Recreational shooting on your property?

[TKTech]

I am in the works of purchasing 7 acres with a house in Suffolk,VA in the whaleyville area. Will I be able to go and shoot in my back yard? There are about 2 acres cleared and the other 5 are wooded. looking at google earth, there is about 1000 yrds of trees in the direction i'd be shooting. Just curious if there are any laws against it, and any other info/insight would be appreciated, Thanks.

[gunderwood]

It depends on your county (if your within city limits your likely SOL). I am not familiar with Suffolk, VA, but that is where you need to look.

[Diomed]

Yes, it's (almost) entirely a function of local laws. I believe Suffolk was attempting to enact a de facto ban on ranges in the county, you may want to look into that, particularly if it passes.

I would think you'll need a substantial backstop even if the property behind you is unoccupied, since it's usually considered impolite to send bullets into someone else's property...

[TKTech]

Thanks for the replies, we went to look at the house again this weekend and got talking to the neighbor, He said he hunts his 7 acres , and produced an 8 pointer this last season. he said he shoots regularly, I was pretty happy to hear that.

[kanata67]

In FL but most still applies.
in city limits = SOL
rural zoning you should be ok.
The retired firefighter whom I shoot with occasionally did the following on his 10 acres...
1st... talk to the neighbors. They don't mind PROVIDED he stops shooting by 5pm and doesn't start till 9am... kinda common decency if you ask me. Granted nobody minds a single round in the middle of the night and free venison, but that's different than a 30 rd clip at 3am.
2nd... He build a firing blockade/target holder. Railroad ties stacked 8 high in a pentagon shape, 5x8=40 x $12 apiece for used ties =$480. The center of the pentagon is filled with sand/soil he got from his yard. He staples targets as needed when old ones are tattered, has a 100 yrd bench/rest, and his back porch is 300yrds. No shooting glass and police your brass else yard/pets might suffer. As long as you don't miss the friggin wall there are no issues, so always aim LOW when sighting in a gun for the first time or using automatics.

If you "find" railroad ties lying around it's real cheap

[Diomed]

1st... talk to the neighbors. They don't mind PROVIDED he stops shooting by 5pm and doesn't start till 9am... kinda common decency if you ask me. Granted nobody minds a single round in the middle of the night and free venison, but that's different than a 30 rd clip at 3am.

Many folks in that position find silencers to work real well for those late night plinking sessions.

[zephyp]

1st... talk to the neighbors. They don't mind PROVIDED he stops shooting by 5pm and doesn't start till 9am... kinda common decency if you ask me. Granted nobody minds a single round in the middle of the night and free venison, but that's different than a 30 rd clip at 3am.

Many folks in that position find silencers to work real well for those late night plinking sessions.

And, let me add that most of us don't condone those after dark scenarios resulting in free venison...good way to screw things up for those of us that enjoy the relatively unrestricted hunting rights we have.

[TKTech]

In FL but most still applies.
in city limits = SOL
rural zoning you should be ok.
The retired firefighter whom I shoot with occasionally did the following on his 10 acres...
1st... talk to the neighbors. They don't mind PROVIDED he stops shooting by 5pm and doesn't start till 9am... kinda common decency if you ask me. Granted nobody minds a single round in the middle of the night and free venison, but that's different than a 30 rd clip at 3am.
2nd... He build a firing blockade/target holder. Railroad ties stacked 8 high in a pentagon shape, 5x8=40 x $12 apiece for used ties =$480. The center of the pentagon is filled with sand/soil he got from his yard. He staples targets as needed when old ones are tattered, has a 100 yrd bench/rest, and his back porch is 300yrds. No shooting glass and police your brass else yard/pets might suffer. As long as you don't miss the friggin wall there are no issues, so always aim LOW when sighting in a gun for the first time or using automatics.

If you "find" railroad ties lying around it's real cheap

Didn't think of railroad ties, I know a place locally that sells them. I'll have to go see how much they are. I'm getting really excited with the idea I can just go out back and shoot, I'll be saving a lot on range fees, and be able to shoot more often. I've got a lot of trees to cut down to get the full potential of the longer range shots. They have cashed my deposit check yesterday, so the closing ball is rolling.

[kanata67]

I wasn't advocating hunting with a night vision sniper rifle... just saying that some-one I "theoretically" know who occasionally does, in season, knows how to build a firing blockade and how they did so. From what I gather it's really usefull if you let people use your home range and reload the casings they left behind... after they considerately policed them and put them in an easy to carry bucket for you. I do mention it's important to pay attention to grade, always make the berm downhill from your firing position. Safety first always. Think about where the bullet might end up if a girl who can't hit a barn wall from the inside with the doors closed, misses the berm entirely. Using 3/8 inch rebar to firm up the ties is advised, making sure they are drilled/placed in the pentagon/hexagon corners as close to the inside of the tie(s) as is reasonable without compromising the integrity of the rebar support or splitting the tie.

keep in mind you can also always call it a planter if you plant something in it.

[SgtBill]

A girl that can't hit a barn wall, not a good thing to say. I have seen many men that can't shoot worth a damn as well as lady's. Keep in mind there will always be a lady out there that will challenge you on your statement. My daughter would in a heartbeat. In her Police Department ( only 15 people) she is one of the top shooters. She shoot's an average in the high 90's and handels a Sub Machine gun very well and a shotgun is her favorite along with a .270 for deer hunting. Yes she is well versed in the art of shooting diffrent types of weapons, but to make a general statement about lady's is not a good thing.
Bill

[kanata67]

A girl that can't hit a barn wall, not a good thing to say. I have seen many men that can't shoot worth a damn as well as lady's. Keep in mind there will always be a lady out there that will challenge you on your statement. My daughter would in a heartbeat. In her Police Department ( only 15 people) she is one of the top shooters. She shoot's an average in the high 90's and handels a Sub Machine gun very well and a shotgun is her favorite along with a .270 for deer hunting. Yes she is well versed in the art of shooting diffrent types of weapons, but to make a general statement about lady's is not a good thing.
Bill

I said "a" girl, not all girls. My wife is a better shot than I am, though she hates when
I say that

[nothalfbad]

Looks like some really good suggestions. If I were going to build my own range I'd get the NRA source book on building ranges, http://materials.nrahq.org/go/product.a ... AR%2014861 . $19.95 on CD. Good luck!

[Tazguy04]

I helped a friend build a backstop for his property , we cut six tree and cut 15 foot sections out of the and started stacking them against to trees. The logs ended up 5 wide by 4 high, the then took his tractor and built but about five foot of dirt on top of it . The end result is a solid backstop that will handle everything short of a 50cal Barret round, we found that out the hard way.

[gunderwood]

The end result is a solid backstop that will handle everything short of a 50cal Barret round, we found that out the hard way.

Hmm, unless you hit it at the edges (i.e. the wood was not hit) you should have been fine. What's the story?

Edit: Did you not pack the dirt down?

[zephyp]

Edit: Did you not pack the dirt down?

Packed dirt indeed. Basic Infantry school used to teach that only 18" of packed dirt will stop the penetration of any ordnance including atomic blasts...

[damn keyboard cant spell worth crap this morning]

[SgtBill]

"18 inches would not stop a Red Ryder on steriods
LOL
Bill

[zephyp]

The demo used to be a guy prone behind 18" of packed dirt getting pounded by M-16 and M-60 fire...none of us were allowed downrange to inspect the hide...of course back then we believed and no one wondered...hind sight being 20-20... But, I'd rather have 18" of packed dirt than nothin...

[SgtBill]

For myself I would rather not be shot at or hit again, period. It hurt's.
Bill

[wally626]

From the City of Suffolk Code

ARTICLE IV. OFFENSES INVOLVING WEAPONS*
....
Sec. 54-122. Discharge.
(a) Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Densely populated area means an area extending 200 yards from the exterior boundaries of any five or more parcels or tracts, each one of which is adjacent to at least one other, each parcel or tract being one acre or less in area, and which parcels or tracts each contain a structure designed for human use.
(b) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful and constitute a class 3 misdemeanor, punishable as provided in subsection 1-14(1), for any person to:
(1) Discharge a firearm or air gun of .177 caliber or larger:
a. Within any densely populated area;
b. Within 200 yards from any structure owned by another and used for human occupancy or for business purposes, or for the storage of personal property, including, but not limited to, structures used for the housing of livestock or for other agricultural accessory storage uses, without permission of the owner;
c. Within 100 yards from any public street, secondary road or highway within the city, except on a permitted firing range; or
d. At or upon the property of another without permission.
(2) Shoot a longbow, compound bow, crossbow or air gun at or upon the property of another without permission.
(3) Use of a rifle to hunt bear or deer except from a stand located at least 15 feet in elevation above the ground; provided, however, that the requirement that the use of a rifle be from a stand located at least 15 feet in elevation above the ground shall be expressly inapplicable to all legally handicapped persons.
(c) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to:
(1) Law enforcement officers engaged in the lawful performance of their duties as such, nor shall they be applicable in any situation in which the discharge of a weapon is necessary for the preservation or protection of human life or property.
(2) The use of muzzle-loading rifles during the prescribed open seasons for the hunting of game species is permitted in the city; provided, however, that the use of such muzzle-loading rifle shall be only from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground; provided, however, that the requirement that the use of such muzzle-loading rifle be from a stand located at least ten feet in elevation above the ground shall be expressly inapplicable to all legally handicapped persons.
(3) The killing of deer pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 29.1-529, on parcels of five acres or more in the agricultural zoning district.
(Ord. No. 64-93, § 18-15, 9-1-1993; Ord. No. 86-01, 7-18-2001; Ord. No. 09-O-046, 9-2-2009; Ord. No. 10-O-33, 4-21-2010)
State law references: Authority to adopt, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1113.

Looks like the only provision that would apply on your own land on a lot over 1 acre ( outside of densely populated area, what the definition listed means, I have no clue) would be you would have to be at least 100 yards from a road. And if you want to hunt deer or bear with a rifle you need to use a stand.

[Tazguy04]

The Single round of 50cal Barret that went through the backdrop did in fact go through a gap in between the logs , the gap has has been fixed but it was decided not to shoot the Barret in the back yard anymore.