Were do I shoot an air gun in MN?

[xd ED]

I cannot immediately cite a source, but I believe that in St Paul, virtually anything that launches a projectile- including slingshots, air guns of all manner, archery, etc is illegal. Whether the safe, and discrete use of such would be a practical issue is another thing.

[LarryP]

Just wait, I'm sure they're working on that





If that's true, then why don't you need a PTP to get one? Same thing with a BB gun.[/quote]

[Rem700]

Not sure about other DNR lands but target shooting on WMAs is not allowed.

[Being]

goodness.

i also was also thinking of getting a crossbow, you'd think there might be more places to shoot a crossbow, right?

I noticed there was an archery range by lake calhoun , i dont know if they allow crossbows or if these are classified differently. I'll check with archery ranges if they allow crossbows, I am ok with doing this over the air gun.

Good thing about crossbows is their power compared to an air rifle, thus they have more uses. I know this isnt an archery or crossbow forum.

[xd ED]

Many city and county parks throughout the metro have archery ranges. (i always thought they could be opened for airgiuns)I don't shoot but I know they have rules posted about arrows. Maybe check the various web pages for the parks in Bloomington, Washington Cty among others.

[Erud]

The public archery ranges I have been to in city/county parks have been pretty low-key arrangements where you pretty much just show up and start shooting. They generally have rules posted, but it's mainly just safety stuff and field point arrows only. I don't recall ever seeing anything about no crossbows and I have shot a crossbow before at the one in lakeville/burnsville off of County Rd 5. They are generally not supervised ranges and I think you can mostly do what you want. Maybe a park ranger or city parks department employee stops by every once in a while to make sure there is no trouble.

Bows, crossbows, and air guns are not regulated as far as purchase or posession and are generally legal for anyone to own, but most cities have ordinances banning the use of them in city limits. Inside your own house or garage I don't think anyone will know or care if you do it. 10m air rifle and pistol are olympic sports and there is lots of fun to be had at these seemingly short distances. The official targets are definitely NOT easy by any means - only the best in the world can shoot a 200 from the standing position on a 10m air target. Just don't shoot your eye out!

Good luck,
Erik

[Rip Van Winkle]

Before anyone buys an air rifle they need to check out Pyramyd Air.com

Serious air guns up to 50 caliber.

[Being]

My basement diagonally is 16 feet, the garage diagonally is 26 feet. Probably good enough for indoor (air rifle) practice, right?

I don't recall ever seeing anything about no crossbows

Erud, that is great.. if shooting a crossbow has more options (at these archery ranges) i might get one. I know shooting the air gun indoors is an option but i like to be outdoors, i have plenty things to keep me indoors and like to find excuses to go outdoors, if a crossbow is easier to shoot outdoors then this might become my new hobby/sport.

[2in2out]

Before anyone buys an air rifle they need to check out Pyramyd Air.com

Serious air guns up to 50 caliber.

Isn't there a big airgun place in the Twin Cities, like Eden Prairie? I thought someone posted that before on MNGunTalk, but can't find it now. They might have idea on where to shoot.

I did find this thread, although it's more of what we've been talking about:
http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=16896

Crossbow might be the way to go, if there are more opportunities to use that in the metro. Sounds like fun, either way.

[xd ED]

In the past, I bought most of my stuff from
Firearms & Supplies Inc
514 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 482-1673
but I just tried their website, and it's been taken down.
I hope they are still around. Had really good prices on mid-high end sporter stuff, back in the 90s.
I'll have to check in at one of the air gun forums and ask.

Way back when, Burger Bros had a better than average selection of air rifles. I suspect Cabela's might, if only through mail order. FF has a few air rifles, but I think they are re-badged Chinese imports.
As I posted earlier, B & B on Minnehaha Ave S, not too far from the falls, is a very small(physically) retailer- the only one I am familiar with, and it's been a few years since I've stopped there.
If one is looking to practice marksmanship, rather than buying a cheaper, ' high powered' gun, get something with a good trigger and solid action.

I bought one of these back when they were stamped Made in West Germany. Near match rifle accuracy and trigger, and enough power for squirrels at 15 yards, pigeons, and starlings @ 40-50....
HW 77