MOCO,Can we pop off bb guns in the backyard?

Blacksmith101 · May 23, 2021

Do it in your basement or garage BB gun competitions are shot at 5 meters (16' 4 3/4").

Here is a link to the Rule Book:
http://www.rulebooks.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/RuleBooks/Bbgun/bb-book.pdf

And a link for more information:
https://www.daisy.com/daisy-nationals/

erwos · May 24, 2021

Blacksmith101 said:
Do it in your basement or garage BB gun competitions are shot at 5 meters (16' 4 3/4").

Here is a link to the Rule Book:
http://www.rulebooks.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/RuleBooks/Bbgun/bb-book.pdf

And a link for more information:
https://www.daisy.com/daisy-nationals/

IIRC, legal in your basement in MoCo, but technically not your garage. That said, I find it highly unlikely the cops would bother you if it was in your garage with the door closed.

kshaw · May 24, 2021

Izaak Walton League, Rockville Chapter, permits pellet guns on our pistol range on Sunday mornings and we have indoor bb gun shooting for youth during the week. You will need eye protection. Are you a member?

Mike OTDP · May 25, 2021

Nanook said:
Just make sure you BB/pellet guys use a dang backstop if the houses are close together.

This. I've got a 10-meter air pistol range in my house, and you can be certain I'm using a proper pellet trap.

mcmilbra · May 26, 2021

Used to do it at my home in Baltimore county but my neighbor decided to go crazy and call the cops about it. And when the cops said it was okay he went to there chief and filed a report on them comeing out to my home and saying it was okay.

Samlab · May 26, 2021

Yes you can shoot a BB gun in your backyard. The Mont Co Code is .25 caliber and above rifle and .22 and above rim fire. A NO GO. The BB gun and .177 pellet is ok but you must have a 25 feet of backer space. Start using for shooting non threatening animals or any birds and you'll have a big problem.

Section 57 of annotated code.

40watt · May 26, 2021

Got a basement or a garage? Sounds like an indoor shooting range to me... Lol

FHJ69 · May 26, 2021

Dingo3 said:
Grew up in the Ag Reserve in MoCo in the late 80s-late 90s. Learned to shoot in our back yard. Shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery when grandma came to visit. No neighbors ever cared because they were all the same way as us. Doubt that it’s the same way there now other than a few generational farms. Too many libs have been buying property there

Built a house out here in the Ag Reserve. Shoot all the time in my backyard. Cops only called once and they said that I was perfectly legal since I'm in the Ag Reserve. Then they asked if they could try my Uzi. Never been bothered since in over 14 years.

Samlab · May 26, 2021

You are correct....we looked at a home in Bealesville and the family living in the home behind the home, was target shooting with a 9mm pistol. Seller said he target shoots in the other direction all the time, everyone does!

Police don't care out here. Oh well.

cornstalk · May 26, 2021

Just get one of the quiet pellet guns or add a silencer to one. Totally legal for air guns. When I lived in Bodymore I shot starlings all the time in my backyard and no one was any wiser. Equally fun was when I bought my first compound bow. It was 35 yards to the back fence. I got so I could hit a starling easier with a bow offhand than with the pellet gun.

ESP · May 28, 2021

My .02 worth

The .25 caliber or lower applies to areas outside of Montgomery County's Urban Area (This includes the AG preserve). If you are in the Urban zone, I don't recommend shooting unless you are inside (or very quiet). AN exception is if you have an approved Range (by the Firearm Safety Committee)

Montgomery Code Chapter 57 is useful. Here is a snippet for outside of the Urban areas:

• Chapter 57-5 Discharge of guns outside of the Urban areas
Latest version.
• (a) Prohibition. Except as provided in subsection (c)(1) through (c)(6), outside the urban area, a person, other than a peace officer or employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources performing official duties, must not:
(1) discharge a gun:
(A) onto, across, or within 50 yards of a public road;
(B) onto or across property located within 50 yards of a public road;
(C) into or within the safety zone (150 yards of a building or camp designed for human occupancy) without the owner or occupant's written consent; or
(C) from, onto, or across public or private property without the owner or occupant's written consent;
(2) discharge a full metal jacketed bullet of any caliber from a gun; or
(3) except as provided in subsection (b), discharge any fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 caliber from a rifle or pistol.
(b) Exception - High Caliber Ammunition. A person may discharge fixed ammunition of a caliber higher than .25 from a rifle or pistol at:
(A) legal game or varmints on the ground; or
(B) a target on or near the ground that will not deflect a bullet.
(c) Other Exceptions. Except as provided in Sections 57-7 and 57-11, a person may discharge a gun:
(1) on any indoor or outdoor target, trap, skeet, or shooting range that the Firearm Safety Committee has inspected and approved in writing;
(2) in a private basement or cellar target range;

I am not a lawyer. I have no idea what case laws may affect the above. I don't know how to get in touch with said "Firearm Safety Committee" (although I would like to just to get the specs to build an approved range).

Dovk0802 · Jun 11, 2021

If anyone wants a pellet trap I have an old one to give away. It’s about 8” across.

Parry · Oct 22, 2021

So, what can you use to protect yourself from animals in MoCo?

I had a situation today when I saw a large dog enter my backyard. One side of my yard is getting new fence panels so it entered on that side. I was curious so I got up from the sofa and watched it. It was sniffing around and then entered into my flowerbeds. Within a second, it was in that crapping pose, trying to squeeze out a turtlehead. I quickly opened my back sliding door to startle it, hoping to prevent that steaming log from landing on my property. The dog stopped, growled, and did that fake flinch towards my direction. Of course, since I did not know that dog, I went back in behind the sliding door. But it got me thinking about how I could have protected myself. I would have loved to use a wrist rocket or bb gun on it when it was in that pose.

Well, for those of you who are wondering, the dog got annoyed and entered into another yard to finish his business.

smokey · Oct 31, 2021

Parry said:
So, what can you use to protect yourself from animals in MoCo?

I had a situation today when I saw a large dog enter my backyard. One side of my yard is getting new fence panels so it entered on that side. I was curious so I got up from the sofa and watched it. It was sniffing around and then entered into my flowerbeds. Within a second, it was in that crapping pose, trying to squeeze out a turtlehead. I quickly opened my back sliding door to startle it, hoping to prevent that steaming log from landing on my property. The dog stopped, growled, and did that fake flinch towards my direction. Of course, since I did not know that dog, I went back in behind the sliding door. But it got me thinking about how I could have protected myself. I would have loved to use a wrist rocket or bb gun on it when it was in that pose.

Well, for those of you who are wondering, the dog got annoyed and entered into another yard to finish his business.

Be guns are somewhat cruel and ineffective for dealing with dogs. It's a much better idea to just have some quality pepper spray for them. Even a long stick of some kind would be better for a random neighborhood dog.

M1842 · Nov 19, 2021

Air horns work to startle dogs and make them leave. I keep a couple small air horns around all the time. And when taking my little dogs for a walk, I carry an air horn.

Marc32 · Nov 30, 2021

Probably the best bet is to be friends with your neighbors. I've always found out when your not on a friendly base with them, is when all the trouble starts to occur.

Biggfoot44 · Nov 30, 2021

Welcome Marc 32 !

Congradulatons on First Post . Stick around , join in ,don't wait 8 years for the next one .

G8tor · Nov 30, 2021

Dovk0802 said:
If anyone wants a pellet trap I have an old one to give away. It’s about 8” across.

Do you still have this?

MOCO,Can we pop off bb guns in the backyard?

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