GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Gamo Gate => : July 02, 2008, 10:36:38 PM
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I guess I know this is a dumb question, but I have to ask...
what are some common laws about shooting an air rifle in public places like parks and such? I want to do some long distance shooting, but I don't live out in the country where I would have space and freedom to do so....I live in Pasadena...so the most open space I have is my back yard where I have about 10 meters at most (maybe 15) which is enough for just simple plinking, but I want to do some serious distance shooting...just wondering...
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Man, I wouldn't even THINK about shooting in a public park unless I'd cleared it beyond any doubt with the local police. In this day and age, walking around in a park with what appears to be a firearm would most likely get you thrown down by the cops so hard and fast you wouldn't know what happened. Really, check it out first for sure!
Good luck!
Parks
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I don't live in the L.A. area, but I recall having seen posts from folks that do, as I remember it is illegal to discharge any projectile weapon in most of that area.
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Hey Jerry I used to live in LA and Parks is absolutely right. I would go the safe route and find an indoor range to do it in. I'm not sure about the Pasadena area, but I've been to the LAX range as well as Sharpshooters in Torrance. I really like Sharpshooters and I believe they open at 11am (closed on Mondays). I'd get there at around opening and would pretty much have the entire range to myself for a few hours. At the time it was a 7 dollar entrance fee. A couple bucks and a 25 minute drive is well worth it for a couple hours of peaceful shooting out there in LA. Just exit Western off the 405s, head south on Western and make a right on 208th (I think it's 208th but you may want to double check). At first the owners may seem a bit rude and may laugh at you but after a few polite visits they warm up quickly. It's because they have to deal with lots of young hollywood thug wannabees who come strolling in not knowing anything about proper firearm handling and safety so don't take them personally. Oh, and don't forget to either bring or buy some foamies when you get there - it is a live gun range. : ) It'll also give you a good chance to rent and try some real guns. The owners there are huge Kimber .45 enthusiasts so if you want to start conversation, that's a good place to start.
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yeah, I pretty much knew the answer before I asked the question, but I just wanted to make sure. thanks for the replies (especially hiroller - due to my gas budget, I can't justify driving 30+min just to go to a shooting range...I'm pretty sure there's something local...I mean there's always something around pasadena).
so note to self: don't shoot my spud cannon or my big cat in public areas...
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Bean, just use smaller targets. It's just as much fun to shoot, say an asprin at 15yrds, as it is to shoot a can at 75yrds.
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Man if I was still living in LA I'd be thrilled to have 10-15 meters to shoot with around my house. You can always try using much smaller targets as well. : )
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Oh yeah, or just like splash said - :p (sorry, missed that)
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I've done smaller targets, but it seems to still be easy at that short of a distance (shot through the openning of a straw...didn't go straight through the length of it though, the pellet exited like half way through so it wasn't directly lined up with the barrel)...I want some other variables to factor in just so I can have fun actually hitting something against some odds...but thanks for the suggestions guys, I really appreciate it.
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My backyard is about 25 yards at its longest - sometimes if I want to practice for distance (and when the wife's not home) I'll open the back door all the way and shoot from in the living room. Positioned just right the walls give me at the largest about a 2 inch clearance all the way through the house and to the back. I haven't measured but am estimating around 50 yards total. You may be able to gain some distance that way if your place allows.
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Then go smaller, or hang something small from a string, so it can move around.
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not a bad idea...but there's always someone around the house...I'm scared I might give someone an ass full of lead if they cross my line of sight at the wrong time...
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Try to get a bunch of .22 empties. Then take a 2x4, and put some clay on top of it. Sticj the .22's in the clay, and shoot away. Its a very small taget, and very hard to hit. If you can stretch the distance through your house, try 9mm casings. Hitting a 9mm casing at 35yds., is the equivalent to hitting a man in the torso at like 1336 yds. Check it out here.
http://www.minisniping.org i try my best to hit squirrels at 35yds. lol.