Does anyone tell me how many acres you must own to shoot 50 Caliber and automatics?

[ForGodandCountry]

I live in Montgomery County,TX near Lake Conroe and my neighbor is shooting these guns on his 20 acres. Other neighbors are complaining of the noise and they think it's me because I live on 40 acres. I am new to the county. Can someone please tell me if 20 acres is okay? The sound is obviously effecting some people. Thanks.

 

[OUTTAHERE]

Noise aside, more important is the 50 cal. being fired into an adequate backstop? 20 acres is not near enough space to be safely firing a 50 cal. without an adequate backstop. Considering the range of a 50 cal, a much larger area might be required. As I recall, a section of land is 640 acres which is 1 square mile and that is far from adequate space to be open firing a 50 cal. in. If a sniper can hit targets at 1 1/4 mile, you know that it is probable that that bullet is capable of traveling for up to 2 miles. Just some food for thought.

 

[dumb okie]

It depends on the shape of your property. 1/4 acre wide x 80 acres long should be fine if its square you may be a little shy. ;-)

 

[Retired Grunt]

Distance X( how far a round can travel under ideal conditions) for standard .50 cal ball ammo is 6,500 meters with 5degrees left and right of the target foe dispersion ( aim, wind drift etc.) another 5 degrees left and right of the target for ricochet plus an additional 100 meters for a safety buffer where no person shall be. So from the firing point if you shoot an azimuth 15 degrees left and right of the target and extend it out 6,500 meters that is what the army requires to be safe for .50 cal

 

[Nightmare45]

One square mile is 640 acres and not really adequate, but it would depend on backstop, round can travel well in excess of 1 mile, look at the simple 22 round.

 

[Providence Ranch]

It depends on the shape of your property. 1/4 acre wide x 80 acres long should be fine if its square you may be a little shy. ;-)

Dude, that's like saying "A long as your pan is a half a cup long by two cups wide it should be big enough for that meatloaf recipe." Acres are measurements of area, not linear length. An acre measures 43,560 square feet, and can be any shape.

To the OP, the burden of proof is on the accuser that you are violating some noise ordinance or firearms law. 40 acres is probably plenty of room for a little private range, but that's really the smaller issue. For safety reasons id be very interested in finding out what kind of backstop is being used, and what the direction of fire is, just in case that backstop fails or is shot over, regardless of the ammunition type. A 22 can carry a mile and still do damage, and higher power rifles like the 7mm magnum can travel up to 5 miles with lethal energy remaining. A 50 BMG can ruin someone's day in the next county.

 

[Axeanda45]

I cant believe this was even asked... And I find it harder to believe that no posters up to this point have even the slightest clue in what the answer is... SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!!


If you are on your own land, you can do WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT, as long as what you do doesnt infringe on the rights of others (no, noise in the middle of the day doesnt infringe, middle of night, maybe...) As long as you make sure you have an adequate backstop, you can shoot anything you want........ It does not matter if you only have a 20 yd range..... as long as the backstop stops the rounds.....

Disclaimer: it may very well be a law in some counties that you need a certain amount of land to shoot lawfully... but that, in my eyes is absolutely asinine and unconstitutional....

 

[tcox4freedom]

As long as he isn't breaking any ordinances against this, the only thing he needs to concern himself with is having a sufficient backstop; unless he cares about being a good neighbor.

I live in the county on five acres. There are NO laws concerning shooting a firearm on my property. ALL my neighbors do exactly that. But, we try to be SAFE & respectfull of each other; and not make to much of a disturbance.

-

 

[Providence Ranch]

I cant believe this was even asked... And I find it harder to believe that no posters up to this point have even the slightest clue in what the answer is... SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!!


If you are on your own land, you can do WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT, as long as what you do doesnt infringe on the rights of others (no, noise in the middle of the day doesnt infringe, middle of night, maybe...) As long as you make sure you have an adequate backstop, you can shoot anything you want........ It does not matter if you only have a 20 yd range..... as long as the backstop stops the rounds.....

Disclaimer: it may very well be a law in some counties that you need a certain amount of land to shoot lawfully... but that, in my eyes is absolutely asinine and unconstitutional....

Hmmm...sounds just like what I said, except belligerent and insulting. Can't you manage a point without making it into a verbal assault?

 

[Axeanda45]

Dude, that's like saying "A long as your pan is a half a cup long by two cups wide it should be big enough for that meatloaf recipe."

SO, if what YOU WRITE is offensive, it is ok, but I cannot write the same way?


I NEVER "try" to be offensive or abusive, it is just the way I am, deal with it...

I refuse to be "politically correct" because it only hides the TRUTH about things.....

If you cant handle the straight truth, you need to go elsewhere......

 

[ForGodandCountry]

Thanks everyone

I have since found similar info about their being no land restrictions. I know this is why you got to love Texas, but they have just 20 acres and they are shooting in my property's direction. The Texas Tornado Bootcamp is operating on the twenty acres doing dirt bike clinics with world champs. They have a big backstop for the big guns they are shooting mostly on weekends. I have a problem in that neighbors are thinking it's me making the noice
!!!

 

[Providence Ranch]

Dude, that's like saying "A long as your pan is a half a cup long by two cups wide it should be big enough for that meatloaf recipe."

SO, if what YOU WRITE is offensive, it is ok, but I cannot write the same way?


I NEVER "try" to be offensive or abusive, it is just the way I am, deal with it...

I refuse to be "politically correct" because it only hides the TRUTH about things.....

If you cant handle the straight truth, you need to go elsewhere......

Straight truth is one thing. What you put out is vomit.

 

[TooCalm]

I have been told that a hunting rifle slug can carry 4 miles. I would think a .50 cal. could top that.

 

[-06]

In the country it is not unusual to hear reports very often of all sorts. A Mosin is the loudest thing I shoot but if it was a problem I would set up some sound absorbing panels to prevent neighbor problems. Shooting from within a small building might be just the trick to muffle the sound.

 

[Providence Ranch]

I have a good friend who has a range on his property, and is surrounded by other property owners. He canvassed all of them, asked them to come see his setup to assure them of its safety and that it was properly situated. Then they agreed upon certain days/hours he would shoot. Everything was up front and open, agreed on at the outset, and written into a document of consent, of some sort. Hasn't had any problems since.

 

[tuts40]

I cant believe this was even asked... And I find it harder to believe that no posters up to this point have even the slightest clue in what the answer is... SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!!


If you are on your own land, you can do WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT, as long as what you do doesnt infringe on the rights of others (no, noise in the middle of the day doesnt infringe, middle of night, maybe...) As long as you make sure you have an adequate backstop, you can shoot anything you want........ It does not matter if you only have a 20 yd range..... as long as the backstop stops the rounds.....

Disclaimer: it may very well be a law in some counties that you need a certain amount of land to shoot lawfully... but that, in my eyes is absolutely asinine and unconstitutional....

Restoring my faith.

 

[ForGodandCountry]

Retired Grunt, your answer was the most helpful. Yes, the noise is a disturbance, more so to my neighbors and my dogs, but your point regarding the dispersion angles is actually more of a concern for safety. They are shooting those guns in the direction on my property and as they entertain people from all over the country to motor cross ride with the Texas Tornado, they may not be the most experienced in firing those weapons. Thank you for your advice. We will be looking for any signs of damage on our property.

 

[ForGodandCountry]

I have a good friend who has a range on his property, and is surrounded by other property owners. He canvassed all of them, asked them to come see his setup to assure them of its safety and that it was properly situated. Then they agreed upon certain days/hours he would shoot. Everything was up front and open, agreed on at the outset, and written into a document of consent, of some sort. Hasn't had any problems since.

Perhaps, this is what I need to do.

 

[FN1910]

A fellow opened up skeet range near here out in the country where he owned a good bit of land. I don't know the exact size but before too long he started getting complaints about the noise. It wound up in court and he had to close the range. The problem was noise rather than safety. I seriously dount that you will find any set restriction on acreage for shooting rather restrictions on backstop, noise and sefety. All you really need is about 1/2 acre as long as you can control the noise and where the bullets go (indoor reange).

 

[rogerw]

I dont think it goes by how many acers you have. Just takes a good back stop. And Common Sence.
But thats just me.