Home Range Etiquette

[LT.Diver]

If I were planning to have a shooting range on my property, which I have, I wouldn't buy a home with neighbors. Your current new prospective neighbors might be fine with your shooting, but people move, and the new folks might make life tough for you.
I shopped around like hell until I found a place only a few minutes from town, yet surrounded on all four sides by state forrest. No chance of bugging anyone, nor of them bugging me.

 

[itsa pain]

The only way not to have trouble with neighbors is not to have any. Try to find a place where you are far from them

 

[Warp]

I agree with the trend of everyone else. I would probably at least warn the neighbors, as opposed to "getting their permission". At the same time, I would build this thing with the knowledge that I might need to modify my shooting habits to make my neighbors happy. Just because it's legal for you to shoot all day every day doesn't mean you have to be a jerk about it (not that you would )

I'm going with this ^


Wit the addition of saying that I think the people who take the "I can do what I want, screw everybody else, it's legal" attitude...if they follow through it it and make a nuisance of themselves because they can...run the risk of pushing people to change the laws or regulations. You know, like handling rifles in restaurants.

 

[Sunray]

It's not the neighbour's business, but you must be safe. And look into any by-laws. Might be an idea to invite 'em.
500 yards isn't enough if you're thinking of a bullet not ending up on the next door yard. You are responsible for where any shot you fire ends up too.
Mind you, there's target shooting and hunting. Different things.

 

[oneounceload]

Seemed like it may have prevented the sound of shots from carrying far. It was basically desert area, and you still could barely hear the shots just a few hundred yards away.

The berm at the end isn't doing anything for noise at the muzzle, and if you are shooting from under a cover like a porch - that sounds is going to be amplified.

Personally, if I was only 100 yards away and someone started shooting one day, I'D be calling the cops.

We had a gun club in Carson City that was in an industrial zone. Where it was was originally nothing. We had a league every Thursday, and if we went past 9PM, (even though we were allowed to go to 10, some nutbag three miles away was calling the cops about gunfire noise - we had the Sheriff show up on more than one occasion, take a look, mention for us to try and finish up and he understood - but she was one of those who called about everything. Yes, she was a Cali transplant..........

 

[Bobson]

I read the advice here and appreciate it. Obviously a lot to think about.

I shopped around like hell until I found a place only a few minutes from town, yet surrounded on all four sides by state forrest. No chance of bugging anyone, nor of them bugging me.

This is the ideal scenario, but I'm not sure I'll be able to find such a place within reasonable distance to work, that's also within our budget. We'll see what happens.

Basically, shooting is my only year-round hobby (aside from snowboarding, shooting IS my only hobby). I want to do everything possible to ensure I can shoot on my own land, because despite the fact that there's heavy forest as far as the eye can see in every direction, there's only one outdoor shooting facility within 45 mins; and it's a private range that's currently not accepting new members.

 

[Potatohead]

The bikes are only a little louder than the fireworks they seem to have a never ending supply of.

LOL.
I've been there..makes me wonder- how exciting can fireworks be when you see the same sorry ones every night, over and over and over. I think some people just like to make noise. I like to light firecrackers as much as the next guy, but every day and night? it cant be that stimulating-

 

[Warp]

LOL.
I've been there..makes me wonder- how exciting can fireworks be when you see the same sorry ones every night, over and over and over. I think some people just like to make noise. I like to light firecrackers as much as the next guy, but every day and night? it cant be that stimulating-

The firework people probably think and say the same thing about going out and shooting every week...or even every month.

 

[gojuice101]

I have a home range. When we initially moved here we didn't have neighbors. Now several people have built houses next to us. Luckily, most of them are shooters too. I do keep my shooting at reasonable hours, but I don't bother alerting my neighbors because they don't. I work 3rd shift, and sleep during the day, so sometimes their shooting is during my sleep time. It's just something I have to deal with, as do they when I shoot.

Only time we had a problem with one neighbor was when we had a new guy over one morning to go hunting with us (early, of course) and he had an accidental discharge. They called the police, but there wasn't a lot they could do because there was nothing illegal. Here hunting for certain species is legal day or night, so there's nothing legally wrong with shooting in off-hours. I just don't do it regularly out of respect for my neighbors.

 

[pintler]

1)Suppressors are legal in WA. If the neighbors 500 yds away are anti-gun, every time they hear a shot it will remind them to get that no-shooting zone process started. The more you shoot a suppressed 10/22 and the less you shoot an unsuppressed 338 Lapua, the less reminders they will have.

2)If any neighbors are shooters (and seem safe, ...) invite them over. I don't think you want lots of folks from distant areas coming over, but if there are 5 neighbors in earshot and 4 of them come over from time to time and view it as a community benefit, it will be socially harder for the 5th to object.

 

[arizona98tj]

Suppressors should be legal in all states and without any BATFE or other agency approval. DNR and other similar agencies have far too much power in some (most?) states, IMO. They are typically the ones that advocate that only law enforcement agencies need them. Obviously they care little about health and safety and simply allowing folks to be considerate neighbors.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Being neighborly is a much better approach than declaring, "it's my right to do with my property . . . " and doing whatever you please, neighbors be damned.


Wife's aunt & uncle live next door to neighbors who have maintained a cold shoulder with for many years. Any time we'd go over for a holiday picnic, those neighbors would notice and decide it was a good time to run the riding mower around their yard for an hour.

 

[Potatohead]

The firework people probably think and say the same thing about going out and shooting every week...or even every month.

True.

At least we are aiming at something though. Not just listening for the boom.



Also, neighbors can really wreak havoc if they get the notion. Better to keep the peace. I can remember a real doozie in the neighborhood growing up. She reached over the wood fence and graffitied our side because it was supposedly on her property..if one of our balls landed in her yard we were not to retrieve it, it was now hers...stuff like that. Her husband was even petrified of her.
Better to keep the peace always.

 

[mgmorden]

Be aware - just because its legal to shoot doesn't mean you might not violate a noise ordinance. Shooting and noise are separate things. If the town or county has a stated decibel limit at the edge of your property you'll either need to not shoot, or shoot things quiet enough to stay in compliance (ie, .22's and suppressed guns).

Remember too that generally noise ordinances aren't invoked unless someone complains. Talking with the neighbors first may help you there.

 

[splithoof]

Legal or not, your neighbors were there first. Like it or not, that makes you an outsider for some time. You know how people are. 500 yards is way to close IMO to be shooting anything bigger than rimfire. It's all about noise. You might find a separate parcel in a more remote location that won't be good for housing, but may be ideal for a firing range. That would likely be more expensive, but you also could use it for camping, retreats, and other recreation. Get it zoned for shooting, fence it, and blast away.

 

[Hardtarget]

Befor you buy just spend a bit of time in the area just listening. If you hear shooting...well.

Then, after you move in, and you hear shooting, go out and add to the symphony.

We have shot on our place for more than the 55 years I've been shooting. All our neighbors shoot. I've stopped a few because of VERY unsafe events. Its just part of the spory.

We shoot .22 up to .30-06 and 8mm Mauser.

I hope your range plan works. Nothing like walking out the door to shoot!

Mark

 

[slumlord44]

Common sense usually prevails. Be nice but asking permission is the wrong thing to do. What do you do if they say no? I have been in my location before all my neighbors and most also shoot and or hunt so no problem. Closest house (1/4 mile away) is now for sale and I plan to have a friendly conversation with whoever buys it early on to avoid any problems. There is a town near me that has had a dirt track stock racing track since the '40's and newcomers constantly complain. Sorry but they should have checked it out before. Sort of like the fool who buys a house next to the river and bitches because he gets flooded.

 

[bldsmith]

Our range uses barrels as suppressors at the line. These are 2 55gal drums one end cut out. line the barrel with insulation and hardware cloth to hold the insulation in place. Heavy duty insulation not the cotton candy stuff. Put the barrels end to end, open ends together. Cut a rectangular hole in the ends preferably in line with each other. Now mount on a stand where you can sit at the bench and shoot through the barrels. It absorbs much of the noise. Rather than a sharp crack it gives a dull thud. Makes a big difference in noise but does not affect accuracy. The only real drawback is when I shoot my 338 winmag through it the pressure wave blows back into my face. If I am wearing a hat it blows it off. But it only happens with the 338 though. So wear your glasses.

 

[justice06rr]

Personally I think its not your neighbors business if you shoot on your own property as long as you do it safely and legally.

But a little courtesy goes a long way . Let them know if you desire, and assure them you are shooting in a safe manner and not towards any other homes.

I shoot at a friend's house/backyard and his closest neighbors are only about 100 yards away. Fortunately they are ok with the noise.

Be considerate with when you shoot; not to early in the morning to wake them up, and nothing past dinner or too late in the evening.

 

[Davek1977]

If I were planning to have a shooting range on my property, which I have, I wouldn't buy a home with neighbors

That simply isn't an option for some people for various reasons. Yes, that would be IDEAL, but not always realistic.

 

[redneck2]

I'm in this situation right now. Just bought a house with 5 acres. Gonna set up a range. For rifle, I'm thinking of bolting maybe 5-10 car tires side by side and shooting thru the center. Saw that here some time ago. Should act like an over sized suppressor.

 

[TRX]

Introduce yourself to your neighbors, tell them something like "I do some target shooting, and I wanted to let you know so you wouldn't think it was poachers or gangbangers from the city or something", and perhaps invite them to come over and join you sometime.

Often, just a modicum of politeness and courtesy will go a long way.

 

[tarosean]

Ive stopped shooting at my home because of the neighbors. Their horses and one of mine are deathly afraid of gunfire. Fortunately its cheaper to go to the range than pay huge vet bills.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I live in an area that was once rural enough that we set up a bench rest etc. on a neighbors farm. We had no problems for several years until the adjoining properties began to get developed. The noise of course was the original complaint from the neighbors but the houses being built put an end to our private shooting. I had several good years of deer hunting on the property especially during archery season but sadly that came to pass also.
Things won't stay the same forever but that's the price of "progress".

 

[HexHead]

Get some suppressors for your favorite guns. Then you won't annoy the neighbors with your other guns as often.