blow their brains out. This is why most ranges won't rent you a gun "to test" unless you have brought one with you.

gym $5 bucks and my own ammo

Yeah, that will happen when Cokes and candy bars are again a nickel.

Most stores will apply that days gun rental fees (not ammo cost) to the sale. (you rent three guns @ $5 each and buy one you get $15 off the price of that gun.......that day)

Allowing customers to bring in their own ammunition to test fire the stores gun? No way......heres why:
1. Handloads (hey your gun blowed up on me.....I'm suing)
2. +P used in handguns not rated for +P (excessive wear)
3. Corrosive ammunition (but, but, but i got a whole case of 9mm from Bumfrikistan at a garage sale)
4. Steel jacketed ammo can cause damage that copper doesn't (richochets, sparks, fires, etc)
5. Non SAAMI or CIP spec (uh....so again tell me why I shouldn't shoot Buffalo Bore ++++P+++ through that there Colt 1903?)
6. Bringing ammo you bought elswhere to a range is like sneaking in your own popcorn into a movie theater. (stores can eliminate this by having reasonably priced range ammo)

 

[TimeRegained]

The range I go to has pretty much every known modern/contemporary handgun on sight for rental. They even surprise me. It's a bit ridiculous.

A LGS couldn't let you shoot out of it. It'll change the entire paperwork from NEW to USED the minute it's fired.

 

[wkumatt]

Wow, hadn't thought of all the hazards ya'll are throwing out there.

My LGS, will allow any serious buyer to shoot anything used in the place. He grabs a few rounds of the appropriate caliber out of a drawer and hands them and the gun to you.
Eyes and ears are hanging on a nail by the back door and there is a dirt berm at 25 yards to shoot into. Walk out on the back porch and fire away. Bring it back in, grin, and throw your money down.

He does have a full auto (.22 LR Tommy Gun) that he charges $20 plus ammo to go out and play with.

Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JagerRanger]

I recall in CA years back the shop called the range across the street and arranged me to shoot whatever I chose.

If memory serves, one of the local big dealers let people try the guns in their downstairs range for free (+ammo). This is how it ought to be.

Luckily the country side stores still have their 'ranges' behind the buildings.

 

[NoVA Shooter]

Wow, hadn't thought of all the hazards ya'll are throwing out there.

Neither had I.

A LGS couldn't let you shoot out of it. It'll change the entire paperwork from NEW to USED the minute it's fired.

Agreed. That is why the assumption was made that new guns would not be included.

"Test driving" a car by a felon is not a crime. A dealer who rents a gun to a "prohibited person" commits a Federal crime.

It's pretty rare for someone to drive that Kia over a cliff on a test drive, but it is not uncommon to have someone come in to a gun store/range, rent a gun, then blow their brains out. This is why most ranges won't rent you a gun "to test" unless you have brought one with you.

Then how about, in order to test fire a gun, the customer must be a member of the range, or must follow the same processes/procedures that any renter would have to. That would put a buyer on the same level as a renter (as far as legality and risk).

5-10 bucks wouldn't be worth the hassle of messing around with tire kickers.

How many tire kickers do you think there are that will pay $10 for 5 rounds of ammo? If this is a problem, I would agree that the risk/reward ratio may not be beneficial to the LGS. But you'd have to look at it this way too; after so many tire kickers, the gun will be paid for and you'd still own it.

 

[holdencm9]

My thought was that if you are interested in a type of gun and they happen to have that model for rental, you could rent it to test it. Not actually test-firing THAT specific gun. I think that is a harder bargain to convince them to do that since what if it breaks or something?

Anyway, I have never rented a gun before buying. Usually rentals aren't maintained that well anyway, so their function can be hit or miss. And usually I can tell how I will like shooting a gun by dry firing in the store and just how it feels in the hand. So I guess, personally, I wouldn't pay much to test a gun. I figure you are just better off buying it and if you hate it you can resell it at a loss. Or you can pay $15 plus ammo to test a gun, and maybe put 50 rounds through it, and still not know. Some guns like my LCP or Kahr, if I had only put 50 rounds through them, I would never have bought them. Then again, a 1911, put one mag through it and fall in love.

 

[beatledog7]

I can rent guns very inexpensively at the range where I am a member, and I have done so a few times during "the search." So can the general public, with proper ID and a signature attesting to their eligibility to possess a forearm and an acknowledgment of the rules. Rental guns there must be fed only store ammo, but that's understandable. (It also explains the predominance of certain headstamps in the range buckets.)

But there is a huge difference between testing a gun of the same model and test firing the exact one you are considering buying.

If I were a shop owner, I might have a very small cadre of special customers who could shoot a used or consigned gun in which they're interested--the exact gun--but such a practice would be a non-starter for the general public. As for factory new guns....well, they're gonna be sold as unfired, so there you go.

 

[Dreamliner787]

Good question, but I think that gun manufactures should do more demo days at the gun range every once in a while. You supply the bullets and get to try out the manufactures guns and if you buy from the range that day there's a good discount. Wouldn't that be nice?

 

[MrDig]

If the LGS has a range whatever they charge for tenting the gun offsets the cost to them for stocking the gun.
After the gun has paid for itself at the range they can still sell it as a used gun. How do they lose in this proposition?
The one Twin Cities shop with ranges have prices a little higher than some and a fair range.
Also bear in mind they need people working there to be range officers and sales staff and Janitors for some of the slobs that don't understand range etiquette. $15.00 for the first gun 10.00 for each additional. You do have to buy their ammo and 9mm rn is $19.95 a box.
I can see why they want you to shoot factory ammo just to keep people from putting reloads in their guns that are too hot for the gun.
So $20 for the lane, for one person $30 for a shared Lane. $15.00 to rent a gun you might buy, and $19.95 for a box of ammo. If you go alone you spend $55. plus tax to shoot their gun to see if you want to buy that model gun. Seems a lot smarter than spending $400. or more to have a gun you don't really like as a bridesmaid in your safe.

 

[M2 Carbine]

As a side note.
I have a 115 yard range on my place where now and then I'll teach new shooters. Most are friends of friends, mostly females.

Not only do they have the opportunity to learn to shoot many of my guns from the 22LR to .223 AR but I give them the ammunition free.

It's not unusual for the new shooter to change their mind several times about which guns they like. Hate a Glock at first but end up buying two Glocks.


What you wouldn't believe is how many people express an interest in learning to shoot and/or getting their carry license but after me inviting them to my place they are too lazy to drive 15 minutes to the range, even when the lessons, use of the guns and even the ammo is free.

 

[tarosean]

Price of the ammo

 

[holdencm9]

It is only a savings if you realize you dislike it and don't buy that gun. If you decide you like it and buy it, then you just wasted $55 on a test drive. If you test drive several guns before choosing one, then the costs add up even more. It eventually gets to the point where it is cheaper to buy a gun, realize you dislike it, and sell it off.

 

[swiftak]

price of 5 or 6 rounds

 

[dab102999]

Local range by me has just about everything to rent. $6 per gun..$5 per hour range time..can use my own ammo just not reload, there ammo is only $2 more a box then anywhere else...women free on mondays..and if you rent more then 4 guns they will apply that towards a purchase. (but there prices are high).great deal in my eye..plus there guns are usually dirty so get a good real life feel for a gun too.