Is my backyard safe for rimfire? (pic)

TangoSixNiner

TangoSixNiner

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I'm somewhat new to shooting and only have .22's and shotguns. I'm not really concerned at all about the shotguns, by am wondering if I should be concerned about firing 22lr off my property. I live out in the country with fields all around and a few farms. I ONLY fire down the arcs of fire I indicated on the picture below, and as long as they stay there it's totally safe. The only reason for concern would be from a ricochet. What's the potential direction and distance from a .22 ricochet (From a rock in the dirt)? Should I be concerned about shooting from my property or do you think I'm ok?

Backyardshooting-1.jpg
 
I Think It's Safe

What are the bylaws in your county, community, district regards shooting on your own farmland. Based on you pic I don't think you'd have an issue. A rimfire would only ricochet if it were to hit a fairly hard surface and at that the lead would start to break up.

If you really have a concern, set up a backstop (pile of dirt, bales of hay) or something similar. The only other thing I'd check is how far away you are allowed to shoot from a roadway. At your firing point, you may be to close to the roadway and need to move left.
 
waynewjw said:
What are the bylaws in your county, community, district regards shooting on your own farmland. Based on you pic I don't think you'd have an issue. A rimfire would only ricochet if it were to hit a fairly hard surface and at that the lead would start to break up.

If you really have a concern, set up a backstop (pile of dirt, bales of hay) or something similar.
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Not sure:confused:. Police have driven by and saw me shooting and not said anything though. I have heard it ricochet off rocks, but if you say it will break up, then it's less of a concern.
 
Look at your provincial firearms act and regulations and your provincial hunting regs. It's not up to us to look it up for you.
but i 'm pretty sure if you are not in any town or city limit and are shooting on your own property and are 200m(don't quote me I can't remember) away from an occupied dwelling place you are good to go. you don't need a backstop unless you are building a "shooting range"
 
crout said:
Look at your provincial firearms act and regulations and your provincial hunting regs. It's not up to us to look it up for you.
but i 'm pretty sure if you are not in any town or city limit and are shooting on your own property and are 200m(don't quote me I can't remember) away from an occupied dwelling place you are good to go. you don't need a backstop unless you are building a "shooting range"
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I wasn't asking you to look it up, but rather for your opinion based on the picture. But will do.
 
You'll be fine with those distances.

call or walk into you're local cop shop to verify that this is fine, bring your map with you as this proves the you do care about safety. Just inform them that you will be using a 22LR, and the concern on there end will lessen, at that point they will give you the run down in full, as they know you're not firing a 300 WSM or something with similar power.

I did the same here were I live, and they were strait up with me. even worked up a map similar to your's, gotta love Google maps.
 
Google maps IS quite handy.
I took your advice. Looked up local by-laws, wasn't very helpful. Called local O.P.P, they weren't any help and directed me to the RCMP Firearms Program. They weren't any help and patched me through to Chief Firearms Examiner(Officer?) not sure. They also couldn't help me so directed me to Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. They are closed due to "Local Circumstances beyond our control"....So maybe i will just walk in like l_montour suggested and ask the local OPP in person. Only thing is, if they say no go, I can never shoot here again :(
 
If you are shooting away from all homes, and control the angle of elevation you're shooting at, you'll be fine. Be sure not to shoot in the direction of the roadway, be sure noone's in the bushes to be safe, but you're biggest challenge would likely be neighbors complaining about the noise if you shoot anything bigger then rimfire, or during their BBQs.

If you're shooting at ground placed targets on level ground, it's highly unlikely that even a ricochet would travel 1000m. Don't be an ass and shoot at a high angle.

In Alberta, hunting regulations say you're bullet can't be fired or pass within 200m of a dwelling. You might be a little close to the bottom home if someone wanted to complain and actually measure out your course of fire. I assume ONT would have just as conservative rules.
 
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Don't make any assumptions about what a ricochet might or might not do. Except that it might stay together and travel some distance. That is the one you need to worry about.
 
With the possible exception of a municipal/township anti-discharge by law, I would say your completely safe to shoot in that direction.

I already assume based on your post, you won't be aiming at any 45 degree angles or anything like that and that the risk of a ricochet hurting/damaging anything is infinitesimally small.

I can't see 1000m range requiring a backstop, especially when the only thing behind it is another field.
 
308BAR said:
Why shoot from the corner of your property? why not set up West of the silos towards the patch of square patch of green trees?
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Because then i'm shooting off my neighbors property down the road.
And no i don't shoot at anything higher then 4ft off the ground, definitely no 45 degree angle's.
The only worry with ricochet is one going off towards the dairy barns 455m away

Thanks
 
"...You'll be fine with those distances..." Nope. A .22 LR is dangerous out to several miles. A ricochet won't go that far, but any bullet that doesn't hit something will.
If you don't own the land where the red dot you're measuring from is, you'll need permission just to be there.
 
sunray said:
"...You'll be fine with those distances..." Nope. A .22 LR is dangerous out to several miles. A ricochet won't go that far, but any bullet that doesn't hit something will.
If you don't own the land where the red dot you're measuring from is, you'll need permission just to be there.
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Nope, maximum range of a 22 lr is around 1.5 miles, not several

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22_Long_Rifle

Thats the maximum travel range, you can also see that 370 meters, the velocity is around 500 ft/sec, a typical airgun.

Having a shooting arc with a range of 1000 meters is more than suitable, given the shooter already admitted he won't be firing on any crazy 45 degree angles.

I would say, although not supported by empirical evidence, shots fired on a level plain are only dangerous to around 400 meters maximum. Ricochets are a non-issue based on the diagram the OP provided. And no, don't ask me to stand 400 m away from someone level shooting a 22lr, this is just my gut feeling based on my .22 experience.
 
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sunray said:
If you don't own the land where the red dot you're measuring from is, you'll need permission just to be there.
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I do own that land, its the edge of our property (the small house by the red square.) I also have permission to shoot on the land south of me with the field and grain elevators. :)
 
Always be sure of your target and beyond. Set up a good backstop and have some fun. Do you guys down East check every rule and regulation if you want to pee in the bush?:rolleyes: Use some common sense and you will be fine.
 
jjackman said:
If you are shooting away from all homes, and control the angle of elevation you're shooting at, you'll be fine. Be sure not to shoot in the direction of the roadway, be sure noone's in the bushes to be safe, but you're biggest challenge would likely be neighbors complaining about the noise if you shoot anything bigger then rimfire, or during their BBQs.

If you're shooting at ground placed targets on level ground, it's highly unlikely that even a ricochet would travel 1000m. Don't be an ass and shoot at a high angle.

In Alberta, hunting regulations say you're bullet can't be fired or pass within 200m of a dwelling. You might be a little close to the bottom home if someone wanted to complain and actually measure out your course of fire. I assume ONT would have just as conservative rules.
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it is ok in bc if it is your house
 
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