Winchester M70 Alaskan, or M70 Safari Express for Crocodile Hunting.

[Bob Reed]

Well said, WyoBull,

Plus, the average shooter can't get good, consistent hits (like required for Crocs) under normal range conditions. And I'm NOT calling anyone here an average shooter, I'm just relaying what I see at shooting ranges.

 

[Green Chile]

You are correct in that accuracy is very important with Crocodile. 100 yards on a Croc is a long shot, mine was 65. With a brain shot, hitting a golf ball size target when your adrenaline is going and nerves are on high is not a slam dunk and many have lost them due to missing the brain.
Even a spine shot, behind the smile is not a guarantee as if you don't sever the spine and just shock them, they can still easily get into the water and disappear. That is why, even if you take out their spine, you want to put a bullet right behind their front shoulder and through the lungs. This way, if you did miss the spine, they will not be able to stay under water very long if you put one through their lungs making recovery easier.

This post is such an important point...if you sit there and admire your shot, even briefly, you might have a lot of heartache afterwards. Your PH will probably tell you to shoot again but does he need to do that or will you quickly get back on target and hit it again? PHs tell me that Americans admire their shot too often and don't shoot again without being prompted. If that animal seems to be mobile or still standing, I hit it again without prompting. Usually the 2nd shot is breaking as the PH is saying to send it. I'm not reacting to the PH...I'm reacting to the animal.

When I shot the croc 2 years ago, it hit his neck and he rocked onto his side. By the time he came back down level, I was shooting into the neck again. Two bullets in the vitals are better than one, especially when a croc is right there at the water. One push, one tail swipe and he is in the water and gone. So I hit him 2x and then put one in the lungs...then we ran up and he was still blinking (crazy lizard brain) and I put a 4th shot in his vitals. Bullets are cheap and this is expensive DG. Pay the insurance and hit it again.