Drone hunting?

[skippy1729]

Recent news about surveillance drones got me thinking. I know that the FAA prohibits aircraft from flying lower than 500 feet. I would assume that an unmanned drone flying lower that this over private property is trespassing and therefore "fair game". The only exception would be law enforcement with a valid search warrant. So I was wondering what, other than excellent marksmanship, is needed to shoot one down.

Vertical ballistics is very different from horizontal ballistics. For example, a 50 caliber M2 has an effective horizontal range of several miles; however when used as a light anti-aircraft weapon it is considered to have a maximum effectice ceiling of 1000 meters. I am guessing than normal everyday rifle calibers are going to have a lower effective ceiling than this.

Anybody have info on 223, 243, 30-30, 308 or 30-06?

Skippy

PS I am not expecting low flying drones over rural New Mexico anytime soon, just curious.

 

[desidog]

Well, hypothetically speaking, I'd probably use the same weapon I use to blast other flying things out of the air...a shotgun.

If it is a drone with pontoons you have to use steel shot, FYI...

 

[dprice3844444]

you would still get busted by the faa, fed government and locals for d/c a firearm in city(if applicable).and with a 4.5 million per unit,you would be working quite awhile paying it off.

 

[rcmodel]

My cousin shot down a J-3 Piper Cub with a .22 Hornet when he was about 13 in 1950 something.
I suppose that would count.

Plane flew over the farm probably 400' - 500' high, Gary got a perfect lead, and shot at it.
And drilled a neat hole in the engine crankcase.
The plane ran out of oil and made an emergency landing in a pasture about 3 miles north and the Sheriff was at his house an hour later.

His dad sold the Winchester 43 to help pay for a new A65 Continental engine.
Other then Garys blistered butt, I don't think there was any other consequences.

Times were certainly different back then!!

rc

 

[Shadow 7D]

First off, drones don't fly that low
if you hear them, they are gone
you won't hear them

and shooting at a piece of military hardware, well it works really well overseas
just ask all those dead taliban and Al queda guys

DO NOT SHOOT AT DRONES
CALL YOUR CONGRESS CRITTER AND COMPLAIN

Oh and shotguns aren't good for 15K feet AA

 

[Sam Cade]

You aren't going to be shooting down a drone with a shotgun.








Even the little guys like the RQ-7 are too fast, and too high to hit with small arms fire.

 

[razorback2003]

That would not be a wise thing to do. Destruction of property.

 

[Sambo82]

It's not just the government. Some PETA like organizations are using drones to try to "expose" hunters. Here's a vid of it if you can stand to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZgk1cRqAfs

BTW I think they used a shotgun...

 

[jrmiddleton425]

Congratulations...you just posted the most ignorant thing I've ever read.

You shoot down a drone, you're looking at some prison time for destruction of government property.

 

[Robert]

No. No we are not doing a "What Gun For Drones" thread. No.

I am honestly surprised that I read this. So shooting a rifle up in the air seems like a good idea? Guess we forgot all about that whole "know what is behind your target" thing.