Where can I legally shoot a gun outside of a shooting range in the state of California?

Answer 1

That depends on your local laws.

In most US jurisdictions outside of large cities you can shoot on your own property or on the property of another person with the owner's permission provided you do it safely and your bullets do not leave the property.

Some places require permission to be in writing, most do not. If you are going to do this without the owner present a written note might be a good idea anyway. Gravel and sand pits as well as garbage dumps are commonly used for this because they provide a safe backstop for bullets passing through or missing the targets. garbage dumps also provide interesting targets.

In many places you can just go shooting in the public woods. Local laws differ, so be sure to check them. Many states have informal (unsupervised) ranges set up by the local natural resources/forest management authority.

You would probably get a few pointers on where to go if you check with a local gun shop or some place where gun enthusiasts congregate, like a gun discussion board.

If in doubt, best thing to do is contact your local law enforcement agency, and ask them. Even better, contact them by email, print out their response, and carry a copy of this printout with you if you go shooting somewhere other than a firing range.

Answer 2

Consult with a lawyer for a legally correct and current answer.