.357 magnum snake medicine

[hillbilly]

Here is a pic and description of what just happened on my front steps.

My Aussie sherpherd/Kelpie mix named Digger started up with his frantic, angry "snake bark" underneath our front porch.

I responded with a Taurus Model 66 loaded with .357 magnum shotshells.

Digger indicated the threat was just under the front steps, and I was shortly down on the ground on my own belly, revolver in one hand, flashlight in the other, peering through the three-inch gap that leads to the space under my front steps.

I had to shoo the dogs away and finally, there he was....coiled, head up, not more than about two feet away, forked tongue flicking in and out.

I made sure the dogs were clear, cocked the revolver, and took a flash sight picture.

BLAM!!!!

Suddenly, he wasn't there any more.

It took me several more minutes of looking with a flashlight and poking around with a stick before I located the remains.

So I dug it out and took a quick digital pic.

Again, all that damage was caused by exactly one .357 magnum shotshell.

Up close, those shotshells are nasty on snakes. Not much good beyond about seven or eight feet, but up closer than that...yikes.

Apparently, my lens was fogged up, as the photo is a bit hazy.

The snake's body is already gone, as Digger hates snakes and grabbed the body and shredded it, growling and snarling.

He's been bitten three times that I know of, and is very good about telling me when there is a snake near the house that needs killing.

This is the second copperhead kill of the year.

The first was a baby copperhead, only about 8 inches long.

Digger found him out on the walking trail. And that day, all I had was an M1 Carbine slung over my shoulder.....not as much left of that first one, and what was left wasn't worth toting back to the house for a picture.

hillbilly

[ducktapehero]

Give your dog an extra bone tonight. Those shotshells are deadly at close range.

[TallPine]

I have only seen the shotshells in 38 special, not 357.

CCI ...?

[hillbilly]

Tallpine, you are correct.

I just opened up the cylinder of th Taurus, and yes, they are CCI shotshells in .38 special.

hillbilly

[Ohen Cepel]

I have used their .22 snake shot loads (CCI) to take care of a rattlesnake that was too close to my dog.

Worked very well, very fast!

Not a big fan of shooting snakes. However, CCI does it well.

[Standing Wolf]

Well done!

[DMK]

there he was....coiled, head up, not more than about two feet away, forked tongue flicking in and out...Up close, those shotshells are nasty on snakes. Yea, but thats about 6 feet closer than I want to be to one of them fellers. 20 guage works just fine from where I stand. ;)

[Pumpkinheaver]

I like those CCI shot shells too. I just wish they loaded smaller shot than #9 in their .45 loads.

[ducktapehero]

A little off topic but not by much. I had a Taurus 455 revolver in 45acp and I bought some of the CCI shotshells in 45acp. After I got home it said not to use it in revolvers or with a ported barrel. I can understand not using it with a gun that has a ported barrel(I think) but why wouldn't you be able to use them in a revolver? Anyone have an idea?

[pauli]

pellets getting stuck in the barrel/chamber gap?

[Blueduck]

ducktapehero,

My guess would be needing an auto friendly crimp (and going into plastic at that) bullets may pull if used in revolver.

[Majic]

If you reload you can make your own with shot and gas checks. I've made mine for years and many a copperhead have felt the sting of the shot.

[hillbilly]

Majic, if you're willing to share the recipe, I do reload lots and lots of .38 special.

hillbilly

[Majic]

Hillbilly,
Check your PM.

[James Bondrock]

I have long been amused by the use of the words "medicine" or "pill" as a term for a bullet. Medicines are used to cure illness or injury; bullets kill.

[another okie]

"I have long been amused by the use of the words "medicine" or "pill" as a term for a bullet. Medicines are used to cure illness or injury; bullets kill."

Many Native Americans use the term medicine to mean "power." It may, but does not necessarily mean, power over illness. I suspect that's where it came from. "Pill" should be obvious.

[Vern Humphrey]

In .45 Colt, I use 3.0 grains of Bullseye, seat a gascheck, open side up, on the powder, fill the case with number 9 shot, and seat another gas check, open side down, in the mouth. I run the case into the Lee bullet-seating die and crimp with moderate pressure.

[GigaBuist]

I'm looking at a picture of the CCI shotshells this morning and wondering if they feed well in an auto. Actually I could care less if they "feed" well -- I'd just need it to extract I suppose. One shotshell in the chamber for poisonous snakes and 13 JHPs behind it for bipodal hairless apes.

[mtnbkr]

I popped a 4' Timber Rattlesnake in the mountains of Va the weekend of the 4th. I normally wouldn't bother on a snake that was simply sunning itself, but it was in the middle of camp and that was the second time in as many days it had been in "our" camp. With three more days and several more people showing up, I felt it was prudent.

The CCI shotshells from a 357mag will do a number on a snake's head. One shot nearly obliterated his head from 5' away. I skinned him and mounted the skin (and rattle) to an oak board.

Dang thing struck at me with a headless body 10minutes after removing his head. It did the same thing to another camper who picked it up by the tail a full 2 hours later. :what:

Chris

[middy]

I usually just use a long-handled spade. :rolleyes:

A revolver is easier to carry when away from home, though.

[shep854]

Gigabuist, I remember reading that the gov't once issued a .45 shot cartridge that had to be hand-chambered in the M1911A1. According to the article I read, they were mostly used by Marines on Okinawa (not during WWII), for protection against habu snakes.

[Vern Humphrey]

There were several different shot cartridges issued for the M1911A1. Ultimately, they developed one that would cycle the action.

Ed Harris developed a handloader's version, using cut-down .308 cases, and RCBS makes a forming die for it.

[trapperjohn]

Hillbilly don't you watch Steve Irwin? Yous supposed to grab it by the tail and control it with a leafy branch while you transport it to a safe area.

geesh, all this iscovery channel and still no one learns

[M2 Carbine]

My back door gun is a S&W model 60 Crimson Trace laser equipped pistol, the first 2 rounds are 38 shot reloads.:)

The furtherest away I shot a Rattle Snake was from 13 feet away. Dropped him with one shot. (#8 shot)

[TallPine]

I usually just use a long-handled spade.
A revolver is easier to carry when away from home, though.
Yeah, the spade is really hard to conceal too:p

And we can't just let people go carrying shovels around in public. What if one of them went nuts and just started digging holes all over the place?

[zougou]

[cue Where Have all the Children Gone]

Every day, 10 children trip in holes left by careless shovelers.

Not one more skinned knee

Not one more grieving family with one less band-aid

Call 1-800-weprevent to find out what YOU can do to stop this senseless digging.

[Moparmike]

Hillbilly, where did you get that snakeshot? Think I should be able to pick some up at my local gunmonger?

[45shooter]

I keep a 6 ft pvc pipe next to the fence for those bad tempered water mocs on my lake. I got 3 this year. Non poisonus snakes are welcomed on my property but those mocs are killed on sight... with the pvc pipe.

[hillbilly]

Yeah, I've seen Steve Irwin on his show.

I suppose I'm just an ignorant, self-centered, enviro-raping, specieist, natural-war-mongering snake killer.

Because if it's up near the house, much less under the front porch, and it's poisonous, it's dead on the spot.

Moparmike, as for snake shot, I go to John's Guns in Fort Smith.

That man has a little of everything.

hillbilly

[hillbilly]

45shooter, I'm with you on mocs.

If I'm out in the woods and see a copperhead or a rattler, I just let it be.

Only those that come up near the house get whacked.

But with water moccasins, I could be in the most remote part of a swamp or lake, and if I see a moccasin, and I can get to it, that sucker is going to DIE!!!!!

Mocs are the only snake I actively hate with a passion and persecute whenever possible.

I hate those bastards.

I've been chased out of the old swimming hole by those things. They are my nightmare snake.

hillbilly

[BeLikeTrey]

.22 shot shells suck! I killed a moccasin heading straight for our tent on lake Murray last weekend. I'll post some pics when I bring my camera in to work. Yeah it hurt him but he was pissed. I was using in a p22. It failed to eject so I'm backing up trying to cycle the action to get a real round chambered. Finally get it and pop him in the head. He was about 31/2- 4 feet I'd say. Really wish I had a larger caliber in shot shell. I won't try the .22 again.

A really funny story recently also is that my buddy carries one round of snake shot in his .357. Unfortunately, he pulled the trigger on that round when aiming at a rather enormous hog recently. He fired and a cloud of dirt/dust poofed off of the Boar's side. That boar took off like a bat outta...
Guess that Boar is gonna be looking for him later :D

[jmcc11]

Here is a good article on hanloading snake loads.
http://gunblast.com/Snake_Stopper.htm