Thread: What rifle calibre do you shoot a whale with?

I see DOC has put down the Humpback Whale up on the Westcoast. What calibre do they use? An old .303 with military FMJ would do the job I suppose.

@40mm

This was being discussed at the smoko table yesterday, the propersition was put forth they used a bloody big needle and a drum pump on a 44gallon of some chemical to put it to sleep

Actually I doubt it, the whales brain is very small compared to the head size and shooting it is actually asking for trouble in terms of humane killing. If I had to use a rifle I would want as big a calibre as possible to ensure maximum temporary cavity.
Explosives is the preferred method of instantaneous euthanasia with whales.

From the TV news report, sounds like they just shot it. " ..heard several gunshots.."

An old boy used to get this job back in the day. He was a Napier resident.
He used a .303 with solids for the big ones and a steel lance for the smaller ones.

I was at a whale rescue here on Stewart Island years ago.
About 20 to 30 pilot whales had stranded or were trying to.

At the end of the day one of the DOC team had to shoot a few that were beyond hope.

On the last one as the chap pulled the trigger [.303] a small wave rolled up and over the whale and obviously filled part of the barrel just as the shot went off.

The rifle barrel split like a banana peel and said chap looked rather red in the face.

I heard they used a borrowed 416 of some description

45/70

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Originally Posted by BRADS

45/70

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There really is no other viable option

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My mate does it for doc. Uses a short barreled 14.5x114, same Calibre they shoot tanks with in WW2.

His 50 BMG wasn't getting it done.

Apparently whale skulls are really thick.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

This was being discussed at the smoko table yesterday, the propersition was put forth they used a bloody big needle and a drum pump on a 44gallon of some chemical to put it to sleep

Naaa. They do a blood test and take their sweet time looking fora vein. That will sort it.....

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

My mate does it for doc. Uses a short barreled 14.5x114, same Calibre they shoot tanks with in WW2.

His 50 BMG wasn't getting it done.

Apparently whale skulls are really thick.

That sounds like the business!

The 14.5x114 was what I heard off, as I have a mate who is one of the lucky few to own one as well and I believe he knows the Whale culler.

I know you light a fire in them if they swallow you and you want out!

Originally Posted by Maca49

I know you light a fire in them if they swallow you and you want out!

Just take some dry firewood with ya

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