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Apparently I'm Lucky

Tones

Tones

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
4,181
Location
Ubique
Occupation
Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
2 days ago I was asked if I could operate a dozer for a bloke cutting tracks for a farmer in some reasonably steep hill country, a job that I haven't done much of since my early 20s which is about 50yrs ago. During the conversation with the dozer owner doubt entered my head so said to that I needed to have a look then give my answer. Off I went,had a look then checked out the machine, a D8t with bout 6000hrs on the clock and started yesterday. Client very happy with my work rate and quality.
Today did a section and decided to have a walk to decide were to build the track, parked the dozer, got off and was about 2metres away when I heard a loud brief hiss and the sound of breaking glass. The rear window was smashed and a hole in the RH top and the window wiper bent. Further investigation revealed the small front window pushed out of the frame, shattered, but no hole.
This was doing my head in, nothing like a rock or tree branch in the cab,tractor stationary, *** so what would knock glass into the cab from the rear, the knock glass outwards at the front.
The penny dropped, it the roar, deer mating season and shooters are going nuts. Seems like a bullet has done this damage and my head could have been in the flight path then missed again on exit when I was walking.
All of which proves only the good die young.
 
H

HarleyHappy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
3,378
Location
So NH
Occupation
Welder/Mechanic
Not doubting what happened but hard to believe it was a stray bullet.
Meaning, not thinking it was an accident.
Depending on terrain and brush, how could a bullet have worked its way through brush and trees and such, unless they were hunting 100 meters away.
What kind of firearms policy, where you are at?
 
C

chidog

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2021
Messages
1,492
Location
wa
I used to worry about this sort of thing happening all the time. And aways staying aware, and would twist fast and have that blade up quick.
Lots of nuts out there.

By the way in the US this is getting close to deer birthing time, not hunting time. I love my local deer family, and the cute baby ones.
 
Tones

Tones

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
4,181
Location
Ubique
Occupation
Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
When is was about 8yrs old dad reconded it was time I learnt to use a rifle. 2 things he was anial about, identify the target and absolutely be aware of the background. If anything didn't align don't fire. This included rocks etc,a decision taking nano seconds to make. At 19 I joined the army and basic training was exactly the same.
So as for stray bullets,that is ********, it's incompetent users. Talked to a mate last night who did 30yrs service and was the RSM at Tarin Kot Afghanistan when a parade was shot up killing 5 Ozzie's. He said with my level of hearing and the noise of the dozer engine idling the slug was only inches away which was the hiss I heard.
To stop this crap registered fire arm owners should have to do a live fire exercise similar to what the Special Forces do in urban combat training where split second decision making is required. One bad decision requires them to forfeit their firearms and licence for a year. That would sort the wheat from the chaff.
 
D

DDoug

Formerly digger doug
Joined
Nov 2, 2011
Messages
2,712
Location
NW Pennsylvania
Occupation
Thrash-A-Matic designer
Tones said:
When is was about 8yrs old dad reconded it was time I learnt to use a rifle. 2 things he was anial about, identify the target and absolutely be aware of the background. If anything didn't align don't fire. This included rocks etc,a decision taking nano seconds to make. At 19 I joined the army and basic training was exactly the same.
So as for stray bullets,that is ********, it's incompetent users. Talked to a mate last night who did 30yrs service and was the RSM at Tarin Kot Afghanistan when a parade was shot up killing 5 Ozzie's. He said with my level of hearing and the noise of the dozer engine idling the slug was only inches away which was the hiss I heard.
To stop this crap registered fire arm owners should have to do a live fire exercise similar to what the Special Forces do in urban combat training where split second decision making is required. One bad decision requires them to forfeit their firearms and licence for a year. That would sort the wheat from the chaff.
Click to expand...
while I agree with much of what you've said, I still don't see that training requirement is needed if the personal responsibility is upheld for all, no excuses.
 
Nige

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
38,499
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Tones said:
To stop this crap registered fire arm owners should have to do a live fire exercise similar to what the Special Forces do in urban combat training where split second decision making is required. One bad decision requires them to forfeit their firearms and licence for a year. That would sort the wheat from the chaff.
Click to expand...
Or, as an old mate of mine always said - "Some practical experience on the 2-way rifle range".
HarleyHappy said:
Glad I don’t live there. Live free or Die. If we had had that kind of firearms requirements here, we would still have a king.
Lol.
Click to expand...
Don't knock it. You might find you'd have been far better off.
 
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