If you want to make your home a range... make a backstop.

[KillerFord1977]

For an.45 bullet to go a mile, it would have been fired at a 30 degree angle above the horizon. Maybe an accidental as he raised the pistol? My only experience was working South L.A. and tucking our B&W under an overpass 10 minutes before midnight on New Years Eve.

Or he lives at a higher elevation than his neighbors.

A “double tap” where his second round is an unexpected discharge could result in the round not striking anything.
Can we say: holes in the indoor gun range ceiling .

 

[papa]

Or , maybe that bullet ricocheted off of a rock.

 

[Belt Fed]

A mile is a long way for a 45 auto.

 

[SL66]

An adequate backstop is a solid consideration. Especially with a shooter that lacks sufficient grip strength and trigger control. The attached target represents 75 rounds or so of controlled pairs (around 2 to 3 per second for me) from 10 yards. My indoor range allows one to shoot as fast as they like as long as they maintain control. There are plenty of scars on the ceiling (as well as floor) and many bent carrier clamps proving the point that s.... happens.
I have been looking for a piece of dirt to build a pistol range , personal not public,
on and so far the county wants almost 1 foot of berm per yard. 25 yard range, 25 feet of elevated berm. We are not even touching the environmental aspect of lead removal etc...

 

[Onewolf426]

This story is either heavily biased or journalistic malpractice, or both. They found one home, LESS THAN A MILE AWAY, THAT LACKED A SUITABLE BACKSTOP FOR SHOOTING. So, less than a mile could be right across the street, as evidenced by the statement: "Investigators found “several spent bullet casings on the ground and on the deck” in Adams’ backyard, along with a Red Bull can south of the house. From the point where Adams said he was shooting toward the can, red and blue lights of emergency vehicles at the home where Phelps was shot “were visibly in line with the shooting angle,” the affidavit said."

Also, was his the only home without a suitable backstop for shooting, indicating the other homes around him had suitable backstops?