How far do you think BB sized shot will go?

powerbaitron

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I am not looking for the it doesn’t hurt past 100 meters comments... I am curious to see how far you think it will go? I have seen multiple hunters shooting towards roads, highways and farms within close range. Ever wonder why it gets harder to get permission?

Personally, I do not shoot towards any structure within 600 m. While I believe at the perfect upward angle and wind it is possible for shot to rain down out to close to 400 m.
 
From https://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/content/downloads. I wouldn't take this as gospel but it seems like reasonable estimates.

Shot-Ranges.jpg
 
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Don't know anything about this myself, but have heard a story from someone claiming they were in the 400 m range away from some hunters and were showered with bird shot.

I'm not even sure how the etiquette works at that point, how can you see if someone is walking in the next field 400 m away? What if there is a tree line 350 m away from where you shoot and someone is walking 50 m on the other side of that? Yes of course if it is a structure or road its obvious and your responsibility to know that... Honest question, not much of a hunter other than grouse once or twice a year, with which the shot just goes into the ground.
 
400meters is my absolute minimum. Done 300 before but I was hunting with landowner and he thought I was nuts that shot could hit his barn from there.


Although another time in 70km/h winds i could hear shot rain down on barn roof that was at least 400meters away, I think shot was getting pushed down in the wind. It was an old abandoned barn and we didn't hear shot hit it everytime. 7 hunters so it was a lot of shot.
 
Don't know anything about this myself, but have heard a story from someone claiming they were in the 400 m range away from some hunters and were showered with bird shot.

I'm not even sure how the etiquette works at that point, how can you see if someone is walking in the next field 400 m away? What if there is a tree line 350 m away from where you shoot and someone is walking 50 m on the other side of that? Yes of course if it is a structure or road its obvious and your responsibility to know that... Honest question, not much of a hunter other than grouse once or twice a year, with which the shot just goes into the ground.

I always make sure i will not allow my shot to travel within 200 m of any unknown. In Alberta, it cannot cross onto an adjacent piece of land or fall within 200 m. Better to be safe than sorry.
 
It’s an interesting topic to consider. I find it is an uphill battle with some hunters and that’s why I hunt with a select few. I don’t need the hassle of ticking any landowners or bark bitters off.
 
Don't know anything about this myself, but have heard a story from someone claiming they were in the 400 m range away from some hunters and were showered with bird shot.

I'm not even sure how the etiquette works at that point, how can you see if someone is walking in the next field 400 m away? What if there is a tree line 350 m away from where you shoot and someone is walking 50 m on the other side of that? Yes of course if it is a structure or road its obvious and your responsibility to know that... Honest question, not much of a hunter other than grouse once or twice a year, with which the shot just goes into the ground.

I've been in this scenario, on the other side of a slough, hunting ducks, not a pleasant experience and you keep your head down, so you don't get one in the eye.

Grizz
 
Not quite what OP asked about, but had read about old British shotgunners - when new shipment of loaded ammo arrived, would go out into pond on calm day and shoot straight up, then wait for the shot to rain back down on them - time between firing and shot fall allowed them to compare this year's batch of ammo to previous year's ammo... I presume going up propelled by powder, and coming back propelled by gravity - getting "hit" did not seem to be a concern to them??
 
Not quite what OP asked about, but had read about old British shotgunners - when new shipment of loaded ammo arrived, would go out into pond on calm day and shoot straight up, then wait for the shot to rain back down on them - time between firing and shot fall allowed them to compare this year's batch of ammo to previous year's ammo... I presume going up propelled by powder, and coming back propelled by gravity - getting "hit" did not seem to be a concern to them??


Because it’s not. Been hit by falling shot many times. Can hardly feel it. Certainly nothing to be concerned about.
 
We get hit by our own shot all the time. Feels and sounds like rain.

For a suitable fee and a limited time I’ll stand at 400 meters and let you shoot at me with birdshot.

The game warden will sure care if someone calls and complains its raining down on an acreage, car, highway, dog walker ect.. no one is arguing it loses its energy at maximum range, rather the act of it going that far and the legal consequences.

If shot rains down at 400m then in Alberta you could not shoot within 600 m of a dwelling as no projectile may pass within 200m of a property withlut permission. I have come across many who think this means if they are 201 m away they can shoot right at a road, subdivision ect...
 
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I know it will kill at a much higher altitude than I ever thought possible. I was on a fly-way goose shoot one time, shooting at a flock well within range when a poor unsuspecting goose probably 4 time further than I would consider "in range" that I hadn't even seen before I pulled the trigger on the other birds. Never really noticed the bird until it folded like it was hit with a hammer...no set wings or gliding, straight down...probably one pellet in the head under the chin strap we thought. That bird hit the ground, back first, with such force it bust wide open on the breast.
 
A friend of mine was frustrated with magpies screeching one cold, -30ish, January morning. He and his neighbours had an agreement about shooting pests and predators within their properties. After blasting a few birds, he found out later in the day he had to replace some siding that shattered on the neighbouring property. The houses are at least 600 metres apart. It seems awfully far but the shot carried the entire distance.
 
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