Safe rifle shooting

Latest Articles

Safe rifle shooting
Page Previous 1, 2

Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

Author

Message

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 05 9:27 pm Post subject:
Treacs, If you are confident, take the shot. If not, walk on, and look for the next one.

niko

Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Safe rifle shooting

Treacodactyl wrote:

I've been looking at a few places recently that I could shoot over. There are ample rabbits and, if possible, I would like to use a .22 rifle or similar. However, most of the land is reasonably flat so there's not an obvious backstop. Another problem is the fact the rabbits are often on the boundary of land. Now to shoot deer high seats are often used and a shooting platform would make an ideal place to observe and shoot but would mean the rabbits would only be controlled in one area. A moveable seat would be possible but a bit advanced for a beginner.

Does anyone else shoot rabbits with a rifle over flattish land? Do you simply shoot from a standing position or do something else to ensure a safe shot?

hi there i shoot a 223 centrefire and an fac 35lb air rifle(as well as shotguns)and you should never,i repeat never shoot with out a good backstop .i have 1000 acres to shoot on the welsh coast and do not consider the irish sea a back stop(there might be boats )the 22 rimmy is particuly bad for ricochets please do not take the risk

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 11:27 am Post subject: Re: Safe rifle shooting

niko wrote:

please do not take the risk

That's the whole point of the post. Everyone says use a safe backstop but nothing actually say what one is! A rifle-range would have a solid bank that the bullet would enter close to 90� but such land features don't exist. Some places do have steep banks but rifles are used over land that is flattish so what do you do? Use a high seat? Use an earth bank (such as a 2-3 foot bank near old hedges)? If a .22 is prone to ricochets then at what sort of angles?

I know any land would have a police firearms officer look round it and it's best to get an experienced shooter to give advice but it's also worth doing a bit of research up-front.

niko

Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Safe rifle shooting

Treacodactyl wrote:

niko wrote:

please do not take the risk

a safe back stop in my opinion has more to do with what the land is like(how soft/hard how many stones)rather than how many degrees the slope is .ideally a hill behind and soft but as you say this unlikely in your case i wouldn't recommend banks in hedge as they tend to be full of stones (although worth checking)on the fac they tell you if there are directions your not allowed to shoot in ,footpaths ,roads etc .as to the 22 again its down to what the ground is like rather than a certain angle ,even with a 90degree slope it can come straight back at you it you hit something hard (now thats scary!!).in my experience ground that burns off quickly in the summer tends to be worse ,and areas that stay green even in summer are better . if theres any you think i could help with let me know and good luck

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Safe rifle shooting

Thanks niko, that's the sort of details i'm after. Even if I get an old hand to show me the ropes it's good to have an idea of what you're doing. Even as an absolute beginner at our local shooting club I've notices 'old hands' do rather dodgy things and at clay shoots people with their own guns do daft things.

The land I have in mind I may be limited to an air-rifle or shot gun but that should keep the kitchen stocked.

niko

Joined: 28 Jul 2005
Posts: 27
Location: ceredigion

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 05 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Safe rifle shooting

Treacodactyl wrote:

just to let you know my fac air gun will easily cleanly drop a bunnie(head shot)at 55 to 60 yards and on a day with ideal weather up to 85 so the range is nearly as good as a 22 rimmy but a lot safer (still need back stop but less over kill )good luck and let me know what happens

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 05 11:02 pm Post subject:
We're all curious. Do let us know!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 05 8:12 am Post subject:
Don't hold your breaths, I've still got a freezer drawer full of game from last year.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 05 4:17 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Don't hold your breaths, I've still got a freezer drawer full of game from last year.

Me too, but its just about time to start making game terrines, raised game pies, etc, for Christmas now. Well, nearly!

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 05 7:50 pm Post subject:
Clearing out my freezer today, found some game from last year with serious frost burn, It never keeps as long as we hope...

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 05 7:54 pm Post subject:
Just eating my last pheasant tonight and tomorrow for lunch. A few partridge to go and some venison. I don't tend to eat much meat so that will last a few weeks.

Josey Wales

Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Gower

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 8:23 pm Post subject:
Hi everybody, I'm a keeper and a STANIC instuctor. I also to a bit of shooting and I'm DMQ assessor. There is a lot to read here and im not used to that many forums, so please bare with me Joe Last edited by Josey Wales on Sat Sep 17, 05 9:28 am; edited 1 time in total

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri Sep 16, 05 8:32 pm Post subject:

Josey Wales wrote:

Utinam barbari spatium proprium tuum invadant!

May barbarians invade your personal space?

Josey Wales

Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Gower

Posted: Sat Sep 17, 05 10:15 am Post subject:
I thought it was pretty cool.

Joey

Joined: 03 Nov 2004
Posts: 191

Posted: Thu Sep 22, 05 9:07 am Post subject:

Josey Wales wrote:

I thought it was pretty cool.

Josey,

Thought you would have quoted something like.......

Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot	All times are GMT Page Previous 1, 2
Page 2 of 2

View Latest Posts