Safe Overshoot Distance

[compkiller]

Have just signed up for the Frostbite and thought I'd better get some practice in outside and longer than 20Yds so as not to look like a complete berk.

I am in a position where I can use the field where I work on a weekend (my club only has indoor facilities at this time of year). I am not worried about anyone wandering across the firing line as it is securely fenced off, what I am worried about is if/when I miss the boss how far I might over shoot.

From the firing line it is about 60m to the railings, obviously I won't be going over 30m for the target distance.

My bow is 68" and 31lb at the fingers, arrows Platinums. I know other threads have asked how far can I shoot with such and such bow but wanted a more specific answer if poss'.

Essay over thanks

Darren

[Tarkwin]

Originally Posted by compkiller

Have just signed up for the Frostbite and thought I'd better get some practice in outside and longer than 20Yds so as not to look like a complete berk.

I am in a position where I can use the field where I work on a weekend (my club only has indoor facilities at this time of year). I am not worried about anyone wandering across the firing line as it is securely fenced off, what I am worried about is if/when I miss the boss how far I might over shoot.

From the firing line it is about 60m to the railings, obviously I won't be going over 30m for the target distance.

My bow is 68" and 31lb at the fingers, arrows Platinums. I know other threads have asked how far can I shoot with such and such bow but wanted a more specific answer if poss'.

Essay over thanks

Darren

I haven't been shooting long, but I have seen arrows travel a long, long way beyond a missed target, some skittering across the surface, some remaining airborne most of the way.

An example was this summer, I was shooting 60yds, a bad loose saw one of my arrows beyond the 100yd mark.

T.

[compkiller]

Hmmm!

Didn't want to get any back netting just yet. Her indoors doesn't even know I've got the bow yet, let alone the boss etc.

[Furface]

As a rule of thumb, and assuming you are aiming at the target, add about 50 yards to the distance you are shooting at. This should be enough to cater for genuine misses, as well as those that clip the top of the target and fly off none knows whither. But if you really want to know how far you can shoot, look at the GNAS flight records!

[Meddler]

GNAS Rules say that for distances up to 60 Yards/metres, the MINIMUM length of field is 110 yards (for recurve).
Beyond 60 yards, add 50 yards to the shooting distance.

For compound, the minimum range is 150 yards.

Iain

[compkiller]

How do you get round shooting in your back garden? Is it that people have high fences or back netting?

Furface; Am I right in thinking you are the man at Adel?

If so when I get thru' my course can I join? Also do you still shoot out doors all year round.

Thanks Darren.

[ben tarrow]

Originally Posted by compkiller

Hmmm!

Didn't want to get any back netting just yet. Her indoors doesn't even know I've got the bow yet, let alone the boss etc.

Backstop netting doesnt stop arrows!
Fences dont stop arrows.
Hedges dont stop arrows.
Brick walls lower than 12ft dont stop arrows.

It worries me how many people on this forum are asking these questions that involve really very basic safety requirements.

I was going to say, doesnt anyone read the GNAS rules of shooting, but i guess not everyone is a gnas member.

GNAS Outdoor Target Rules state -
For bows shot off the fingers:
The GNAS rules of shooting requires a MINIMUM range length (shooting line to furthest point) of 110 yds for distances upto 60yds and for distances over 60yds the MINIMUM overshoot (targets to furthest point) must be 50 yds.

For bows shot with mechanical release aids: the length from shooting line and including overshoot shall be 150yds minimum

GNAS Field Archery rules state that "courses should be laid out in such a way as to provide safety"

[Fugue]

Quite simple.

Anyone (member of GNAS or not) shooting in their back yard, or anywhere else that does not comply with GNAS regs, is not insured by the GNAS insurance. (I am sure there is a process for getting have a go sites okayed under GNAS but I don't know it, and I can't be bothered to check).

If you are shooting on your property then the insurance cover is that of your house insurance, which may not cover you for accidently shooting a passer by!

Beyond that you are liable for any accidents you cause.

However there are no laws against shooting your bow on your own property. So anyone GNAS member or not can do just that regardless of GNAS regulations. It is a concern obviously with today's bows pushing the limit for speed and power.

Given that people will shoot at home, the main thing is to be sensible about it. And make sure you consider the possibilty of a bad miss, as well as the near miss. Even if you are a good archer something can happen to cause a bad miss, nock failure for instance.

I would also suggest that you should never try something new at home before at the club, either equipment or technique. The chances are that you are far more likely to have a bad miss when trying something out for the first time.

Basically use some common sense and foresight when considering shooting at home.

[nfinite]

Originally Posted by Fugue

However there are no laws against shooting your bow on your own property. So anyone GNAS member or not can do just that regardless of GNAS regulations. It is a concern obviously with today's bows pushing the limit for speed and power.

.

Im sure that this is not true.

If their is any chance off any projectile leaving the property, it is illegal.
Any possable safeguards have to be in place to insure a object does not leave a property in question.

This can include anything from a arrow to even a football.

I remember this or something on this line when I used to shoot my target air pistol at home, and had a legal query from the Pain in the a**e next door.

Im sure the details are in uk property legislation

But I solved my problem by shooting in the garage.

Could be wrong or the law may have changed thought. ( about 10yrs ago )

[Murray]

Agree with the others. GNAS rules explicitly state the range safety requirements (section 302 of the rules of shooting which you can download from the GNAS site).

Note that the GNAS rules assume club grounds - shooting in your back garden is NOT covered as far as I can establish, so my advice is don't do it. If you MUST shoot at home perhaps consider a Skorten Exerset or similar which will allow you to work the muscles and build a rhythm without danger, or look at other archery specific training instead.