Shooting past buildings: how far is safe?

[mwsenoj]

The home range I shoot at has a previously empty mobile home that is half way down and off to the side of our line of sight at the 400yd range. Lest I taint your opinion before you make it, I will hold off saying how far off to the side it is for now. So how far is far enough?

Note: you might answer this in yards or degrees. I have figured out both.

 

[spikedzombies]

some state laws require a certain distance from buildings or roads before your allowed to shoot, might want to verify with your local Leo or ranger.

"Sent via the Skyrim messenger service"

 

[Sport45]

a previously empty mobile home

Does that mean it's now occupied? What kind of barriers exist between the mobile home and the firing lane? Kids get around and they can pop up in places you don't expect.

 

[mwsenoj]

"Does that mean it's now occupied?" yup.

The area is open flat ground all around.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Berm it
then put in a range fan that blocks the line from firing anyway close to it

 

[mwsenoj]

Berm it
then put in a range fan that blocks the line from firing anyway close to it

A berm is not practical in this case. I still dont have an answer!

 

[General Geoff]

Rifle rounds will carry well over a mile.

If you mean how far off to the side is "safe," that depends more on angle from your firing line and not absolute distance from your target area. I wouldn't be comfortable with less than a 20 degree angle, and would be more comfortable with 30 or more degrees.

 

[Shadow 7D]

If you can berm it, can you narrow the firing line so that you can put a range fan that would prevent firing OFF the range by the furthermost spot?

look up the military idea of a range card and range stick, a range stick or whatever you care to call it is a physical stick, that when standing in the firing position stops you from traversing past it and hence out of your sector of fire. Think of the booths at a indoor range, the often have wings that block you from your neighbor and keep you on YOUR lane.

http://www.m2gun.com/fm-23-65-appendix-d-fighting-positions/

The down side is that they offer little other than a reminder to not point your gun THAT way, so short of a dug or similar shooing out of a bolt-hole or loup, where you have the narrow tunnel that prevents you from traversing off the range like this bunker,
note the echeloned (stepped) face so that the gunner can have a wider field of fire, which in your case you would be limiting, such as firing through a culvert (on a side note, you might want to investigate sound dampening or limiting techniques to prevent excessive noise)

 

[Old Shooter]

previously empty mobile home

Meaning currently occupied.

Unless the person living there is a member of your shooting group I think the best thing to do is to re-locate your ranges firing direction or go shoot someplace else.

 

[hardluk1]

This sould be a common sence issue. If you can see the trailer from where you shot ,then is viable rifle range any more. If you will not develope a brem from the traveler and safe wall by the bench area it is not safe to shot there.

 

[303tom]

If you can point a firearm at any building standing on the firing line, it`s too close...........

 

[Art Eatman]

Assuming a vacant building that's not in the line of fire, how could it be hit? Is some witch going to cast a spell whereby an MOA rifle has a bullet veer way off course? Make a 90º turn as it goes past?

 

[hardluk1]

Not Vacant now. That vacant building just out of the line of fire now has people liveing in and poop happens at times on the fireing line.

 

[Demos]

Art, I belong to an indoor range and there are gouges out of the concrete floor and walls and a few holes in the tables from people messing up and shooting where they were not supposed to. I'm sure all of those guns can hold nice groups too, but accidents happen and rounds did not end up going down range.
I would say your distance depends a lot upon what kind of shooting you are doing. If you are sitting at a bench, the building could be closer than if you were doing more "tactical" shooting. For a bench, I would want it at least 150 yards off the path of the range so that you have plenty of time to see someone leaving it before they got to your line of fire. Its also distance from occupied buildings you need to be to hunt in my state.

 

[mavracer]

Assuming a vacant building that's not in the line of fire, how could it be hit?

ric·o·chet (rĭk'ə-shā', rĭk'ə-shā')
intr.v., -cheted (-shād'), -chet·ing (-shā'ĭng), -chets (-shāz').
To rebound at least once from a surface.

 

[forindooruseonly]

A lot of it depends what you are shooting at too. At steel? Yeah, I wouldn't want them close at all. Paper with a wood frame is much more forgiving, but I still wouldn't want them close just because the potential for an accident - mechanical or human error.

No offense, but from your evasiveness on the distance, I'd say they are too close and you know it already. There's lots to think about in a case like this. If something happens, you know a lawsuit/criminal negligence issue is going to come up. Even worse, you'll have to live with the knowledge that a tragedy occurred at your range. Just IMO.

 

[CountryUgly]

Bring in a dozer and dig in if you can't haul in dirt to berm it. Several good pushes with the bucket ought to do it. Does said trailer have any holes in it from when it was empty from misguided rounds? IMO if you can see it the thing is is potentially in the line of fire and discharging a firearm there while that place is occupied isn't the best idea. If you can't put up a 10ft wall of dirt to hide it I'd have to call it quits till it's vacant again or some dirt is brought in.

 

[BCRider]

As mentioned by some already no one intends to shoot at anything but their actual target. That being said I have yet to see an indoor range that does NOT have a rather entertaining array of wall, floor and ceiling holes and gouges that are well out of the path of any possible target locations.

So I'm in the camp that says if you can see the structure anywhere within your peripheral vision while looking at your target then it is too close. You need a solid wall capable of absorbing any rounds or a berm.

 

[Haxby]

I know how I'd feel if somebody was shooting toward my house.

 

[Claude Clay]

might be work but can you move your firing line even to the now occupied dwelling?

have you spoken with them? they may want to play with you. or perhaps have it so that you phone them before you start. in CT the rule is not within 500 feet of a dwelling. but it is usually interpreted to be that the structures are 500' even with or behind the firing line.
id not feel kindly to someone throwing lead 200' off my back door. would you?

 

[Psa1m144]

Sounds like you need a new range. IMO, regardless of the local laws, if you can see it from the firing lane, it's not safe. Find a new place to shoot before someone gets hurt....please.

 

[Tinpig]

You might shoot forever and never have a problem. Or you might have a problem just the one time.
I'd find another range.

Tinpig

 

[drsfmd]

You don't have enough room to safely shoot anymore.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

If an occupied dwelling is anywhere in front of the firing line within 180 degrees, you are SOL.

rc

 

[HarcyPervin]

Very little detail here to make a decision on, so I'll put it this way. I'd not like to live in any place where I can see the "boom" end of a rifle as it is firing. You said trailer, which leads me to believe there might be wheels involved. I'd suggest putting those to use or finding a new place to shoot, or drastically upping any insurance coverage available.