Thread: Upgrading varmint rig

Originally Posted by Friwi

Talking about recoil ,À few weeks ago I spoke to an old gentleman who used to fish wales with an harpoon gun in the sixties, there was a good reason the gun was bolted to the floor of the boat due the huge recoil produced when fired.
I also heard that there was another gentleman in nz who is or was is charge of finishing beached wales with a 50 cal …. Rumour was that he also had a Russian 14,5mm rifle serving the same purpose.

This is what DoC had made for their staff who euthanase whales.. 14.5 x 115 round (.308 for comparison ). Mind you, back in the 1980s, the Forest Service ranger at South Head (Kaipara Harbour) routinely despatched beached whales with a 6.5 x 55! It's all about bullet placement.