Neighbors

I was working outside tonight, prepping my blazer to paint it, when the dogs started barking at something along the front edge of the property. I recently finished up totally encompassing my property with a new fence and I knew the dogs couldn’t get out and whatever they were barking at couldn’t get in so I didn’t pay much attention. However while I was waiting for some body filler to set up I took a peek around the house to see what it was, it looked like some people congregating at the corner of my property so I decided it warranted investigation and went inside and returned with my rifle and spotlight and went investigating. It turned out the “people” were instead a pair of horses, beautiful dusty gray colored horses.

Right about then a truck went roaring past so I decided something needed to be done before someone driving down the road in the dark hit one of them and someone was hurt. So I went to trade the rifle for a bucket of feed and on my way back one of my neighbors came pulling up, rolled down their window, and in their characteristic drugged slur said something to the effect of if I was missing any horses. I said no, mine aren’t loose, but there are a pair out here somewhere (meaning be careful and try not to run them down). They said yep, they are right up there, and proceeded to run them down the road with their truck, honking, etc. ??? :(( :(( There was no call for that, it was just a pair of horses.

I couldn't tell if they were just drugged out of their mind and being crazy or if they were trying to drive them away from their property or what they heck they were doing but down the road and out of sight they went, in great danger of running the horses down it appeared, I know they were in bad shape as their speech had been badly slurred, I was afraid if they weren't intentionally trying to run them down that they would unintentionally run them down.

All this when I was right about to catch them and put them in with mine for the night, (the horses not the neighbors). :((

I had an idea of who they belonged to.

My neighbors have been hard to get along with since the day they moved in next to us but things like this really take the cake. :~

Frost was right, good fences make good neighbors. That only goes so far though, it would still be best if you could pick who your neighbors were.

Lesson learned though, next time buy more land, much more land, a few acres isn't enough, you need about a mile between you and your nearest neighbor....:q

I like the bit where you get the rifle before you get anything else. :?

Al :U

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Originally Posted by ozwinner

I like the bit where you get the rifle before you get anything else. :?

Al :U

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lol, its pretty wild out here sometimes. Coyotes, feral dogs, mountain lions, etc. I'd walked out a couple weeks ago and ran into a rather big black dog, gave me a bit of a fright.

A few days ago the dogs had been barking and I lit up the front with the spotlight and saw what appeared to be a loose cow, its eyes were almost even with the top rail on the gate, I couldn't see from the house though so I walked out to make sure it was a cow before calling its suspected owner. However half way out across the yard the "cow" turned into a cow sized wolf/shepard dog/creature that decided it was interested in meeting me, I didn't feel the same way. :no:

So yes, I'm rather attached to my rifle. :q

That's S.O.P, Al. An unarmed homeowner inspecting his perimeter after dark would be more of a surprise, and a Darwin award bid. I preferred a 12ga pump gun with 00, but to each his own.

I'm glad to have all of that behind me now, living here.

Greg

Thank god we only have drop bears here, if you dont walk under a tree they cant get you.

Al :D

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Originally Posted by gregoryq

That's S.O.P, Al. An unarmed homeowner inspecting his perimeter after dark would be more of a surprise, and a Darwin award bid. I preferred a 12ga pump gun with 00, but to each his own.

I'm glad to have all of that behind me now, living here.

Greg

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Actually a Remington 870 in 12ga with 00 is my usual prowler gun. For some reason I've been using the rifle lately though, its a Marlin 336 in 30/30, it just feels so lovely, the heft and all, I love the way it handles. Just racking the 12ga can put ice in a person's spine if they are somewhere they aren't supposed to be though. :U Plus at night if you have an encounter its hard to hit the target in the dark and the 12ga evens that up a bit plus if you do hit whatever it might be its probably not getting up, or at least getting up and continuing the fight.

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Originally Posted by ozwinner

Thank god we only have drop bears here, if you dont walk under a tree they cant get you.

Al :D

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I don't know about that. Try owning a mixed business in Essendon, the pump action was the last line of defence, after a night stick and a German shepard.

Paul

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Originally Posted by Matt88s

Actually a Remington 870 in 12ga with 00 is my usual prowler gun. Just racking the 12ga can put ice in a person's spine if they are somewhere they aren't supposed to be though. :U Plus at night if you have an encounter its hard to hit the target in the dark and the 12ga evens that up a bit plus if you do hit whatever it might be its probably not getting up, or at least getting up and continuing the fight.

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That slide action sound does have some remarkable laxative effects all right. When I was a cop the local authorities decided that it would be OK in car chases to use the S & W riot gun on the back window of the fleeing vehicle. They were thinking birdshot, but we were loaded alternating slug/00. It didn't take much of a demonstration at the auto wreckers to illustrate they needed to rethink their estimates of the "perp friendliness" aspects of the 12 ga. magnum 00. (From about 30 ft back it removed the back window, windscreen and everything sticking up in between-a real attention getter)

Why do I feel like I'm reading a Zane Grey novel? :D

I guess it show that our pet Yanks are no more civilised than the rest of the buggers! ;) I guess it also shows just how lucky we Aussies are!!!!

Yep, whenever I hear a noise outside the first thing I think to myself is "bugger me a noise outside, better get me rifle". :rolleyes:

Yep, whenever I hear a noise outside the first thing I think to myself is "bugger me a noise outside, wish I had a rifle".

Used to have several rifles, shottie etc.

Swords and axes don't need reloading.

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Originally Posted by bsrlee

Used to have several rifles, shottie etc.

Swords and axes don't need reloading.

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Well occasionally you have to reload the user but thats all. :q

I thought they had taken 99% of your guns away, did I miss something or do you chaps still carry your pieces?

I rarely actually use mine but its a comfort when you need it, like when someone is breaking into your house, you can rack your shottie and say, Wot the bloody 'ell do ya think ya doing ya blooming onion? Feck off, this house is taken. I've found that works quite well. :)

G'day Matt. I would get rid of that pea shooter .30-30 and get me something with a little stopping power like a .444 Marlin.
Down here in Oz we rarely shoot neighbours or their dogs with .30 cal pip- squeaks.

I've actually been watching for a 336 in .444, I think that would be a nice combo. Another thing that a fellow on a shooting board mentioned was they make a .44 barrel you can put on the gun and convert it to .44 His interest in this was in his state they only allowed hunting with pistol calibers, hence his wish to convert his 336 to .44 I like the idea as you could have your pistol and rifle both in .44 it would allow you to carry less ammo.

A 30/30 will get the job done though, regardless of what people say about it, its where you put the little bullet that matters, not how big it is. :;

Yep, love my 30/30. Drops a bullock or a steer like a bag of spuds, very important when you home butcher. The beast doesn't know what hit it, resulting in non stressed tender beef.

Paul

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do you chaps still carry your pieces?

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Still??

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Originally Posted by silentC

Still??

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Of course I do, every time I answer the door to Mormons, Avon ladies, Seventh day adventurists, Jehovahs Witlesses, mothers in lawses, Al or Girl Guides with boxes of biccies. I got ridda the missus cos she complained about the shotty in the bed between us and the sugar jar being full of .22s just in case the greedy visitors asked for seconds.

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Originally Posted by Christopha

Of course I do, every time I answer the door to Mormons, Avon ladies, Seventh day adventurists, mothers in lawses, Al or Girl Guides with boxes of biccies. I got ridda the missus cos she complained about the shotty in the bed between us and the sugar jar being full of .22s just in case the greedy visitors asked for seconds.

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I just keep our diet high in fibre,

You are being a bit hard on the SDA's Christopha, I am told they don't door knock.
Please believe me when I tell you the JW's DO doorknock.

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Originally Posted by Barry Hicks

You are being a bit hard on the SDA's Christopha, I am told they don't door knock.
Please believe me when I tell you the JW's DO doorknock.

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Bazza. I have done an 'edit' to include the Witlesses and as I was inflicted with SAD, oops SDA, rellies when a wee lad I have left them in.... Have a nice day! :wink:

And the same to you Christopha! I just hope Matt is OK up there with that .30-30. It's a little hard to always pop your neighbours exactly where you want to in the dark.
I would definitely go for at least a .45 cal. Even if you miss them they will get pneumonia from the draught with a big pill.