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Shooting Forum - Firearms licencing information


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Shooting up in the air

  • 18-04-2021 4:30pm
    #1
    pm.
    Registered Users Posts: 2,139 ✭✭✭


    Hi all

    Ive been shooting for years now and only ever shot a rifle when I could see the backdrop.

    I was doing some research on an airgun I'm looking at getting and noticed on YouTube a lot of videos of guys shooting air rifles into trees roof tops etc..

    My question is if you were to shoot from the ground to say a top of a tree using a 22 pcp would the pellet arch? I think it would and still have enough power before hitting the ground to do some damage?

    Had a bit of a debate with a few lads and they think it will just run out of power and fall. From shooting at the range I know all rounds will drop and not just stop.

    Guess my question is using a 22 pcp could you shoot up? Obviously not near house or that but in an open field?


Comments

  • #2
    justbehindit
    Registered Users Posts: 27 ✭justbehindit


    As far as I know the answer is yes, because the pellet is so light it's like shooting a shotgun into the air, if the pellets hit you on the way down it's not fun, but it's not going to do any harm so just be sensible and don't shoot in the direction of people or anything but short answer yes it's fine.


  • #3
    Zxthinger
    Registered Users Posts: 1,113 ✭✭✭Zxthinger


    If ye shoot st 30-40 deg in the air, a pellet will travel 400-450 yards.

    The skirt slows then right down and they'd fall with very low energy.


  • #4
    Feisar
    Registered Users Posts: 6,597 ✭✭✭Feisar


    Over in the States they shoot squirrels from trees, always seemed a bit mad to me!.

    First they came for the socialists...



  • #5
    Grizzly 45
    Registered Users Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭Grizzly 45


    Using .22s as well!:P but seeing they are hunting mostly in forest areas,its going to more than likely hit a branch of some type on the way out or coming down again.

    "If you want to keep someone away from your house, Just fire the shotgun through the door."

    Vice President [and former lawyer] Joe Biden Field& Stream Magazine interview Feb 2013 "



  • #6
    extremetaz
    Registered Users Posts: 1,391 ✭✭✭extremetaz


    pm. wrote: »
    Guess my question is using a 22 pcp could you shoot up? Obviously not near house or that but in an open field?

    Within reason, yes.
    As stated farther up, the ballistic coefficient of diabolo rounds is so bad it's actually almost impressive. 0.02 at the very best end of things (compared to about 0.08 at the very worst end of 22LR) so they loose energy very quickly and never really have that much to begin with in the regular calibers.


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  • #7
    Zxthinger
    Registered Users Posts: 1,113 ✭✭✭Zxthinger


    You could get caught out with the new slugs that are on the market.. more aerodynamic..

    Also, I notice that UK air rifle shooter will sometimes abstain from certain aerial shots citing the reason as a shot that's not suited to FAC air (or more than 12 ftlbs...

    so be cautious with heavier pellets and higher powered guns.. the range will be extended


  • #8
    pm.
    Registered Users Posts: 2,139 ✭✭✭pm.


    Zxthinger wrote: »
    You could get caught out with the new slugs that are on the market.. more aerodynamic..

    Also, I notice that UK air rifle shooter will sometimes abstain from certain aerial shots citing the reason as a shot that's not suited to FAC air (or more than 12 ftlbs...

    so be cautious with heavier pellets and higher powered guns.. the range will be extended

    Thats what my point was to the guy I was talking to about it, the gun will be an FX crown 22. I don't think this will just stop I think it will arch and still hit the ground at a fair speed


  • #9
    JP22
    Registered Users Posts: 551 ✭✭✭JP22


    Projectiles shot straight up in the air or at a steep angle lose their inertia and just basically fall to the ground under gravity and for the most part should not cause serious injury, depending of course on their size and weight. Murphy’s Law applies though.

    Projectiles shot at a shallow angle retain more of their inertia and can cause death and serious injury.
    Years ago when shooting, we were always told, safety area for a shotgun was 300m (lead shot).

    I know of at least one person who was suspended from his club for shooting too close to farm buildings, he was shooting pigeon coming into roost on a small copse and his pellets were landing on farm sheds 200 odd yards away.

    Again – "Murphy’s Law" – common sense dictates.

    Keep safe.


  • #10
    Bushwack
    Registered Users Posts: 73 ✭✭Bushwack


    You be surprised the distance an 18 gr pellet at 850 FPS can travel and kill. The old saying 177 for feather a 22 for fur could have had something to do with shooting skyward as much as stopping power. It’s just a common sense thing and awareness of backdrop.


  • #11
    Grizzly 45
    Registered Users Posts: 14,949 ✭✭✭✭Grizzly 45


    Wonder how many folks were injured or shot in Victorian times when rook shooting was all the rage?
    Seeing some of the calibers our ancestors were launching skywards would give grounds for concern.:eek:

    PS mid-May was the common time for this type of hunting and if you are a crow hunter its a god time to thin out the young crows/rooks who are still not flying,but have worked out onto the branches beside the nest.

    .220 Rook
    .297/230 Morris
    .297/250 Rook
    .255 Jeffery Rook
    .300 Rook
    .300 Sherwood
    .360 No 5 Rook
    .380 Long

    https://huntforever.org/2012/07/03/in-praise-of-rook-rifles/

    "If you want to keep someone away from your house, Just fire the shotgun through the door."

    Vice President [and former lawyer] Joe Biden Field& Stream Magazine interview Feb 2013 "



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  • #12
    Mellor
    Registered Users Posts: 38,998 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    JP22 wrote: »
    Projectiles shot straight up in the air or at a steep angle lose their inertia and just basically fall to the ground under gravity and for the most part should not cause serious injury, depending of course on their size and weight. Murphy’s Law applies though.

    Projectiles shot at a shallow angle retain more of their inertia and can cause death and serious injury.
    Years ago when shooting, we were always told, safety area for a shotgun was 300m (lead shot).

    I know of at least one person who was suspended from his club for shooting too close to farm buildings, he was shooting pigeon coming into roost on a small copse and his pellets were landing on farm sheds 200 odd yards away.

    Again – "Murphy’s Law" – common sense dictates.

    Keep safe.
    Momentum rather than inertia. But that’s it in a nutshell.

    In a flat arch it’s mostly fighting air. With the right income it can cover some distance before meet the ground
    Shot straight up. It’s fighting air and gravity. The losses due to gravity get returned on the way down. But air resistance continues on the way back down. So even with gravity they’ll only reach terminal velocity.


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