What's a good snake load?

[TripleR]

What kind of snakes are you guys shooting that need more "stopping power" than a .22 can deliver? The comment about a .38/.357 shotshell backed up by hollow points just made me crack up.

Now, I realize that the higher caliber shotshell will carry more shot, thus making a better chance of a lethal first shot, and the same with 12 ga/410 shotgun, because then you don't have to be as accurate when dealing with you legless adversary. But the idea of needing to use a .357 hollowpoint or a .45 acp to kill a snake.....if it takes that kill a snake, it's gonna have to bite me in the backside, 'cause I'm running away.

I also realize that carrying a larger caliber is advantageous in case you need the firearm for dealing with a coyote/cougar/bobcat/felon/feral pig/terrorist/Rainbow Vacuum Salesman/skunk/opossum/etc., so I certainly respect that option. In that view, the revolver with shot followed by hollowpoints makes alot more sense.

And I also agree with a previous poster - I haven't shot (at) a snake in years - I usually just kill them with shovel/hoe/stick/rock/etc., including the copperheads that I found at the pond in the summer.

Good luck and take care.

Like Stravis, if you already carry a gun, why use something else? My carry gun is my snake gun. I don't carry a gun or any implement specifically for snakes. I carry a gun for any and all scenarios whether it be man or beast.

A .22 is a good snake round, but isn't a good defense round, so I just use mine to punch holes in paper.

Some people carry a shot load because of the spread and they aren't sure they can make the shot and some for safety reasons, maybe both.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I use whats at hand. Whether it be .45 or 9mm.Snake won't be picky, but still dead.

 

[Matt_W]

Does your .410 T/C have the external choke or the internal? Mine has the internal. The choke is supposed to stop the spinning of the wad due to the 45 Long Colt rifling.

T/C also made a .357 barrel with a choke for their specially made .357 T/C shot loads. The round looked almost like a .410 in length but a long plastic tube is sticking out the .357 case. I'll have to search around to see if I have any more of them.

Both of them can be reloaded before the varmint gets too far. But with the spread of the shot it usually isn't necessary.

Mine has the internal choke but did not know that it stopped the spinning of the wad.
I used this to grouse hunt occasionaly and actually shot one in flight once but does not seem to have the power for the dense cover.
It is effective

 

[gwdixon]

What kind of snakes are you guys shooting that need more "stopping power" than a .22 can deliver? The comment about a .38/.357 shotshell backed up by hollow points just made me crack up.

The hollow point comment was made to clarify that the pistol was ready for no-legged, four-legged, and two-legged varmints.

 

[MF RED in MT]

When a rattler isn't behaving on our property I shoot them in the head with my trusty Daisy air rifle (I can hear the laughter from here). The last was around 6 foot long. Don't forget tho cut there head off and bury it.

"YOU WILL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT KID". :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:. I agree with all, a shovel, a air rifle, a .22, a Judge, a .45, a tractor, etc..., what you have should do the job, :thumbsup:. KC

 

[OldGeezerWNC]

I have an old fashioned saddle sheath gun rack on the tractor and carry a 410/22 over-under both loaded with ratshot. But after an incident with a 250 pound boar a couple of years ago I also have a 270 Thompson Center Contender. We also have what is said 1-2 bears per square miles here in The Great Smokeys.
As an official old Geezer here in the Mountains, the old tale of cutting off the head and burying it serve two purposes. One the story that a snake can't die until Sundown comes from the muscle contractions that can last for hours. The second comes from the Scary story of a a man who killed a 7 ft rattler in the afternoon and decided to go out after sundown and cut the rattles off before the coons dragged it off. He went out grabbed his hatchet and stepped on the body, swung the hatchet an dispatched the rattles. Picedk them up and went inside for the night. Next morning he went out to see if the coons had dragged off the carcass. There was the snake, hole in the head from his shot, and rattles intact. Some where there's a pissed off rattler waiting for him......... hopefully with a baby rattle tied to his tail.

 

[rtimgray]

Don't get me wrong fellas - I completely agree that whatever load you have handy is the one to use for dispatching a snake, and if you already carry a .357/.38/.45/600 nitro express, then I would by all means say that's the round to use.

It's just that the original question is "what's a good snake load". I just picture Barney Fife loading up his revolver with +P hollow-points so that he can inflict maximum damage on a garter snake.

Good conversation - keep it going.

Good luck and take care.

 

[TripleR]

Don't get me wrong fellas - I completely agree that whatever load you have handy is the one to use for dispatching a snake, and if you already carry a .357/.38/.45/600 nitro express, then I would by all means say that's the round to use.

It's just that the original question is "what's a good snake load". I just picture Barney Fife loading up his revolver with +P hollow-points so that he can inflict maximum damage on a garter snake.

Good conversation - keep it going.

Good luck and take care.

Well, we often wander off topic and sometimes forget the OP completely.

Based on my prior profession and my sons being firearms instructors, I am often asked "what is a good concealed carry gun". My answer is always, "The one you will carry and can hit with."

I know this is not the same as "what is the most effective", but nothing has ever been killed by a very loud noise.

I accept that a shotgun is more "effective", but I also know I won't carry one and don't want to get caught with shot loads in my defense gun.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Couple of points to consider. If you see one snake, there's probably a whole bunch around you don't see. If you see a whole bunch of snakes, that means that either it's winter and you found a den, or you have a really big rodent problem, because they wouldn't be there if there wasn't something to eat.

Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and Water moccasins are all on the unfriendly snake list. They're common, they have a long strike reach, they're poisonous, they can inject a lot of venom in a single hit, and they're not always interested in slithering away. (They can also bite without injecting any venom, but I'm not that interested in finding out.) I can't speak for coral snakes, since I've never encountered one in all my travels to the southeast.

Any Gulf Coast tractor folks run into any Burmese pythons yet?

A good BB gun can throw a pellet at 1700 fps, which is comparable to a .22; so don't write off a BB gun. Plus, they're a lot quieter than a pistol or shotgun.

I like what I see with the Taurus. Actually considering getting my wife one and loading .410 rounds with 00, since with a pistol with a regular single round load, the safest place to stand with her shooting is dead center of the target.

 

[bigtiller]

I accept that a shotgun is more "effective", but I also know I won't carry one and don't want to get caught with shot loads in my defense gun.

I agree, never put shot loads in your defense gun. And to go a little further, don't carry your snake gun in the same manner you carry your defense gun.