Shooting air rifle in back yard legally

[vexesus]

This might be more trouble that it's worth but here goes.

I'm sure we all agree shooting and air rifle in your backyard can be done perfectly safely, it would be very easy to make or position for some 10m paper target shooting without any risk. But technically it's still illegal to 'discharge' the firearm in a residential area.

If you wanted to do this legally, could you become an approved private range for 10m air rifle? It's not like they need a large clear zone at the back or whatever it's called and they have indoor 22 ranges with buildings on the other side of the backdrop/catchment. Must be ok to do air rifle in same scenario.

[brett1868]

It could possibly be done providing measures have been taken to prevent projectiles leaving the bounds of the range. The SSAA in NSW have a portable range setup using a long trailer which they cart around to promote the sport. Not sure how you'd go about setting something up in a residential environment as I'm sure the council will knock it on the head even if it's for you're own personal use. Save up old newspapers and phone books, build a wall at the end of a hallway with them, put a loud movie on and enjoy your new indoor range and don't shoot the wife's cat no matter how tempting a target it makes....

[Guliver]

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[1290]

In Vic....you cant target shoot, without further approvals providing you have the 250m from another dwelling, and 100m from public road. When you say resi, I assume you dont have this distance.

To vary this, say reduce the clearance distance you could technically make application to the the delegate/Chief Commish/Police Minister. Though I'll guarantee their first response would be "You can only apply for a populace place permit for Vermin control or theatrical purposes or as a dealer.........." Not so, you can request ANY variation.

Alternative to go the Approved range route, doesnt matter whether you consider it private, just for you, for all your mates or commercial.

First you'll need a consent from your friendly local council. could be as simple as a letter not objecting, though they may require a planning permit.

then you'll take your Council letter/permit, design demonstrating a fully baffled range with impenetrable baffle and backstop, safety plan and of course your PL insurance proof to the range approvals officer of LSD (I prefer the old name) then they will consider approving your range!!

Even if you go the variation to Firearm Regulations 2008 - Regulation 22; conduct of sport or target shooting activity on private property - you'll still need to demonstrate safety, baffling and insurance.

Good Luck,

If you go this route, I'll do a range design for you.

[vexesus]

In Vic....you cant target shoot, without further approvals providing you have the 250m from another dwelling, and 100m from public road. When you say resi, I assume you dont have this distance.

No where near that much space.

The rest would be more hassle and cost that it could possible be worth.

The idea was just to knock out a few rounds here and then for fun when feeling like it. Nothing that would justify all that.

[Norton]

Probably easier to move to the US or Canada

[crush]

Would be good fun to have a little range at home for the small stuff.

Air rifle or .22 if you had a bit more property.

Too bad it's such a drama here

[FuzzyM]

Probably easier to move to the US or Canada

Or the UK!

[1290]

or NZ

[BRNOmod2]

Many many years ago, when I was but a child of 10yrs old, I was given my first rifle as Xmas present - a Norinco air rifle (cant remember the model) At the time my parents had a house in town (as well as farming land out of town, but we were living in town) Had about a acre and half stretching up a small hill/slope, a big old place from turn of century with trees/hedges along all sides affording privacy from prying eyes. I had a little range set up with 20m and 50m stop buts. Nearly every afternoon after school I would be out plinking away. I would be hanging out by every Sat morning to go down and get my next tin of RWS Superpoints - tin of 500 wouldn't last me the week! I wore that poor old Norinco out in that back yard, went thru 2 x springs before it gave up the ghost when I was about 13. Obviously things are different today, but I treasure those times as I consider it made me the what I consider the reasonable shot I am today, and feel lucky to have had the situation I did.

[FuzzyM]

You have to wonder if a low powered air rifle like the old clunker I grew up with, really has to be registered in the same category as a .17WSM BMAG and a Chiappa lever action shotgun....... Sigh.

[1290]

Bringing air rifles into the firearm legislation was one of the anti's greatest coups back after PAM..... many other countries regulate airguns, some require licensing, some require registration, many restrict in no way the ownership, many require 18+ yrs to purchase...... I think we, down under are stand outs requiring licensing, registration, stringent storage, random airgun storage inspections and of course, the piece de resistance being the permit to acquire in addition to all that!!

YAY for keeping the streets safe from the torrent of air-gun massacres and maiming of random members of the community that was so prevalent before 1996..... oh hang on

[Supporter]

You have to wonder if a low powered air rifle like the old clunker I grew up with, really has to be registered in the same category as a .17WSM BMAG and a Chiappa lever action shotgun....... Sigh.

You're right, it's stupid to group them together.

There was talk of deregulating air rifle and paintball markers a while ago but seems the conversation was just a flash in the pan.