Denboy Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 hi all I'm a little bit unsure, how fare can a shotgun fire? If I'm shooting about 400meters away from a road is this safe? what distance to I have to be away from a public footpath to use my shotgun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rizzini Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 400 yards should be safe enough and I think your best not shooting in the direction of joe public as they might get spooked and say you shot at them! As for public footpaths, How far away would you want to see someone shooting from you? When it comes to the general public then your better as far away as possible or they might get the wrong impression as most think a shotgun can kill a target the size of a van from a mile away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikingRebel Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) Can't remember the precise wording of the law, but it is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50m of a public highway (that includes footpaths/bridleways etc), if by doing so you endanger or inconvenience any other members of public. Basically, just use your common sense when shooting near roads and footpaths. Unless for some very stupid reason you plan on firing buckshot into the air, 400m should be perfectly "safe", provided you are sensible. Of course there is no such thing as safe land really, only safe shooters. Edited December 10, 2012 by VikingRebel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cant hit rabbits 123 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Can't remember the precise wording of the law, but it is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50m of a public highway (that includes footpaths/bridleways etc), if by doing so you endanger or inconvenience any other members of public. Basically, just use your common sense when shooting near roads and footpaths. Unless for some very stupid reason you plan on firing buckshot into the air, 400m should be perfectly "safe", provided you are sensible. Of course there is no such thing as safe land really, only safe shooters. Its 50 feet, which is considerably less than 50 meters. Its not an offence to fire within the 50 foot mark, it only becomes an offence if you fire within the 50 foot mark and a user of the highway is disturbed or prevented from using the highway or similar wording (remember that, as some busy body who wants to cause trouble and knows half the law will quote it infront off you with the latter half missing). Theoretically, you could fire from the middle of the road if you had permission and did so wish. However, as above, use common sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 You can shoot on footpaths legally and as said its 50 ft from the center of a highway. In reality you are best shooting away from them, keeping an eye out for people and horses etc on them your shot has an approx 300 yard range at max so try not to rain it down on people as though it doesn't hurt it leads to miss understandings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) Can't remember the precise wording of the law, but it is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50m (50Feet from the centre) of a public highway (that includes footpaths/bridleways etc),( actually it doesn't appear to) if by doing so you endanger or inconvenience any other members of public. Basically, just use your common sense when shooting near roads and footpaths. Unless for some very stupid reason you plan on firing buckshot into the air, 400m should be perfectly "safe", provided you are sensible. Of course there is no such thing as safe land really, only safe shooters. I think you have got a little mixed up there! See below. 161 - Penalties for causing certain kinds of danger or annoyance 1. If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits any thing whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. 2. If a person without lawful authority or excuse; (a) lights any fire on or over a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway; or ( B) discharges any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of such a highway, and in consequence a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. 3. If a person plays at football or any other game on a highway to the annoyance of a user of the highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale. 4. If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, allows any filth, dirt, lime or other offensive matter or thing to run or flow on to a highway from any adjoining premises, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale. Highways Act 1980 section 161 (2) For the purposes of this law, (Section 161 (2) of the Highway Act 1980) a highway is restricted to a public right of way for the passage of vehicles and does NOT include footpaths, cycle tracks or bridleways. Edited December 10, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denboy Posted December 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Ok thanks for your help guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 hi all I'm a little bit unsure, how fare can a shotgun fire? If I'm shooting about 400meters away from a road is this safe? what distance to I have to be away from a public footpath to use my shotgun? There is no specific legal requirement to be a certain distance from a footpath. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Can't remember the precise wording of the law, but it is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50m of a public highway (that includes footpaths/bridleways etc), if by doing so you endanger or inconvenience any other members of public. Basically, just use your common sense when shooting near roads and footpaths. Unless for some very stupid reason you plan on firing buckshot into the air, 400m should be perfectly "safe", provided you are sensible. Of course there is no such thing as safe land really, only safe shooters. Being pedantic, as is my way. It only applies to highways which have a carriageway so not footpaths or bridleways. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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