Gun stories (tall tales) from strangers

Bbear said:

Heard a store clerk tell a customer that he didn't want to use bronze brushes on his barrel as it would score and scratch up the steel and take out the grooves.

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Now that is knuckleheaded advice, though Volquartsen does caution owners specifically not to use bronze brushes in its barrels, as doing so will void one's warranty. (At least that's what it said in the literature that came with my rifle.)

Trunk Monkey said:

Why?

People don't accept advice from random strangers. All offering advice does is waste your time and piss them off.

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But it's fun to piss them off - then watch for the headlines.....

Merle1 said:

But it's fun to piss them off - then watch for the headlines.....

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When I was a kid a friend of mine decided to talk smack to a random stranger. The guy took his entire upper set of front teeth out with a tire iron.

I learned my lesson from his stupidity. I don't trifle with people I don't know

460Shooter said:

Did you not try to advise them that the powder they were looking at would be very dangerous for their intended use?

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Good on you for trying at least.

Trunk Monkey said:

Why?

People don't accept advice from random strangers. All offering advice does is waste your time and piss them off.

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So now we are off topic.

I don't offer advice to strangers, unless I see something that could get them hurt. I don't make it a habit of sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, but I'm not going to watch someone walk into traffic either.

460Shooter said:

So now we are off topic.

I don't offer advice to strangers, unless I see something that could get them hurt. I don't make it a habit of sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, but I'm not going to watch someone walk into traffic either.

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I don't offer advice to strangers.

Englishmn said:

That and ricochets buzzing by

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Which rank right up there with rounds ripping through the air. Unforgettable.

Was a range, log, long ago, south of College Station, where the rifle line was a bit of a "flag pole" layout. The 50, 75, & 100 yard lines were up close, the 200 & 300 yard lines were in a long, narrow area behind a cattle tank berm. That lane dropped down a good bit, 15-20 foot down along parallel to the tank berm.

So, it's a quiet week day, and I've been plinking away on the 300 line, range to myself. Go make the hike to poke up more targets. It's a humid day and overcast--the light is actually very nice on the targets. But, it's definitely weather to take your time making 600 yard strolls.

I'm heading back to the line.
Ziiii-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g! Ziiii-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g! Ziiii-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g! Ziiiiii-[pause]-wobl-wobl-wobl-wobl-wobl-wobl-wobl! Ziiii-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-n-n-n-n-g-g-g-g!
Toss myself down on the deck. Work my way back up slowly hugging that berm and see these clowns busy reloading.
They were irritated I was approaching them with a low-ready sidearm.
Was a tense time.
Headed back to the range office to go find out who these people singed in as. Turns out they were "buddies" of the then operator.

Yep.
Ricochets always sound like they just miss your ear as they s-l-o-w-l-y spiral along.
It's amazing how long they seem to stay in the air.

Also yep.
Most people won't take advice from strangers - even strangers who are supposed to be expert on the subject in question.
Take that from a reference librarian that's been answering other people's questions for over twenty years.

I just heard a good story tonight. The guy that I relieved when I came to work told me about his "first kill". ( okay so I already know it's BS because that's not the kind of thing that you make random chit-chat about around the water cooler at work)

So according to this idiot his "first kill" happened when he was pulling guard duty (basic gate guard, 3 general orders stuff) at some Navy base in the remote jungles of Puerto Rico.

Supposably a Puerto Rican climbed over the fence into this navy base and our hero in his words " had to empty 3 magazines into the guy before he fell." No specification as to what type of weapon. 1911, M9, or M16.

So first of all I've never seen anybody pull guard Duty outside of a combat zone with ammunition in their weapon.

Second Puerto Rico is of course a U.S. Territory. I'm not sure about this but I suspect shooting a Puerto Rican without some Ironclad justification would at a minimum end your career.

Third and finally how far away was this person that the guard had time to shoot him somewhere between 21 and 90 times before the guy got to him? Also where was he hitting him that somewhere between 21 and 90 rounds wasn't enough to stop him?

Trunk Monkey said:

I just heard a good story tonight. The guy that I relieved when I came to work told me about his "first kill". ( okay so I already know it's BS because that's not the kind of thing that you make random chit-chat about around the water cooler at work)

So according to this idiot his "first kill" happened when he was pulling guard duty (basic gate guard, 3 general orders stuff) at some Navy base in the remote jungles of Puerto Rico.

Supposably a Puerto Rican climbed over the fence into this navy base and our hero in his words " had to empty 3 magazines into the guy before he fell." No specification as to what type of weapon. 1911, M9, or M16.

So first of all I've never seen anybody pull guard Duty outside of a combat zone with ammunition in their weapon.

Second Puerto Rico is of course a U.S. Territory. I'm not sure about this but I suspect shooting a Puerto Rican without some Ironclad justification would at a minimum end your career.

Third and finally how far away was this person that the guard had time to shoot him somewhere between 21 and 90 times before the guy got to him? Also where was he hitting him that somewhere between 21 and 90 rounds wasn't enough to stop him?

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I was in the Philippines standing Petty Officer of the watch during the Viet Nam war when there was an incident with a thief stealing officers wallets. He was brought to the quarterdeck when captured, but tried to escape. Long story short, I was bitched out and threatened with being put on report for NOT shooting the thief.

We were issued a 1911 with two five round mags - one mag in the gun but chamber empty. I also stood ASROC sentry, with chamber loaded - and there was a roving sentry with a M1 Garand, also loaded. Most other ports operated the same way.

Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that recent political climate has changed that a bit.

Trunk Monkey said:

How badly were you injured?

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He was killed.

So an acquaintance of mine tells of his uncle who is an unbelievable hunter and shot.

So one day on a hunting trip, standing with no supports, the uncle takes aim at a Kudu Bull running right to left at circa 400 yards. The first shot rings out and to the uncle's amazement the Kudu Bull does not drop, he rapidly recycles and shoots again, still the Kudu runs, now farther away the third shot from the uncle rings out and the Kudu Bull plummets to the ground.

When they get to the Kudu Bull they are astounded at the tenacity of the bull, the three shots formed a three inch group on the shoulder all of which were lethal.

What can one say to that other than to call it for what is was, utter nonsense.

Andrew Leigh said:

So an acquaintance of mine tells of his uncle who is an unbelievable hunter and shot.

So one day on a hunting trip, standing with no supports, the uncle takes aim at a Kudu Bull running right to left at circa 400 yards. The first shot rings out and to the uncle's amazement the Kudu Bull does not drop, he rapidly recycles and shoots again, still the Kudu runs, now farther away the third shot from the uncle rings out and the Kudu Bull plummets to the ground.

When they get to the Kudu Bull they are astounded at the tenacity of the bull, the three shots formed a three inch group on the shoulder all of which were lethal.

What can one say to that other than to call it for what is was, utter nonsense.

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I might believe it if he said the first shot was lethal and the next two were gut and ham shots, been there done that!

Andrew Leigh said:

What can one say to that other than to call it for what is was, utter nonsense

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Dunno. I have a friend that shot a deer that was bedded with a .44 Mag pistol. Deer jumped up and started to take off. Second shot on the moving deer was within an inch or two of the first

He also got three coyotes in a pack with four shots from the same .44 Mag pistol

I saw him roll a medium size soup can with a .45-70 repeatedly at 150+ yards. He is hands down the best shot I’ve ever seen

Funniest thing was a customer at the LGS we both worked at. Called him Mighty Mouth because he was the type of guy this thread is about. He gets a new rifle and challenges John to a shooting competition. Winner gets the other guys rifle. At first we tried to talk the other guy out of it, but as belligerent as he was we figured it would be a good lesson

Might Mouth goes first and shoots maybe an 1 1/2” group. John shoots a one hole group. The customer is all kinds of sheepish and tries to hand the rifle to John. John just laughed and said “why would I want that rifle? Doesn’t shoot as well as mine”

No idea about Navy or Puerto Rico, but way back when I guarded Air Force assets at three different bases in non-combat zones, two in the US and one in England, our M16s and .38s were ALWAYS loaded on duty.
Not chambered in the case of the rifle, but loaded mag locked in.

The Navy does not allow those on guard duty to carry loaded weapons?
Otherwise, no comment on that story.
Denis

DPris said:

No idea about Navy or Puerto Rico, but way back when I guarded Air Force assets at three different bases in non-combat zones, two in the US and one in England, our M16s and .38s were ALWAYS loaded on duty.
Not chambered in the case of the rifle, but loaded mag locked in.

The Navy does not allow those on guard duty to carry loaded weapons?
Otherwise, no comment on that story.
Denis

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In the early 80s, while stationed in W. Germany, we occasionally made security runs with classified parts. We were led to believe they were missle parts. They would issue me my M-16 with 5 rds. This was when terrorist activity was quite common there. I don't remember hearing of anyone having to use their weapons. Army, btw.

In CONUS, three 20-round mags & M-16, unless gate duty, then fully-loaded 38s with 12 rounds on belt.
I never had to do an off-base missile or other asset transfer, but I'd assume same basic issue.

In England, six 20-round mags with the M-16.
Denis

Apparently the Navy not only prevented their guards from carrying locked and loaded, they often kept guards from having real guns when in friendly ports.

When I was five my family moved into a new neighborhood. My mother was very pregnant and couldn't watch me very well so I got to explore the premises without supervision. There was a chest of drawers and a bunch of old junk out at the curb, apparently left by the previous tenant. I explored it, of course, and found what looked like a Colt 1911a1 in one of the drawers - except that the spur of the hammer was broken off.
Even at the age of five I knew this wasn't normal so I looked closer. Close examination showed that the thing was made of solid cast rubber with a heavy metal core. Realizing that the "gun" was really a toy, I took it in to show my mother. Panic ensued and my new toy promptly disappeared.
Some years later I found that these hard rubber guns were issued to sailors on guard duty in the 1930s and '40s when in friendly ports. They were supposed to be used as truncheons if they wound up in a fight, hence the damaged hammer. Rather collectible, as well.

So the idea of guards that are forbidden to have ammo is not too far-fetched to me, after all.

I work the gun counter at my local BIG R ranch store. A guy told his Dad had a 1903(year not model) Remington 03-A3. When I told him that 03-A3s were not made until 1943 he said "I know that what makes it rare" I replied "cool" and just let it go.

I thought much of the so-called "security" we provided in the AF was easily defeated, but at least we were fully armed….
Back to the topic at hand.
Denis