I'd be VERY grateful if someone could advise on the best way to kill Mirelurks, which will be the death of me in real life if I see another one.

Target the face, it's their weak point.

^This. Combat shotty to the face is very effective but anything that puts holes in that area will do.

Flamethrower. Just cook those svckas!

The Gauss Rifle is very effective against them and Albinos. If you don't have it get it.

The best spot to shoot them is in the face. They have a very hard shell and that's ( face) is the only opening in it. I like the combat shotgun or the assault rifle, but a 10 mil will do. Its all in the timing. I like to wait until they're nice and close and get them in VATS when there faces are exposed.

BOOM HEADSHOT !!!!!

Get the picture?

Alternatively, you can just make a Deathclaw Gauntlet and get all Optimus Prime on them. "Give me your face!"

A Dogmeat/ Fawkes with Broken Steel installed works for me. Aside from that a VATS Combat Shotgun to the face works well as previously said. In close combat (unless you have Paralyzing Palm) they're lethal.

You gotta shoot 'em in the face!

Duck and vats

Ditto to all the above. Once they put their head down & start head butting you move back, wait for them to look up & BOOM, combat shottie.
And keep up you're weapon & armor maintenance. :gun:

Combat shottie right up to the face. Their meat taste nice. Might give you gas though.

They don't enjoy assault rifles to the face, do they? Yippee!

Or you pals can just start using those stockpiles of fraggrenades ...

They are remarkably effective against those (and Radscorpions) due to their area of effect and tend to cripple multiple limbs on the first or second initiation. Though you ought to save your Nuka-Grenades/Plasma Grenades for the Albino Radscorpions, those svckers can svck up a great deal of damage, especially if you aren't in a most commendable firing position and on the wrong end of their stinger.

I do find the standard mirelurk meat is a little too salty for my liking. I much prefer the softshell variety, which is lovely with a wild punga marinade and glass of red wine. Really brings out the flavour.

completly ineffective against humans though since most shots travel straight through them causing no damage