COL Jagdog
Member
You won't be left out of the fun for long -- with this being the warmest spring on record in the US, global warming and all,
you should have some migrant species up there by late July.
The Best Python/ Nile Monitor Handgun?
- Thread starter Texas Star
- Start date
You won't be left out of the fun for long -- with this being the warmest spring on record in the US, global warming and all,
you should have some migrant species up there by late July.
ACP230
Member
Lee E. Echols used a Colt Python to kill a 34 foot anaconda.
So I guess it would work on a monitor or a python too.
He shot it in the brain pan.
The story is told in Echols' book, "Hilarious High Jinks & Dangerous
Assignments."
I figure I'd have to use whatever gun I had on me at the time, so
most likely a 649 or M38.
So I guess it would work on a monitor or a python too.
He shot it in the brain pan.
The story is told in Echols' book, "Hilarious High Jinks & Dangerous
Assignments."
I figure I'd have to use whatever gun I had on me at the time, so
most likely a 649 or M38.
mc5aw
Member
I'd use the opposite ends of the spectrum ... a 629 and a 17, both with 8-3/8" barrels. The lengthy barrels make each extremely accurate, and I'd have different rounds to choose from depending on the circumstances. A HP .44 Mag or Special would sufficiently dispatch either critter, as would a well placed shot or two from the 17.
Personally speaking, I'm not too eager to test out either my 629 or 17 on those of the large reptile persuasion.
Personally speaking, I'm not too eager to test out either my 629 or 17 on those of the large reptile persuasion.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Here ya go. Shoot this sucker with a 22. This is staged so it's not like you are in a airboat in the swamp. Get a good head shot.
Plus as a added feature you get to watch Brook Burke in the ad
Python eats Alligator 02, Time Lapse Speed x6 - YouTube
THIS IS JUST AMAZING1 WATCH THIS VIDEO! YOU WON"T BELIEVE THIS UNTIL YOU SEE IT!
Thanks for the post. But the commercials rotate, so I didn't get to see Brooke Burke, just some less pretty gal in an Olay ad. Pity: but the alligator being swallowed made up for the lack of Brooke. Sort of...
I do know who she is, not to be confused with Brooke Burns, formerly on, "Baywatch Hawaii."
As for the claim in another post that Lee Echols shot a 34-foot Anaconda, that must be just about a record. But I saw something about a record Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) being found in Indonesia (?) and the snake was about 50 feet long. I'd want to see some documentation on that one. Anything over about 35 feet raises my eyebrows a little.
BTW, the Ret. Python is a known man-eater, human bodies having been discovered when some were cut open.
Sebago Son
Member
Don't worry too much about the Pythons ... the Fireants will eat them. Now if you could just get the African Killer Bees to take out those pesky man-eating Monitors you'd be all set!
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Actually, those killer bees share the range of the monitor in Africa, and they seem to co-exist peacefully. I guess the lizards don't go after honey or bee larvae, and they do have thick, scaled skins. The Honey Badger does raid beehives, of course. It's sort of the local version of a Wolverine.
Just so that we all know what we're talkinng about here, this is a Wiki link to info on the Nile Monitor. As you can see when you scroll down, the range extends across most of Africa, not just along the Nile.
Nile monitor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some individuals have a more greenish coloration in lieu of the more brown cast seen here. Some of the markings look more lacelike than on this one.
This is an aggressive species, NOT well suited to being kept as a pet. They do not normally attack people, but if they feel cornered, or a kid is present when one is hungry, watch out! The related, larger Komodo Dragon monitor is a known man-eater, though, and may pursue men to eat them. I also would not put it past the Crocodile Monitor of New Guinea to eat men.
If you are bitten by a monitor, see a doctor. The mucous in the mouth contains nasty bacteria likely to cause serious infection. I wouldn't be surprised if the claws might might also infect. Before penicillin, injuries like those and from big cats often caused deaths, even when the actual mauling might have been survived. Rotting meat remnants on the teeth and claws causes the infections, in addition to other pathogens in the saliva. But the lizards are not venomous.
There are only two venomous lizards known, both in Mexico and the SW USA. These are Gila Monster and the related Mexican Beaded Lizard. Our AZ members probably know to avoid them. I think they be legally protected, too.
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nicky4968
Member
After reading all this, I'm afraid to walk out the door. All we have are black bears, coyotes, and rattlesnakes, as far as stuff that's very dangerous. If there are wolverines left in Colorado, I'm unaware of it. We do have a great number of feral dogs in places.
Other than the bear, a .22 or .38 will suffice for all we have here.
Other than the bear, a .22 or .38 will suffice for all we have here.
OP
Texas Star
US Veteran
Nicky-
Bear in mind that it is not USUAL for monitor lizards or pythons to attack humans, other than perhaps small children. They definitely will attack and consume most pets, though. BTW, you left cougars off of your Colorado list of dangerous animals.
Men live alongside these animals in their native range, and hostile encounters are relatively rare. Unless you get between a Nile monitor and its route of escape or one is just in a nasty mood, you probably won't be attacked. I guess it goes wthout saying that it is foolish to try to catch one!
Should one get into a home, I would say that is a dangerous situation.
Africa also hosts the Savannah Monitor. Some of you may have seen the late Steve Irwin catch one on a trip to Kenya, where he did some exceptionally fooish things, like chasing a cobra and a green mamba in a tree!! As far as I know, the Savannah Monitor does not breed in the USA , although some idiot pet owner may occasionally release one here.
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You won't be left out of the fun for long -- with this being the warmest spring on record in the US, global warming and all,
you should have some migrant species up there by late July.
I've already seen some shifty looking species walking around the area...
FWIW, my Dad killed a large snake just after the War in the front yard of his then new home. Must have been someones pet Python or whatever snake they let go. It was stretched out (probably sunning itself I imagine) along side the block foundation of the house and scared the hell out of my Mother.
Pop's beat him to death with a garden hoe. Laid him out on the sidewalk to measure it. 3ft slabs,,didn't quite make it the full length of 3 slabs. So probably 8ft+.
I don't remember it at all. I asked him what he did with the snake. He said he chopped it up and threw it in the trash.
He don't like snakes either.
COL Jagdog
Member
We have a few "beaded lizards" down here -- mostly they hang out in the bars in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, wearing Mardi Gras beads - thye probably carry disease also.
Not to be confused with cougars wearing beads -- we have quite a few of those also -- they seem to be extending their range and are off the endangered list.
Doug M.
Member
Well I know you wanted to keep it to handguns BUT
For the snakes in the Glades you can not use a firearm to kill them anyway.
Why not? I was of the impression that they are considered a pest or nuisance species and could be killed on sight. (Vague recollection from a TV show on Discovery or some such channel about people letting the darned things go...)
Florida is ridiculous about some things. I applied for a license but was denied, you need "snake experience" qualification. When you find a python, you have to record the gps coordinates, club to kill it, (non firing weapon), cut open the stomach to identify the snakes diet, and take photos.
You cannot shoot alligators when hunting them at night only. Crazy!
You cannot shoot alligators when hunting them at night only. Crazy!
