| Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 06:18 PM |
|
1st Post |
Irish Mike
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Now this question if for our resident PRO-Hunter or PH if you like, I have always wondered what the best caliber is when going after a big Crock?
I have watched a few of those video's but nobody ever takes the time to give the discription of the rifle or caliber used ok. So I am asking PHIL to please shed some light on this topic. I do plan on taking a crock next year if all goes well etc. 
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 08:13 PM |
|
2nd Post |
klallen
Board Founder
| Joined: | Thu Feb 10th, 2005 |
| Location: | Great Falls, Montana USA |
| Posts: | 1189 |
| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | I load everything! | | My favorite chambering is:: | Warbirdz Rule |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
i to am interested to hear what PHIL has to say about crocodile hunting. it look's at least marginally interesting. video's i've seen have involved head shots and rifles of the smallish caliber class. we'll see how this lines up with tanzania hunting.
____________________
A Big Mouth Don't Make A Big Man !!!
THE DUKE
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 31st, 2009 09:03 PM |
|
3rd Post |
PhilLozano
Board Founder
| Joined: | Mon May 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Posts: | 382 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | big bore dangerous game | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Croc's are not listed as DG, so you can use your plains game rifle if you so choose.
Personally, I would suggest something that is very accurate and I would say .30 cal or larger. My choice would be an accurate 338, with a good bonded bullet.
You must break their neck or brain them. I prefer the brain shot (but either shot will work). However, (and this is where the accuract comes in) the brain of a really big Croc is quite a bit smaller than a golf ball.
Big Crocs are very smart and very wary (in the wild). Many times we could not get closer than 150 yards.
Make sure you can make either shot, or don't shoot. If you miss the brain or fail to break his neck, he is in the water and gone for good, and the trophy fee is not cheap.
Once I had a client that was having some problems shooting, so I thought, Hey ! It has to breath ! So . . . . . . . . . . blow his lungs out. He can't stay under if he can't hold his breath.
Well, that turned out to be a huge pain. He shot for the lungs, and the Croc beat it for the water. I thouight . . . . . . oh crap ! Now what am I going to do ?
About 45 seconds later, the Croc came out of the river like a cruise missile ! It hit the ground and took off running. We followed it for about 2 - 2 1/2 miles, it had gone in and out of the water. More importantly, we finally found it dead, but we wasted almost a whole day following up this Croc, rather than hunting.
Pick your shot. Don't be pushed into shooting by the P.H. saying, "shoot, shoot," or "you better shoot now, he is getting nervious". Take your time and pick your shot. It's your safari, not the P.H.'s.
Take your time and have a great hunt !
____________________
Best,
Phil
Stay out of sight and downwind
Professional Hunter / Tanzania
http://www.go-on-safari.com
http://www.go-on-safari.com/talk
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 1st, 2009 12:41 AM |
|
4th Post |
Irish Mike
Guest
| Joined: | |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Phil thank you very much for your discriptive analysis of what to use in regards to a rifle hunting big crocks. 
I really didn't realize that crocks were not considered dangerous game.
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 2nd, 2009 03:45 AM |
|
5th Post |
PhilLozano
Board Founder
| Joined: | Mon May 23rd, 2005 |
| Location: | Arusha, Tanzania |
| Posts: | 382 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | big bore dangerous game | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
| Status: |
Offline
|
back to top
|
Irish Mike wrote: Phil thank you very much for your discriptive analysis of what to use in regards to a rifle hunting big crocks.
I really didn't realize that crocks were not considered dangerous game.
Hunting/Shooting dangerous Game and hunting/shooting game that is dangerous is 2 different things.
In my opinion, a Croc is the most difficult animal to kill with 1 shot.
There are critters that are 'tougher' but as I said, the Croc is the most difficult to kill with one bullet.
____________________
Best,
Phil
Stay out of sight and downwind
Professional Hunter / Tanzania
http://www.go-on-safari.com
http://www.go-on-safari.com/talk
|
|
