Protection from Animals

I believe the caliber used in that show where they hunt gators (Choot 'em!) is a .22LR. Shot placement was key, since their brains are so small. This being so, smaller caliber, perhaps in hardcast?

It is 22Mag but if you watch the show it is all about shot placement, you can see that each shot is placed just about between the eyes.

Most times gators will not attack a human. That gator mistook the child for a source of food. The gator did not want to take a child which is proven by the authorities finding the body intact. When the gator realized the child was not one of its usual foods it was released. Unfortunately by that time the child was dead.

There is no real reason to carry a special gun to protect yourself from gators. Just stay out of the water and don't play in the shallows where gators live. That is just about any fresh water source on Florida, including some swimming pools.

you can see that each shot is placed just about between the eyes.

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I beleive the actual 'Spot' is centered between the eyes, but further back.

About like a reverse pointing triangle behind they eyes.

There is a depression in the skin, 'soft spot' if you will, and the tiny brain pan is located directly under it.

A shot between the eyes will miss the brain completely?



Unlike warm blooded Mammals, They are prehistoric reptiles, with reptile nervous systems almost impervious to pain or blood loss.
A .44 Magnum to the body wouldn't phase one.
A .22 to 'The spot' kills them DRT.


Have to admit though, that being from Kansas, I don't know that much about alligators!!



rc

I feel the same about alligator guns as I do snake guns. If you see either just move out of the way. Neither is going to chase after you. It is the ones you don't see that get you. By then a gun is of no use.

I think you are right RC.

Though growing up in Florida I had many run in with Gators and none of them provoked my dad to shoot one and he always had a pistol on his hip.

I have seen 400 pound hogs dropped instantly with a well placed shot from a .22. However if the hog or gator is in the process of trying to eat you something a little more appropriate than a .22 may be desired.

If a gator has ahold of you, a 4" knife plunged into 'the spot' would be more effective making him turn loose then 6 rounds of .44 magnum to the body.

rc

As usual RC is correct. the spot he pointed out is the most effective POA for gators. I have been involved with alligator harvest since 1973 when the first seasons were opened in LA. I worked on national wildlife refuges that allowed gator hunting for 31 years until I retired in 2014.

Regarding caliber a 22LR HP is most effective on gators 7ft and smaller. all though larger gators can be killed with a 22LR it is advisable to use larger calibers like 22mag, 30calM1, 30-30, .357 and the like. if you were restricted to one gun a 22mag with CCI maxi mag HP or the like would be a very good choice.

Large gators have a very thick bony skull , it is common for a 22 bullet to ricochet off a gator. it is also not uncommon for gator hunters or helpers to be hit by bullet fragments and bone . the angle of the shot needs to be as perpendicular to the skull as possible to prevent ricochet.

It is accepted practice and prudent to sever the spinal cord right behind the head of gators with a knife to prevent thrashing and nerve activity after putting them in the boat.

RC is correct again body shots to a gator will do nothing except piss him off and he will get away.

Contrary to what is seen on Swamp People there is usually not a lot of thrashing and drama associated with dispatching a gator. the gator is on a strong line with a big hook in his mouth. the gator is gently pulled to the surface and shot in the spot behind the eyes in the top rear of his skull-- normally No dramatic hollywood music and thrashing. the last thing a gator hunter wants is thrashing because the line can break, the hook could come out and the gator will escape!! please don't believe all the hyped hollywood drama you see on swamp people!!

American alligators are not crocodiles they do not normally prey on humans. However occasionally they will attack swimmers and children playing along a shoreline. If I were in a self defense situation with a gator, a 12ga shotgun with buckshot would be my weapon of choice. I would aim for the top of his head. Gator hunters don't use shotguns because that would tend to damage the hide which is valuable.

Bull

"I feel the same about alligator guns as I do snake guns. If you see either just move out of the way."

I beg to differ on snakes. If you aggravate a cotton mouth it will certainly come after you. I know this because as a kid I did this. As the snake came across the cove we pelted it with rocks. My cousin lifted a large rock and heaved it which smashed it's head.

That is an utterly correct statement on cottonmouth's.......irritate one and he WILL try to sink a fang in you.

Riding with a friend down a dirt road with a deep ditch on the side...snake crawled out in roadway in our front and my erstwhile snake hating driver decided he'd stop and use his cowboy boots to stomp it into the sandy road.......he tried, road base was too soft and when he raised up that boot heel that snake came at him with a vengence.....he wound up trying to stomp it again, and again when he raised his foot it immediately pursued him.....He wound up backing up to the tail gate of his truck with his foot on the snake once more and turned to me saying "what do I do now"!

Between retching laughter I handed him my pocket knife and suggested he cut it's head off before he moved his foot again.


True story....wish I'd been able to video it......but the fact is those damn things are aggressive and WON'T back down!

I'm from here, and spend a lot of time hiking in the marshy savannas and woods frequented by gators. I've seen more than my fair share. I've never really considered them a threat, and have always simply carried whatever I normally do. I treat their habitat, well, like there might be gators in it.

We have our share of cottonmouths in SLA. My preferred snake gun is a handgun (easier to carry) loaded with Speer shot capsules. 22 snake shot will work but 38/357 and 44 mag snake shot works much better. the pattern allows a little margin of error. I usually use #9 shot.

a shotgun with fine shot is also very effective for snake control. a 410 of any description is a very handy snake gun. These shot loads would be very ineffective on gators except 2ft and smaller which are harmless.

Bull

A good little snake gun is this double barrel 410 Derringer I have.





I also like 38/357 shot shells from a J frame which us very easy to carry. I load them myself with Speer caplets and #9 shot.

ArchAngelCD said:

Most times gators will not attack a human. That gator mistook the child for a source of food. The gator did not want to take a child which is proven by the authorities finding the body intact. When the gator realized the child was not one of its usual foods it was released. Unfortunately by that time the child was dead.

There is no real reason to carry a special gun to protect yourself from gators. Just stay out of the water and don't play in the shallows where gators live. That is just about any fresh water source on Florida, including some swimming pools.

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I read the same thing about shark attacks. After the first bite, the shark frequently spits out a human because they don't taste good. Little comfort.

Agreed about going in water where there are gators; I sometimes wonder what people are thinking. And, IMO, the ocean is a shark's living room...not ours.

archangeCD

what kinda recoil do you get from that 410 derringer? i would imagine that it is fairly strong?? does it hurt your hand??

Bull

jmr40 said:

I feel the same about alligator guns as I do snake guns. If you see either just move out of the way. Neither is going to chase after you. It is the ones you don't see that get you. By then a gun is of no use.

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Have to disagree a bit. I didn't see this one, and I actually missed. But I hit a nearby rock and a shard hit it just behind the head. I'm pretty sure that had I not fired as quickly as I did I'd have been struck.

Bull Nutria said:

archangeCD

what kinda recoil do you get from that 410 derringer? i would imagine that it is fairly strong?? does it hurt your hand??

Bull

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The recoil is stout but does not hurt most times. I did fire two shots quickly once without repositioning my hand after the first shot and it banged my finger so badly it bled.

If you are holding it correctly it's not painful at all.