The Accurate Reloading Forums
Bullet choice for Croc
08 April 2011, 04:55
talentrecBullet choice for Croc
For those of you who have taken crocodiles before, which load would you choose?
1. .270 Winchester loaded with 130 grain Sierra Pro Hunters at 2900 fps. This load shoots .75 MOA.
2. .270 Winchester loaded with 130 grain Barnes TTSX at 2900 fps. This one one shoots between 1.25-1.5 MOA.
These are your only two choices. A more accurate load with a traditional cup and core bullet or a mono-metal that's not quite as accurate?
Pete
08 April 2011, 07:52
505 gibbsI can't speak to the caliber choice, but I brained mine with a TSX, it never moved a muscle and didn't do enough damage to the skull to affect the mount.
08 April 2011, 08:06
<generalwar>Neither. 22 Hi Power
08 April 2011, 09:40
jdollari give up. what's a .22 Hi Power???
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08 April 2011, 11:03
Karoo.22 Hi Power is the Savage Hi-power and a noted killer of tigers amongst other things, I understand.
My only croc-hunting experience (an observer) saw a 375 X-bullet break its petals on an average sized croc's shoulder shot.
08 April 2011, 13:26
buckeyeshooterI would use the barnes as I shoot sierras for whitetail and know that they are very soft and expand violently. I do not know how hard a crocs braincase is--- but I know the Barnes will get through it.
08 April 2011, 18:14
BwannaShot mine with .375 and TSX. Brained and the mount is fine. I would probably, for many reasons, consider something larger than .270.
08 April 2011, 21:11
Frostbit.375 with Barnes 300 gr.TSX here. Stayed together with all petals. I avoided the brain and shot behind the smile. I wasn't sure if I wanted the whole croc or just the skull at the time of shooting.
08 April 2011, 21:33
D. NelsonI've only taken 2. Both with .375 .300gr TTBC as that is what I had in my hands when I was hunting. Neither croc moved a muscle.
08 April 2011, 22:02
Frostbitquote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
I've only taken 2. Both with .375 .300gr TTBC as that is what I had in my hands when I was hunting. Neither croc moved a muscle.
Great picture!!
09 April 2011, 03:11
D. NelsonThanks, Jim...it was amazing that big croc, lived in that little swamp!
Regards, D. Nelson
09 April 2011, 03:40
Frostbitquote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Thanks, Jim...it was amazing that big croc, lived in that little swamp!
Regards, D. Nelson
Pretty scary when you think about it.
09 April 2011, 04:29
MARK H. YOUNGtalentrec,
The Sierra is pretty frangible and I feel a very poor choice for crocodile. A croc's skin is very tough and if the only shot offered was behind the smile I think you'd get a surface wound only. I'm also afraid that the brain shot with the Sierra might be fatal but would make a huge mess of the head. By your own admission the TSX in your rifle is not particularly accurate so it may be out because of that.
Personally I'd go with a larger caliber with a super premium bullet and I might have some solids too in the case I was offered a brain shot.
Mark
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https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 09 April 2011, 14:52
fairgameNever seen a .270 used on a croc but suspect it might be a bit light? Would be interesting to here some PH comments here.
You have two shot options - one is brain and you have to drive the bullet in a straight line through 3 or 4 inches of bony palette. The other is neck and that would be about foot of solid muscle and enough power to smash the spinal cord.
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09 April 2011, 18:07
retreeverSpeaking with experience a TSX will crush him. My 16footer electric impulses did not exist after the shot. 375 300gr. TSX
Mike
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09 April 2011, 21:11
Scriptusquote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
I've only taken 2. Both with .375 .300gr TTBC as that is what I had in my hands when I was hunting. Neither croc moved a muscle.
Great photo, but what else was in that puddle behind you?
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09 April 2011, 21:31
fairgamequote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
I've only taken 2. Both with .375 .300gr TTBC as that is what I had in my hands when I was hunting. Neither croc moved a muscle.
Just out of interested where was the shot? Looks like middle neck and between the shoulders?
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11 April 2011, 17:24
Rich ElliottIf I was using a .270 Win. I would use 150 Nosler Partitions. This is, as long as the rifle shot them. well. They've been more accurate in my .270 rifles than the 130's and I think a bit more mass might be in order as well.
Rich Elliott
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12 April 2011, 01:39
Bwana MojaI would not use either of those loads ever on a croc.
12 April 2011, 03:47
D. Nelsonquote:
Originally posted by fairgame:
Just out of interested where was the shot? Looks like middle neck and between the shoulders?[/QUOTE]
You are right. When we first spotted the croc, he was facing away from the puddle on the sand. My hide was across the puddle, amongst the trees. My PH (Craigh Hammond) told me to shoot him in the spine, behind the head. By the time I got into position, the croc was ready to slip back into the puddle. His head was not visiable to me at all because of the tall grass. So...I shot him where you see the pink splat. Although he didn't even twitch, I shot him a couple more times to be sure.
Best regards, D. Nelson
12 April 2011, 03:52
D. Nelsonquote:
Originally posted by Scriptus:
quote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
I've only taken 2. Both with .375 .300gr TTBC as that is what I had in my hands when I was hunting. Neither croc moved a muscle.
Great photo, but what else was in that puddle behind you?
I don't know, but as you can see he was very healthy and the PH aged him as a very, very old croc...so there were enough of something to keep him there. (I was hunting Coutada 11 in Mozambique)
We actually never saw him until I shot him, but we had seen his prehistoric tracks on the little stretch of sand.
Best regards, D. Nelson
13 April 2011, 02:10
Tom In TennesseeMine half switched his tail after 7mmMag Hornady 160 gr SP in the brain...quartering away a little....just under 14-ft....80 yd or so shot
Well, here I might catch some flack,
But, I have had a fair amount of Crocs hunted in the last couple of years, and I personally would not advise anything smaller than 300, and with 200 gr Swifts as a last pointer.
A heckuva lot of our crocs was shot with 338 and 375, and clients went home with their trophies, some used smaller and we lost them, or fished them out a weel later all rotten
But it is your money, use what you think is best.
One question, does anyone ever think of what they are sitting down next to , with that croc next to the water ?????
A piece of advice, a BIG CROC IS NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING, he will take you sitting there happily next to his buddy, at any time he wants too, watch your water out there.
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13 April 2011, 04:20
L. David KeithWhatever you use, you need penetration by a well constructed bullet, not a rapid expanding model. The spine will give you a lot more target area than the brain, but you must penetrate hide and muscle. With a good, tough bullet, and the right angle, your .270 should have no problems killing even a very large Croc. The problem could be, angle and your shot placement. Large calibers won't make up for bad shots, but the shock factor oft times will give you that second shot if you react quickly enough. If you have no choice, it's your trophy fee so make sure of your shot and bullet choice. I like several good bullets, Nosler Accubond is one I'd recommend in 150 grain.
Good hunting...dinosaurs are fun to kill
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13 April 2011, 22:38
talentrecThanks for the info everyone. It sounds like harder, not softer bullets are the recommendation for crocs. I actually would have thought the opposite, as from looking at them it doesn't seem to me that any shot angle is going to need more than a foot of penetration. I'm glad I asked! I just picked up some 150 grain A-Frames, which hopefully will shoot better than the TTSX's did.
Pete
14 April 2011, 01:34
D. Nelsonquote:
One question, does anyone ever think of what they are sitting down next to , with that croc next to the water ?????
A piece of advice, a BIG CROC IS NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING, he will take you sitting there happily next to his buddy, at any time he wants too, watch your water out there.
I was very concerned about this exact subject and you can believe I kept very alert and had others standing by at watch, rifles at hand.
Regards, D. Nelson
15 April 2011, 04:20
Tom In TennesseeI presume most read the article in AHG on same subject...2 or 3 issues ago....I don't agree but it was a good article nonetheless.
15 April 2011, 10:13
fairgamequote:
Originally posted by D. Nelson:
quote:
One question, does anyone ever think of what they are sitting down next to , with that croc next to the water ?????
A piece of advice, a BIG CROC IS NOT SCARED OF ANYTHING, he will take you sitting there happily next to his buddy, at any time he wants too, watch your water out there.
I was very concerned about this exact subject and you can believe I kept very alert and had others standing by at watch, rifles at hand.
Regards, D. Nelson
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