Home Range Etiquette

[Sav .250]

If everything is legal....great.

Never hurts to be a good neighbor................

 

[Fleetman]

We do have one neighbor 300 yrds away that works nights and she says although she can hear the gunfire, it doesn't bother her, but, we also respect her sleep schedule....she told us she sleeps from 6am until noon and then from 7pm until 9pm....so we're good to shoot from noon until 7. She has told us numerous times to not limit ourselves but we feel it's the right thing to do.

When we first opened our range and before we knew her, she came down to see what was going on with full-auto firearms....she didn't have a problem with it but said it sounded like someone was having fun and she didn't want to miss out.....that's how we met!

 

[Warp]

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.

I believe that is technically illegal...need a tax stamp and all that for a suppressor. (srs) Though I know a lot of people do that and I haven't heard of anybody going down for it...I don't trust 'them' that much though...IANAL

I guess that works so long as all you do is shoot from the bench.

I'd be bored out of my mind just sitting on the bench

 

[buck460XVR]

Over the years I have been fortunate to have several "home" ranges. Safety was always my first concern after finding out everything was legal. Then came neighbors concerns. What I found is talking to local law enforcement first, before the shooting(and the complaints) starts, works better than having them pull into your driveway after the neighbors plead their side. Also, letting neighbors know that the shooting is nothing to be concerned about works better than them hearing what may sound like a Bonnie and Clyde shootout. Letting them know that you have talked to the local LEA and have gotten the green light from them, helps to reassure that what you are doing is not only safe, but legal, and that making a phone call or coming over and screaming in your face is out of place. They are your neighbors and you will have to deal with them for a long time. Tis better to start off on the right foot as opposed to making resentment as your initial introduction.

 

[wabashman]

Makes me glad that I live at the closest 1/2 mile from the nearest neighbor. Add in the fact that all my neighbors are older 50+ I've yet to have any issues with shooting at my residence.

But then again, even if any of the did complain the LEO wouldn't have any issues as the backstop is more than adequate (double layer of railroad ties with stacks of logs behind that).

But on topic...being that close to the neighbors I probably wouldn't even consider shooting on my residence unless it was a 22 with a suppressor or an air/pellet rifle. Being they are within 100-500 yards that's just to close for comfort IMO.

 

[Potatohead]

Over the years I have been fortunate to have several "home" ranges. Safety was always my first concern after finding out everything was legal. Then came neighbors concerns. What I found is talking to local law enforcement first, before the shooting(and the complaints) starts, works better than having them pull into your driveway after the neighbors plead their side. Also, letting neighbors know that the shooting is nothing to be concerned about works better than them hearing what may sound like a Bonnie and Clyde shootout. Letting them know that you have talked to the local LEA and have gotten the green light from them, helps to reassure that what you are doing is not only safe, but legal, and that making a phone call or coming over and screaming in your face is out of place. They are your neighbors and you will have to deal with them for a long time. Tis better to start off on the right foot as opposed to making resentment as your initial introduction.

Good post Buck.

 

[Zeke/PA]

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.

Thankfully, my Gun Club is only 10 minutes away but the club is subject to certain ordanences mostly regarding noise. No shooting till noon on Sundays, no shooting before 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM in the summer. Our club officers STRICTLY enforce these rules actually to everyone's benefit.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Thankfully, my Gun Club is only 10 minutes away but the club is subject to certain ordanences mostly regarding noise. No shooting till noon on Sundays, no shooting before 10:00 AM or after 7:00 PM in the summer. Our club officers STRICTLY enforce these rules actually to everyone's benefit.

 

[wabashman]

The whole no shooting after 7 pm would be a deal breaker for me. I can understand not allowing shooting after or before a certain time, but that should be 8 or 9 PM not 7. Where I'm from one could not get home from work, change, gather their range items and get to the range and leave more than 30 minutes of shooting time left.

However, I do have respect for a GC that sets rules and actually enforces them. Especially ones that allow the GC to remain in business and not forced to close due to cry baby people.

 

[MikeS.]

I'd tell them that I'd be doing some shooting on my property on occasion.

 

[MtnCreek]

Tell the new neighbors you've just purchased the land next door and you're thinking about either building a personal range for some shooting or maybe putting in some chicken houses. See if they have any opinions.

 

[TenDriver]

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-

If they're shooting bottle rockets at one another, those things can get pretty exciting....

 

[buck460XVR]

While a proper berm is important, what's directly behind the berm is important too. In both of the "home" ranges I have now, behind the shooting area, there is a bluff/steep hillside raising up several hundred feet. Even bullets that make it outta the berm do not make it off the property unless the gun is shot directly skyward. Even over the bluffs, there is no dense populations for several miles. All the berm in the world will mean nuttin' to your neighbor if he can look outta his upstairs bedroom window over the berm and directly at your shooting bench. Same goes for a town or sub-division directly behind your berm. Just having a few acres does not make a safe place to shoot a high amount of rounds. Shoot enough rounds at any berm/backstop and sooner or later a ricochet will make it out. I've had target stands, bowling pins or even the dirt in front of the berm send a flyer off into the hill behind the targets. Would not have been a good thing it it was a house or barn instead.

 

[Warp]

Makes me glad that I live at the closest 1/2 mile from the nearest neighbor. Add in the fact that all my neighbors are older 50+ I've yet to have any issues with shooting at my residence.

But then again, even if any of the did complain the LEO wouldn't have any issues as the backstop is more than adequate (double layer of railroad ties with stacks of logs behind that).

But on topic...being that close to the neighbors I probably wouldn't even consider shooting on my residence unless it was a 22 with a suppressor or an air/pellet rifle. Being they are within 100-500 yards that's just to close for comfort IMO.

I would be a bit concerned about a stray round going over that backstop

 

[wabashman]

I would be a bit concerned about a stray round going over that backstop

From where I shoot it is at a downward angle. I usually shoot from my porch with for the rifles and there's enough elevation change that the targets are at my knees. When shooting pistol they are about at waist height.

That picture is taken from the left side where I don't shoot from due to the upward angle I'd have to shoot at. All the shooting is being done from the right side.

But I am working on raising the height of it. Just need to find some more railroad ties.

 

[wabashman]

Here's a picture more close to where I shoot from. The porch is still another 3 feet higher in elevation.

 

[Warp]

I'd love to be able to shoot on my property.

Don't take it for granted...that's really nice to be able to do.

Slightly jealous

 

[Schwing]

In my home town, we used to target shoot and hunt quail in our back yards. As the town grew, they outlawed that but we could still shoot in the foothills... those are now covered in Mcmansions from all of the people who fled CA but now want to turn UT into CA.

Even our range is in danger. It has been in operations since 1918 but the folks buying the ritzy homes around it are always complaining about the sound. It is really frustrating since this has been my home for more than 40 years. I have moved around and always came back. These days, I think a nice hobby farm in WY is looking pretty good

 

[OH_Spartan]

Maybe some one already said this, but dont under estimate the power of peer pressure and familiarity. I live on the country. Any given sunny day it sounds like a shooting gallery. I had a colleague from germany over for dinner (and shooting). He commented on every gunshot he heard, though one else even noticed. Given the population that lives in my area, any proposal to limit shooting would be met with such resistance it wouldnt make it to a vote.

Invite your neighbors to shoot. Ask your neighbors if any of the other neighbors shoot. Volunteer to help them build their back stop. Offer to teach their kids a gun safety class. Etc.

If they are concerned with noise ask for comparisons (atv's, barking dogs, lawn equipment, etc.). You may find that a 4,000 round day is offensive, but trying 50 rounds of a new reload isnt.

My last two cents....always be safe, always be respectful and keep your range free from trash.

I love my home range and wouldnt really get to shoot much without it.

 

[Chuck R.]

Like others I have my own range that runs from 30yds out to 500. I have 2 neighbors, one within 300 yards the other is 1/2 mile away. The close neighbor shoots off his back deck, the far neighbor is a non-shooter. Both have been invited out to shoot and more importantly to see how my range is set up.

Before buying our 80 acres, I checked the zoning, and more importantly the terrain, as one of my prime objectives was to build a range, so I wanted a hill for a backstop. Face it, no one wants to live next to a range, so I make it a point to only shoot at reasonable times and not too often. I'll have groups out from work, or the guys I shoot IDPA with, and we'll limit the sessions to a few hours.

Legally, based on zoning, I can do as I please, but that's not the neighborly thing to do.

Pistol range berm



385m Turkey



Bench



The rifle targets are shot from higher elevation downward, and I own the hill beyond the target berms.

Chuck

 

[bhk]

I have had several home ranges over the years. Fortunately, in my neck of the woods this is not a problem. Everyone seems to shoot, run four wheelers, operate combines, and run grain dryers. Lots of stuff in the country is noisy, not just guns. Never thought to ask a neighbor before shooting, but I do care care about when I shoot. I am retired, so I can shoot during the day when my closest neighbors are at work. I also never shoot when any close neighbors seem to be having ourside parties or family 'get togethers.' My shooting sessions are also generally short because I can shoot daily if I want to and don't have to 'binge' shoot as some folks do when going to a range is a big deal (packing everything up, driving a distance, scheduling the trip, etc.).

 

[Fleetman]

We were shooting our .50BMG and the Pa State Police showed up. They said they had a report of someone setting off dynamite.....I showed them our range and the rifle and offered to let them take a shot if they wanted to.....after a box of ammo, they left.....with big grins on their faces!

We even gave them a video of their trigger-time to take with them.....they were pretty stoked.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

I live in Las Vegas. I've got millions of acres to shoot as I see fit right outside of town. I've got a 5 star range to go to for bench work. But when I retire I'm going to Abilene. Generally, outside of town on private acreage people can shoot if they keep the round inside their own property line. Still, I'd be more comfortable if my neighbors approve. Regardless, my concerns are over noise. I will ask my neighbors if the noise would bother them and I will ask would be neighbors if we could agree on times frames where they knew they could have some peace on a daily basis. But if they try to shut me down because they hate guns I'm going to tell them they need to stay the **** out of Texas....or Nevada for that matter. Move to freaking Canada or sumtin'!

 

[bobinoregon]

I have a pistol range and a short 85 yard rifle range at my house. Some of the neighbors are fairly close so I dont shoot before usually 11:00 am or so. Most of the time when somebody in the neighborhood starts shooting it brings the other shooters out and you'll hear guns at several places close by. A little courtesy goes a long ways.

 

[Hangingrock]

I am surrounded by farmland an woods. There are operating rock quarries in the area and occasionally they blast. On occasion the agricultural fields are worked at night. I don't complain about what others do and they don't complain about what I do. I'm not from here because it takes three generations buried in the ground to be from here.

That said I don't shoot on Saturday or Sunday. During the week I wait until after noon to shoot and finish before the working crowd returns home.

I don't ask the neighbors for permission to use my land as I see fit nor do I tell the neighbors how or what to do on their property either. None of my neighbors are bashful so if there was a problem they'd tell me.