The sound of gunshot

Where in Texas?

I hear gunfire all the time from every direction. Where I am.

I don't know how to explain it but recreational shooting somehow sounds distinctly different than criminal and/ or asshattery.

I've been on my spot of Okieland since 1992. I've been shooting on it since perhaps the 2nd week of taking possession of said property.

It has built up a great deal around here, subdivisions going in within a half mile. It's no longer 2 miles of dirt road to get here, now more like 1 mile of gravel.

I still shoot. Never had a complaint, but a deputy did watch us shoot clay pigeons 25 years or so back.
He apparently decided we weren't a danger, at least to the clays, as he left after 20 minutes or so without even getting out of his car and walking over to say hi.

Near me, a retired County deputy set up a pistol range. I haven’t seen it, but I’m sure it was safe as far as backstops, etc. He began letting any LEO from any department come shoot any time. Needless to say, he didn’t make nice with the neighbors.
I think the Sherriff finally talked him into shutting it down.
A single neighbor shooting a box of shells occasionally shouldn’t bother anyone.
I do, however, take issue with the truckers who intermittently ride the Jake brake on the slight downgrade by my property.

It's always a good idea to talk with the neighbors before you buy a piece of property. Most of the folks above have gone over the issue of shooting, but even before you get that far, there is reason to talk with the neighbors. However, you have to approach them gently, in a manner and tone that will make them feel comfortable enough with you so that they tell you about any problems before you buy the place. For example, just had a deal go south not too far away when the potential buyer discovered that the place had been owned by a hoarder before the flippers got hold of it. Yea, the flippers brought in exterminators and fumigated the place, but the buyer just couldn't get over the thought of all the rats, roaches and other varmints running around. Years ago had another real estate deal go bad when the guy discovered it had countless junk cars buried all over the place. The EPA was hidding just below the horizon so they could jump on the new owner and try to get it cleaned up. Know of another problem with a nice piece of ground that had been condemned by an outbreak of some sort of livestock disease. Along similar lines in areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania there was or is a quarantine of areas because of chronic wasting disease. And yet another guy was going to buy a piece of land specifically for a gun range when the neighbor informed him that it was classified as a "wetland" by some governmental agency which meant he couldn't legally shoot lead. So yeah, it's always a good idea to poke around with the neighbors. Even try to get them to show you pictures they might have. Let us know what you do and show us some pictures! Thanks for sharing.

You can shoot without having lots of noise emissions for anyone to complain about.



Or this one where people can tell I am still shooting by the “ding!” even though they can’t hear the shot that far away.



The #1 person I need to keep happy is Mrs. Morris, so if I am shooting something that’s not suppressed and loud, I shoot through a couple of 55 gallon plastic drums I put together. It’s a noise abatement device that isn’t seen by the NFA Branch as a silencer. Enhances the noise right there but must make quite a difference beyond that point.



It works well enough I am not told to stop and she’s the only one around here that has ever asked.

Depends on the property. Out in central Texas, in the country side, it's pretty common to hear gunshots of all sorts, and from several directions.

Why am I not surprised that jmorris has shared yet another of his clever and innovative DIY creations?
Well done, as always, sir.

As long as there are no laws or zoning rules agianst, I say go ahead. But, I live in Cali - maybe the most restrictive place around (outside of Cook County and NYC), I live in the County. Across the street from me a retired LEO plays with black powder. SO neighbors are used to gun shots (soft little ones). Every once in a while I'll have to function test something I'm tinkering on. He'll go bang, bang and I'll go BANG. Gets quiet for a while

But I do take my neighbors into account. I back the tractor out of the shed (four walls and roof) and set up in there. The primary concussion is greatly reduced for the neighbors. So, I suggest building a nice little shooting "Hut" and your down-range back stop. Anything you discharge in the hut will be less than 1/2 as loud to your surroundings. Plus you can shoot in the rain and other inclement weather

When I'm camping out in the wilderness makes me real nervous is gunshots at night

BuckWildM9 said:

So recently ive been looking at property in texas and have been seeing that alot of people down there put up ranges on their property without much issue. The only big factor i see is with neighbors and the sound of gunshot. With it being texas i know alot of people down there are gun nuts as well. However i knpw a 30-06 can be heard for 2 miles easily maybe 3. Im not sure about a 12 gauge shotgun with standard target load, a 9mm, a 45 or a 223/5.56 nato. But id imagine the sound of gunshot would get rather annoying to any neighboring properties. Would i visit my neighbors and discuss first? And i assume id need a permit, permission from the state and building orders as well as a large stack of papers. Im from illinois btw. So theres not much for a gun guy here

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Check out noise ordinances in your area.

BuckWildM9 said:

Texas kinda sounds like the promise land

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It is. BUT...…. *tangent warning* We have billionaires trying to screw it up as we type.

Please come to Texas but when you get here don't be fooled by all of the well orchestrated news stories and political adds. It's all crap. They are trying to turn Texas into New York and any moderate sounding Dem will take away your right to defend yourself in a heartbeat.(along with your $ and other freedoms)

As far as your original post, I text one of my neighbors before shooting so they can bring their dog inside. It was a rescue that has been traumatized so I try not to scare her and they appreciate it. They tell me to shoot all I want and they're glad to have an armed and well practiced neighbor.

It is. BUT...…. *tangent warning* We have billionaires trying to screw it up as we type.

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Not just people with money but people who are fleeing where they come from for something better but then try and turn Texas into the place they escaped from.

Like the folks that move out into the country then call 911 on opening day of dove season. Sad when news papers have to warn people ahead of time not to clog up emergency lines when you hear everyone start up once the sun comes up.

jmorris said:

Not just people with money but people who are fleeing where they come from for something better but then try and turn Texas into the place they escaped from.

Like the folks that move out into the country then call 911 on opening day of dove season. Sad when news papers have to warn people ahead of time not to clog up emergency lines when you hear everyone start up once the sun comes up.

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Yes that was what I was alluding to, but trying not to be a blunt to the OP. Guess I should be blunt! Everybody come to Texas but don't vote to screw it up like the places you're running from! Other conservative states are important but when Texas falls, America is screwed. Our freedom will be a memory.

Everybody come to Texas but don't vote to screw it up like the places you're running from!

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Change, Everybody come... to Welcome... and that should be on the signs on all incoming roads to our State.

BuckWildM9 said:

With it being texas i know alot of people down there are gun nuts as well.

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Hey I resemble that remark!!!!

I agree with ATLDave, a simple informational discussion and invitation to use it on occasion could go a long way towards making things alright.

Also, keep in mind people who own land often have animals as well. Your neighbors may have a concern about how gunfire would bother them.

George P said:

Until a rancher sells out to a home builder and the soccer moms move in............Watched it happen in TX, CO and NV

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I had that happen when I rented from a farmer who sold the 40 across from the house, but not the one next to it. I had some yahoo complain when I was shooting in the 40, "My dogs run out here, yada, yada". I told him in a nice even calm manner; 1. I was here first, and rent from the guy who sold the land your house was on. 2. you moved out to the "country" for the atmosphere, this is part of that. Move into the city and complain about the noise and see what it gets you. BTW, hope you like the smell of cowpies. (I rented from a beefer rancher, and when they were up in the feed lot, the scent was intense.) 4. I lost two dogs to letting them run here, both hit and runs. (It was on a county road that most thought was the autobahn.) If you love your dogs, don't let them run. I would never shoot a dog unless it was attacking me. (Small chance, he had Golden Retrievers)

I met his next door neighbor a month before that. Poor guy was trying to cut foot and a half tall oats with a push mower. Either they were left over from the last time the field was cultivated, or the contractor used oats because they grow fast. I came over with the rider and did his yard, and suggested he get a rider. When we were talking, I mentioned I sometimes shot in the field behind the houses, and he was fine with it as long as I didn't do it earlier than 9 or 10.

I did start shooting on the other side of the field after talking to the dog owner, as the farmer on that side often shot in his backyard, he didn't mind. He'd come out and see what I was shooting sometimes.

I have two ranges set up at my place. One is a short pistol range for CPL qualifications and the long range for my rifles. My neighbors are also shooters so they don't seem to mind when I have a class of 3 - 5 students shooting 75 to 100 rounds each in an 90 minute period.

I never did request their opinion when opening the range.

jmorris said:

Not just people with money but people who are fleeing where they come from for something better but then try and turn Texas into the place they escaped from.

Like the folks that move out into the country then call 911 on opening day of dove season. Sad when news papers have to warn people ahead of time not to clog up emergency lines when you hear everyone start up once the sun comes up.

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BUILD THE WALL!

As a fellow Texan ask your neighbors. esp.if they have livestock.

I dont shoot on my property as my horses are deathly afraid.

I do have one jackwagon somewhere near me that likes to do mag dumps from is AR at all hours of the night. Now that, chaps my keister! (even though it is perfectly legal)

ATLDave said:

Rather than asking permission, I might phrase it as a notification. "Hey, if you start hearing some occasional gunshots, I don't want you to worry. It's not criminal activity or poachers... it'll just be me on my own land, shooting into a safe backstop. I'll obviously refrain from doing this crazy early or late. Let me know if you ever have a special situation like an outdoor wedding when you'd like me to hold off for an hour or two, or if you'd ever like to come over and try out the backstop yourself."

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EXCELLENT.

After getting your range set up why not have a barbecue and invite your neighbors over to shoot and eat? You might become a very popular person!

bdickens said:

BUILD THE WALL

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How would that keep people from leaving liberal States after they messed them up and starting over in another that hasn’t been destroyed from their policies, yet?

jmorris said:

How would that keep people from leaving liberal States after they messed them up and starting over in another that hasn’t been destroyed from their policies, yet?

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I think he might have meant to say "build A wall"...

jmorris said:

How would that keep people from leaving liberal States after they messed them up and starting over in another that hasn’t been destroyed from their policies, yet?

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It would be to secure the Texas border to the West and North.

Humor looses something when you explain it.

George P said:

Until a rancher sells out to a home builder and the soccer moms move in............Watched it happen in TX, CO and NV

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Home and rental apartment builders are buying up ranches and farms all over the country, here in AZ too.

I am, of course, pro second amm., but I wouldn't like to live in a place with constant gunfire - most especially if it happened in the middle of the night - because then not only would it wake me up but I'd figure it was drunks shooting randomly.