No, crocodiles are not bulletproof. This idea is a myth that comes from the fact that they have tough skin. If they were bulletproof, the army would have used their hides for bullterproof vests.
Crocodiles have thick skin. They also have bony armor, which bullets will still penetrate. This armor prevents the bullet from reaching their internal organs, but there is no guarantee that a shot will not kill the croc.
How thick is crocodile skin?
A crocodile’s hide or skin has varying thickness. One leather company made measurements and concluded that the average thickness is 50 to 69 centimeters. Artisans use crocodile hide to make bags and shoes, but not bulletproof vests.
Although crocodile skin is thick, it is only ideal for bags, not military applications. Bulletproof vests like the Kevlar are thinner than a crocodile’s hide
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Is crocodile skin tough?
Yes, the hide of a crocodile is one of the strongest materials in the world. Consequently, it is one of the most sought-after and in-demand materials to make leather.
Crocodile skin is tough because of its composition. It has tough and horny scales, plus there are bony plates in several areas, mostly the upper and lower parts of the tail.
The horny scales are neatly arranged in rows and have a ridge or keel. There are no bony plates on these scales, and the crocodile is also vulnerable at the neck.
The skin of a crocodile is made of keratin. Keratin is a type of protein that makes up human hair and nails. Animal hooves are also made of keratin.
Because of this tough material, a crocodile’s skin is hard to penetrate but not impossible. Crocodiles rely on this tough armor to protect themselves from prey. It is what makes them formidable, difficult to hurt, and therefore reign as apex predators in their respective habitats.
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Will a knife hurt a crocodile?
Yes, it is possible. However, the motion must be a stabbing action, not a slicing action. Many kinds of knives can penetrate a crocodile’s hide. One, in particular, iswhat Crocodile Dundee used in the film.
With a hard and pointed blade plus physical power, a person can stab a crocodile. However, one must not expect that the crocodile will die instantly. It will not. It is a huge animal with a lot of energy reserves. Hurting it will only make it more aggressive.
Crocodile leather bags are not safe from pickpocketers and slashers. Slicing the bag is easy once the thief manages to rip a hole.
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Can crocodiles resist bullets?
No, they cannot resist bullets. The issue here is how far the shot was made and the caliber of the bullet. Some bullets cannot kill a human, much less a crocodile.
High-caliber bullets, like the .45, can penetrate the crocodile’s skin. The same thing goes for shotguns and rifles.
The issue here is the distance. Too far, and the bullet’s power wanes. Once it hits the croc, the hide can protect the internal organs.
So, why is it so difficult to shoot them? Given the thickness of the skin, the shooter must be close. In addition to this, the most vulnerable part of the croc for shooting is the head.
A carefully placed shot on the brain will kill it instantly. It is far better than attempting to shoot the crocodile from many angles.
Crocodile hunters also do not want to damage the skin and the meat. It is why they anchor the crocodile first and then precisely shoot at the head. Damaged skin will not fetch much in the market.
The body of a crocodile is made up of thick muscles. The skin, despite its armor, is not metal. It can possibly deflect bullets if the angle is favorable. They can survive some shots, but it does not make them bulletproof.
What shots will kill a croc?
Below are the best ways to shoot croc.
Brain Shot
At the top of the crocodile’s head are small horns. These are scaly projections just above the eye—they look like eyebrows. The best shot is in between the eyes, just slightly below the eye’s horizontal alignment.
One can also shoot the croc from the side. The brain of the croc is just in front of the horns at a 45-degree angle. A shot while the croc is facing away, it is almost impossible unless the shooter is on high ground.
The skull is fragile, even if the crocodile is huge. So the goal of this shot is to destroy the skull and get the shot at the brain.
Spine Shot
The spine shot is a preference of some professional hunters because it is easy to visualize. When the hunter is facing the side of a crocodile, this shot will work.
In this shot, the hunter wants to see the curve of the crocodile’s mouth—the one at the back of the mouth. From this point, the spine should be straight.
The hunter must only stay even in this line and then shoot only a few inches behind the smile. The shot will sever the spine and then kill the crocodile. It is an impossible shot from the front or the back.
There are hunters who prefer the heart shot at the shoulder. When they do this, they shoot at the base of the shoulder, central to the body. It will not immobilize the croc, but it will not be able to escape.
The main method by which people hunt crocs and gators is through snagging. First, they place baits in hooks. Once the croc bites that, they pull it up and shoot the croc at the brain.
Summary
Crocodiles are not bulletproof. They have thick hides and bony plates that help deflect low-caliber bullets. When hunting a croc, the hunter must have at least 9 mm for bullets.
Despite the thick hide of a croc, it has vulnerable body parts. Hunters always target the head, right into the brain, to subdue a croc easily. The neck is also vulnerable, and it is what lions and jaguars attempt to bite when hunting crocs, gators, and caimans.
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