Paging Senor Higgins....
 

You're da hombre when it comes to ballistics....got a question for ya. I've been taking out some of the big azz snapping turtles that populate two of my ponds....three so far, but them suckers are big and tuff. First was with my Ruger 9mm....four quick shots...no good :(. Then the other day, I used my Marlin .357 with 158 gr JHP on two more....same, took four shots on each....head shot (not visible initially) finished them off. So I'm gonna load up with 158 gr JSPs. At the distance, and angle on the last two, I could use my M629 8 3/8 bbl with either magnum JHP or JSP, or .44 SP with JSP. But long term need to use a rifle or shotgun imo...I'm leaning towards 12 ga slugs....don't think 00 is wise due to shooting them in water at say 20-30 yds....some would likely "skip". Whaddaya think...suggestions? I also have thutty-thutty to pick from...doesn't seem appripriate imo. These suckers are big, and I can shoot....rifle or pistol...I'm not gonna miss a 2' target :). Thanks!

This.

That said, 22 pistol, some thn cord, and a big bobber wtih some weight on it, perhaps even a piece of chicken leg tied right below it.

Turtles are super curios. Something new floating on the pond will get them headed to it, t he chicken leg will keep them there. You should be able to keep pulling in the balloon/bobber/float w/ the chicken, and they should follow it up pretty close.

Then headshots with a 22.

The hollow points and soft points are likely the problem. They are probably not penetrating sufficiently. Try some of the truncated cone style, flat point, FMJ kind of stuff on them. Many companies sell them as "silhouette" loads.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1493990828.jpg

are them eating turtles?

When I was a kid, some other kids caught a large snapping turtle on their fishing line. They cut the line and tied it to a tree, leaving the turtle there to suffer. Obviously, we weren't going to try removing the hook and setting it free. My dad dispatched it with his Combat Commander. Pretty sure they were homemade soft-nose JHPs.

The Tortuga de Ajuste here in Maryland are some bad hombres.

They are not to be f'd with: They'll rip your lungs out, Jim.

wereturtles?

Targets are easier to kill.

Worse:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1493998520.jpg
Snapping Turtles

Snapping turtles will live in either fresh or brackish bodies of water. These turtles will eat almost anything. If a backyard pond is large enough, then they will inhabit it. Snapping turtles can be very large, measuring two to three feet in diameter. To eat, they hide until a bird, fish or small animal goes by.

Powerful jaws make snapping turtles very efficient predators. They are bad tempered and can deliver a serious bite, so it is best to keep your distance from any snapping turtles that may make their way into your backyard.

Snapping turtles have extremely flexible, long necks that can reach most parts of their bodies, so don’t pick one up. Snapping turtles can be found throughout Maryland.

I made the mistake when we first moved here of trying to pick one up, thinking "Box Turtle" - the tail got me before Turtlenator II was able to reach his jaws around and sever a finger.

Huge 'tude as well.

Call the TurtleMan. He'll take care of them. Live action!!!

The Turtle Man:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1494005416.jpg

That's one big ugly turtle. The small green guy with one eye down in front isn't much to look at either.

This x2

Is it because...
"Once I was swimming cross turtle creek, boy those snappers were all around my feet".

And this.
Hollow points are meant to expand into soft tissue to do maximum damage. I'd say your bullets are hitting that hard shell and expanding and possibly not even penetrating. You need high velocity with Jeff's recommendation's for bullet style, if you NEED to off them.

Sounds a job for a .30-06 to me.

TNT - or MOAB !

Thanks guys....to be clear, this NEEDS to be done, due to over population, since their only predator (humans) have been slack the past couple of decades...don't want to....but gotta :(. The biggest snapper I've seen a few times is literally 5' long head to tail, and there are just WAY too many in the 2'+ range. Lots of yellow sliders too....I trap them and relocate them (3 today....one was 10"). The first snapper I dispatched with my 9 mm FMJ...4 rounds however...no bueno :(. I passed up shots today with the Marlin .357 JSP....will get different ammo first....if that doesn't suffice, I'll rethink this. I'm a "live and let live" guy....lots of assorted wildlife on my rural property, but predators are a different matter....some of y'all won't understand, and I won't try :)

1/2 stick of dynamite. Concussion should dispatch them and it looks/sounds like fun...

You can't pop them in the head with high-powered ammo and a scope?

If you're willing to trap them, you could probably sell them on craigslist.

...so he loaded up the truck, and he moved to Beverly....Hills that is...
Swimmimg pools, movie stars :)