October 20, 2009, 12:05 PM | #1 |
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Skeet shot range
I apologize if this has been asked or answered - the searches were returning an overload of unrelated info, so I'll just ask. I'm looking to pick up a few acres of land in the near future. A contingency is that I must be able to shoot (both legally and safely) on the property.
Setting up a backstop is no biggie, but I'd really love to be able to shoot skeet as well. Of course, the last thing you want to do is pepper someone's house or a road with skeet shot. I'm sure it doesn't do any damage on its way down (the stuff is practically dust) but a fine layer of lead over the wrong part of my property would make me mad too. So, the question is thus: How far does a nominal (30' angle) shot of #8 or #9 shot really travel before coming down to earth? Thanks for any info. |
October 20, 2009, 12:13 PM | #2 |
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“Round balls have a much smaller ballistic coefficient than pointed bullets and therefore the range of shot fired from shotguns is much smaller than the rifle bullets. The Ordnance Technical Manual 9-1990 gives the following distances for shot when fired in full choke shotguns: No. 00 Buckshot, 600 yds.; No. 8 shot, 230 yds.;and No. 9 shot, 210 yds. This manual also gives a formula called "Journee's Formula" for determining the approximate maximum ranges for shotguns. This formula states that the maximum range, in yards, is roughly 2200 times the shot diameter, in inches."
By Journee's Formula a No 8, .09" in diameter (subtract the shot size from 17 to get the diameter in hundredths of an inch) times 2200 is 198 yards. Probably based on black powder velocity for soft black shot. By actual trial when laying out our club's ranges, the Falling Out Of The Sky range for No 7 1/2 is about 720 feet, 240 yards. |
October 20, 2009, 12:15 PM | #3 |
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Wow - thank you. That's a bit shorter than I expected, and good news too.
Thanks again! |
October 20, 2009, 12:21 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
http://www.westletongunclub.co.uk/advice/qanda.htm I would allow 300 yards to account for wind - planting trees all around will help trap some as well as reduce some of the noise. Remember, if you are shooting the GAME called skeet - you will have shot traveling in a 180 degree arc (some folks call backyard clays "skeet" which is not truly correct), so you will need to allow for that distance in all those directions. I would also advise that you check with your local authorities to make sure you're not considered a "residential" area where shooting might not be allowed. (Saw that in NV on BLM land because of some homes built right next to the boundary) |
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October 20, 2009, 12:47 PM | #5 |
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Oneounceload,
I do understand the arc involved to actually play skeet. Depending on the layout of the property, that may or may not be possible. I'm looking at a few places that back up to the cuyahoga national valley though, which pretty much opens up the books. There are hiking trails and whatnot back there though, as well as some private properties set well into the park, so it made sense to check this range. 300 yards should be no problem in all directions. |
October 20, 2009, 01:03 PM | #6 |
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Cool - that would be fun to have my own target range (I'd like to have a skeet/trap/5-stand combo with a voice controller)...
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October 20, 2009, 01:25 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
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October 20, 2009, 01:32 PM | #8 |
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Well, why not? All it takes is money, if you have the acreage.
You may have to forego a new vehicle, luxury cruise, golf cart, and bass boat, but if you are willing to be a monomaniac about your hobby, it can be done. |
October 20, 2009, 01:35 PM | #9 |
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The LAND is the cost - used machines can be bought for a mere pittance as gun club after gun club goes out of business.
IMO, even more fun would be a pigeon ring set up.....now THERE'S some epic BBQing going on......... |
January 23, 2017, 11:33 PM | #10 |
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Skeet Range Requirements
Setting up a private range was my dream. I made it happen here in Morehead City NC on part of my 18 acre spread. I am bounded by the Croatan National Forest to the North and East of my land. The skeet range is centered about 200 yards from the Eastern Border, and the impact zone for shot is well within those boundaries due to trees on my land.
It was quite an undertaking to build the range, and the costs went above the budget by several thousand dollars. But if you're going to do this... do it once and do it right. I won't live forever, and at some point will look for someone who loves shooting as much as I do to buy the place from me, and give me rights to use the ranges until I am no longer able to shoot. But I hope for 5 to 10 more years of shooting which should just about do what I'd hoped. I'd be pleased to provide my plans to others who might want to do similar. I had a Doctor in town tell me about his wooden buildings on swamp land. I thought his approach was dangerous. Machines can get wet and wooden buildings don't last forever... then again what does. Concrete block with commercial grade steel doors is the way to go. Painted to keep them waterproof. I started a club, and it is slowly growing in membership. I hope to have a dozen members next year. MEC Traps are the way to go, and they have some that are affordable and hold 135 targets (a case) each which gives you 270 targets... enough to last a 5 man squad two rounds with a few extra clays for "mulligans". I bought the 300E machines and am thrilled. 600 targets lasts 4 rounds nicely without messing with loading during a round. Check out my club http://ccskeet.com and don't hesitate to call if you have any questions. |
January 24, 2017, 02:13 AM | #11 |
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Howdy
I shoot Trap every week. Although the game is different than skeet, and although the targets travel differently. The shotfall zone is the same diameter. I just checked the ATA layout for a Trap Field. The shotfall zone is called out as 900 feet (300 yards). I was actually a bit surprised it is that far, but that's what the ATA says. For the shot sizes used in Trap (or Skeet) #7 1/2 to #9, all shot should fall to the ground within that radius. Actually, in standard Trap we stand 16 yards back of the Trap machine, and the 900 foot dimension is measured from the Trap machine, so figure 316 yards (948 feet). |
January 24, 2017, 10:49 AM | #12 |
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dhenzler,
Now, that is a very nice range you've built on your property. Nicely done! |
January 24, 2017, 11:37 AM | #13 |
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dhenzler,
IF your club keeps growing, you will want to stop buying targets from walmart. Those are not up to tournament levels, nor the speeds and stresses those machines put on the targets. White Flyer pheasant level is their best quality target. My clubs uses some of the old Winchester-Western single stacks on the 5 stand; they'll hold a case. On the serious skeet field, they use either PAT or Lincolns. The carousels have 8-9 stacks so about 5-6 cases get loaded at once. That's a real time saver when you have folks shooting a lot. Another thing to think about as your club grows and there's been a lot of shooting is having a lead reclaimer come in and "mine" your field. They take a machine that acts similar to a peanut harvester or sod cutter and get the lead. They typically take 60% for themselves. Washed and regraphited, reclaimed lead can then be resold to your members for a nice profit that can be used to pay other costs. Good Luck!
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