[Grayrock]

:p
OK- In the last several years I have gotten more paranoid about wading in the surf and wade fishing what with the media hype about shark attacks (some in very shallow water.) We are fixing to go to the beach for spring break and I know my kids are going to want to run all over and out to sea. I am hesitant to follow them (I know- an irrational fear- but a fear, nonetheless). So would it make any sense to CCW a shark gun with me? I can stick a stainless Security Six on my hip- or should I go for a dive knife? Or what about just running away screaming like a little girl? What would be the best defense? Or should I believe the numbers and say to myself that I am more likely to get ... (insert uncommon event here)... than I am to have a close encounter of the sharky kind? I can see my risk taking genes are fading the older I get. I am not as brave about doing things I used to do with no forethought 20 years ago. Can someone put my mind at ease? My wife has an equally imaginative fear. I laughed at her for not wanting to wade fish with me a long time ago because she was on her period. I won't do that again.

[sumpnz]

Those TV shows that I've seen where they have used a firearm of some sort against sharks (diver's defense, coup d'grace when fishing, etc) typically have used what was essentially a long pole that was activated by hitting the shark with the tip (muzzel). I can't recall the caliber, but I'm sure it was some sort of pistol caliber.

I don't think you'd even want to take a nice stainless steel gun into the ocean when surf casting as you would still probably see substantial corrosion.

In the end, probably a long knife would be the best, since at least you can use that to gut the fish when you're done.

[Carl N. Brown]

On the Clinch River in Virginia they shoot big fish with hi power rifles
(the only place--Clinch River--where this sport is legal).
1) Objects in water are seldomn where they appear to be (refraction)
2) Bullets hitting water at shallow angles may skip or ricochet.
I would recommend caution and a gun for bear, but for sharks
a gun is less useful. Use more caution: keep track of each other
and have a clear out-of-the-water signal.

The local Fish and Game Commission should be a good source of
shark advice also.

END OF SERIOUS CONTENT

pure silliness ahead

On Mythbusters, they got several feet of penetration through water
with 9mm and 12 gauge slug. Velocity 1200 to 1600 feet per second
with full metal jacket or lead round nose bullets seems to give
good penetration in water.

The high velocity rifle bullets the Mythbusters tested broke up on
impact with water and did not pentrate more that two feet or so:
at 2500 to 3000 feet per second, rifle bullets hit water like hitting
a brick wall: even .50 BMG was stopped cold. and wet.

So a .50 Barrets rifle is out of the question. Actually, the best weapon for
shark is:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=33765&d=1137014489
What it lacks in velocity (which is a disadvantage in water) it makes up
for it in projectile weight.

[R.H. Lee]

What would happen if you fired a .357 mag revolver underwater?

[seeker_two]

For shark, I'd be thinking a sawed-off 12ga SxS loaded with slugs... :cool:

...but do you really want all the girls at the beach asking "Is that a sawed-off 12ga. SxS loaded with slugs in your swimtrunks, or are you just happy to see me?" :evil:

[Grayrock]

"Is that a sawed-off 12ga. SxS loaded with slugs in your swimtrunks, or are you just happy to see me?"
They ask me that anyway, so I might as well stick with the Security Six!:neener:

a long pole that was activated by hitting the shark with the tip
I think that is a "shark stick" or "boom stick"- loaded with a 12 gauge shotgun shell. I have also seen one with a CO2 cartridge and a BIG needle on the end. However- I must use what is at hand- as much as I want that harpoon gun!!!
Would an afternoon of saltwater immersion be able to be negated by immediate rinsing, drying and oiling? And what WOULD hapen if you fired a .357 under water? Supposedly Glocks work underwater. Would the column of water in the 4inch barrel constitute an obstruction and allow me to see just how strong Ruger made it? Would that be asking for a KB?

[Cosmoline]

I'd suggest a .45-70 mid-level hardcast load, a shotgun slug or a big handgun such as a .44 Mag firing hardcasts. Elmer Keith took his hot specials out on boating trips and bullseyed sharks of various sizes that were swimming behind the boat in chum. These apparently worked very well.

As Myhtbusters showed conclusively, high-powered rifle rounds are a complete waste of time. The good news is that from a biological point of view, a shark hs almost no defense against a bullet. It has little bone, and its soft body is totally vulnerable to the impact of the pressure wave. There are no bones to interrupt it or protect vital organs. It's like a big moving bag of ballistic gel. The one thing it has going for it is a pretty primal CNS that's difficult to hit, but experience has shown even a few rounds to the head area is enough to kill even a very large shark. Once past the rough skin, the rounds can really go to town.

[half elf]

A bang stick, which is just a zip gun with a handle, loaded with either a 375mag, 44spl, or 410/45lc with bird shot is more than enough to kill a shark. These are poin of contact weapons with almost no range, and use a floating chamber and a fixed firing pin, or are a spring loaded afair woth a screw down chamber, and a powered firing pin. Either system is still close up and personal, with the resulting intimacies, and a bother to carry unless scuba diving. If you shook all of the air out of the barrel of the revolver than the bullet would not be stopping on a sudden obstruction and would fire just fine, but I wouldn't bother unless really close and just about able to smell his breath.

[Cosmoline]

You could also just go swimming with a nine foot boar spear. That would get noticed!

[MCgunner]

Sharks are thick in the bay down here in mid summer. A big black tip might run four or five feet. I use my snubbie .38, works fine with a shot to the head. Haven't shark fished since the dropped the limit from five to one, but will probably go after some this summer. Friend of mine got a big boat, 21 ft, big enough to go a little ways off shore.

You don't need no stinkin' magnum for small shark up to five or six feet. We don't catch too many tigers down here and there are no great whites. A big bull is good sized, 400 lbs, or so, but will succumb to a .38. If he don't, shoot him again! :D Friend of mine won a big fishing tournament down here one year with a big bull shark, put him down with a Security Six.

['Card]

Dynamite.

[Grayrock]

Well- I'm trying to plan for last ditch effort/ up close and personal save your tail kind of situations. I figure a .357 to the head at point blank range ought to get its attention. However, with a shark's primitive neurological build will there be a delay from time of impact to time of cessation of hostile movements? And again- how much damage could I wreak on my pistol by a couple of hours immersion in salt water- assuming I'll give it a thorough cleaning shortly afterwards? Bottom line me- should I give up this train of thought or go for it? Same question for my polymer/stainless Millenium PRO in
.45 ACP. Which one would be better- if a handgun is even warranted?

[Spec ops Grunt]

Wouldnt a lance work better underwater?

[sm]

I cannot recall what Carlos Hathcock used for Shark.

Hathcock's health was not great after his injuries in Vietnam, other health matters resulted. He did take up Shark Hunting - for lack of a better way to put it. I just cannot recall the methods and tools used.

Anybody recall?

[RyanM]

A bangstick would probably be a better idea than a gun.

http://www.bangsticks.com/catalog.html

I'd probably recommend 12 gauge. Or .44 magnum if you want to save $40.

[Boom-stick]

I think the correct name for the anti shark prod might be a boom-stick:)

Or you could try eating lots of spicey food the night before you get in the water and if you get bitten hope you taste too spicey and get spit out:barf:

I have never heard of that not working:cool:

[~z]

surplus .303 spend fifty or so on a beater. Buddy keeps one in the boat, "shark gaff". When you get out of the salt, just give it a good cleaning with a hose, and a coat of oil (bar and chain oil for the outside and breakfree on the inside). This was never a moa rifle and certainly wont ever be one, maybe a degree of angle rifle at best. This is just an old fishin gun, but it works and if it falls in, no big deal. Expect corrosion, if it is your fav, bring something else. And for the record, a .303 WILL shoot through a shark and a boat. I realize you were not looking to shoot through a boat, but then again most people who shoot through a boat had some other intention when they began their day.
~z

[Silent Bob]

M-1 Garand and a tank of compressed air. It worked for Roy Scheider.:D

[Carl N. Brown]

That would have to be a studio-rigged tank to work like the
movie (see another episode of mytbusters; compressed air
tank pierced by bullet will fly around like a balloon (aluminum
balloon) but wont explode: Hollywood fooled us again.)

[wolf_from_wv]

I think you're gonna need a bigger boat... :D

And a bangstick...

[Atticus]

A fishing buddy of mine in SW Florida always gave sharks and alligators one warning shot....to the head with his .357.

[Grayrock]

Well- trip's over with no incident. I, however, never ventured past knee deep. I did wade one afternoon with the .45ACP. Should have had it with me the last day as there was a shady looking couple hanging around that frightened the missus- but that is neither here nor there. We are back safe and sound. Thanks for all the insight.

[Gordon]

I know of one Abalone diver who carries a 2.25" Ruger Stainless SP101 in a blade tech kydex holster. He claims the snub barrel won't burst as easily and lubes with synthetic grease. He HAS fired it underwater and says bullt goes about 40 feet and will pierce something at 6 feet or so.

[Silent-Snail]

Please note I am completely unschooled in the manner of using high pressure air to move things, or in what and how things go all 'splody.


About the "Mythbusters Would a Tank of Compressed Air Really Explode Like in the Movie Jaws" episode, while the tank would not have exploded like it did in the film, it would have removed part of the sharks head when it went jetting off.

At least thats how it seems to me.


Edit: Is that harpoon gun of kind that was in "JAWS"

[popswon]

Being a surfer and living at the beach for many years here is my .02. No matter what you carry it will poblably do no good. But if I was ever to take anything with me it would be a divers knife. Shark attacks are few and far between its almost ridiculous. Stupid Media Hype. And if a shark does attack it is usually your legs or toes. The best thing you can do is find out what kind of sharks are in the area you are going to be and just be educated. Good blows to the nose or gills always work. But at the same time can piss them off even more. Basically I am saying no matter what you do or carry chances are you will not have time to react. Just prey. But in all honesty I basically live in the water and surf all year round and have seen many sharks and never been attacked.

[owen]

Well, I've already got an ARGH!-15 for pirates. I reckon I'll stick with that.

[sumpnz]

Just prey. Is that supposed to be a pun, or was that a typo? :eek:

[Guyon]

Some odds published together in the latest issue of Outdoor Life:

The odds of...

...being struck by lightning are 1 in 3,000.

...a city-sized asteroid smacking into Earth in the next century are 1 in 5,000.

...dating a supermodel are 1 in 88,000.

...being attacked by a shark are 1 in 10 million.

...shooting a world-record typical buck are 1 in 361 million.


Sounds to me like you should be worrying more about lightning and asteroids. Think ground cable and fallout shelter instead of firearm.

[popswon]

At least someone got it:D

[Hawken50]

odd you should post this as-
1)i also have an irrational fear of sharks
2)yesterday i was showing off my new (1944) cmp garand to a family friend. he was in the navy in the '50s and told me he used to shoot sharks off the ships fantail with an m1. don't thinks i'd want to go swimming with a 10lb weight slung over my shoulder though.

personally i'd go with a staythehellawayfromtheoceanmagnum. which is also odd because i spent 4 years on uncle sams big gray cruise line.

[Cindog]

Hope you guys figure this out soon, this guy looks like he could use some advice:

[Cortland]

A bang stick, which is just a zip gun with a handle, loaded with either a 375mag, 44spl, or 410/45lc with bird shot is more than enough to kill a shark. These are poin of contact weapons with almost no range, and use a floating chamber and a fixed firing pin, or are a spring loaded afair woth a screw down chamber, and a powered firing pin.

My father owned a scuba store in the late seventies. He's told that he had a machinist friend who was made 12 gauge "power heads" that he sold in his store. You can either attach them on to the end of a pole or (for even more fun) thread them on to the end of a speargun spear. I saw where someone posted a site that sells these things??? I can't image how they're not AOWs. My father tells me when he was selling his "power heads" he eventually got a visit from the ATF -- they told him he couldn't sell them (because he wasn't an FFL, obviously and I suspect they were legally Title II) and wanted a list of people who had purchased them.

[Pawcatch]

www.beco-products.com has a really good selection of powerheads and poles.

From what I understand,powerheads are not considered AOWs or even firearms if they are welded to an 18" pole.
But I'm sure the folks at Beco know,so email them if you have a legal question.

[Carl N. Brown]

The Kayaker stalked by shark reminds me of this
item posted about this time last year by our local
newspaper:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=38082&stc=1&d=1144347796
That was what got me interested in the Greener Harpoon gun:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=33765&d=1137014489
Then my sister pointed out the date on the paper was 1 April 2005:(
I still would like a Greener Harpoon gun JIC.

[swampdog]

I worked as a commercial diver for five years, mostly pile jackets in coastal waters. I second everything popswon said. I used a 2lb hammer on a bullshark's nose one time. Pretty effective. In all other cases when I saw a shark, he disappeared as soon as he figured out what I was.
I can't imagine what the Nagshead PD would have to say about someone carrying a gun for shark protection on the beach. I bet it would be amusing, though.

[amprecon]

.30-06, duh ;)

[Lo.Com.Denom]

http://www.sphinxarms.com/en/down_mov.html

About halfway through, the diver starts shooting the pistol underwater at a wooden target.

[Cindog]

The Kayaker stalked by shark reminds me of this
item posted about this time last year by our local
newspaper:

Except according to Snopes, this is a real photo. :what:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/sharkkayak.asp

[#shooter]

Shooting more than 2-3 feet in water is useless. Spear, speargun, bangstick, knife would all be better. You want to see something scary go on a helicopter ride by a beach in the gulf during the summer, You will see all the people standing around, swimming, fishing etc and then you notice all the sharks weaving and swimming between the people. Scared the crap out of me when I saw that. There would be 1000s of attacks if most sharks were interested in people, fact is they are just looking for food.

Rule #1. Don't smell like food. I have seen people go out with pockets full of squid or shrimp for shore fishing. Bad mojo considering sharks close their eyes to bite.

Rule #2. Don't look like food. Don't wear shinny things like rings, bracelets, anklets etc. If your jewelry looks like your lures do not wear it.

Rule #3. Don't act like fish. Do not flop around and pat the water. No horseplay. For some reason that is what 1/2 dead fish look and sound like.

Rule #4. If your bleeding, get out of the water and bandage the wound. If your menstruating use a tampon.

Rule #5. Never fish alone.

Rule #6. Dusk and dawn are prime shark feeding times.

Be smart, be safe, survive.

[Deer Hunter]

Whatever you do, don't attack a shark with a taser...

[Grayrock]

Whatever you do, don't attack a shark with a taser

arr, arr, arr!

Or in the vernacular of the WEB- ROFLMAO!

[pete f]

I have a couple of old US Divers bang heads around someplace. I thought they were cool till I finally used one.

We had been snorkeling off one of the Keys when a mid size bull shark swam past me. I thought "cool watch this!" and popped it with the bang stick. dull thud of a sound and the shark goes into convulsions and starts to sink with gore pouring out a golf ball sized hole in it head. I think this is cool and I wasted my breath watching and then I just sorta cruised up to the surface and took another breath and dropped down and now I saw five or six sharks swimming in fast to the now twitching bull shark. They ripped him to pieces and in in just a few seconds I realised "hey, i just made a huge chum slick This may not be the best place to be anymore...."

They work as advertised, but they have consequences...

I have seen some mighty big sharks in my day. My brother hooked what was quessed at a 500 pound blue marlin and all that was hauled in was the head, it was about 50 feet from the boat and rolling on the surface when some large shark decided to bite off the most everything south of the gills.

We also saw a very large shark off the north end of Long Island, It was just barely swimming in about 20 feet of water and it was longer than the boat we were in, a McGinnis bass boat 23 footer. Someone said they hought it was a basking shark, but it gave me the willies for a long time.

[countertop]

We had been snorkeling off one of the Keys when a mid size bull shark swam past me. I thought "cool watch this!" and popped it with the bang stick.

I don't get it.

Was the shark threatening you? Where you hunting sharks?

Why would you think it swas cool to go and kill for no reason at all?

[Carl N. Brown]

That attitude got me a lecture--and attitude adjustment--
from my dad when I was thirteen. You kill if there is a
need, not just because someone has told you certain
animals are "bad" and deserve it.
(I was taking aim at a buzzard.)

[Horsesense]

Would a “boom stick” work on a dog?




“Why would you think it swas cool to go and kill for no reason at all?”


Ecology… killing wolves, mountain lions and sharks etc. is good for the ecology.

Testing his gear

Who said there was no good reason.

[SLCDave]

It depends on whether or not the shark is equipped with
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2687/drevillaser3uf.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
laser beams...