How far do pellets travel?

I am planning a drive near a neighbour’s property. I do not want spent shot falling on their buildings and I understand that this is illegal anyway. How far do shotgun pellets travel?

Shotgun pellets that fall on to another person’s land constitute a constructive trespass rather than a criminal offence. It is a criminal offence to allow an airgun pellet to leave your premises. That said, falling shotgun pellets, though not dangerous, are antisocial and should be avoided for the sake of good neighbourliness.

Journee’s formula is a good rule of thumb as to how far shotgun pellets travel. Multiply the pellet diameter (in inches) by 2,200 and you will get the theoretical maximum range in yards when a shotgun is fired at the optimum angle of elevation (normally about 29°). Thus an English No.6 shot pellet (0.10in diameter) will travel 220 yards. If there is a following wind, this might increase by up to a further 100 yards.

If you can, always stand the Guns with their backs to any buildings. Tell people when you are going to be shooting and be aware of any noise-sensitive issues — horses, children and so on. An occasional brace of birds will often help smooth the way. Do not make enemies; shooting has plenty already. BH How to spot it and where to find it: This attractive tree is found throughout Great Britain and Europe. While it once dominated wild woodland it is now much less common and its presence may indicate ancient forest. A mediumsized tree, it grows naturally in a column shape with a rounded crown. Its dark, glossy leaves are oval or heart-shaped and turn a glowing yellow in the autumn. It produces spreading clusters of sweet-smelling yellow-green flowers in the spring; once pollinated by insects, they develop into round to oval, smooth fruits with pointed tips. In the winter, the twigs are tinged with red. Interesting facts: The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of several moths, including the lime hawk, vapourer and scarce hook-tip. The flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects — they are a valuable source of food for honey bees — while the dead wood offers nesting holes for birds. There are ancient stools of small-leaved limes that are around 16m wide and could be more than 2,000 years old. The tree was coppiced for supplies of bast, the inner layer of bark, which was excellent fibre for cords and ropes. The wood is still used today to make sounding boards and piano keys.

Inform your neighbours when you are going to be shooting and ensure shot doesn’t fall on their land