Rocky--

I agree with you and others re: preferring a shotgun "if" I had to defend against a gator (note: not a "Gator," which might be a member of a certain football team).

Problem is that unless you are deliberately going into the gator's environment or maybe have one come to you home, most of the time folks wouldn't have the shotgun available. A pistol--maybe.

Larry

From the NRA Annual Meeting:
Jacob Landry from History Channel's "Swamp People", along with his dad, Troy, and his brother, Chase, were visiting with fans of the show at the CCI ammo booth.
Nearly all the gator hunters on "Swamp People" use rimfires to dispatch the toothy reptiles.
But according to Troy, the .22 Mag. is the best gator "headache medicine" a swamper can get.
"It's the perfect gun," he said. "It's strong enough, but it's not overkill. The bullet stays in the gator and doesn't pass thru to my boat."
"Plus," added Jacob, "with as many gators as we shoot, it's affordable."
The Landrys like the CCI Maxi Mag 40-grain JHP load for their gator work. (CCI has a Troy Landry Signature Series line that includes this load.)
Alongside the boat at ranges measured in feet, the load's 300-plus foot-pounds of energy anchors alligators immediately with a shot to the brain or the spine just behind it.
"When you're shooting a big animal, 600 or 700 pounds, with CCI it's one shot," said Troy. "I need that quick kill. My safety depends on the bullet I shoot."

Okay, Note to Self: Skip hunting with the Landrys!

"The bullet stays in the gator and doesn't pass thru to my boat."

I keep telling those boys to stop shooting those gators in the boat

Reminds me of a tale where a guide was poling his client through a swamp down in FL on a duck hunt.
A large snake dropped out of a tree into the canoe. The hunter turned around and shot the snake with his shotgun!!

Yeah,the bottom of the canoe was toast.

Wayne

Wayne,

Years ago we kept a 12 gauge bang stick on the boat when shark fishing. You don't want to be 40 miles offshore with a hole in your boat.

I would imagine that 40 miles is a pretty long distance to swim especially if there are sharks in the water!!!

I see that they still sell bang sticks. From the looks of it,I a surprised that they are not considered firearms by the ATF.

Wayne

Good point Wayne.

BTTT

Monster' alligator captured in Florida garage

https://search.app.goo.gl/SPxC

Typical media hype, not even close to being a "monster" size gator .....

Lol "Fake News" Mike.