How effective is snake shot?

P

Planetcat

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Jul 28, 2009
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I've been hunting more and more in rattler territory and have seen enough of them coiled up that I feel I'm hunting on borrowed time. I have a several revolvers and pistols, but like to carry my Ruger SR9C (9mm) while hunting. I've tried YouTubeing some videos on shooting snakes with snake shot, but nothing definitive. I figured first two rounds in the mag using CCI #9 shot snake shot and then hollowpoints for the remaining 8 rounds. It also looks like anything past 10 ft. produces too much spread, 5 ft. being optimal. All I really care about is disabling it with the snake shot and then I'll finish it off with the hollow points once I change my shorts. :-) Anyone shoot decent sized snakes with snake shot using a smaller caliber like 9 mm or .38? How effective is it? Thanks in advance. Oh yeah, I just ordered some gaiters from Bass Pro, too.
 
My pa always swore by snake shot, for the snakes and close up self defense. I feel pretty confident with it on hip, like you said," first two snake shot," followed up by your liking. Have fun and be safe man. Look into a SAWYER "THE EXTRACTOR" Bite and Sting kit. Can be used one handed if bit and you are on your own, sorry, to lazy to post pictures.
 
I can see a revolver being no problem, functionaly. Those CCI rounds have the plastic flat tips that may cause feeding issues in some autos. I've never actually shot a snake with any of them though.
 
Yeah, I forgot to ask about that too. Saw a video of one that stove piped in a guys glock. That definitely wouldn't help matters. Maybe I'll carry my .357 with .38 special snake loads instead. A little heavier on the hip, though.
 
Honestly we grew up calling it "rat shot" in a 22 it is great on rats mice small vermon in my experience it is never much good in an automatic. my bare minimum caliber for venimous snakes is 38/357. Rattlers are protected in many areas so keep local laws in mind. I would try to get away and then use multiple shots at the head to upper 1/3 of snake's body, and dont pick up the "dead" snake it may still get you.
 
Maybe just keep doing what your doing. Be aware of your surroundings and use caution to avoid getting too close to the snakes. I don't see the point in killing them if they are not a threat or you're not going to eat them..
 
Gotta agree with tony, the snake that gets you is the one you don't see so the snake shot is moot. No reason to shoot except if you are going to eat them or use the skin. Chris
 
The small caliber bird shot rounds, or 'snake shot' works well at short distances; just my experience, and not all shooters may get the same results. But, at 10 feet, .22 cal bird shot is pretty effective on large animals, like skunks and such. Watch Swamp People on History Channel - who's a thought that a .22 cal would be enough to kill a large gator, one shot? Even though at least one hunter uses a .22 WMag, flattest and hardest shooting small round there is.
 
I carry snake shot in my S&W 38 2" and have killed at least 5 rattlers with it. You have to be within 6ft to do any real damage and any snake over 3ft takes at least 2 shots. I only kill the ones that get in by the house, deer blind or barn. I have found once they discover a good food source, mice in the hay or feed, or a good cover, underneath my deer stands, they don't leave easily. I tried the run them off once and the snake was back in the barn the next day... result dead snake. I much prefer a 410 for them though. I leave the critters in the woods be, they were there before I was so they get a pass unless they are endangering me, the dogs or the family. Surprisingly we see a ton the first day of dove season, then they only come out at night. once the shooting starts. I belive to go after crippled birds but are smart enough to avoid us hunting.
 
Try your "snakeshot" out on a pizza box. I think you'll find that 9mm snakeshot is pretty optimistic.

When did wopping them with a stick go out of fashion?!

.45 snakeshot is merely OK. I fired one out of a revolver @ 20 feet, and the pellets went everywhere. Except the pizza box. I think I put a couple of pellets into it. The rest went huknowswhere.
 
I've killed our Prairie Rattlers with snake shot in 22 Long Rifle, 22 Mag, 38 Special and 44 Special. They all work at close (under 8') range. The 9MM would be between a 22 mag and a 38 Special in shot payload. If I was defending against the much larger Diamondbacks, I'd trend toward the larger calibers. I load both the 38 and the 44 with shot capsules bought from CCI. I like larger (#7) shot but many like the smaller (#9 thru #12) better.
 
The 22 is not much as it has # 12 shot. The 44 has 1/4 oz of # 9 shot and will take a cardinal at 30 ' .
 
I use .22 mag. snake shot when doing firewood, 2 shots will take down most smaller snakes. I also have a Bond Arms Snake Slayer, that will take any .410 shotgun shell, #6 shot is pretty good for the bigger ones.
 
mete said:
The 22 is not much as it has # 12 shot. The 44 has 1/4 oz of # 9 shot and will take a cardinal at 30 ' .
Click to expand...
Yeah that is just what I want to do, take a cardinal at 30 feet. :confused: :mad:

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Do that around here and you might find out what snakeshot feels like at 30 ft.
 
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I used to kill rats with .22 WMR snakeshot out of a derringer at point plank range in my dad's chicken coop. One shot was all it generally took.

Shotshells will jam in autoloaders and I've heard stories of the CCI plastic caps backing out of their casings under recoil and binding revolver cylinders. I know that shotshells used to be made in .44 and .45 caliber with crimped brass rather than plastic caps. I also know that .410 birdshot out of a derringer at anything past 5' is pretty weak. Great if over penetration is a factor though.
 
Not much experience. I have only shot one snake (we don't have rattlers here in Panamá, but what we do have are very poisonous) at about 4 feet range, with a 9 mm. snake shot. It was a head shot. Only one was needed.
 
The Remington .45 ACP crimped load with #12 is the best I've used. Functions perfectly in a 1911, not for revolvers. The CCI .22 LR load works just fine as well, most shot loads suffer from poor pellet patterns. Penetrating snake heads is not very tough at 4 feet. I load #12 in a CCI capsule for my .38 Special.
 
I have killed prairie rattlers with .22 bird shot out of a 3 inch barrel revolver at no more than 10'. Works pretty darn good. It is easier to carry a revolver than a shovel. I have also killed full grown raccoons with .44 bird shot at ranges up to 20". They did not die instantly but they did expire after a matter of seconds. We had a barn infested with them and as soon as you walked in they would run for the hills. Had to shoot fast.
 
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