After a failed attempt for a crocodile in Zambia almost 10 years ago, I’m hunting Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe this summer (hear they have some whoppers) and I want to make sure I do it right this time. I’ve seen any number of diagrams online and in print showing the brain shot placement on croc and they all vary slightly, and some quite a bit. Normally this wouldn’t matter much but given the walnut sized brain of these lizards, two or three inches could miss the brain completely. I’m using a .375, so the shock value is going to allow for some error, but from a confidence standpoint I’d like to have a specific spot in mind and not have these diagrams dancing around in my head. Here are a few I’ve found:



As you can see some show the shot closer to the horns and some (center image) show the shot quite close to the eyes. Also, there is a lot of up and down variation as well, some being level with the eyes and some being quite low, including the photo from “The Perfect Shot” (not shown here). I know angles matter of course, but assuming a perfect broadside shot, what do you recommend? Thanks.

I just got back yesterday from Africa. I got a croc with my .325 WSM XP-100 handgun with 180 gr. X bullets. I got ready for the hunt by shooting golf balls out to 100 yds. with my XP. Was hitting 100% by the time I left. My PH, though, wanted me to do a spine shot. He said the brain shot (your middle photo) would destroy the skull, which makes a nice mount itself.
The spine shot is a little more forgiving.
My croc didn't move at the shot, but I still put a few more in for insurance. That shot should be a hands width (about 4") behind the smile (a little more forward than your 3rd photo).
Here's the lizard and the bullets.

Speaking with experience your rifle must hit a 50cent piece at 100yds or tighter. Your shot must be a known distance for sniping accuracy. You have to know How much your bullet drops from 100 to 120 or 130 yds. As you know first hand a flubbed shot meeans good bye croc.
I shot my monster with an X bullet. Shattered the head. I do believe a flat nose solid is the bullet to use. Will post pics.
Final shot was 118yds. rangefinder verified before shot.

Mike






16 feet wwell over 1000lbs. took all guys in green to pic up

Killing a croc is not that difficult.

In fact, if you look at the 3rd photo Mike posted above, you can see where you should be aiming to hit.

It does not matter from what angle you might be shooting, aim to hit the spot in the middle of the square formed by the croc's eyes and the two sort of horns that stick up behind the eyes.

I have not guided as many crocs as some other PHs here, but I generally tell all my clients to go for the back of the smile.( broadside ) It seems that brain shot crocs seem to wriggle their tails more than spine shot ones, potentially taking them back into the water. This could be bad, depending where they are at the time of the shot. Has anyone else observed this??

I am not sure how many crocs I have shot, but the only one that had ever gone back into the water was one that I had shot slightly low, and hit him in the throat at a about 210 meters.

He went into the water, and probably could not keep the water out of his throat so he surfaced again and I shot him again.

All the rest hit in the brain hardly ever moved.

Neck shot a couple of inches back from the smile which will severe the spine which runs dead centre of the neck. You then have lateral margin of error.

Fill a sack with saw dust or grass and insert a broom stick through the centre. Try breaking the broom stick from different angles. As I said dead centre of the neck from whatever angle.

If your PH prefers the head shot then go for it and he will have his reasons.

This croc was shot with a Wetherby .338/.378

I took the side brain shot on my croc, it hit just a little low but it did the job. Its tail kept slapping back and forth so I put another one in to its spine just behind the smile and all movement stopped.

The brain shot did not do a lot of damage to the skull on the outside but we figured on the inside it did and that's what probably got the brain. I was using a .300wm.

My friend, I've found it best to shoot them when they are running directly away from you - towards the water.

Now, Richard Bell-Cross was thoroughly amazed with the shot of course, but more so that I actually hit the darn croc at all!

Other than that - just shoot em in the head, they won't go anywhere. Wishing you lots of luck man.

quote:

Originally posted by Thierry Labat:
I have not guided as many crocs as some other PHs here, but I generally tell all my clients to go for the back of the smile.( broadside ) It seems that brain shot crocs seem to wriggle their tails more than spine shot ones, potentially taking them back into the water. This could be bad, depending where they are at the time of the shot. Has anyone else observed this??

Terry, I have had the pleasure to experience this wriggling effect! My first shot hit it in the brain a second back up through the shoulder failed to anchor it and the croc wriggled in to the Zambezi. 6 hours later we fished it out of the Zambezi in over 20' of water. I guess I have used up all my luck right there!

Cheers

Arjun

I used and recommend the diagram on the far left. The only croc I have and probably will ever choose to shoot received a 300 grain .375H&H TSX through the brain. The skull was damaged but about 95 percent restored by the taxidermist. Despite the killing shot there was a tail twitch so two more shots were placed into the spine behind the front leg. This was a very interesting hunt, also on Lake Kariba. Have a great hunt.

Thanks guys for the posts, they have been a great help. After seeing some of these grapefruit sizes holes produced from brain shots I'm considering the spine shot instead. That croc above shot with the Weatherby .338/.378 looks like it was hit by an RPG! Then again I'll probably stick with the standard brain shot and hope my taxidermist is also a decent sculpture. I'll decide when he is in the crosshairs.

Aaron, funny you should mention the hunt with Richard Bellcross in Zambia. Thats exactly where I lost my first croc as he went belly-up and sank to the bottom of the Kafue River. Naturally Andrew (Fairgame) was guiding my friend at the same time and they took a nice one. Bad luck for me I guess but I hope to redeem myself this year.

quote:

Originally posted by G L Krause:
Thanks guys for the posts, they have been a great help. After seeing some of these grapefruit sizes holes produced from brain shots I'm considering the spine shot instead. That croc above shot with the Weatherby .338/.378 looks like it was hit by an RPG! Then again I'll probably stick with the standard brain shot and hope my taxidermist is also a decent sculpture. I'll decide when he is in the crosshairs.

Aaron, funny you should mention the hunt with Richard Bellcross in Zambia. Thats exactly where I lost my first croc as he went belly-up and sank to the bottom of the Kafue River. Naturally Andrew (Fairgame) was guiding my friend at the same time and they took a nice one. Bad luck for me I guess but I hope to redeem myself this year.

Dude, don't stress it - you can handle it no problem. Jan told me you were an excellent shot!!!!

quote:

Neck shot a couple of inches back from the smile which will severe the spine which runs dead centre of the neck. You then have lateral margin of error.

Fill a sack with saw dust or grass and insert a broom stick through the centre. Try breaking the broom stick from different angles. As I said dead centre of the neck from whatever angle.

If your PH prefers the head shot then go for it and he will have his reasons.

This croc was shot with a Wetherby .338/.378

quote:

posted May 19, 10:42 PMHide Post
Neck shot a couple of inches back from the smile which will severe the spine which runs dead centre of the neck. You then have lateral margin of error.

Fill a sack with saw dust or grass and insert a broom stick through the centre. Try breaking the broom stick from different angles. As I said dead centre of the neck from whatever angle.

If your PH prefers the head shot then go for it and he will have his reasons.

This croc was shot with a Wetherby .338/.378

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I have a feeling this croc didn't move too far.

spined 2 just behind the smile- neither twitched- absolutely DRT PLUS SKULL INTACT