I hope this helps you.

The size of the shot used has much to do with the range of the load. It can be assumed that the same weight of different sizes of shot, propelled by the same amount of powder, will develop identical muzzle velocities. However, small shot loses its effectiveness before their pattern density is lost, while larger sizes of shot lose their pattern density before their energy and stopping power is lost. No. 6 shot seems to be the intermediate in that it loses its pattern density and penetration effectiveness at about the same point on its trajectory. Another important factor is the angle of elevation when firing. When No. 6 shot is fired from a gun held slightly above the horizontal, the pellet drop will cover an area of approximately 400 feet in length. The nearest shot will fall about 300 feet from the gun's muzzle. While the furthest will land some 700 feet away. When the gun is elevated at an angle of approximately 40 degrees the drop area of the shot is greater, from 400 to 900 feet.
A load of No. 4 shot will carry somewhat further. The nearest pellets striking the ground some 600 feet away. These distances vary from shot to shot as weather conditions, particularly the wind, have an effect on a shotgun's range.
It is the generally accepted opinion that the No. 7 1/2 shot, used in trap loads, has an extreme maximum range of about 300 yards. Trapshooting ranges should provide this distance for their approximate danger zone.

A French ballistics expert, General Journee, years ago worked out a formula to the effect that the maximum range in yards equals 2200 times the shot diameter in inches. When the gun is held at a horizontal position or only slightly elevated, this formula gives the maximum range of shot sizes as shown below.
No. 2 - 330 yards
No. 4 - 286 yards
No. 6 - 242 yards
No. 7 1/2- 209 yards
No. 8 - 198 yards
Altitude also has an effect on how far the shot will carry. Data published by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, for example, indicates the maximum range for No. 7 1/2 shot is 780 feet at sea level but increases to 1,080 feet at high altitude (12,000 ft.).

 

According to Ed Lowry data, #6 lead may pierce skin out to 161 yards.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! That's great info!
I'm hunting within 300 feet of sea level. So, I should be pretty safe to shoot #6 shot once I'm sure that I'm at least 1000' from the subdivision lots (maybe 1100', allowing for positional errors in the GPS and possible tail wind).
Thanks again!

 

Count on the neighbors calling the cops on you even if your shot doesn't hit their houses or get onto their yards...

:x :roll:

 

I shoot at a club with a duck tower and it's pretty common to have pellets rain down on nearby cars and people, doesn't hurt and isn't bothersome. Just don't rain it down on their cars and roofs besides unless it hits them or they are standing right there next to either one, they'll never know.

 

I sometimes get sprinkled with pellets when I am duck hunting. If this happened at a gun club, and my car or I got sprinkled, I would be ticked off. All shot should be going down range. Period. Mark

 

That stuff couldn't dent rice paper, it sure wouldn't hurt a car or roof and doesn't pose a danger, besides shooting at a duck TOWER, down range is up.

 

Use a pellet gun, really fun and no bang. For turkeys all low angle shots... not a problem.

 

Useful info here

http://www.njskeet.com/files/shotgun_statistics.pdf

 

Above link changed to jpg you will need to zoom in to make it readable.

 

Wind can be a factor too. One of the neighbors over & up used to do some training on his 'back 5'. Not much of a problem until pellets would fall on our house. Someone built behind him so it's no more. I told him I don't like pellets falling on the house.

 

Thanks to everyone for the helpful info. I know that hunting in this area has the potential of causing problems once the shooting starts. I intend to cary with me, in a ziplock bag: a copy of the town ordinance, copy of the tax map, and copies of signed permition slips from the property owners (referencing the tax map and lot numbers). But most important; knowledge of the area, capabilities of my firearm, repect for others and their property and common sense.

marbleye - I would prefer hunting squirrels with a pellet gun but the town ordinance clearly states firearms shooting "single projectiles", including pellet and BB guns, are not permited.

 

Be advised that you can hear shot hitting the vegetation within 30 yards of the hit. This is enough to set off problems with those doin the hearing.

 

I would prefer hunting squirrels with a pellet gun but the town ordinance clearly states firearms shooting "single projectiles", including pellet and BB guns, are not permited.

Does the ordinance specifically include BB/pellet guns? Several towns/cities put them in a different category since they don't contain gunpowder.

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Be advised that you can hear shot hitting the vegetation within 30 yards of the hit. This is enough to set off problems with those doin the hearing.

You can hear it a lot further than that! At one of the skeet fields I shoot at, the treeline is about 150 yards from the center stake. You can hear shot raining off the leaves.

 

Be advised that you can hear shot hitting the vegetation within 30 yards of the hit. This is enough to set off problems with those doin the hearing.

You can hear it a lot further than that! At one of the skeet fields I shoot at, the treeline is about 150 yards from the center stake. You can hear shot raining off the leaves.

Yup, and any bystander will swear that it is all around them, causing trouble for the OP.

 

i think shot can travel a lot further than we all think......

someone else posted this on here a little while ago

breaking clay pigeons at 130yards with a normal shotgun and standard clay cartridges

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teixm6JM ... detailpage

 

According to Ed Lowry data, #6 lead may pierce skin out to 161 yards.

Yet #6 steel may not at 50 yards.