[Bill Ingle]

My brother in law has been having problems with rowdies in the neighborhood (lives way out in the country), shooting near his house at night. We went out and looked on the side of the road and picked up a number of empty rifle cartridges which I can't identify, and I hope someone can. The cartridges had the bullet ends crimped, suggesting they are blanks or shot shells, and on the firing pin end, all that is there is a "40" and opposite that, a "4" inscribed. Does this ring a bell with anyone. His wife is having a lot of emotional stress over this, and the sherriff's office says it can't do anything. If I had an idea what they were shooting, it might help get a handle on this problem. Thanks!

Wagram, NC

 

[Cheezywan]

Picture would help some. No bells ringing with me.

Your description of events "sounds" like kids with blanks.

Brother-in-laws wife. Does that mean your sister?

What she shoots might help her get a handle on the situation?

I recomend a 20 bore pump-gun and a flashlight with good batteries for a lady that I don't know.

My wife prefers a 12 bore auto-loader w/out a flashlight (she shoots at noise).

Tell the sheriff that Cheezywan said Hello.

 

[nvshooter]

My brother in law has been having problems with rowdies in the neighborhood (lives way out in the country)...

Wagram, NC

Problem here is the kids have the Right to shoot way out in the country. What they DON'T have is the freedom to make offensive noise and create a public nuisance. You can certainly have the police stop this with an order to cease and desist. If they do not, they face arrest and trial. Gotta catch 'em in the act, though. Do they do this at a reg'lar time and place, ones such that you can have the law waiting?

 

[30-30remchester]

I have to take exception to an above post. I as well live out west and it is totally legal to shoot outside the city limits. Only criteria is that you shoot at least 50' from a roadway, and not accross a roadway and in a manner to not endanger life or property. It is a time honored tradition out west to "shoot where you **** well please". I live far from the city limits and bordering forest service. Often we hear gunfire and while sometimes it disturbs my solitude, I wouldnt trade my situation for any other. We dont want the law telling us where and when we can discharge a firearm. I feel bad for the lady that is frightened because this is a terrible feeling. However it was her choice to live where she does. If it bothers her so much she could either meet the shooters and ask if they would mind shooting elsewhere, or she can move back to the city. I encounter these people often in the small towns I live and work in. They move to the rural small communities to escape the controlling rat race and the first thing they do is try to make the community they came to the same as they left. They want more law, more traffic lights, fast food resterants, 4 lane roads, paved roads, ect. There is a price for freedom and many dont want to pay the price. I would assume these are just recreational shooters that could be persuaded to relocate their fun.

 

[fritz1]

I have to take exception to an above post. I as well live out west and it is totally legal to shoot outside the city limits. Only criteria is that you shoot at least 50' from a roadway, and not accross a roadway and in a manner to not endanger life or property. It is a time honored tradition out west to "shoot where you **** well please". I live far from the city limits and bordering forest service. Often we hear gunfire and while sometimes it disturbs my solitude, I wouldnt trade my situation for any other. We dont want the law telling us where and when we can discharge a firearm. I feel bad for the lady that is frightened because this is a terrible feeling. However it was her choice to live where she does. If it bothers her so much she could either meet the shooters and ask if they would mind shooting elsewhere, or she can move back to the city. I encounter these people often in the small towns I live and work in. They move to the rural small communities to escape the controlling rat race and the first thing they do is try to make the community they came to the same as they left. They want more law, more traffic lights, fast food resterants, 4 lane roads, paved roads, ect. There is a price for freedom and many dont want to pay the price. I would assume these are just recreational shooters that could be persuaded to relocate their fun.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[andy]

"looked on the side of the road"

You are absolutely correct in what you said, 30-30, but also like you said, shooting from the roadway is illegal, and I really really doubt it was a neighbor shooting, probably some city or town folk out blasting in the country. Pretty dangerous to have someone blasting away in an unfamiliar area at night not knowing where the houses, etc are at.

Me, I told my wife when we were looking for a house that I want to be able to shoot out my back door, really wanted enough land to have my own range. Maybe the next house we buy....

Andy

 

[fritz1]

"looked on the side of the road"

You are absolutely correct in what you said, 30-30, but also like you said, shooting from the roadway is illegal, and I really really doubt it was a neighbor shooting, probably some city or town folk out blasting in the country. Pretty dangerous to have someone blasting away in an unfamiliar area at night not knowing where the houses, etc are at.

Me, I told my wife when we were looking for a house that I want to be able to shoot out my back door, really wanted enough land to have my own range. Maybe the next house we buy....

Andy

Nothing dangerous if they were blanks, and that is exactly what it sounds like, being crimper on the end like that was mentioned.

 

[fred243]

You didn't say if it was a rimmed case or how long and big in diameter. Kinda sounds like rimfire shot shell. Can you add a picture. Hope all gets better

 

[264shooter]

Only issue i have is the "shooting at night" part and bet most of you would not be very comfortable with that going on near your home.Most places we used to shoot are now illegal because of urban sprawl.

 

[Bill Ingle]

Thanks

Thanks for most of your answers. My brother in law's wife could be my sister, but in this case, she's the wife of my wife's brother.
These miscreants are pulling up at his driveway, about 50' from his house. His is the only house for a mile or so, so I think it's more harassment than somebody exercising his 2nd amendment rights. I suggested return fire, and offered my AR-15, but he's not at that point yet. Almost, but not quite.

 

[30-30remchester]

ANDY, when purchasing a house my main criterias were, the ability to pee off the front porch and shoot off the back porch. Everything else was just window dressing.

 

[MAC702]

Video surveillance cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper. Is it happening often enough to warrant the trouble to set one up? I would imagine you could get one that would operate off a deep cycle 12V battery for several days.

 

[MontyF]

My brother in law has been having problems with rowdies in the neighborhood (lives way out in the country), shooting near his house at night. We went out and looked on the side of the road and picked up a number of empty rifle cartridges which I can't identify, and I hope someone can. The cartridges had the bullet ends crimped, suggesting they are blanks or shot shells, and on the firing pin end, all that is there is a "40" and opposite that, a "4" inscribed. Does this ring a bell with anyone. His wife is having a lot of emotional stress over this, and the sherriff's office says it can't do anything. If I had an idea what they were shooting, it might help get a handle on this problem. Thanks!

Wagram, NC

First thing i'd check is what the laws are in your state concerning shooting. Here in SD you have to be at least 660' feet from an occupied dwelling and at least 25' off any road. It's also illegal to discharge a firearm from a vehicle unless varmint hunting or you are the land owner. Chances are the people you are dealing with mean no harm and aren't aware of causing a problem.

 

[jbee]

> I would imagine you could get one that would operate off a deep cycle 12V battery for several days.

You can buy a wireless X-10 IR camera that runs off small batteries for six months. They even sell cheap versions at Harbor Freight.