Best Alligator Defense (not another hypothetical "best caliber for..." thread)
- Thread starter Zen21Tao
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Zen21Tao
Member
How about some good handgun caliber suggestions that can used as a daily carry weapon? We can't always walk around with a 12 gauge shotgun.
I have a S&W 500 that would probably do the trick but even with a 4" barrel it is way too big for daily CCW carry. Right now I use either a 7+1 .40S&W (Sig P139) or a 10+1 10mm (Glock 29) as my daily carry gun.
I have a S&W 500 that would probably do the trick but even with a 4" barrel it is way too big for daily CCW carry. Right now I use either a 7+1 .40S&W (Sig P139) or a 10+1 10mm (Glock 29) as my daily carry gun.
Cosmoline
Member
A boomer handgun is totally pointless. Penetration is not the problem with large reptiles, in spite of all the BS you see on "Jurassic Park" and other stupid movies. You can kill the largest one with a .410 shotgun, and conversely you could shoot it over and over again with a .500 S&W and just make it angry. Placement is critical, like with a large snake or other large reptile. They're primitive, simple creatures. A .40 S&W is more than enough, provided you can bullseye the brain pan area behind the eyes.
publius
Member
Best Alligator Defense = PAY ATTENTION when in gator country, and don't let them get close. Also, if you're paying attention to one, don't forget that he is probably not the only one. I've gotten focused on a gator which was approaching my dogs, only to turn and see one very close to me.
Sam Adams
Member
What, does that mean that only Hillary can...
Oh, boomstick. My bad!
GreyMauser
Member
As I understand it, there are two ways to do it here legally. First is to be a contract hunter called on to do the deed once the gator is declared a nuisance. Those guys usually work in daylight, bind the gator,pull it ashore and do the job at point blank with whatever is at hand. Generally, this takes place with people around, so the slug, bullet, or whatever must stop in the gator.
Second way is to win the lottery for a gator tag. These hunts take place at night, usually usually in isolated areas, by boat, and the tag holder must be accompanied by a licensed guide. My choice in that hunt would be something like a 376 Steyr, short barrel, compo stock, 2x scope with illuminated reticle. That, or whatever the guide says.
Second way is to win the lottery for a gator tag. These hunts take place at night, usually usually in isolated areas, by boat, and the tag holder must be accompanied by a licensed guide. My choice in that hunt would be something like a 376 Steyr, short barrel, compo stock, 2x scope with illuminated reticle. That, or whatever the guide says.
lacoochee
Member
Hypothetically speaking, a .22 long from a Marlin is sufficient
I have been told that 2 inches dead center behind the eyes will stop a gator dead in it's tracks. I am a fifth generation Floridian and that's what I have been told by family, evidence should also be buried in the nearest pile of red ants, also hypothetical.
I have been told that 2 inches dead center behind the eyes will stop a gator dead in it's tracks. I am a fifth generation Floridian and that's what I have been told by family, evidence should also be buried in the nearest pile of red ants, also hypothetical.
scout26
Member
"Take off and nuke the sight from orbit.....It's the only way to be sure."
Meplat
Member
Dunno about the 'glades, but with Lousiana's recently reinstituted 'gator season, they bait a huge hook on heavy line, tie it off to a tether pole, the gator hooks himself and winds himself up and out of the water and just kind of hangs around, and they ride up in a boat and dispatch the poor creature with just about any means they care to. It isn't going anywhere.
Personally, I find this "sport" abhorrant.
Find nothing wrong with the old time Cajun method of the good ol' thutty-thutty in the brain. One just has to know where it's at. Not a large target. Heck, many of them old swamp rats would just rap them in the head with a club.
Myself, as long as they stay out of my yard and off my porch, I have no problems with them. Spent too many days in a john boat perch jerkin' or catfishing with them floating close by to let them get me too worked up.
Should one find himself on my porch trying to eat my dog (as was referred to earlier) then I imagine that .375 H&H I bought just in case I ever found a Cape Buff eating my tomato plants would find a new use. Overkill, I'm sure...but I LIKE Ol' Boomer. Guess I'll just have to hope that Rover didn't run under the porch to hide from the 'gator, 'cause I'm pretty sure that Grand Slam is gonna pass through.
For any of those wondering what happens when the brain is missed, I once read a really interesting story in Field and Stream years ago about a feller who "bagged" himself a world class croc. They were coming back across Lake Victoria in a huge storm that had blown up, and the "dead" croc suddenly appeared not so much "dead" as stunned. And yeah, it was a .375 that stunned him. Made for a fascinating tale of how the hapless mariners managed to get the (quickly coming un) tied beast over the side in the middle of a storm on a huge lake in a small boat before someone got et.
Personally, I find this "sport" abhorrant.
Find nothing wrong with the old time Cajun method of the good ol' thutty-thutty in the brain. One just has to know where it's at. Not a large target. Heck, many of them old swamp rats would just rap them in the head with a club.
Myself, as long as they stay out of my yard and off my porch, I have no problems with them. Spent too many days in a john boat perch jerkin' or catfishing with them floating close by to let them get me too worked up.
Should one find himself on my porch trying to eat my dog (as was referred to earlier) then I imagine that .375 H&H I bought just in case I ever found a Cape Buff eating my tomato plants would find a new use. Overkill, I'm sure...but I LIKE Ol' Boomer. Guess I'll just have to hope that Rover didn't run under the porch to hide from the 'gator, 'cause I'm pretty sure that Grand Slam is gonna pass through.
For any of those wondering what happens when the brain is missed, I once read a really interesting story in Field and Stream years ago about a feller who "bagged" himself a world class croc. They were coming back across Lake Victoria in a huge storm that had blown up, and the "dead" croc suddenly appeared not so much "dead" as stunned. And yeah, it was a .375 that stunned him. Made for a fascinating tale of how the hapless mariners managed to get the (quickly coming un) tied beast over the side in the middle of a storm on a huge lake in a small boat before someone got et.
Sam
Member
A 14' crock has a brain about the size of an apricot. Hard to locate and hard to hit, likewise with the spine. They are not hard to kill just hard to hit correctly. A charge of #6's actually 6-7 of them from about 10 feet works well. You literally have to saw the head off.
In the meantime the water will become a frothing mess that is hard to shoot into and you will be sure that your banca is going to capsize and that you will die.
Not for the squeamish or nervous.
Sam
In the meantime the water will become a frothing mess that is hard to shoot into and you will be sure that your banca is going to capsize and that you will die
. Not for the squeamish or nervous.
Sam
>SHOCK<^>WAVE<
Member
We usually just take one of those rotisserie chickens and put a water balloon full of anti freeze inside it and feed it to the gator.
Offwhite
member
Best caliber for killing an alligator?...I'd say a small stick of dynamite would do just nicely...look Mommy its like the fourth of July. 
Meplat
Member
LOL. Just make sure you put the stick in the end with teeth. All the good eating's at the other end.
'Sides that, I just dunno too many 'gators who are gonna be happy about a dynamite enema.
fish2xs
Member
forgive my ignorance, but
let's say:
1. you are not hunting it for food or as part of anything planned
2. you have no clue where the alligator's brain is
3. for whatever reason, you are in a compromising position where life/limb are at risk
4. you have whatever gun is available at the time
would shooting the eyes work? that would be my first instinct (after soiling myself)...
let's say:
1. you are not hunting it for food or as part of anything planned
2. you have no clue where the alligator's brain is
3. for whatever reason, you are in a compromising position where life/limb are at risk
4. you have whatever gun is available at the time
would shooting the eyes work? that would be my first instinct (after soiling myself)...
Cosmoline
Member
The brain is a ways behind the eyes, so that's why you're supposed to shoot behind the eyes. Depending on the angle shooting at the eyes may not hit anything particuarly vital.
rugerman
Member
If you look behind the eyes there is a spot (ear spot) a couple of inches back hit it and your problems are over (side shot). Straight on (hopefully with some elevation) shoot a couple of inches behing the eyes. If the angle is too low you'll get a glancing hit and just make it mad. rugerman
10MMGary
Member
The absolute best defense against a gator attack is your brain and the bigger the better. Educate yourself in regards to gator behavior. Your much more likely to get hit by lightning or killed by a drunk driver than attacked by a gator. I would be willing to bet a 1000 toothpicks that if you ask any old school or long term wildlife officer they would tell you that 22 rimfires have by far killed the most gators. Also there is no legal hunting allowed in the everglades. The everglades are a national park. Plenty of other places and actually much easier places to hunt gators.
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