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Shot fallout - Safe distance?


Towngun
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In the UK we seldom have fields which are not near or boardered by roads or rights of way. Much time is spent talking about fight lines and wind direction but what of shot fallout. How many shooter have tracked a pigeon, fired thereafter realizing that there is a road beyond. What distances would you place behind your shot?

 

NB: French ballistics expert, General Journee, years ago worked out a formula to the effect that the maximum range in yards equals 2200 times the shot diameter in inches. When the gun is held at a horizontal position or only slightly elevated, this formula gives the maximum range of shot sizes as shown below.

 

No. 6 - 242 yards

 

No. 7 1/2- 209 yards

 

No. 8 - 198 yards "

 

As you can see, most pigeon loads go not much more than 200 yards - what are your views?

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In the UK we seldom have fields which are not near or boardered by roads or rights of way. Much time is spent talking about fight lines and wind direction but what of shot fallout. How many shooter have tracked a pigeon, fired thereafter realizing that there is a road beyond. What distances would you place behind your shot?

 

NB: French ballistics expert, General Journee, years ago worked out a formula to the effect that the maximum range in yards equals 2200 times the shot diameter in inches. When the gun is held at a horizontal position or only slightly elevated, this formula gives the maximum range of shot sizes as shown below.

 

No. 6 - 242 yards

 

No. 7 1/2- 209 yards

 

No. 8 - 198 yards "

 

As you can see, most pigeon loads go not much more than 200 yards - what are your views?

 

If I remember my physics class the furthers distance will be travelled when shot is fired at a 45 degree angle rather than horizontal ?

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If I remember my physics class the furthers distance will be travelled when shot is fired at a 45 degree angle rather than horizontal ?

 

You are correct, or at least to within a couple of degrees, the exact figure is almost 45 not quite...

 

 

I think that the range is usually considered 290/300 yards, when you start thinking about it a lot of small fields aren't big enough to actually keep all shot in them.

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I prefer 400yds. I don't exactly know how far No5 shot travels but that should do it. I realise that shot is pretty harmless before that distance, but I don't like the idea of people hearing it dinking on their cars or greenhouses and calling plod. I don't need that distance from a footpath for example, as long as I can see it well, but certainly from houses.

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The easiest rule of thumb is multiply the shot diameter x 100 metres so a no 6 at 2.6mm is 260metres 7.5 at 2.4mm is 240 metres and no5 at 2.8mm is ....

 

The optimum angle is 30 degrees and shot fired at a steep angle into the sky will just keep rising until it runs out of energy then fall harmlessly like rain, it's the low shots that are potentially dangerous.

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It's easy to think of the shot being harmless at distance, and while it carries no energy as said it may be noticed falling on cars etc. However more concerning for me would be the possibility of it hitting someone in the eye, just because it's run out of power and won't be fatal doesn't mean it couldn't cost someone their eyesight.

That's serious.

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I've used 300yards as the minimum and never shoot directly at any occupied buildings as the shock wave can cause severe problems when your shooting large numbers of birds even if they are 800 plus yards away. The quickest way to loose a shoot is to drop shot on a yuppie who has moved to the country. One of my farmers had a complaint about muck spreading from an owner of a barn conversion so next year he stored the muck at the bottom of the garden until he spread it.

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I've used 300yards as the minimum and never shoot directly at any occupied buildings as the shock wave can cause severe problems when your shooting large numbers of birds even if they are 800 plus yards away. The quickest way to loose a shoot is to drop shot on a yuppie who has moved to the country. One of my farmers had a complaint about muck spreading from an owner of a barn conversion so next year he stored the muck at the bottom of the garden until he spread it.

:lol: stinkyy!!!

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There is a long narrow lake on one of my permissions which I used to good effect one afternoon. Holding the gun up at a 50 degree angle using 32 ounce of 5 shot I fired a few carts and noted the furthest pellet splash in the water and then lazed an object on the bank equal to the furthest splash. 235 yds with a very light back wind.

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Also it's a legal requirement that shot falls harmlessly or not with your boundaries ( land or permission) shot falling on some else's land is legally as bad as standing on their land and shooting!

 

 

Are you sure about that?

 

From BASC guide.. http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/document-summary.cfm/docid/8201D2D3-E4B1-4333-B24BA94A9790765C

 

However if you shoot over footpaths, only do so if you have permission to drop shot

over the land on the other side. To fire a bullet or shot onto land that you have no

right to shoot into or over is ‘constructive trespass’. Whilst this is a civil matter

BASC strongly advises not to do this. It is also a basic safety precaution not to

shoot into cover where you cannot be sure what your projectile(s) will hit. It is

especially important to apply this when shooting near footpaths obscured by hedges

or foliage. It is good practice to only shoot across footpaths where you can see

approaching users from a long way off and be certain you will not cause danger or

alarm.

 

 

There is a specific offence of an airgun pellet leaving your boundary, which this guide doesn't mention.

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There is a long narrow lake on one of my permissions which I used to good effect one afternoon. Holding the gun up at a 50 degree angle using 32 ounce of 5 shot I fired a few carts and noted the furthest pellet splash in the water and then lazed an object on the bank equal to the furthest splash. 235 yds with a very light back wind.

 

That is a hell of a load :lol:

Seriously, it is always interesting to see the results of real world measurements.

Maybe if you get chance try it again at 30-40 degrees to see if it gets any further (due to air resistance the maximum distance is obtained at an angle a bit under 45 degrees) :good:

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That is a hell of a load :lol:

Seriously, it is always interesting to see the results of real world measurements.

Maybe if you get chance try it again at 30-40 degrees to see if it gets any further (due to air resistance the maximum distance is obtained at an angle a bit under 45 degrees) :good:

Oopsy, I meant 32 gram........lol. I will re check at different angles as suggested and re post when done.

 

32 ounces......what a Richard

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