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Shooting Turtle Under Water Question
nunn
Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
I have, or had, a large snapping turtle in my pond. I don't mind the sliders, but I don't want a snapper in there eating the fish I have stocked. Snappers are hard to spot because they don't bask, but remain under water most of the time. I have seen the turtle a few times in shallow water when the light was right, but had no means to kill it.
A couple weeks ago, I was fishing with niece Caitlin on the pond bank, and she saw the snapper and called my attention to it. The water was murky, but I could make out its head, and it seemed to be checking out Caitlin's bobber as a possible food source.
We had driven to the pond in my truck so as to haul fishing gear more easily, and the only gun I had in the truck was an AR. I snatched it up, charged it, and fired three rounds at where I figured the turtle's shell would be.
We never did find a carcass after the silt stirred up by the bullets settled out, so I don't know for sure if I hit it. The rounds were Winchester SXT high tech, super expansion. Nickel cases, black bullets, look mean. Afterward, I wondered whether these bullets may have hyper-expanded or fragmented on contact with the water and never reached the turtle. I wonder if I should have dropped the mag out and replaced it with one loaded with FMJ rounds. The bullet would have had to pass through about 10-12 inches of water and still retain enough energy to crack a turtle shell.
This turtle was very close to the bank where we sat, so I was wondering: Had I poked the muzzle of my AR into the water, nearly touching the turtle, and fired it, would my barrel have suffered damage?
Another question: Of the below listed guns/rounds, which would you choose to shoot through shallow water and kill a turtle?
AR-15 style rifle, soft point or FMJ.
.40 caliber pistol, 180 grain JHP.
.45 caliber pistol, 230 grain FMJ.
12 gauge shotgun, 18" barrel, 00 Buckshot.
Your thoughts?
A couple weeks ago, I was fishing with niece Caitlin on the pond bank, and she saw the snapper and called my attention to it. The water was murky, but I could make out its head, and it seemed to be checking out Caitlin's bobber as a possible food source.
We had driven to the pond in my truck so as to haul fishing gear more easily, and the only gun I had in the truck was an AR. I snatched it up, charged it, and fired three rounds at where I figured the turtle's shell would be.
We never did find a carcass after the silt stirred up by the bullets settled out, so I don't know for sure if I hit it. The rounds were Winchester SXT high tech, super expansion. Nickel cases, black bullets, look mean. Afterward, I wondered whether these bullets may have hyper-expanded or fragmented on contact with the water and never reached the turtle. I wonder if I should have dropped the mag out and replaced it with one loaded with FMJ rounds. The bullet would have had to pass through about 10-12 inches of water and still retain enough energy to crack a turtle shell.
This turtle was very close to the bank where we sat, so I was wondering: Had I poked the muzzle of my AR into the water, nearly touching the turtle, and fired it, would my barrel have suffered damage?
Another question: Of the below listed guns/rounds, which would you choose to shoot through shallow water and kill a turtle?
AR-15 style rifle, soft point or FMJ.
.40 caliber pistol, 180 grain JHP.
.45 caliber pistol, 230 grain FMJ.
12 gauge shotgun, 18" barrel, 00 Buckshot.
Your thoughts?
Comments
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgununderwater.htm
The FMJ would have probably been the better choice for what you wanted to do.
Never put half of any barrel in the water and fire. Everything out or, believe it or not, everything under the water is fine. The deal is you don't want the projectile coming up against an obstruction in the barrel. A weapon fired underwater will drive a slug about eight to ten feet.
I have killed gar with a 20ga shotgun that were about a foot or so under the water using number fours. A shotgun with buckshot or slugs would be your best bet in my opinion.
As for sticking the barrel under water I don't think I would take that chance.
did see a show were they tested a 45acp under water. they shot it in a swimming pool, it fired and chambered another, they did this a few times. the barrel did bulge at some time. the bullet also had good range to it under the water (10-15 feet),
shooting something under the water is always hard. remember what and were you see something it is in a different spot then were you think it is. if you aimed right at what you saw your bullet should have hit in front of him.
Catch a small bream/bluegill/etc. and put it on the large hook, and put the large bobber right above it - you want the fish just an inch or two into the water.
Turtles are curious - they will come check out the bobber. Mr. Big Turtle will happily chomp the bait fish, at which point you can keep his head out of hte water and dispatch him in a manner of your choosing.
I have in the past shot at fish in the water and even got a few. They had to be very close to the surface and were effected more by hydraulic shock than actually hitting them.
Things I have learned from shooting into water......Even a 30-06 class round runs out of pizazz rapidly in water.
Area suppressive fire at the pond surface with a quad mount 50 should get the sucker.
LMAO [:D]
from mythbusters testing of bullets fired into water
"All supersonic bullets tested (up to .50-caliber) disintegrated in less than 3 feet (90 cm) of water, but slower velocity bullets, like pistol rounds, need up to 8 feet (2.4 metres) of water to slow to non-lethal speeds. Shotgun slugs require even more depth; the exact depth could not be determined because one of their tests broke the rig. However, as most water-bound shots are fired from an angle, less actual depth is needed to create the necessary separation."
I learned this from mythbusters.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
I would go with the 12ga and buck shot. That's your best bet.
I actually saw the article in this month's Fur Fish and Game.
Might work, who knows.
they will wear out and you pull them out and pop'em
Or..how 'bout a crossbow? Joe
I have been there and done that one.
I would chose the 12 gauge shotgun, 18" barrel, 00 Buckshot.
Also, these turtles will miragte this time of the year to find mates. If you have one that hasn't left the pond it is probaly because it has a mate in the pond also. Or, it has been bred, and has a nest waiting to hatch.
Trinity +++
Oh wait, you said the turtle and NOT the fish...
2. Attach a treble hook and bring the hook up in to the hard boiled egg.
3. Stake the steel leader line in the ground with the hard boiled egg near the waters edge.
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
1. Thread a steel leader through a small hard boiled egg.
2. Attach a treble hook and bring the hook up in to the hard boiled egg.
3. Stake the steel leader line in the ground with the hard boiled egg near the waters edge.
You can also use an 1-2" cube of raw beef, or chicken, or fish
the glock 17 can be modified with the marine spring cups to fire underwater. to the best of my knowledge, they dont make the parts for anyother model and they wont guarantee that the model 17 wont blow up.
Don't know if you do any bowhunting, but if you do, try the arrow route on him.
anybody else want to bring up the mythbusters episode? just curious cause we're up to three.the glock 17 can be modified with the marine spring cups to fire underwater. to the best of my knowledge, they dont make the parts for anyother model and they wont guarantee that the model 17 wont blow up.
I'm glad someone is keeping count![:D]
anybody else want to bring up the mythbusters episode? just curious cause we're up to three.
actually it's up to 4 [;)]
me, alpine, mike, and chris
Funny how no matter what angle you shoot, the water splashes back at you.
For a cheap fix get one of those Marlin hooks that's forged and 4X thick/strong (just a big hook alone will be snapped like a pencil). I think Cabellas had some Titanium wire that will be perfect for this task. After landing it I recon "Turtle Soup" is in order.
I don't think any shooting under water is a good idea. I'd rather chuck a few spears or frog gigs than try to pop one off under water. Also if you have some good ol' boys in your neck of the woods they may lend you their "Telephone" for fish.