Firing Gun Upwards

Morgan · 12-02-2010, 08:26 AM

Hunting fowls need someone to shoot upwards when the prey is flying. How dangerous is the bullet to someone when the bullet is coming back to the ground? Is there an angle we should shoot so the bullet will not hurt anyone when it comes down?

freds_shed1964 · 12-02-2010, 09:51 AM

hunting birds with bird shot?if so the balls are so small i would not worry about them hurting any one

le Metis · 12-02-2010, 01:23 PM

Hunting fowl is traditionally done with shotguns ranging from 410 up to 12 gauge, and rarely a 10 gauge using pellets called "shot". Correct shot size is the function of distance, not game. Thus, in my 12 guage, I prefer #9 shot, which flies outbound about 650 pellets creating a dense pattern at a max range of around 20 yards for this load. Beyond 40 yards, all those pellets are in the dirt...
None the less, the guiding rule for taking any shot is knowing what is downrange at all times no matter how short the range of the round. If in doubt, don't pull the trigger....

Archisimo · 12-02-2010, 03:51 PM

Agree whole heartedly with le Metis; never shoot in an unsafe direction. Now, IF you are using a solid "bullet" with any weight to it at all, the outcome CAN BE fatal if it strikes someone on the downfall. You should NEVER fire a bullet from a handgun or rifle up in the air. That was what Shotguns were designed for.

dhoyle · 12-03-2010, 12:54 AM

Back in the days when we hunted ducks with lead shot on a National Refuge I can't the times we had shot rain down on us with no ill effects, a little noise though on our hats

12-02-2010, 08:26 AM	#1
Morgan Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 71	Firing Gun Upwards Hunting fowls need someone to shoot upwards when the prey is flying. How dangerous is the bullet to someone when the bullet is coming back to the ground? Is there an angle we should shoot so the bullet will not hurt anyone when it comes down?

12-02-2010, 01:23 PM	#3
le Metis Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 80	Hunting fowl is traditionally done with shotguns ranging from 410 up to 12 gauge, and rarely a 10 gauge using pellets called "shot". Correct shot size is the function of distance, not game. Thus, in my 12 guage, I prefer #9 shot, which flies outbound about 650 pellets creating a dense pattern at a max range of around 20 yards for this load. Beyond 40 yards, all those pellets are in the dirt... None the less, the guiding rule for taking any shot is knowing what is downrange at all times no matter how short the range of the round. If in doubt, don't pull the trigger.... Last edited by le Metis; 12-02-2010 at 01:54 PM.

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12-02-2010, 09:51 AM	#2
freds_shed1964 freds_shed1964 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: upstate northern new yourk--adirondack foot hills Posts: 7	hunting birds with bird shot?if so the balls are so small i would not worry about them hurting any one

12-02-2010, 03:51 PM	#4
Archisimo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1	Agree whole heartedly with le Metis; never shoot in an unsafe direction. Now, IF you are using a solid "bullet" with any weight to it at all, the outcome CAN BE fatal if it strikes someone on the downfall. You should NEVER fire a bullet from a handgun or rifle up in the air. That was what Shotguns were designed for.

12-03-2010, 12:54 AM	#5
dhoyle Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: No Oregon Posts: 36	Back in the days when we hunted ducks with lead shot on a National Refuge I can't the times we had shot rain down on us with no ill effects, a little noise though on our hats