I live in a rapidly developing suburb. Ranges within 20 miles are private, and I am in no position to join due to time split between school and work. While the locality may be covered in gravel, I'm blessed with a backyard which few can rival. 75 yards back, 50 yards side to side. Dense treeline and wooded lot an additional 40 yards to my left. Vacant house located next door, with another a solid 75 yards away. A steep creek seperates my yard from 10 acres of forest and protected swampland. But here's where my dilemna comes in: While I would be violating local ordinances by shooting (.22 mind you) in my yard, it would take an impossible and disturbing lack of judgment for any troubles to occur. I've contemplated using subsonic .22lr's to shoot targets from 50 yards, with a 12 foot creek wall and miles of uninhabited and people free forest as a backstop. Is this thought sound, or am I on dangerous ground? If you find this to be acceptable, would the subsonics suppress sound enough to prevent others from needless annoyance and worry? A friend made this suggestion after I complained about a lack of shooting spots for the next few months, and I almost jumped on it. Any advice is appreciated.

I live in a rapidly developing suburb. Ranges within 20 miles are private, and I am in no position to join due to time split between school and work. While the locality may be covered in gravel, I'm blessed with a backyard which few can rival. 75 yards back, 50 yards side to side. Dense treeline and wooded lot an additional 40 yards to my left. Vacant house located next door, with another a solid 75 yards away. A steep creek seperates my yard from 10 acres of forest and protected swampland. But here's where my dilemna comes in: While I would be violating local ordinances by shooting (.22 mind you) in my yard, it would take an impossible and disturbing lack of judgment for any troubles to occur. I've contemplated using subsonic .22lr's to shoot targets from 50 yards, with a 12 foot creek wall and miles of uninhabited and people free forest as a backstop. Is this thought sound, or am I on dangerous ground? If you find this to be acceptable, would the subsonics suppress sound enough to prevent others from needless annoyance and worry? A friend made this suggestion after I complained about a lack of shooting spots for the next few months, and I almost jumped on it. Any advice is appreciated.

CauseforAlarm,

Your dilema is not ethical, it's legal. DON'T DO IT! If it is against local ordinances to discharge a firearm in your neighborhood then you simply must not discharge a firearm in your neighborhood! If we, the shooting community, are not very, very careful, we can get ourselves into trouble, and our hobby or sport into a very bad public relations situation. We've got enough bad press without running the risk of, with full knowledge of the local law, breaking that law! DON'T DO IT!

gunwriter

I agree with gunwriter... not much of a dilema, it's illegal so don't do it. You and your actions represent everyone on this forum.

Michael

Don't do it. I would look for alernate routes. What does the law there say about air rifles or cross/compound bows? You can also shoot air guns inside.

": While I would be violating local ordinances by shooting (.22 mind you) in my yard"
You've answered your question.

Not only could you be arrested and fined, but you run the risk of loosing your firearms as well.

Lee L.

Ditto all the above.

Don't give the "Anti's" any more fuel for propaganda.

Why not talk to your local law enforcement? These guys shoot too, and often will help you find a good safe place to shoot.

I agree with the above,, But if you have to ask the question I believe you aready know the answer!!!
Don't

An alternative might be a good quality pellet rifle.
In some jurisdictions, air rifles and pistols are lumped in with firearms. In other jurisdictions, they are not.
A large cardboard box filled with layers of newspaper will stop any pellet. The noise is certainly not excessive and there's no chance of ricochet as long as you confine your shots to the box.
With a little discretion, no one will know. When not in use, put the box behind a tree so visitors don't look out in your backyard and notice a box with bullseye.
Another alternative is indoor shooting with the same box and pellet gun. If you have a basement that's the best place. However, if no one else is in the house or aware of it so they won't walk out of a side door and into the pellet's path, you can also use a long hallway.
I agree with the others. Don't do it if it's illegal. The damage to the reputation of shooters --- and yourself as well --- could be irrepairable.

The votes are in, and I agree. Even in my hopes I guess I knew it wasn't going to work out. In addition, you've all given me something to use when the conversation comes up. I guess it'll be a summer of fishing, but that ain't bad at all.

Air rifle. Cheaper, and good practice.

Agree with everything. I can identify and commiserate with you. I enjoy hiking, exploring & just knocking around in the Sand Springs Mountains on my way home from work. Game, there, is extremely scarce although it does exist. Mostly, I'd like a security blanket in case I encounter something that may want to harm me. Two fur-instances come readilly to mind. One is the mountain lion that's been seen; he doesn't seem to be very afraid of people. The other category is two-legged varmints doing illegal stuff. (In my Dad's day, it was moonshiners but today it's liable to be dopers cooking meth in a rented van.) So I'd like to be able to carry a sidearm but I'm prohibited from entering the Navy compound where I'm employed. Both my employer and the US Navy object to having a firearm locked in the trunk of my car, parked in their parking lot. There is a way around that, of course; I can park outside on BLM-administered land and nobody can say "BOO" to me about it. And this is what I do do when I'm hunting chuckar in the fall. It is a pain, however, to lug my lunch and everything thru the gate and into the compound. So I've been trying to think up some way to circumvent the spirit but not the letter of the law, like carrying a C&B revolver. I'm unwilling to do anything, however, to jeopardize my continued employment or freedom.

-91

Glad to see all the folks voted the same way. The potential civil and criminal liabilities far outweigh the benefits. Check with the local sherrif of police dept. As kdub mentioned, they can usually steer you to a safe and legal place to shoot.

Ditto all the above.

Don't give the "Anti's" any more fuel for propaganda.

Why not talk to your local law enforcement? These guys shoot too, and often will help you find a good safe place to shoot.

Ditto. We need to be as responsible as we can as firearm owners. We don't want to ruin our sport for other people due to misusage or carelessness.