What to consider when setting up a range in the back-garden
Our fantastic sport of airgun shooting really is a ‘sport for all’, and a big part of the attraction of a legal limit air-rifle is that it can be legally used in the back garden. However, some very basic safety requirements need to be considered before we rush out and start blatting away!
LOCATION
Let’s start with the location of where we intend to shoot. This needs to be clear of any object that can be damaged. It also makes sense to keep a relatively low profile if we can, by shooting ideally out of sight of the neighbours. Now whilst we do have a perfect right to shoot in our garden, the simple fact is that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for shooting. If in a typical suburban setup, with gardens backing onto each other, we could be technically pointing a gun in their direction. Think outside of our bubble, and it’s actually a perfectly understandable reaction. Set up a screen to block their view if necessary, and no one need be alarmed.
SAFETY
Safety is the number one consideration, and whilst airguns are versatile as to where they can be used – certainly when compared to live shooting, shots can actually carry far further when compared to shotguns for example. Many airguns are extremely quiet (a PCP fitted with a silencer can be barely audible), yet the power output can still be sufficient to penetrate thin metal sheets at point blank range.
Elevate a full power airgun at 45 degrees and the shot will travel several hundred yards, so we really need to appreciate the potential danger, and take fail safe precautions to prevent any accident from occurring. Set in place a strict safety regime, adhere to it at all times, and our shooting will be all the more enjoyable at the end of the day. This starts with safe gun handling, avoiding the trigger until safely on target, always firing off the shot, and never leaving a loaded gun unattended.
BLOCK ACCESS!
It must also be impossible for someone to accidentally walk into the firing line, and where back garden shooting is concerned, it can often be the case that there are multiple gates and doors giving access into the garden. This can be a disaster waiting to happen.
SO! Lock any door from the outside and leave the keys in the outside, until the shooting session has finished. If someone else is at home at the time, notify them, but also place signs across any access point. Use obstacles too so they are in no doubt, and yes still lock those doors! Ensure pets can’t run into the firing line too, as this would be a shock for both parties.
PELLET CATCHER BOX / TARGET HOLDER
When shooting at paper targets, these can be mounted in a steel target holder, and the best scenario is a robust heavy gauge steel box, which catches the pellets as well as holds the target. Never use wood, as this can splinter and also cause ricochets. Pellets eventually eat through all wood, and easily through garden fences, so don’t be surprised, and take precautions.
Use steel!
Several high grade target boxes/ catchers are available, and these will last that bit longer than cheaper versions. Some designs have a swinging plate which absorbs the pellets energy, but if shooting regularly in the garden, some form of additional sound-proofing makes sense, to deaden the sound of the pellet strikes, and lessen the chance of irritating a neighbour over time. Cutting squares of carpet to size, or stuffing old clothing into the box, will do the sound-proofing job, and also minimize any chance of ricochets.
TOTAL BACKSTOP!
It’s stating the obvious but if pellets leave the boundary of your property, then a serious offence has been committed. So this must NEVER be allowed to happen. A belts and braces approach is therefore the answer, and it doesn’t really take much effort to put in place. Concrete paving slabs can be useful, but a full sized steel sheet is reassuring and easier to erect. The old side of a fridge is ideal, although obtaining items from the local authority tip now requires some tough negotiating skills!
Once installed, you should have a belts and braces setup for total safety – shooting into a steel padded pellet catcher, placed in front of a large steel sheet. Shots shouldn’t get past the catcher box of course, but ultimate safety should be guaranteed, for any less than perfect stray shots.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN
So we now have an ultra safe shooting range, but if using a pre-charge pneumatic, there can still be a healthy crack as the rapidly expanding air exits the muzzle. It’s a characteristic of the PCP firing cycle, yet neighbours out enjoying a sunny day can be understandably irritated by a persistent crack in their midst.
So in this scenario, it can be a prudent move to fit a silencer /moderator to the gun’s barrel. That annoying muzzle crack will more than likely be tamed to a whisper, and our shooting in an instant, can become a rather more civilized affair for all concerned. Yes we undoubtedly have every right to shoot; but when keeping the peace is that easy, it must make sense.
Happy Shooting!
