Airgun Safety

Garden Gunning

Mat Manning and Kev Hawker give a few pointers to get you on the right track to safe backyard plinking

The festive season must see more new recruits to the world of air-gunning than any other period. A large, heavy parcel under the Christmas tree will make for a memorable morning and, hopefully, a hobby for life. And, no doubt, countless experienced shots will also wake on Christmas morning to find that, rather than falling on deaf ears, their campaign of subtle, and not so subtle, hints had the desired effect and resulted in the hoped for new rifle from a loved one.

However, the arrival of that all important air rifle brings with it a not insignificant quandary: the urge to get out and use it as soon as possible. As we all know, the festive season usually amounts to a few days’ holiday for most of us but commitments to family and friends can make long excursions into the field less than popular at home.

Thankfully, for many of us, the solution lays quite literally on our doorstep. In the world of shooting, airguns are relatively low-powered and this is something I have always regarded as an advantage. As well as making them the ideal tool for pest control in confined conditions, it also means that, with care and attention, they can safely be used in a moderately sized garden.

So most of us don’t have to go yomping miles to savour some festive airgun action. And that goes for the rest of the year too; Kev and I love our hunting but we spend a lot of time honing our shooting skills on my garden range. Of course, as in any shooting situation, safety has to be an absolute priority – even more so in the garden as there is more likelihood of other people being in close proximity. Although airguns are somewhat low-powered compared with other guns, they still have the potential to cause a catastrophic and life-wrecking accident. Nonetheless, by following a disciplined safety regime, there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy your airgun in the backyard.

NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS

It is very important to show consideration for your neighbours when shooting in the garden. First and foremost, you will be breaking the law the moment a pellet strays beyond your boundary, so it is essential to ensure that measures are taken to prevent this.

Secondly, we need to be mindful that our plinking activities don’t cause a noise nuisance and, depending on how close your nearest neighbour is and what they consider to be a nuisance, there are ways to reduce the disturbance of garden gunning to next to nothing. In my experience, the best way to minimise conflict with neighbours is to explain your intentions – and the precautions you will be taking – before you start.

This reassurance and clarification should set you off on a far better track than just waiting until the constant thwack of pellets against a backstop prompts your neighbour to peep over the fence to see what’s going on.

SAFETY FROM THE START

Before I begin a backyard shooting session, I make sure my wife knows that the garden will be a nogo area until I’m finished. Shooting through a scope, as most of us do, can make us somewhat blinkered at what could potentially be the most dangerous time, and the last thing you want is a person or pet straying in front of the gun. I have two young children, including a very inquisitive threeyear- old son, so they need to be kept securely out of the way – adopt the same policy if you have dogs or cats. I also rustle up a quick sign (usually stating ‘Shooting in Progress’) and hang it on the gate that leads into our garden, just to be on the safe side. This will act as a clear warning to anyone, including unexpected visitors, who may otherwise venture dangerously close to the range.

RANGE LAYOUT AND CONDUCT

When setting up a garden range, I always ensure that shots are taken in the safest possible direction. It is really just common sense, but try to ensure that you are shooting away from the house and towards a good, solid backstop. A solid wall will provide maximum protection but there are other ways to create a safe backstop if this can’t be achieved. Never set up anywhere that features an access point downrange. Even if you put up a sign, the chance of someone accessing the firing line is just too great to risk.

Kev and I often shoot together in the garden. An element of competitiveness adds to the entertainment, but it is important not to allow safety to be compromised by fun. With more than one shooter on the range, it is essential to establish exactly who will be shooting when – and stick to it.

Make sure all shooters are situated behind the line of fire and reasonably close together, so communication is clear. If at any time one of you decides to walk downrange to check, reset or adjust the targets, make your intention absolutely clear to the others and do not move until they have all acknowledged you.

Before anyone leaves their position, ensure that all guns are unloaded, point them in a safe direction, remove magazines and set safety catches – this method of making guns safe is also essential if you are shooting on your own. Guns should then be left alone until everyone is back in position and the all-clear has been given.

BACKSTOPS

As previously mentioned, the best backstop to halt pellets without the threat of a ricochet is a wall of brick, stone or concrete. The solid resistance obliterates lead pellets, leaving them with scant energy to bounce a couple of feet – this will keep spent ammo within your boundary, and you on the right side of the law. Of course, you won’t always find a wall exactly where you want it but paving slabs can be used to create the same effect.

A few slabs can be cheaply acquired from a local builders’ merchant or garden centre and will serve as an excellent portable backstop. Most modern airguns are so quiet that the sound of the muzzle blast is unlikely to constitute a noise nuisance, but the sound of a pellet slapping against a concrete backstop may annoy a crotchety neighbour.

One of the best ways to remedy this problem is to fetch an old phonebook and tape it up to prevent it from flapping open, then use paperclips to fasten paper targets to it. The cushioning effect of the pages will deaden the sound of the impacting pellets, but remember that you will still need a solid backstop because shots will eventually rip through the phonebook. Never use a wooden backstop because they are incredibly dangerous. The fibrous nature of wood, chipboard and plywood can act as a catapult and, rather than stopping pellets, will actually bounce them back – often at lethal speed.

I had a very close accident of this nature as a youngster. I found an old, and very thick oak door and, thinking it would make the ideal backstop, dragged it to the top of the garden and pinned some paper targets to it. The first shot, from about 25 metres, whacked into the wood and sprang back at an alarming speed. The rebounding pellet struck me in the chest and, although it didn’t do any serious damage, it left a nasty bruise through several layers of clothing – including a thick jacket. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had caught me in the eye. Suffice to say, it was the first and last time I used a wooden backstop. Whether zeroing on paper, bowling over long-range knock-down silhouette targets or smashing Extra Strong Mints for fun, ensure that you have a sound backstop in place and follow these commonsense guidelines to ensure that you enjoy your garden gunning in safety and within the law.