Target Shooting In The Garden

[KurtH 74]

Right, so I've got my new Daystate Air Ranger, and I'm shooting a few targets in the garden.

I then hear my next door neighbour, talking (or should I say moaning) to their next door neighbour about somebody shooting an air rifle/air pistol.

Here's the situation - There's a ten foot at the bottom of my garden, where people and cars, can both travel.

Where do I stand shooting down my garden, if I have a backstop (big converted chest of drawers) to prevent pellets leaving my property, or should I shoot back up the garden towards the house?

[Phantom 631]

Legally.....

As long as your pellet does not leave your boundry your fine

 

Unfortunately......

Should your moaning minnie neighbour complain to the police, you will be paid a vist! But heres the kicker (right in the nuts), if she claims to the police that she feels endangered, you are then comitting an offence and can (although I've not actually heard of anyone) be prosecuted have you a silencer on the gun? If so you may be better off shooting paper targets with a lead sheet or sand behind them to muffle the impact

 

Tony

[walshie 2,804]

I have had just this a couple of times. Last time when my boy was zeroing in his new scope. Only took a few shots and next thing we had old bill complete with blue lights outside.

I asked them in to see the safety precautions we had taken (backstop etc.) and they went off quite happily to tell the nosey neighbour we were doing nothing wrong.

You are 100% within your rights to shoot in your own garden as long as you take the necessary precautions to stop any pellet leaving your boundary. (and that includes any ricochets!)

Enjoy your plinking.

[KurtH 74]

Thanks for the quick reply Tony. Yes, the gun is silenced, the only slight bit of noise is from the impact of the pellet.

Do you think it would help matters if I show them my 'target' and maybe explain that there is no chance of them being injured. The fence is 6ft high that divides us too, so there's no we they should feel threatened

[KurtH 74]

Thanks Walshie. Knowing this cheers me up

 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm not sure they would go to the police, as they may get nicked themselves for being extremely heavy cannabis users,lol

[walshie 2,804]

Thanks Walshie. Knowing this cheers me up

 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I'm not sure they would go to the police, as they may get nicked themselves for being extremely heavy cannabis users,lol

 

:laugh:

 

Might be worth pointing out to them that you are doing it safely, just to save any unnecessary aggro. I didn't with my neighbours but then I don't even talk to them.

Edited September 3, 2012 by walshie

[pianoman 3,584]

You've got the right answers from the other lads here Kurt. If the neighbours are using cannabis, you could try the pro-active approach and tell them YOU will call the police on their behalf, to inspect your target set-up, if that reassures them all is in safe order?

 

Somehow, I don't think they'll take you up on it.

 

Shoot on my friend. As long as you have every reasonable measure in place (backstops) to prevent shots going out of bounds and no risk of ricochet, you are well within your right to plink away in your back garden.

 

Pianoman

[BenjaminCadd 109]

Its true what everyone is saying, i had complaints and a visit from the Police, and they couldnt of been happier that i was safe and had a decent back stop, idealy one that chatches the pellets so you can prove non have gone awol over the fence, and the police were happy! i even asked if there was a number to ring to give them notice i was zeroing that night and they said not to bother they were happy for me to do it when ever!

Atb

[KurtH 74]

The police have just been

Apparently there were 2 complaints last night

1 was a noise complaint, and the other, apparently somebody was struck with a pellet and they believe it came from my address

I guess I must of missed my 6ft by 4ft backstop and shot one through the 3/4 of an inch gap in the fence and hit the passer by

Something tells me the passer by was slightly exagerating as I'm sure if he was him by a .22 pellet at 20 metres, I would possibly be getting tazered and not posting on this wall

 

He didn't even ask to see my gun

[Phantom 631]

Considder yourself very lucky

Many Police officers would use the chance to take into custody your guns and send them away for testing in the hope of an easy +1 on their file

Luckily there are some decent level headed officers who are able to see beyond the scaremongering from the media

 

Watch the noise complaint though if you live in a council house or housing association Even in private accomodation though. the council can make it awkward, if not difficult to continue. The fact that the Police are not concearned with your shooting goes imensley in your favour though

 

 

Tony

[Woodworm1972 24]

Hi guys

 

I'm not to sure of the rules regarding council properties?

 

My understanding was you had to get written permission from the landlord/owner to shoot on what is essentially their property?

 

I'm preparing myself to be corrected :-)

 

Be gentle

 

Chris

[stealthy1 3,964]

Would sugest you chrono your gun, just incase the police turn stroppy and take it for a test, its not unknown for guns to wear in just over the limit

[KurtH 74]

This is my air rifle:-

 

 

What I don't get is the noise complaint. It's fitted with a Weihrauch silencer and it's sooooooooo quiet. It's a PCP so there's no loud spring twanging etc.

 

Think they're just moaning about anything they can, because they know there's not alot they can do

Edited September 3, 2012 by KurtH

[KurtH 74]

Would sugest you chrono your gun, just incase the police turn stroppy and take it for a test, its not unknown for guns to wear in just over the limit

 

It's not even had 40 pellets through it yet, so think it will be ok for now, but I'll definately keep an eye on it

[Woodworm1972 24]

This is my air rifle:-

 

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/cheekyplums/MyNewToy-1.jpg

 

What I don't get is the noise complaint. It's fitted with a Weihrauch silencer and it's sooooooooo quiet. It's a PCP so there's no loud spring twanging etc.

 

Think they're just moaning about anything they can, because they know there's not alot they can do

 

Do you have a noisy backstop?

 

Can beleive I've just asked that :-)