Can I Shoot My Air Rifle In My Garden?

If you’ve just bought your first air rifle, or you’re looking to get one and you’re wondering whether you can shoot in your back garden, the short answer is yes, you can. However, before you start shooting, there are some important guidelines and considerations you should keep in mind.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most important ones.

What You Need To Know Before Shooting In Your Garden

You should check on the gov.uk website for the latest information on this topic, but as a general overview, what’s important is the following:

Only Shoot Within Your Boundaries

First and foremost, it’s important to ensure that the pellets from your air rifle stay within the boundaries of your garden.

This means that you must have a clear understanding of where your property ends, and your neighbour’s property begins.

You also need to make sure that when you’re shooting, the pellets aren’t bouncing back and going over the neighbour’s garden.

Give Your Neighbour’s A Knock

While you’re well within your rights to shoot in your garden, it’s always a good idea to give your neighbour’s a knock and let them know you’re going to be shooting in your garden.

This will help them understand that what you’re doing is legal and hopefully prevent them from calling the police if they were to mistake your air rifle for a real gun.

Did you know: All of our air rifles come with our famous, unique guarantee which ensures it stays shooting in tip top shape for as long as you own it? You can learn more about this when you check out one of the air rifles we have for sale on our website.

Make Sure You’ve Got A Proper Backstop

One essential safety precaution you should never overlook is having a reliable backstop.

Air rifles can be surprisingly powerful, and their pellets can penetrate fences, as they’re often made from quite thin wood.

To prevent any accidents or damage, ensure that you have a sturdy backstop, like a target or a proper pellet trap, behind your shooting area. This will help to keep every body (and everybody’s property) safe.

Make Sure You Understand Your Surroundings

It’s not just your immediate neighbours you need to consider; you should also be completely aware of your surroundings. If there are other gardens nearby or people passing by, it’s best not to shoot in the direction of these areas.

And if your garden backs onto another garden, it’s usually best to not shoot in your garden at all, as it’s likely your pellets will end up going over.

Don’t Shoot Things Off Your Roof

Another quick one we’d like to share is not to try to shoot birds off your roof etc. as you can’t tell where that pellet is going to end up. You’re shooting up in the air so it could land quite far away and cause someone injury.