DIDN'T really know which board woud be most appropriate for this but want to fly an idea.
You are planning a trip to the "dark continent" or somewhere else suitable.

You are going to spend several thousands of dollars for what may be a once in a lifetime trip. A suitable dangerous game double gun can cost many times more then the cost of the trip.

Would you be interested in "leasing" a brand name excellent condition double gun for your trip? Example- a Krieghoff in .470Nitro etc? You buy the ammo from the leasor, you have it to practice with ahead of time, you do your hunt, return the rifle and have had the opportunity to have done the hunt "the right way" for the stuff that bites back. A rental block of 30 days would cover most situations with extra week(s) available.

I am unaware of anyone that does this.

Of course all the Fed transfer requirements would have to be met. In essence you would be buying the rifle and then returning it to the seller with a guaranteed buy back price.(the original price minus the "lease" money)
It also would be incentive to some of the dealers in such things to do so if there was interest expressed, because the real question is, how many WOULD return the gun they just stopped their buffalo charge with? Seems like a lot of folks might find the money to buy that ordinarily would not.

AND if you are the leasor, if you lease the same Heym, Merkel, Chapuis or Kreighoff out 5-6 times a year you have almost made as much as you could as selling it outright. And you would still have a very marketable and saleable used double rifle.

Would you pay, say $800-$1000 for a month of having your own double gun to take to Africa?

Just curious to the response and if it is a saleable idea.

now that is one heck of a idea for those who may not be in the position to buy a more expensive rifle

on the other hand it would allow you to try befor you buy.

That would require one heck of a security deposit that I'm pretty sure my credit cards wouldn't handle.

On the other side, the gun I had on any hunt is the trophy I cherish the most. I'd rather have the gun I shot my buff with than the buff horns.

Some Safari companies rent guns and some stores in RSA will rent you a double or at least they used to...The deposit was about the worth of the gun, very tricky business, renting a $10,000 gun......

99.9% of my hunters would not even consider renting a rifle, they want to use their own rifles....

We have a nice Ruger Safari in 416 Rigby that shoots great, but it is seldom used except as an emegency as when someones gun does not make the trip or whatever...We do not charge for the gun just the ammo expended...

Just my opine...

If using your own rifle is impossible(imports/malfunction etc.) I could live with hiring one, but its a long life to look back on a once only special hunt and know you did it with someone elses, deliberately.

You'd have to be one hell of a double rifle fan.

Karl.

I used to have my FFL a few years ago, and I seem to remember somewhere in the BATF code, that it is against the rules to rent a gun. Had something to do with a limited time and the intent to return it. I don't remember exactly, but seems like it was in there somewhere next to the buying for someone else section.
Don't quote me on this, I'll try to dig out my manuals later and look for it.

Nothing new about rental guns, at least in Africa. I would not want to lease a gun, from anyone for any reason!!

I would pay $1000 to rent a 700 Nitro Express for 1 hunt. The problem is I would probably put $5,000 worth of scratches on it over a 3 week time period, and it would probably cause $100,000 in orthopedic damage to my shoulder and neck.