Gun Question..(ANOTHER ONE?!), 2 parter

Darbyfett

Darbyfett

Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
788
When folks on here(and gun forums) say they use a revolver for snake duty, what do you load it up with? The only "shotshells" I have seen for handguns are those CCI shells. Do they work on snakes? Or what else would you shoot a snake with, I wouldn't want to risk missing with a FMJ or HP and piss the bugger off.

Also, Would .357mag be a sufficient caliber for Piney Woods Texas woodsromping? Biggest animals we have to worry about are hogs(and the occasional semi-big cat)
 
I've cut largish sized snakes in half with shotshells in my Ruger S-Redhawk 44 mag. They work very well. Trying to hit a snake with a bullet is harder than it sounds if its moving. coiled up or something a bullet will work.

357 seems like it should be fine for your needs IMHO.
 
Trace Rinaldi said:
I've cut largish sized snakes in half with shotshells in my Ruger S-Redhawk 44 mag. They work very well. Trying to hit a snake with a bullet is harder than it sounds if its moving. coiled up or something a bullet will work.

357 seems like it should be fine for your needs IMHO.
Click to expand...

The CCI shotshells? Thats the only brand I have seen.

Thank you
 
Yes, I've used the CCI 38/357 shotshells on snakes from several different 357's and they are wicked from the ranges you would need to shoot a snake from.

I knew one squirrel that got close enough also. :D
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Yes, I've used the CCI 38/357 shotshells on snakes from several different 357's and they are wicked from the ranges you would need to shoot a snake from.

I knew one squirrel that got close enough also. :D
Click to expand...
Exactly what I wanted to hear, Thanks!

markksr said:
See this installment of The Box O' Truth for some interesting info regarding snake/rat shot...
Click to expand...

I am not to worried about using on humans, not my intent. Just snakes, which it seems passed the Box O' Truth(love that site btw)
 
The only I have ever seen are the CCI's, I have a box of .38, .22lr and .22mag.

The box of truth was very interesting but I think the number of hits was largy a factor of barrel length.

I'm thinking about getting one of those little NAA .22's for snake duty.
 
I'd go with a .410 shotgun with 12 inch barrel, or, in the States, one of those defense revolvers with the 5 shots of .410.
Nothing beats a shotgun for acting like a shotgun.:)
 
Darbyfett said:
When folks on here(and gun forums) say they use a revolver for snake duty, what do you load it up with? The only "shotshells" I have seen for handguns are those CCI shells. Do they work on snakes? Or what else would you shoot a snake with, I wouldn't want to risk missing with a FMJ or HP and piss the bugger off.

Also, Would .357mag be a sufficient caliber for Piney Woods Texas woodsromping? Biggest animals we have to worry about are hogs(and the occasional semi-big cat)
Click to expand...

CCI shotshells will work great at the right range. IMHO the .357 is the best caliber to carry with you in the woods. I carry my stainless smith 686 4in w/ me in the woods. The caliber will perform very well for you.
 
It may not matter, but the shot in the .22 shells is a lot finer than that in the larger calibers, meaning better coverage.

It is real easy to build your own too.
 
In snake country (down the mountain), I carry one of my .45 LC's with my own shot medicine. They don't even twitch after taking a load of this stuff. I have had a couple of large rattlers continue on course after being shot with the CCI .38 shotshells. Though, I have effectively killed others with the same on the lower property. On the ranch, and around the buildings, I need to kill them. Everywhere else, I leave them alone, and they leave me alone. :)
 
Dannyboy Leather said:
In snake country (down the mountain), I carry one of my .45 LC's with my own shot medicine. They don't even twitch after taking a load of this stuff. I have had a couple of large rattlers continue on course after being shot with the CCI .38 shotshells. Though, I have effectively killed others with the same on the lower property. On the ranch, and around the buildings, I need to kill them. Everywhere else, I leave them alone, and they leave me alone. :)
Click to expand...

Wanna share that 45 LC recipe?
 
I have to wonder about anyone who kills an animal for no reason. The only snake I ever shot was a rattlesnake which came near the house. There was no other way to safely eliminate it.

I've seen many rattlesnakes on my hikes and wilderness trips and never had the need to kill one. They were as anxious to get out of my way as I was of theirs. Who in their right mind would stand in the strike zone drawing a handgun, aiming, and shooting at a fairly small target, unless there was absolutely no other option? What might the snake be doing while all this is going on?

The instinct to remove oneself from the strike zone is so strong that one usually starts to move away from a snake before the situation fully registers in consciousness. I can't imagine many wilderness scenarios where this would not be possible. If a person can safely remove themselves from the strike zone then it means they are not in danger, so what's the reason for killing the snake?

Shooting anything at high velocity into the ground a few feet or few yards away from where one is standing, not knowing what it might bounce off or fragment, is something I don't do and strongly advise others not to do, unless the risk outweighs the threat, which it rarely does.
 
I've never shot a snake. Killed a coral snake in Florida that was in the garage -- used the shovel that was by the back door.

Been thinking of taking one this year for the skin. Will likely use a .22 or a shotgun, since that is what I'm usually carrying when hiking around.
 
Ruger2a.jpg

I was able to convince this young man to pose with the gun that got it. CCI shotshell! I've had to use them several times over the years and have yet needed more than one shot.
 
Mtn Hawk said:
I have to wonder about anyone who kills an animal for no reason. The only snake I ever shot was a rattlesnake which came near the house. There was no other way to safely eliminate it.

I've seen many rattlesnakes on my hikes and wilderness trips and never had the need to kill one. They were as anxious to get out of my way as I was of theirs. Who in their right mind would stand in the strike zone drawing a handgun, aiming, and shooting at a fairly small target, unless there was absolutely no other option? What might the snake be doing while all this is going on?

The instinct to remove oneself from the strike zone is so strong that one usually starts to move away from a snake before the situation fully registers in consciousness. I can't imagine many wilderness scenarios where this would not be possible. If a person can safely remove themselves from the strike zone then it means they are not in danger, so what's the reason for killing the snake?

Shooting anything at high velocity into the ground a few feet or few yards away from where one is standing, not knowing what it might bounce off or fragment, is something I don't do and strongly advise others not to do, unless the risk outweighs the threat, which it rarely does.
Click to expand...

I don't have any rattlesnakes in my area but where I hike there are some but I wouldn't kill them cause they are really rare.

I could see killing them that are living in your house. We have copperheads around my place but they are never in my living areas or barns.


I have actually found big blacksnakes and brought them home and put them in my barn to kill rats.

However if I had a lot of poision snakes round my house I'd kill them. Although my friend Kate has them all over her place, doesn't kill them and has never got bit.
 
I think I read someplace that more people get hit by lightning in the U.S. than are snake bit. I think the snake thing is a very overrated reason to carry a gun. Most people who have gotten bit by a snake have been messing with it trying to play Steve Irwin.
 
Hollowdweller-- Yes, I shot one rattlesnake that wanted to live under the house and I'd do it again, since that was the only way to quickly and safely remove it. I'd also kill one in the wild if it was a threat to me or others, but I don't expect that to happen. The ones I've seen either stayed still or moved away from me, not toward me. I don't think I've ever heard or read of a rattlesnake chasing a person, trying to bite and kill them, at least in the U.S. From what I know, these snakes react to a perceived threat, not out of aggression.

I have to wonder what goes on in the mind of a person who kills an animal that is sitting still or trying to escape, and that is not a threat.

jackknkife-- I agree.

Darbyfett-- I don't know how big and/or aggressive Texas hogs are, but I spend a lot of time in areas with black bears and mountain lions. Since human attacks by these animals are extremely rare, and I don't want to pack a large, bulky, heavy revolver for something that will probably never happen, when I carry I take a .357 Ruger SP101 3". I'm sure if I was ever charged by a black bear I'd wish I had a 12 gauge shotgun with rifled slugs or large buckshot but the 180 gr. hard-cast bullets I use would probably do the job, if I do mine. A lot of people only concentrate on caliber but bullet weight and construction are also very important. These are what I use: http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357
 
jackknife said:
I think I read someplace that more people get hit by lightning in the U.S. than are snake bit. I think the snake thing is a very overrated reason to carry a gun. Most people who have gotten bit by a snake have been messing with it trying to play Steve Irwin.
Click to expand...

Last year I had to kill 3 big diamond backs at my house. One I saw a day or two before the wife and tried to send it on its way. He came back, sucked for him. I just use low recoil OO buck out of the 12 gauge. I have lots of it. I have never seen the need to shot a snake out on a trail anywhere, which includes after stepping on some.
 
Darbyfett said:
When folks on here(and gun forums) say they use a revolver for snake duty, what do you load it up with? The only "shotshells" I have seen for handguns are those CCI shells. Do they work on snakes? Or what else would you shoot a snake with, I wouldn't want to risk missing with a FMJ or HP and piss the bugger off.

Also, Would .357mag be a sufficient caliber for Piney Woods Texas woodsromping? Biggest animals we have to worry about are hogs(and the occasional semi-big cat)
Click to expand...

Good choice in a sidearm! The CCI's will definetely do the job. In the spring and summer, when camping, fishing, hiking, etc... I carry my sidearm with the first shot loaded with snakeshot.

After having dogs, and cattle bitten by rattlesnakes I will kill every poisonous snake I see. Especially with kids running around.

The only good thing about rattlesnakes is they are not territorial like a Cottonmouth. The water-moccasin will come after you! I know you have those in E.TX. also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top