Re: How much land is needed to shoot on.

[Wraith724]

Since i am moving out toward the NW part of PA and everyone has been great on filling me in on how gun freindly that part of the state is I was wondering.

How much land is needed to be able to shoot on it?

I would like to have a small pistol range at least
and shoot clays.

Any info would be greatly appreciated

[ForeverPA]

I have read 150 yards to your neighbor but my answer is as long as the bullet flies. Using your house as a gun range is a bad idea.

[aubie515]

Small pistol range you wouldn't need more than 25 yards. Shooting clays would require more land.

There are plenty of people who have gun ranges on their property. I would check with local laws to make sure since some townships will not allow discharge of a firearm.

[brsims]

You're gonna want a good amount of acreage, certainly.

I've got a 9 acre spread, and have plenty of space to shoot clays (which I finally got to do today) and take my sidearm out for some fresh air. But I also live in an area surrounded by fellow gun owners and shooters.

Always be aware of whats around you, have a proper backstop, be aware of the local laws and ordinances, so on and so forth...

[Bowgod02]

I have 6 acres and I shoot pistols all the time in my back yard. I have a nice little backstop setup for it as do others here. It won't take long after I start shooting, you will hear others start as well around the area. The same at my in laws.... We shoot right off his back porch and even sight in our rifles there.

[Wraith724]

Thanks guys appreciete the info.

I have friends in NC and they have a nice setup to pistol shoot.

I would be sure to have a backstop similar to theres to defiently be safe sorry i did not mention that.

I was more worried about how much land i would need for the clays
Any townships i shoot aviod for this reason?

[wanneroo]

I find a lot of people in PA are very careless about backstops. They throw a couple of haybales out or a little pile of dirt out and that is no backstop.

My neighbors have such a set up and started popping off one afternoon and nearly took out a guy working on my property 200 meters behind their set up.

With a pistol's short sight base, it's very easy to be off slightly and sent a round downrange past a little backstop. With a rifle, many have the power to punch through flimsy backstops.

I'd make sure you have several feet of backing and something 8-10 feet high minimum.

Preferably I think 70-80 acres is a good start and a hill you own that can double as a backstop. In addition, I think it's best where you set up to shoot you can't be observed from a road or by neighbors. Nothing to hide here but I can't stand nosy people.

[ForeverPA]

Preferably I think 70-80 acres is a good start and a hill you own that can double as a backstop. In addition, I think it's best where you set up to shoot you can't be observed from a road or by neighbors.

So it is safe to say the answer is no.

[Odonnks]

Most important is a good backstop.
Acreage could be 3-5 as long as you have something to shoot into that is tall enough.
Natural terrain is helpful.

My place sits on 56 acres of widely varying terrain. I often shoot clays, pistols and 5.56/7.62 AR's. Backstops are natural terrain hillsides.

Be careful if shooting fully jacketed rifle rounds. They penetrate deep and can deflect back out in different directions.

As mentioned double check local regulations.