sccritterkiller 473 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 I am hoping that this year I will have enough preference points to draw a tag. In SC you have to have a line on the gator before your can dispatch. No long guns allowed on the boat. I took one of my old Matthews and put a Muzzy big game bow fishing rig on it. That should get to the boat. I am thinking of using my PMR-30 or m&p22 with a Boga grip float attached in case it goes over. My only concern with a round that small is ricochet off the skull. I have the standard pistol calibers too but I plan on getting some taxidermy work done so I don't want to use the 44 mag. Never hunted gators before. Anybody have any experience/suggestions? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dashowdy 141 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 they use 17 hmr usually in La, just aim straight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dubya 198 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 (edited) Trade that PMR-30 in for the real deal.... FN FiveseveN with some 28gr EA T6 rounds Edited May 24, 2013 by dubya Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobRez 1,895 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Can ya beat'em with a Bat? That could be exciting!! I imagine you want the skin, and as little damage/holes as possible......I don't think Gators have notoriously thick skulls, so a .22 may just be perfect. Note: I ain't never got me no Gators though......ate em, just not killed 'em. Sounds great, and good luck! Bring some meat to the Saiga12.com picnic!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 .22 that's was they use on swamp people and they all kill hundreds a season I'd think they know what they are doing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sccritterkiller 473 Posted May 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 .22 that's was they use on swamp people and they all kill hundreds a season I'd think they know what they are doing. I have watched the the show..they also use long guns...trying to avoid the diggin lead out my face with a kitchen knife. LOL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
magsite20 1,664 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 22 magnum should work but I'd get a fairly cheap one like a Heritage Rough Rider 22LR/22M Combo Revolver in case it got dropped. If I lost a $150.00 gun I'd be saying damn. If I lost a $300.00+ gun I'd be saying DAMN / DAMN / DAMN.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
termite 463 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 (edited) Get a 22mag and run some rounds thru a chrono to see what they are doing, or maybe just use a regular 22 pistol with some stingers in it. OH, I forgot.................Choot'em Killer, Choot'em Edited May 24, 2013 by termite 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battosaii 99 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 you dont need to get a cheapy gun all you need to do is add a lanyard with a brightly colored flotation device so if it is dropped you can recover it if your still alive 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Yea I was going to say aware some classes and use the pmr-30. Tie a piece of paracord around it an tie the other end to you. Glasses Quote Link to post Share on other sites
csspecs 1,987 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Gators are notoriously hard to kill, like most reptiles. Most around here use a bang stick with a shotgun shell, but that does not help the skin. Just be aware that they stun easy but wake back up sometime later.. I've heard it gets very exciting in the boat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric Pate 478 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 +1 Reptiles don't die the same way mammals do. Takes a lot longer and their nervous system can remain semi-active for a short period even when they really are dead. You've all heard the stories about how a severed snake head can still bite you... there ya go. Good luck, and be careful! Hope ya get a big one! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 The kill spot on a gator is about the size of a quarter, and having one on a line while its fighting back is a tuff shot with a pistol. Just means you have to get that much closer. A 5.7 would be sweet, but may be a tad overkill, as most folks in that part of the country seem to use .22 lr, mag and 17 HMR, but that is out of a rifle, so a 5.7 pistol may be a good choice, as a .22 pistol may or may not produce enough juice to offer a clean kill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 24, 2013 Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 Everything I know I learned on swamp people, and they have showed everthing from .30-30 to pop a gator at range to the .22 mag revolver Liz used once. But the vast of hunters on there use .22 long rifle rifle that looks like it lives on the boat no less. So I would use what people that kill 200-300 a year use. In fact I would use my browning take down .22 since it has been handed down through 3 men named samuel and will be given to my Samuel. That would be cool in my option. 3 generations have learned on that rifle and it's never broke anything. I'd bet over 100k have been shot through it and it still shoot 1" at 50 yards. And a fourth generation will learn on it. I think I've been the only person to detail strip the bolt it had a 1/2" of carbon in some places. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sccritterkiller 473 Posted May 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2013 you dont need to get a cheapy gun all you need to do is add a lanyard with a brightly colored flotation device so if it is dropped you can recover it if your still alive The kill spot on a gator is about the size of a quarter, and having one on a line while its fighting back is a tuff shot with a pistol. Just means you have to get that much closer. A 5.7 would be sweet, but may be a tad overkill, as most folks in that part of the country seem to use .22 lr, mag and 17 HMR, but that is out of a rifle, so a 5.7 pistol may be a good choice, as a .22 pistol may or may not produce enough juice to offer a clean kill. PMR 30 weighs like 2 lbs loaded and I already have a Boga grip float I am almost sure that it will keep it a float...I am going to test in bucket this weekend..plus you have 30 rds so plenty of repeat chances to hit the quarter size spot...just my thinking. Just watching those boys on swamp people dig ricochets out of each other makes me a little nervousness. I sure that thing will be going ape shit at the side of the boat, arrows and lines going everywhere all in the dark.... I can't wait! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Voltia 375 Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 When you test it, put it in a ziploc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bvamp 604 Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 them there big lizards have hard heads. unless you want to simulate the TV folks, and maybe get your ass bit, use a 2/12" .410, and blast em. those folks do that every year for a living, dont be an idiot, go for overkill, and nail em dead.ir aint worth losing a hand over.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sdustin 578 Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 Ben makes sense however if you doing want to mess up the skin I would maybe test some .410 loads. I'm thinking a slug would do less damage than buckshot? I do t have much exp with the .410 but I think one hole is less damaging than a bunch of smaller holes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Predator 2,294 Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 My friend here in FL uses a crossbow with a fishing rig on it, then a 12 gauge bang stick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Juggernaut 11,054 Posted May 25, 2013 Report Share Posted May 25, 2013 how about somthin' like this? 38 special/357 mag it's a pistol, so no issue about long guns in the boat.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benelli 54 Posted May 26, 2013 Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 9mm Makarov with CorBon powrball and once in the boat, secure with stratgically placed duct tape. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yakdung 2,926 Posted May 26, 2013 Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 Must hit the quarter size sweet spot. .22 is the calibre of choice. If you want to talk to an expert and a really nice guy, call Lloyd at Zam's and ask him what he uses. He may even let you talk to son ZZ. http://www.louisianasportsman.com/printer_friendly.php?id=3143 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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