Backyard Pellet Gun Range Legal?

[kirock7]

I've been wanting to set up a simple and safe pellet gun "range" in our backyard so I've been researching the local laws and ordinances concerning air rifle shooting in Sugar Land. The only thing I can find is
this document:
http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/city_hall/ci ... 070506.pdf - Page 93

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES
Sec. 3-173. Discharge of weapons.
(a) Definitions. In this article:
Air rifle means a gun that uses compressed air, gas or a compressed spring to launch a projectile of any kind and includes a BB gun.
Firearm means a firearm as defined by the Texas Penal Code, as amended.
Bow: means a weapon consisting of a curved, flexible strip of material, strung taut from end to end and used to launch arrows.
Crossbow means a weapon consisting of a bow fixed crosswise on a stock, with grooves on the stock to direct an arrow, bolt or other projectiles.
Range means any public or private facility at which firearm, bow or crossbow training or practice, or both, is regularly conducted under controlled circumstances.
(b) It is unlawful for a person to discharge a firearm, bow, or crossbow within the corporate limits of the city.
(c) It is unlawful for a person to discharge an air rifle upon or across any public street, park, or other public property of the city, or upon or across the real property of another person without the person's consent.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under paragraphs (b) or (c) that:
(1) The firearm, air rifle, bow or crossbow was discharged upon a range;
(2) The firearm, air rifle, bow or crossbow was discharged by a law enforcement officer acting within the scope of his duties;
(3) The firearm, air rifle, bow or crossbow was discharged in lawful defense of a person or property; or
(4) The bow or crossbow discharged was a toy bow or crossbow designed to be used by children.

It's appears to be a 2006 document so it may or may not still be viable.
Anyone have any LEO experience concerning BB/pellet gun use in Sugar Land?

[WildBill]

IANAL, but it appears that you can shoot "on your own range" as long as the pellets stay on your property. May sure you have a good backstop behind your target and watch where you point the muzzle.

Depending on where you live and your neighbors, they still might report you, but it seems legal. You could always call and ask.

[USA1]

you must consider your neighbors point of view. i understand that you may be within your rights to do that, but personally if my next door neighbor was shooting air guns on a regular basis, i would find the noise annoying . some with children might not appreciate it. IMO i find it beneficial not to create friction.

[Medino]

I have never heard a very loud pellet gun unless you are shooting something that makes noise. As long as you make sure that the rounds never leave your yard you should be fine.

[CompVest]

Couldn't possibly be noisier or more annoying then some people's dogs!

[Skiprr]

...Or their kids.

If in doubt, and if shorter distances will serve, you could always go airsoft rather than pellet

[Abraham]

Of late, I've been using a 10 hp chipper shredder for six hours or so at a time. Once a week I run my 24 hp mower for three or four hours at a time and then I start up a very loud blower to clear the clippings. Also, I'm now using my new power washer to catch up cleaning all those things that need it - for hours at a time. It's very loud.

Do I make a lot of noise?

Yep!

Does my neighbors dogs bark continuously every morning starting in around 4:00 A.M. and wake me and keep waking me? Does he use a blower, gas edger, power washer and own a very loud Harley?

Yep!

Do we complain about the noise of all these items to each other?

Nope

Good neighbors.

Air rifle range and noise?

Ppppffft....

[USA1]

you must consider your neighbors point of view. i understand that you may be within your rights to do that, but personally if my next door neighbor was shooting air guns on a regular basis, i would find the noise annoying . some with children might not appreciate it. IMO i find it beneficial not to create friction.

im only speaking from my own negative past experiences, when my son had a pellet gun, we set up some targets in the back yard and had a great time shooting until a neighbor came over and expressed their displeasure. they said "if i find a broken window, i know were to bring the bill" i was a little put off by their comment and explained that i was supervising my son and showed them our target setup.they still said they didnt appreciate it. another time ,different house , i was shooting my pellet gun ..on my property ... when the elderly neighbor came out and said "if you dont stop that shootin, im gonna call the cops" so dont get me wrong, im not knocking you. if youre fortunate enough to have good and understanding neighbors , i say go for it

[wheelgun1958]

you must consider your neighbors point of view. i understand that you may be within your rights to do that, but personally if my next door neighbor was shooting air guns on a regular basis, i would find the noise annoying . some with children might not appreciate it. IMO i find it beneficial not to create friction.

I'd more likely join in!

[mr.72]

It seems clear that taking paragraphs b and c together, the intent is to exclude air guns from the general prohibition of shooting within the city limits. I don't think you need to consider trying to convince anyone your back yard is a range. Keep the shooting on your own property and there is no problem.

I don't know how your neighborhood is laid out or whatever but if you have 6ft privacy fences like most of the suburban neighborhoods around here then it probably won't be much of a problem. The neighbors won't find out you are shooting a pellet gun unless you hit something (or someone) on their property.

Since I also have a "pellet gun range" in my back yard, and we have similar city ordinances, I am familiar with this problem. I wouldn't go out shooting with a 1200fps .22 cal springer if I were you. Some of those will shoot through a sheet of plywood and break windows at 100 yards. In a back yard, a CO2 .177 cal rifle or single-pump pneumatic gun at 600fps will do all the target practicing you need with virtually no chance of shooting through a cedar fence picket and minimal odds of damaging something on a neighbor's property. You'll have a hard time hitting anything 150 ft away much less putting a hole in anything not on your own yard. So my only suggestion is to select your air rifle for backyard shooting carefully, considering the chances of a stray pellet making it very far off of your property.

The bigger break-barrel springer rifles can be quite loud. My 1077 is noticeably loud and even puts a puff of "smoke" out of the barrel when you fire it depending on temp and humidity. I wouldn't be surprised if one of my 5 adjacent neighbors were to see me out there shooting the 1077 and conclude reasonably that it was a .22 rifle, if they are unfamiliar with how loud a .22 actually is. Some tell me that a .22 rifle shooting shorts is quieter than my 1077. Might be worthwhile to have a conversation with your neighbors about this. Of course, I didn't. I figure if the police show up, I'll deal with the neighbors then.

[bryang]

I have had some problems, also, in the past with Pellet Guns and shooting in the back yard. The problem...neighbors!
Some people just plain don't like guns of no kind and will call the police.

-geo

[kirock7]

I have had some problems, also, in the past with Pellet Guns and shooting in the back yard. The problem...neighbors!
Some people just plain don't like guns of no kind and will call the police.

-geo

I hear ya.

[HankB]

When I was growing up, my Dad and I often shot a pellet gun in the backyard.

This was in Chicago.

Neighbors were more, well, neighborly then. No problems until the kid next door and the kid on the corner got a BB gun and started sniping windows.

If there's no local law against it, and the occasional "pop" of an air gun is disturbing, then just set up a boom box or radio in the back yard at moderate volume, and it will pretty well mask the sound of the air gun.

[TDDude]

Just think of how much damage you would cause if you dared to teach your son how to pitch a baseball in your back yard. I broke more stuff pitching and batting than I ever did shooting.
I say let the silly neighbor call the police. When they come out, chances are you'll make a friend on the force which is always a good thing.

[pfgrone]

When I was a little kid playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians all over the neighborhood, we used BB guns when shooting at each other. That would have been about 60 years ago. Nobody ever accused us of being very bright.