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Brian Pfleuger · September 20, 2011, 04:11 PM

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the use of the word... but how is the sky not a backstop when you're shooting at flying animals?

I mean, yeah, you've got to be careful where your shot lands, but there essentially ISN'T a backstop, except the air.

The ground certainly isn't a "back stop", it isn't "back" of your shot. You're just raining down BBs on the ground.

Actually, I would say that unless you're shooting at a range type environment that LITERALLY has a backstop, safe shooting doesn't even require the concept.

Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

"Beyond" doesn't imply "backstop" to me. It implies that I'm not going to hit anything important. It might be the ground, or a tree, or mostly air until it rains back down, but it's not a "backstop".

A backstop is something intentionally hit to stop the bullet intentionally, not a random safe place that it ends up.

September 20, 2011, 04:11 PM	#6
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Maybe I'm misunderstanding the use of the word... but how is the sky not a backstop when you're shooting at flying animals? I mean, yeah, you've got to be careful where your shot lands, but there essentially ISN'T a backstop, except the air. The ground certainly isn't a "back stop", it isn't "back" of your shot. You're just raining down BBs on the ground. Actually, I would say that unless you're shooting at a range type environment that LITERALLY has a backstop, safe shooting doesn't even require the concept. Be sure of your target and what is beyond. "Beyond" doesn't imply "backstop" to me. It implies that I'm not going to hit anything important. It might be the ground, or a tree, or mostly air until it rains back down, but it's not a "backstop". A backstop is something intentionally hit to stop the bullet intentionally, not a random safe place that it ends up. Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; September 20, 2011 at 04:18 PM.