Shotgun pellet flight distance?

MD

MD

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I go way out into Boundary Bay in Delta and though I prefer to shoot towards the water, sometimes the birds fly between me and the dike. I have a hide about 500 metres out. If I shoot BBs towards the dike will they reach it? I don't want to shower a cyclist or dog walker with spent steel pellets.
 
Probably not.

The numbers shown on this chart seem about right. If lead won't make it, steel definitely will not.

shotgunloaddistances.jpg
 
Depends if the wind is at your back when shooting towards the dyke.
What do the regs say about shooting towards the dyke?
I'm pretty sure it is within the first 100M , but have been wrong in the past.
Btw MD Snowies in 10k flock at the West end of 28th Ave in Ladner and no I dont know who farms it, but am sure your buddy does know.
Rob
 
FLHTCUI said:
Depends if the wind is at your back when shooting towards the dyke.
What do the regs say about shooting towards the dyke?
I'm pretty sure it is within the first 100M , but have been wrong in the past.
Btw MD Snowies in 10k flock at the West end of 28th Ave in Ladner and no I dont know who farms it, but am sure your buddy does know.
Rob
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Have to be 150 metres away from the dike
 
I doubt they'd be harmful (though eyes are sensitive) but #2 lead shot according to chart will exceed 330y, steel shot of the same size will have less density so will lose velocity sooner: given your BBs will be somewhere between #2 and #0 you're looking at a hypothetical range of 1800' or 600y. Personally I'm not convinced of the figures as I've experimentally fired shells long distance to see where pellets landed and am more inclined to accept a distance further than published. I'd suggest trying a few rounds at various angles of elevation when no one is on the dyke and observe where the pellets land. Your concern is warranted in that while no one should be in danger, someone will likely spaz and your day be ruined.

I expect the published "maximum range" is achieved shooting thirty degree elevation: lower and higher angle of elevation will mean less horizontal distance traveled and of course wind will influence the range.
 
New Camper said:
I doubt they'd be harmful (though eyes are sensitive) but #2 lead shot according to chart will exceed 330y, steel shot of the same size will have less density so will lose velocity sooner: given your BBs will be somewhere between #2 and #0 you're looking at a hypothetical range of 1800' or 600y. Personally I'm not convinced of the figures as I've experimentally fired shells long distance to see where pellets landed and am more inclined to accept a distance further than published. I'd suggest trying a few rounds at various angles of elevation when no one is on the dyke and observe where the pellets land. Your concern is warranted in that while no one should be in danger, someone will likely spaz and your day be ruined.

I expect the published "maximum range" is achieved shooting thirty degree elevation: lower and higher angle of elevation will mean less horizontal distance traveled and of course wind will influence the range.
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Thank you. The dike is sparsely but regularly used, meaning I see few people on it, but at the same time, a very slow trickle of users.

As I said, I much prefer to just avoid shooting in that direction at all.
 
TrollGRG said:
Even if the "citizens" are well beyond range, there will be someone who will complain and say you were shooting at them. That is the "woke" society.
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I wouldn't generalize like that. There are all kinds of people who cycle, walk, walk their dogs and jog there. I'm sure they have as many varied opinions about things as most people. I wouldn't assume they are all "woke."

People who use those dikes know very well there are hunters out on the flats. I've met them while walking up onto the dike path from the beach and people generally say a polite hello.
 
the spank said:
Man it's so nice not having to deal with that kind of hunting any longer.....
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You know, in a metropolitan area with a population of 2.4 million people, we are pretty darn lucky to have such excellent waterfowling nearby. I have not always been an urban dweller, I grew up in a small coastal village, later had my 10 acres in the bush, raised my own animals, built my own place, yadayada, but now I live in the city.

In 40 minutes I can be at any number of prime waterfowl hunting spots. Last week I was out where I wrote about and for kilometres and kilometres on either side of me I saw not a single other hunter, just many thousands of ducks.
 
MD said:
You know, in a metropolitan area with a population of 2.4 million people, we are pretty darn lucky to have such excellent waterfowling nearby. I have not always been an urban dweller, I grew up in a small coastal village, later had my 10 acres in the bush, raised my own animals, built my own place, yadayada, but now I live in the city.

In 40 minutes I can be at any number of prime waterfowl hunting spots. Last week I was out where I wrote about and for kilometres and kilometres on either side of me I saw not a single other hunter, just many thousands of ducks.
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Not to mention the Surrounding Coastal Mountains and to the South West the San Jaun Islands and Southern Gulf Islands too, eh MD?
Rob
 
MD said:
Thank you. The dike is sparsely but regularly used, meaning I see few people on it, but at the same time, a very slow trickle of users.

As I said, I much prefer to just avoid shooting in that direction at all.
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That'd be the same caution with which I would also err: but I'd pop off a few test rounds... it'd be satisfying to see the splash down a hundred yards inside the dyke and the subsequent knowledge that you can engage the odd bird you encounter that side. I've been in the splash down zone of guys hunting: my only concern is for my eyes but otherwise I know the pellets are harmless... that particular distance was not even 200y so was a more direct fire rather than the indirect fire you'd send for pellets to reach 0.5km : I figure he was oblivious to my presence until I started shooting several minutes afterward.
 
To remove all doubt, pick a calm day and get your binos out, scan it for dogs and humans and then take a shot at the base of the dike, then if the steel pellets fall short a few more while elevating the barrel as if shooting at a bird. If through the binos you see pellets hitting the water near the dike, you'll know it's in range. It seems very doubtful but you never know, and remember a tail wind will carry them a little further, if very weakly.

And I see New Camper already suggested that. Oh well, two opinions, no harm in that surely.
 
New Camper said:
That'd be the same caution with which I would also err: but I'd pop off a few test rounds... it'd be satisfying to see the splash down a hundred yards inside the dyke and the subsequent knowledge that you can engage the odd bird you encounter that side. I've been in the splash down zone of guys hunting: my only concern is for my eyes but otherwise I know the pellets are harmless... that particular distance was not even 200y so was a more direct fire rather than the indirect fire you'd send for pellets to reach 0.5km : I figure he was oblivious to my presence until I started shooting several minutes afterward.
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Yeah, I've been dusted before too.
 
MD said:
I wouldn't generalize like that. There are all kinds of people who cycle, walk, walk their dogs and jog there. I'm sure they have as many varied opinions about things as most people. I wouldn't assume they are all "woke."

People who use those dikes know very well there are hunters out on the flats. I've met them while walking up onto the dike path from the beach and people generally say a polite hello.
Click to expand...

Agree. I remember one time hunting geese in PEI. A few ralleys and the next thing a truck is coming up the field and the guys gets out and says OK which one of you boys has the 10ga
Your pellets are landing on the roof of the metal barn and scaring my cows. We said all three of us LOL
That was like 500 yards away
Cheers
 
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