Home Range Respectful Distance from Neighbors?

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FullEffect1911

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I have set up a home range on my my parent's land, it is zoned agricultural and I have a suitable backstop. I am well within my legal right to shoot at this range but I can't help but feel I am being a bad neighbor.

What do you think is a respectful distance from neighbors to have a private shooting range and still be a good neighbor? I have little to no intention to shoot more then 200 rounds a week in either one or multiple sessions. Also in my case the distance between the range and their houses is mostly fields with a line of pine trees intervening.

I've talked to the neighbors about it and they don't seem to mind (in fact I've shot there for a few years now), I am just wondering what a few other opinions might be?
 
Good for you for talking to your neighbors! That'll go further than just about any advice anyone might give. Too many folks seem to take the attitude of,"It's my right, that's the sound of freedom, and if you don't like it, move back to the city!"

As far as I'm concerned, there are two seperate things here. One is the distance for safety reasons. Assuming you have that worked out, then it's more about noise. That depends a lot on the terrain, what you are shooting, and even the weather. Too many variables.

One thing to consider is that shooting for an hour and a half saturday afternoon might be less obtrusive than shooting for 15 minutes every day at dinner time. I'd just go talk to your neighbors. Take over some cookies, a six-pack, or whatever you do in your neck of the woods, let them know you'd like to be a good neighbor and talk to them about it. Heck, you might even invite them over if you are so inclined. Give them a card with your number on it and say, "Just give me a call if the noise bothers you."
 
Gunfire is just one of the facts of "country" life.

It sounds like your neighbors aren't concerned, but if you're really worried you could always get some sound suppressors for your guns. After all, it's the "neighborly" thing to do. :D
 
What I attempt to do, is shoot the rounds that I want, in one short session. Maybe 1/2 hour or so. Then I am done for the day. (there are exceptions)


I Might repeat it every other day or so, but I try not to drag out the duration.

Another approach is to sync up with the other shooters around you - if one guy starts shooting, everybody joins in! Then get it over with.

If you ask the neighbors, you might not get the answer you want - especially if you talk to 2-3-4 of them.
 
I've been shooting in my backyard since 1967. At that time there were no neighbors.
Now there are neighbors all around and as close as 150 feet.

My place is also a licensed heliport.
So, if you move next to a shooting range or airport don't complain about the noise.:D

To my knowledge no one has ever complained about the noise (I average shooting 5 days, and evenings, a week).


If I were going to build a new range I would pay the neighbors a visit.
I would tell them what I'm going to do and show them the safety precautions I would follow.
I would also ask them if, in the interest of being a good neighbor, there were times they would rather I didn't shoot, like they may sleep in Sunday morning.
Head off trouble before there is any.


A couple years ago new neighbors bought the land across the road and built a very nice (high dollar) horse ranch.
The first time I met the new neighbors the lady asked,
"Are you the one that does all the shooting?"
"That's me".
"Would you teach me to shoot?"

And I did.

This led to me teaching lady friends of hers and I'm still teaching new lady friends of friends. A new one today.:)
 
You can hang a double thickness of canvas farm tarp up to the side of your shooting station between you and the neighbor and reduce the noise level they experience considerably.
 
One is the distance for safety reasons. Assuming you have that worked out, then it's more about noise.
Click to expand...

In my case I am concerned about noise. My nearest neighbor is about 500 yards away and there would be only about 5 or so houses that I would think have a somewhat valid claim of my shooting being annoying.

I have invited them and we are on good terms with all of them.

It sounds like your neighbors aren't concerned, but if you're really worried you could always get some sound suppressors for your guns. After all, it's the "neighborly" thing to do.
Click to expand...

I did actually do exactly that, the AR15 is much more neighborly now. :)

What I attempt to do, is shoot the rounds that I want, in one short session. Maybe 1/2 hour or so. Then I am done for the day. (there are exceptions)


I Might repeat it every other day or so, but I try not to drag out the duration.
Click to expand...

That might fit my situation better as well, maybe one longer session a week as opposed to multiple sessions a week or day.

You can hang a double thickness of canvas farm tarp up to the side of your shooting station between you and the neighbor and reduce the noise level they experience considerably.
Click to expand...

Great Idea! I already have the heavy canvas too. I will need to test this out.


I am probably over thinking this one.

Thanks for the replies so far.
 
I shoot on family owned land about every weekend. The neighbors do not care and find it normal. Funny thing is when I start shooting... so do the neighbors. And that is the beginning to an all day orchestra of gunfire. Someone did call the police once, but the Tannerite was pretty loud and out of the norm :)
 
What you're shooting plays a part. I shoot a 45 and 22 about 100 yards from my parents house. If their windows are closed they won't hear me shooting. A high powered rifle would be a different story.
 
Funny thing is when I start shooting... so do the neighbors.
Click to expand...
Here to, especially on the weekend.
There's 6-7 neighbors that shoot and that doesn't include the Dove hunters. Doesn't bother me as long as I don't hear bullets zinging through the air.
 
What you're shooting plays a part. I shoot a 45 and 22 about 100 yards from my parents house.
Click to expand...

I usually shoot mostly .22 and 9mm (130 PF reloads). My 20 gauge doesn't seem a whole lot louder then the 9mm either.

The 5.56 was very loud (as expected) which is why I got the suppressor. It doesn't take away the super sonic crack, but it brings the noise down to a "just needing ear plugs level"

Funny thing is when I start shooting... so do the neighbors.
Click to expand...

I've had this happen with the more distant neighbors. I kinda get a kick out it, like I'm helping get people more practice. :)
 
Talking to current neighbors is the only consideration needed. Being sensable as to when you shoot will go a long way toward continued indifference from them.

The move in's will invariably be where issues arrise, usally it comes as an addition that is put in by a developer and the people that bought a 1/8 - 1/4 acre seem to think they have a say in what goes on, on the abutting property:banghead:

Happened on our farm with a development building right up to the west side of our land. One lady stoped me harrowing feilds to inform me she had just cleaned her house and I needed to stop because the dust was getting inside.:eek:

Several also thought that they and their kids should be able to walk, ride dirt bikes, and 4-wheelers in our feilds and woods I guess because they bought property next to it:scrutiny:

The real fun started the first spring when I started to target shoot:D You would have thought the world was ending, they tried everything to have this crazy idea of a farmer shooting guns or hunting on his own property stopped.

I guess it was a little mean but that fall when the big buck that they had trained to come to their feeding station (and area of my feild that they threw corn and treats in, ruining aproximately 1/2 acre of crop due to the deer feeding) walked another 50 yards out into my feild I nailed him to the spot and waved at them while I was gutting him :evil:

Eventually most of the OH MY GOD types moved and the rest have learned that an active farm; makes noise, has unplesant smells at times, is dirty, and often there is hunting/target practice.

The ones with 1/2 of an actual IQ drove around to the farm and are now avid shooters at my little range back by the creek, some even learned to hunt-- well as good as city folk can :p.
 
ghoster,

Your story cracked me up. Reminds me of a friend's experience with his new neighbor. Friend was raised on his 80 farm. New neighbor plants a large, nice garden home on small plot nearby. New guy never waves/greets/says howdy the whole time.

The first "semi-contact" with the new guy is when my friend is told by a buddy of his on the county commision that the new guy is trying to lodge an official complaint about his "nasty, filthy, smelly hog pen" :)

Of course this complaint fell on deaf, laughing ears. New hog pen is now located closer to the garden home. :evil:
 
FullEffect1911 said:
I am probably over thinking this one.
Click to expand...


I think you are "over thinking it" a bit, since you already talked to your neighbors, and they don't seem to have a problem.

The noise abatement advice is interesting, and might be a good idea if there is a problem.

When you shoot, as someone else pointed out can also have an effect upon your neighbors.
 
The first time I fired my M16 on full auto the law stopped by. They had no idea what paperwork I handed them.

A week later 3 deputies stopped by and shot my 50 BMG and a number of other weapons.
 
Hello friends and neighbors // If the noise becomes a problem and you have access to several (6-7) 15" or larger tires I'd use a tire baffle.

Either make a stand to set the tires on or hang them and shoot thru the center.
Shooting with the muzzle of the rifle fully inside the first tire reduces the report of a .30-06 to that of a .22 when standing just a few yards away.

Other than being mosquito and wasps magnets the tires are great sound reducers.
 
West Virginia has a law that a firearm can not be discharged within 500 ft. of a dwelling. That I suppose is for noise.
 
FullEffect1911 said:
I've talked to the neighbors about it and they don't seem to mind (in fact I've shot there for a few years now), I am just wondering what a few other opinions might be?
Click to expand...

The closer you lived to me the better! I would love it if you had a range next door to me..... if I could shoot there too!

I was shooting in my backyard. The neighbor came over from about 300 yards away and not it the line of fire and told me it was illegal to shoot on my property and my shooting was making her dogs "freak out". I told her I would check on it.

I googled it. Damn if my property wasn't 42 yards inside a 500 yard no shooting zone around a lake.... :scrutiny:

oh well....

I only rent, BTW.
 
Gunfire is just one of the facts of "country" life.
Click to expand...


+1
I would think it strange on a Saturday if I didn't hear gunfire. I think a neighbor down the street shoots CAS because he's always shooting steel plates at the end of the month. (CAS matches are the first Sat of every month here). I've been meaning to go introduce myself but haven't gotten around to it yet. Could end up making a new shootin buddy. Ya never know
 
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