Davy_S
Well-known member
Are you sure about that.
DIY Pirate Self Defence!
- Thread starter Tim Good
- Start date
Downsman
New member
Problem is, if you're going to engage them at long range you probably won't be able to tell whether it's Ali the Pirate and his oppos or Mo the fisherman and his three sons who want to trade fish. Identifying your target as hostile is half the problem, otherwise you could end up slotting half the Somali fishing fleet.
prv
Well-known member
Ever tried to keep a small, fast-moving boat in the view of your binoculars, while your own boat is moving vigorously? Trying to make the shot you describe is much the same, plus the additional factors of wind (on the bullet) and lead (due to the moving target).
You don't want a "very good scope" for this, you want something with relatively low magnification or perhaps just iron sights, and you want to be taking rapid single shots. Someone mentioned the SA80 - that, with a SUSAT, in semi-auto mode might fit the bill. At first I was thinking of the corresponding Light Support Weapon with the bipod, but although I have no experience of shooting from boats, I imagine it's probably better to stand unsupported rather than rest the weapon against a moving structure.
This is assuming that you a) want to carry firearms, b) can obtain military-style weapons, c) are prepared both in skills and mindset to shoot at people. I'd suggest that all of those are more the stuff of fantasy than serious seagoing preparations.
Pete
Biggles Wader
Well-known member
What you need is a quarantine flag and big sign in several languages saying you have ebola green monkey disease on board.
Davy_S
Well-known member
Or hang it from the boom.
Downsman
New member
Mummy!! 
WilliamUK
New member
I don't think it's really necessary to get hung up on the legality or practicality of taking on pirates the loud way.
If you've seen MVs repelling borders you know it looks more like a scene from down-town Fallujah than one of 2nd-amendment style home defence. They don't tend to run off at the sound of a shotgun being cocked and fire tends to be met by return fire.
On that basis, let's assume that your rifle, super soaker, cannon or potato gun does indeed make them think twice about boarding. What is then going to stop them using your boat (GRP, most likely) for target practice and turning it into a boat-shaped colander? How confident are you that said boat-shaped colander won't be heading to the bottom with its full complement of leaky, sticky, red crew aboard?
I, for one, am not all that convinced that a group of people - all revved up and ready for some good old fashioned piracy - armed to the teeth with ex-soviet military hardware and the munitions to go with it are going to be dissuaded so easily. Maybe they'll decide you're too much trouble to take the peaceful way, but are you so sure they'll come to the same conclusion about doing it the loud way?
You may load your cannon with grapeshot, but are they going to know that? You might unleash a charge of grapeshot on them as they come alongside, but are they then going to turn around and take their wounded home or are they going to finish the job now they are alongside and you're faffing around trying to get through the reload cycle for another shot?
I suppose Plan B is to fire up the diesel and spurt nasty exhaust-water over their gunwales?
I am ALL for giving pirates everything their thieving little hearts have coming to them, but you need a realistic view.
Some of the anti-piracy ideas floating around seem to fall into the same trap as those complete-joke martial arts that think an attacker throws a single punch and then stands dead still while you change into angry-white-pyjamas and unleash a 40-hit death-touch combination on them.
If you have to fight off pirates, you have to FIGHT off pirates. Fight. Not scare. Not trick. Fight. Like warfare... only you're hiding behind things that are largely incapable of stopping so much as a handgun round, let alone a full metal jacket fired from an AK-47.
Best tactic is most likely being on the scruffy looking boat and assuming that most pirates probably have the sense to go after someone who actually LOOKS like they might have things worth stealing and a support network that'd come up with a worthy ransom. That or having a large, steel-built boat carrying a security force fully trained in and capable of engaging in a prolonged firefight without defecating in their combat-trousers.
If you've seen MVs repelling borders you know it looks more like a scene from down-town Fallujah than one of 2nd-amendment style home defence. They don't tend to run off at the sound of a shotgun being cocked and fire tends to be met by return fire.
On that basis, let's assume that your rifle, super soaker, cannon or potato gun does indeed make them think twice about boarding. What is then going to stop them using your boat (GRP, most likely) for target practice and turning it into a boat-shaped colander? How confident are you that said boat-shaped colander won't be heading to the bottom with its full complement of leaky, sticky, red crew aboard?
I, for one, am not all that convinced that a group of people - all revved up and ready for some good old fashioned piracy - armed to the teeth with ex-soviet military hardware and the munitions to go with it are going to be dissuaded so easily. Maybe they'll decide you're too much trouble to take the peaceful way, but are you so sure they'll come to the same conclusion about doing it the loud way?
You may load your cannon with grapeshot, but are they going to know that? You might unleash a charge of grapeshot on them as they come alongside, but are they then going to turn around and take their wounded home or are they going to finish the job now they are alongside and you're faffing around trying to get through the reload cycle for another shot?
I suppose Plan B is to fire up the diesel and spurt nasty exhaust-water over their gunwales?
I am ALL for giving pirates everything their thieving little hearts have coming to them, but you need a realistic view.
Some of the anti-piracy ideas floating around seem to fall into the same trap as those complete-joke martial arts that think an attacker throws a single punch and then stands dead still while you change into angry-white-pyjamas and unleash a 40-hit death-touch combination on them.
If you have to fight off pirates, you have to FIGHT off pirates. Fight. Not scare. Not trick. Fight. Like warfare... only you're hiding behind things that are largely incapable of stopping so much as a handgun round, let alone a full metal jacket fired from an AK-47.
Best tactic is most likely being on the scruffy looking boat and assuming that most pirates probably have the sense to go after someone who actually LOOKS like they might have things worth stealing and a support network that'd come up with a worthy ransom. That or having a large, steel-built boat carrying a security force fully trained in and capable of engaging in a prolonged firefight without defecating in their combat-trousers.
zzyyxx
New member
Combat trousers! I knew I'd forgotten something!
WilliamUK
New member
zzyyxx
New member
I remain happy to help wherever I can reasonably do so.
If I load the spud-gun with cricket balls are whites more appropriate?
WilliamUK
New member
White combat pants exist.
Considering that cricket players sometimes compete in loud, garish outfits instead of whites, I think the best approach would be to select your combat-trouser colours (or camouflage pattern) based upon the colours of your boat.
All white and fancy looking? Go for combats in white or perhaps urban camouflage.
Got those blue squares of some sort of grippy stuff or other? Blue combats or perhaps urban-night camo'.
Acres of teak might call for something more like desert pattern or plain kakhi combats.
As with all such things, the situation dictates the correct answer.
Of course, rocking up on deck with a spud gun and full whites, pads and helmet might cause tactically useful confusion or mirth. Use the spud gun to launch cucumber sandwiches and pimms and you might even make some new friends.
Considering that cricket players sometimes compete in loud, garish outfits instead of whites, I think the best approach would be to select your combat-trouser colours (or camouflage pattern) based upon the colours of your boat.
All white and fancy looking? Go for combats in white or perhaps urban camouflage.
Got those blue squares of some sort of grippy stuff or other? Blue combats or perhaps urban-night camo'.
Acres of teak might call for something more like desert pattern or plain kakhi combats.
As with all such things, the situation dictates the correct answer.
Of course, rocking up on deck with a spud gun and full whites, pads and helmet might cause tactically useful confusion or mirth. Use the spud gun to launch cucumber sandwiches and pimms and you might even make some new friends.
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
Getting back to the original topic.
I think a WW2 flame thrower may be better against AK47's
But I do have a steel boat.
zzyyxx
New member
I wouldn't want them to think I was playing 20/20. Not least that suggests an ammunition limit..
mattonthesea
Well-known member
Made I laff out loud this thread��
Barnacle Bill
Active member
Maybe the pirates will laugh so much at the spud gun that they're rendered incapable of further action.
One idea though - if you are in a relatively large boat with a good engine, pursued by a smaller one, try heading at your best speed into the weather. If they can't catch up quickly they may get discouraged. I heard of one successful escape this way.
Or - go where it's known to be reasonably safe.
One idea though - if you are in a relatively large boat with a good engine, pursued by a smaller one, try heading at your best speed into the weather. If they can't catch up quickly they may get discouraged. I heard of one successful escape this way.
Or - go where it's known to be reasonably safe.
onesea
Well-known member
Oh and if you shoot first and do damage, they will go back and say they are fishermen look what you did!
Seems like a good plan to me find a course they do not want to be on and run that way... If they get close enough to board put yourself on a rolly heading do not make it easy for them.... Do not try and trap them give them every chance to escape!
GHA
Well-known member
Difficult not to....
penfold
Well-known member
Given the maximum effective range of the AK47 is about 400 yards they can sit a mile away and take potshots to their hearts' content; the chance of even aimed shots hitting anything are in the realm of lottery odds when the firer is in a small boat at sea.
Realistically arming yourself to repel real pirates is not possible within the law, and even if you succeeded the legal consequences are possibly onerous.
Big-Bang1
Member
Well, I think semi auto's or full auto weapons should be avoided - last thing you need is a jam when trying to engage the pirates and it's the reason most American houses have a pump action shotgun for home defence - It's reliable! So, my coice of weapons would be ......
A decent bolts action rifle with detachable magazine chambered in .243, fitted with a decent 2x40 red dot scope for putting a couple across the bow at a reasonable distance - this one should do it - http://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAllWeather/models.html
A Decent pump action shotgun and a big supply of flechette cartridges for if it gets up close and personal see here http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-marine-magnum.aspx and here http://www.antipersonnel.net/sdllc/005.html
but I suppose to be really ready for them you need one of these mounted on the deck - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M61_Vulcan It would certainly make me think twice about trying to take to board a vessle if it had one of these spooled up on the deck.:encouragement:
A decent bolts action rifle with detachable magazine chambered in .243, fitted with a decent 2x40 red dot scope for putting a couple across the bow at a reasonable distance - this one should do it - http://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeAllWeather/models.html
A Decent pump action shotgun and a big supply of flechette cartridges for if it gets up close and personal see here http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/shotguns/model-870/model-870-marine-magnum.aspx and here http://www.antipersonnel.net/sdllc/005.html
but I suppose to be really ready for them you need one of these mounted on the deck - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M61_Vulcan It would certainly make me think twice about trying to take to board a vessle if it had one of these spooled up on the deck.:encouragement:
Tim Good
Well-known member
Super. I'll pop down the chandlery this avo and pick me up one with a winch socket fitting.