Bullet deflects off Armadillo's shell, breaking man's jaw

everydefense · Aug 10, 2017

"DALLAS (Reuters) - An East Texas man was wounded after he fired a gun at an armadillo in his yard and the bullet ricocheted back to hit him in his face, the county sheriff said on Friday.

Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe said the man, who was not identified, went outside his home in Marietta, southwest of Texarkana, at around 3 a.m. on Thursday morning. He spotted the armadillo on his property and opened fire.

'His wife was in the house. He went outside and took his .38 revolver and shot three times at the armadillo,' Rowe said.

The animal's hard shell deflected at least one of three bullets, which then struck the man's jaw, he said.

The man was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where his jaw was wired shut, according to Rowe.

The status of the animal is unknown.

'We didn't find the armadillo,' the sheriff said."

(source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-texas-armadillo-idUSKCN0Q52KR20150731)

Bonus round: Here are some interesting facts about Armadillos

http://www.havahart.com/armadillo-facts

RPRNY · Aug 10, 2017

Uhhh....No.

It may have ricocheted off something else, or the chap may have made up the armadillo to cover for whatever stupidity he was up to, but no bullet ricocheted off an armadillo back into his jaw.

Patocazador · Aug 10, 2017

Maybe a thrown rock could bounce of an armadillo's "armor-plated impenetrable shell " and maybe a BB gun's "terrible" pellet but no bullet, no way.

redbullitt · Aug 10, 2017

Most armadillos are level 3a armor. Must have been an older one with level 4 plates.

Sunray · Aug 10, 2017

"...We didn't find the armadillo..." Should've followed the laughter. If the bone head had left the thing alone, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

JackSprat · Aug 10, 2017

Maybe it was the "Chuck Norris of armadillos"....To bad Davey Crocket didn't have an armadillo skin cap at the Alamo,if he did he would probably still be alive..It's sad.

BigBore44 · Aug 10, 2017

So a .38 will kill an 800lb hog but not an armadillo......? Someone needs to find that 'dillo and get him a government contract for mobil armor.

I'd bet good money the guy just missed and hit a rock, behind or in front of that 'dillo.

jmr40 · Aug 10, 2017

I have absolutely no doubt that a bullet fired from a 38 would deflect off an armadillo if it hit at the right angle. Bullets have been known deflect off a lot less. But to have come directly back would require a 2nd ricochet off another object, once again highly likely. I'm going with probably true. The bullet probably did hit the armadillo, deflected into a rock or other object before coming back. I've been hit by ricochets and I've seen bullets end up in some odd places after multiple ricochets.

I once witnessed an AD where a 45 ACP bullet fired directly into a bedroom ceiling. We went up on the roof to patch the hole before it rained. There was no hole. Went back to the attic and traced where the bullet ricocheted off 4 different ceiling joists and rafters before we found it laying on top of the insulation over another part of the house 50' away.

Patocazador · Aug 10, 2017

Anyone who has ever cleaned an armadillo (they taste good) knows that the individual "plates" are not much thicker than a thumbnail. I don't believe that 3, 4, or 5 thumbnail thicknesses could cause a bullet to bounce backwards.

RPZ · Aug 10, 2017

Maybe this 'dillo was wearing a catchers mitt and has a lightning right paw throw.

A friend visiting my brother in law years ago shot the head right off a 'dillo in his yard from a couple of yards away with a 9mm pistol.

BobWright · Aug 10, 2017

JackSprat said:
Maybe it was the "Chuck Norris of armadillos"....To bad Davey Crocket didn't have an armadillo skin cap at the Alamo,if he did he would probably still be alive..It's sad.

Remember that Ole' Davey was killed, along with other survivors, by firing squad at the front entrance of the Alamo.

Bob Wright

BobWright · Aug 10, 2017

My niece has been plagued by the critters. She has done in a few with a Savage .17 HMR with no ricochets.

Bob Wright

LoonWulf · Aug 10, 2017

this is why some people shouldnt have sticks.........

JackSprat · Aug 10, 2017

BobWright said:
Remember that Ole' Davey was killed, along with other survivors, by firing squad at the front entrance of the Alamo.

Bob Wright

No he wasnt, he got bayonetted and then he blowed up as he was torching the powder magazine..I watched him do it a least 5 times..LOL

grampajack · Aug 10, 2017

I would call BS on the story, but... It's actually a common occurrence for bullets to bounce off armadillos, and .38 special isn't exactly known for it's great penetrating ability (proly a snubbie with mousefart wadcutters to boot). This is the first incident I've heard of where the bullet injured the shooter, but that shouldn't really be surprising. That's why we don't shoot steel at close range with non frangible bullets. :thumbup:

What I'm wondering is why people go around shooting armadillos? We have them around our place, and I rather like them. They've never given me any reason to want to kill them. Am I missing something here?

In any case, I wish the armadillo a speedy recovery.

P.S. Regarding ol' Davey, he gave a Masonic hand signal to Santa Ana to spare his life and lived happily ever after. I know it's true because I learned it on the History channel.

RPRNY · Aug 10, 2017

The only species of armadillo in the US is the Nine-Banded. It's "armor" is 1/10" of bone at its thickest point. Your man wasn't shooting anything that would clear the gun and hit the armadillo (possessing a convex shaped plating - so impossible to deliver a 180 degree ricochet) that would either not penetrate or, return with enough force to break your man's jaw. Because physics.

easy · Aug 10, 2017

grampajack said:
What I'm wondering is why people go around shooting armadillos? We have them around our place, and I rather like them. They've never given me any reason to want to kill them. Am I missing something here?

Armadillos will dig up a yard or garden worse than any beagle. They do provide to fun shooting in the wee hours of darkness too.

grampajack · Aug 10, 2017

easy said:
Armadillos will dig up a yard or garden worse than any beagle. They do provide to fun shooting in the wee hours of darkness too.

I guess our yard isn't pretty enough to matter much. They've never damaged anything here though.

Patocazador · Aug 10, 2017

grampajack said:
I guess our yard isn't pretty enough to matter much. They've never damaged anything here though.

They eat insects, grubs, etc. In the process they dig up peoples yards. Maybe you don't have any bugs in your yard?
Another thing is the females always have identical quadruplets so you're getting 4 more every time they give birth.

Besides, easy is right. It gives you something to do when you have insomnia. Just open a window and shoot those invaders from the south .... um, er, I mean the armadillos. :uhoh:

Art Eatman · Aug 10, 2017

The only way I could figure a bounceback is if the bullet hit a rock or some equivalent hardness--and I don't think it would matter if the bullet had hit or had missed the 'diller.

By the way, an armadillo will go stark raving ga-ga over earthworms. Great bait if you want to "call" them into shooting distance. Put some in a sock, tie it off and lie in wait.

C0untZer0 · Aug 10, 2017

The armadillo was wearing a Carhartt jacket.

RPZ · Aug 11, 2017

grampajack said:
What I'm wondering is why people go around shooting armadillos? We have them around our place, and I rather like them. They've never given me any reason to want to kill them. Am I missing something here?

In any case, I wish the armadillo a speedy recovery.

It's pretty rare for cases, but armadillos can carry and transmit leprosy. Learned that from my brother in law the day the 'dillo lost its head. He was a doctor.

barnbwt · Aug 11, 2017

In order of likelihood:
1) Man drunk, "armadillo" was actually a round rock
2) Man drunk, missed armadillo & hit a rock
3) Man not drunk, bullet passes through dillo, hits rock (have fun with the parasites & leprosy), wounded armadillo escapes
4) Wife drunk, fires rounds at man in anger, man lies to protect her (though it sounds like she's doing most of the talking seeing as his jaw's wired shut)
5) Man tried to commit suicide or was playing with gun idly (just as miraculous he wasn't killed as the ricochet story)
6) Armadillo falls into Ninja Turtle ooze, grows metallic carapace, startles man whilst fighting a trailer park Shredder high on meth (man heard the ruckus & went to investigate)

TCB

RPZ · Aug 11, 2017

An armed'dillo?

grampajack · Aug 11, 2017

RPZ said:
It's pretty rare for cases, but armadillos can carry and transmit leprosy. Learned that from my brother in law the day the 'dillo lost its head. He was a doctor.

I didn't say I kept them as pets.

Bullet deflects off Armadillo's shell, breaking man's jaw

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