shooting at the beach

[Johnboy]

hey guys I just left a friends place in Va.we had a great time meeting for the first time.but the thing I am hinting at is this.

me and my family just got hear at Nags Head N.C. beach from the DC area.been walking on the beach and thought that shooting at differnt stuff in the water [seaguls ] would be fun.thats if it was OK do so.man I really want to drag out the 300wm and see just how fun this could be.but really don't want to go to jail.

 

[Nodak7mm]

If I am not mistaken, seagulls are a federally protected bird..... Prob not a good idea.

In general prob not a good idea to shoot a rifle over/onto/at water in the first place, safety concerns. I dont know the area, but one would need to take maximum possible range of bullet travel into consideration I would think... Dont know, was always taught not to fire a hi pwr onto the water surface...

Just a thought..

 

[rain164845]

I live in NC and go to the beach quite often. I usually think the same thing within about 5 seconds of seeing a seagull. It is definitely illegal and probably pretty unsafe, but it sure would be fun!

Joe

 

[Johnboy]

yeah the wife and I where watching the girls playing in the sand,and when a seagull flew by I thought of it.its that I just thought it would be fun.not something I would really do.but trying would be a lot of fun.

 

[Rust]

Shooting around water can be very dangerous as at shallow angles bullets skip/ricochet without loosing much velocity.

Back in the sixties up on Long Island Sound, some idiot was shooting at beer cans off his boat, about five miles from a road along the waterfront. One of his ricochets eventually ended up at that road, went through the one and only slightly opened window of a car driving on that road striking the girl driving the car right behind the ear with just enough energy left to kill her. To finish that story off, the police eventually found the guy.

Way past a million to one shot, but eventually it happens to someone if enough people do enough dumb sh*t.

There is a reason seven miles is considered a requirment down range for free fire (ie blast away without a berm or some sort of a backstop.

 

[chino1969]

I've considered the same thing with seagulls but they are federally protected. Shooting into or over a body of water is probably not a good idea either but I've considered it as well. Better safe than sorry, fined or arrested.

Lou Baccino

 

[Taildrag15X]

Here in Northern NY on the shores of Lake champlain we like to refer to them as "Altona Snow Geese" and yes it would be nice to get rid of a couple of thousand or so of the crapping b@$t%rs, there are every where.

 

[queen_stick]

The last time I was the beach I thought the exact same thing, but not really in reference to seagulls. I thought about how challenging it would be to shoot long range across the ocean. You would probably get a lot of weird mirage effects because light reflections off the water? Also, the wind is typically blowing pretty strong at the beach, but one advantage is that it doesn't change direction too often. There are no markers or 'wind identifying objects' that you can look at to guess at the speed.

Here's what I thought would be awesome... A 600 yard match. (I wouldn't say 1K, because you can't see the bullet holes on the target) The shooters on the beach.... the targets on a bouy. Now that would be challenging! To shoot a match for score or for group while the target is bobbing around in all directions as it rides the waves.

 

[Kenny474]

Seagulls are protected as they are beach scavengers. They keep the beaches free of a lot of crap that would otherwise build up.

As far as firing at the ocean, not a good idea. As has been pointed out ricochet is going to be a factor, and being jailed for killing a fisherman isn't my idea of fun.

If you could create a backstop of some sort and checked local laws and regs, it may be possible. Filling a large wooden box with sand may stop bullets, but it would have to be legal to be worth the risk.

I have shot clays 10+ miles out to sea, and that was fun. Biodegradable clay of course, but still very fun. You just have to be careful as seagulls are dumb and will sometimes chase the clays.

 

[highmaster82]

i agree that shooting seagulls is a bad idea,and quite possibly someone was killed by a stray bullet,but not from 5 miles away thats almost 9000 yards most flat base bullets max range is 2500 to 3000 yds and boattails 5000 yds and thats fireing at about a 40 degree angle not skipping off water. at camp perrywhen pulling targets at 1000 yds you can see the bullets impacting a short distance behind the targets. BW Davis

 

[Mikem]

Johnboy, I think it would bring the law down on you quicker than you can say, "Do I get a free phone call"
Mike.

 

[Rust]

Bill,

No "quite possibly" about it, the shooting described happened. Maybe the police report was a little off as far as the range went, I couldn't tell you, I didn't go out to meaure it myself. The bullet entered the car through a barely open rear window, struck the girl behind the ear with just enough energy to penetrate by way of the ear canal. While the car was traveling at 50 mph. I've never heard of a more improbable accidental shooting.

About the bullet splash at Perry. Given the mere 30 or so minutes of angle used to reach 1,000 yards at Perry of course the bullets are already on a downward trajectory at the pits, and of course the bullets will splash down not long afterwards. Fire at 30 degrees an you won't be seeing any splash.

When bullets do ricochet of water, they pretty much leave at the same angle they hit. They also don't loose a lot of velocity. Figure 20 to 25 degrees as the steepest ricochet angles. I recall years ago someone actually did some experiments on water ricochets to prove his point about not shooting down into water at shallow angles for safety.

And you may want to revisit your figures for maximum range again, even a lowly .22 can travel a mile (barely). Not that it is likely to do much damage at that point. And a 30-06? Only 2500 yards with a flat base 180? Really?

But all of that is besides the point anyhow. The real point is not engaging in potentially dangerous behavior. If you don't know where your bullets are going to end up, don't pull the trigger.

 

[CJ6]

10 COMMANDMENTS of SAFTEY

It's basic Firearm Saftey. NEVER SHOOT AT A HARD FLAT SURFACE OR WATER. Hope this HELPS.

 

[Johnboy]

for me I wouldn't do it.just thought it would be neat.and yeah I know from the hard way not to shoot into water.did it shooting at turtles one day when I was little.and it missed the mark and made it into a window in an old house off the bank.so shooting into water is something I do not do any more.

 

[Mikem]

Johnboy; It sounds like your a little hard on the flora and fauna in your area.