Handgun shooting area at home?

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Hello all, first time poster here. I don't live near a shooting range so I've thought about setting one up at home. We have a room and a bathroom upstairs that aren't used very much (12 feet wide x 31 feet long). Plenty of windows, so I don't think ventilation would be an issue.

The best place I can think of to setup a target area is in the doorway of the upstairs bathroom. If the round goes through the backstop (not sure what to use for a backstop yet), it'll go into a shower. There's a sheet of plywood behind the shower (in our attic), then nothing but attic space until you reach the slanted plywood/roof. There aren’t any houses directly behind mine…just a bunch of trees. If I miss (don't think I'll miss something the size of a doorway from 25 feet, but you never know) I'll have some drywall to patch, but there still won't be anything behind the drywall except for attic space. I do live in a subdivision, so shooting outdoors isn’t an option. Since I do have neighbors, the only thing I plan to shoot indoors is a .22 pistol.

My question, is it possible to do this safely? If so, what would I need to use as a backstop? I wouldn't feel safe doing this while anyone else is at home. They'd be down stairs and I don't see anyway they would be in danger, but I still wouldn't take that change...crazy can things happen.

I'm not sure if I included all the information needed to make a decision, so let me know if I left something out (or if this is just a bad idea altogether). Just an idea I've been thinking about lately. Thanks in advance!
 
I'm no expert, by far.

However, this just seems like a bad idea asking for trouble.

Maybe Air Pistols?

-dsd
 
I really doubt that most home owners would be able to pull this off safely.

and
Your local laws may actually prohibit this. Most cities have laws making it illegal to fire a gun in the city limits.
I admit it sounds interesting, but I'm positive I wouldn't want the liability if this goes wrong.
 
I can't imagine this being legal.

There's nothing stopping you from shooting BB guns indoors. Its pretty damn fun. Although I can imagine that being illegal on the books as well...I don't think that's an issue with a BB gun.

Fill up a big ole box with phone books and tape a target to it, shoot it to pieces, repeat.
 
Ditto on checking your local laws - i know it's illegal in my town and a good way to meet my local SWAT team up close and personal. Which also means that it would be quick way to have your guns confiscated along with a large fine and the possibilty that you may not be able to buy another one legally in the future.

Also it's real hard to make any personal home completely safe for firearms use. You may think you have an adequate backstop at one end but that doesn't take into consideration any possible accidental discharges that could go elsewhere (and you indicated there are lots of windows already) or simply missing your target area (it does happen). Most handgun ammo can make short work of what houses are constructed from. I have a great place to set up a range at home, too, but there are just too many things that can happen unexpectedly for me to be taking those chances in my home.
 
Not exactly sure about the legal part...I'm not in the city limits but there's probably something about discharging a firearm in a residential area.

That being said, you'll hear a gunshot around here every once in a while. I live in the south and next to a pond, so we have an issue with water moccasins (the Judge with 7 1/2 shot handles this task very well). It's kinda like the war on drugs...we'll never win, but we do make some progress from time to time :D
 
A basement range - maybe.
An above ground range - hardly, unless it's a concrete wall with a steel backstop.
Even then the the noise, smell and smoke will be nasty.
Not to mention the neighbors complaints.
Just get a blowback pellet pistol and satisfy your gunny urges that way.
It's a very good, and quite realistic, way to practice without all the risks and hassles.
 
This is bad from the start. Legal issues are one concern. Your homeowners insurance will be on jeopardy. You and others who visit will breathe lead residue. Lead residue will be on everything. You can hit live wires in walls and cause a house fire.

The most I would consider inside is AirSoft and I go outside for that too.

It is a totally bad idea.
 
Sorry, but I'll have to assume this thread was meant to be a joke. I couldn't imagine someone being serious about doing this project unless they were less than stable to begin with. Sounds like a really bad idea IMO!
 
As much as I would like to get excited about BB/Aisoft guns, they just don't do it for me :( so I wait until I can get to the range which is not often enough primarily due to costs though I do shoot my .22lr guns a lot more now.

-Cheers
 
shooting at home

Not a good idea. The noise alone, even with protection, would hurt anyone in the house NOT wearing protection. Even your dogs and/or cats. Find a range.
 
If you enjoy .22s, you will also enjoy a CO2 powered blowback pellet pistol.
Check out the Umarex models that mimic some of the major brands of firearms.
With rifled barrels, they shoot about the same as a .22 pistol.
The recoil is about the same, as is the accuracy at indoor distances.
Since I've been using these, I rarely even bother to take a .22 pistol to the range.
They are that similar to .22s.
No kidding, I wouldn't lie.
 
I did this when I lived in Anchorage. I had 33 ft from my living room into the garage. I had an Outers 22 bullet trap and shot small bore at 33 ft (10 meter) ISU airgun targets.

I'm sure it wasn't legal, but no one ever knew except a few close friends.

I shot a gazzilion rounds without a problem.
 
Yeah...didn't seem like it was very practical but figured I'd ask. Just to clarify, I wasn't talking about opening a public shooting range in my house (not that it changes the fact that it's a bad idea). For all I knew, it might have been pretty easy to setup an area. It looks like I'll just have to save my shooting for the range (except for the occasional water moccasin). Thanks everyone for your input!
 
Seems like a bad idea all around, not only does it seem illegal but it is also not safe to yourself or others living around you. Unless you set up a decent ventilation system you will probably get lead poisoning if you do it enough, not to mention your ceilings and walls will be covered in lead particles and GSR. Also if you think firing a .22 pistol in your house wont upset your neighbors then you have another thing coming.

If you really want to shoot indoors or even outdoors without bothering anyone get these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/25...ammunition-22-long-rifle-20-grain-solid-point

No powder, just loaded with primers but enough to launch the bullets down the barrel. Get a little .22 trap and you can sit in your living room and fire away. From what I hear you don't even need hearing protection with these. Note though that these probably wont cycle in a semi-auto, you might have to manually cycle the gun yourself for each shot. Still worth looking into.
 
There's another option,,,

Wax bullets through a .22 revolver.

Melt some paraffin and pour it into a pie pan about 1/4 inch deep,,,
Let it cool to full hardness.

Remove the bullet from a .22 LR cartridge and pour out the powder,,,
Use the empty cartridge like a cookie cutter load the bullets.

Not loud at all,,,
Somewhat satisfying,,,
You still need good ventilation.

Or go the parlor gun route,,,
These are small pistols that shoot lead BB's,,,
The charge is a cap designed for cap and ball revolvers.

Either way I would not do this without good ventilation.

Aarond

.
 
Hello spanishjames,,,

This wasn't my original idea,,,
I read it in a Popular Mechanics back in the early 1960's.

My Pop and I spent a lot of time in the garage,,,
They were surprisingly accurate across a normal distance.

Aarond

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