Home pistol range?

pmorrill

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It is annoying to me that I can target-fire my .308 on my property, but cannot legally practice with a 9mm handgun, a much less powerful cartridge. Has anyone had success getting home ranges inspected/ok-ed for pistol practice?

I live in Ontario, on about 90 acres of wooded land in a municipality that does not have no-discharge bylaws (we hunt deer here). Although I am a member of a shooting range/club and would continue to be, I am hearing that it is possible to set up home-range privileges for restricted fire. (With an appropriate LTATT issued for that purpose I believe). The club is almost an hours drive away: it offers good socializing, facilities and such (ok coffee too), but it would be so nice to just put in an hours practice out my back door.

Does anyone have tips/horror-stories/successes about trying to do this? Maybe this thread ought to be over in the 'legalese' (moderators feel free to move it!), but it seems that the audience is here.
 
Thanks for the links. I had looked at one of the two a week ago, but on more detailed readong it appears to have much of what I need. Except, of course, a sense of whether the
 
ach! inadvertent premature-post. That never happens to me. :)

To continue: still wondering of the CFO does certify private-use pistol ranges without too much resistance - assuming that all paper work is lined up that is.

Anyone out there actually done this?
 
I don't know if this will help you as you live in Ontario, but I recently applied for and was granted a Sask gunsmith licence. While I was at it I applied for my permit to also allow me to test fire and modify restricted and non restricted weapons. It was easy to get the licence. I assume I'm covered to shoot anything but prohibited weapons on my property.
 
I own 300 acres in Ontario. Nearest neighbour is about 2miles away. Did have a Warden stop me on the road leaving once though. ;)
 
well....yeeessss....but since we aren't talking about bending any laws here (right?).... Am just curious.

I like the gunsmith idea, Spencer. I'm already blacksmith/metal-worker in some former life. Maybe that's worth an investigate.
 
Ya it's pretty stupid we can fire .308 all day long, but not a handgun. The laws should be changed to (in the very least) to being ranges and your own property where no shooting restrictions apply. That removes cities from the equation and enables rural folk the ability to shoot legally at their home. It just makes sense...
 
The ontario CFO has a detailed "guideline" for ranges.. if you build a range that meets those specs then you should have no problems.. call the CFO's office to get a copy of it.
 
ach! inadvertent premature-post. That never happens to me. :)

To continue: still wondering of the CFO does certify private-use pistol ranges without too much resistance - assuming that all paper work is lined up that is.

Anyone out there actually done this?

Yes.. I know two people who have had private ranges approved for restricted use on thier property.. again. you have to meet the CFO's detailed guidelines.
 
Hmmm have to look at it, Caljay30 lives in the Calgary, but Caljay30's parents are on the farm... grrr I doubt they would go through the hassel just so I could bring a pistol there to shoot... :(
 
The ontario CFO has a detailed "guideline" for ranges.. if you build a range that meets those specs then you should have no problems.. call the CFO's office to get a copy of it.

I believe the municipality has to approve it as well. Which means going to a council meeting and trying to convince them. The only one I know of around here was approved for a handicapped gentleman, due to difficulties of getting to a range.
 
The ontario CFO has a detailed "guideline" for ranges.. if you build a range that meets those specs then you should have no problems.. call the CFO's office to get a copy of it.

Will check this out. Thanks. I've been out with my GPS scoping the property some and am afraid that my slope are not quite up to what would be safe as a NSR (no safety-area range). They ask for 30 degrees plus slopes as background, though say they will deal with this on a case-by-case basis. Setting up a full safety-area is going to keep lots of folks from building a home-range - take a look at the templates for SA on the national site (links in 3rd post of this thread). These are the docs up on the national site I am reading, not the ones from Ont CFO: I'll take a look at those too.


The municipality 'ok' is also critical - true. (Submission of an application for a private range requires you demonstrate no municipal bylaws would be trampled)

One other item that I have heard re this subject is that at least in this province, the range is NOT a legal destination for your friends to visit with their handguns. Seems something in the wording of the standard LTATT issued by our CFO excludes a home range from the list of 'authorized' ranges. Don't know the details on that yet, but it means everyone is going to be popping your pistols when they come by. Oh well...just means I better look for a couple more :)
 
Seems something in the wording of the standard LTATT issued by our CFO excludes a home range from the list of 'authorized' ranges. Don't know the details on that yet, but it means everyone is going to be popping your pistols when they come by. Oh well...just means I better look for a couple more :)

It's it's an "approved range" Then it's good to go as per the wording my LTATT!!!!!
 
Or you could be "borrowing" their pistols...so they are at your place...then when they visit they "borrow" them back...ahhh, don't I love the loopholes of the Firearms Act...Not to hijack the thread, but to illustrate, I purchased a pistol from a fellow local GGNer and called the CFO to get a STATT...It was taking too long to process, so we both happened to visit the range that day and concluded the transfer there, abiding by the terms of our LTATTs...
 
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