what handgun for snakes and hogs

.357

a snake is a small target unless you use handgun caliber shot shells which would be useless on a hog. I hunt hogs in snake infested brush country and never wanted to scare off the hogs shooting snakes.

For hogs 357 & up first round shot shell ,
or one of them Tarus 45-410s same thing shot shell first round

shot shells can cause a lockup if not fired first,
recoil can cause the plastic to slip out of the case.

not so with the 410

.357 is light, easy to carry, accurate enough to shoot the snakes head off (if you MUST) with a bullet, no shot loads needed if you can shoot. If you can't shoot a revolver, don't bother, just step around the snake. And, remember, snake boots are your friend and best defense against snakes. Snake boots are AKA south Texas Ropers in these parts.

Hogs are not a threat to humans if you're worried about one eating you. The only time I've EVER been attacked by a hog is when I attacked him first and then had to blood trail him. With archery equipment, I can understand THIS worry. I can tell ya this, though. After tracking down that pig and finishing him with a head shot, I decided once and for all any wounded pig I shoot in the future dies on his own under a lonely bush. I don't need pig meat that bad. Plenty more where he came from.

Do not rotate your cylinder and fire a full house load with a snake shot capsule still in your cylinder. It can and will, I've had it happen, bust open your snake shot capsule and then all those little bitty #9 or #8 BB's will get stuck in your action and freeze you pistol solid.

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Easy fix, there. Load 8 or 9 shot over about 2-3 grains Bullseye and a gas check. Fill the case with shot, top it with another gas check and roll crimp the lot. Works great. I've loaded and tested them at the range. I never used one or even carried one in the field, though. I normally just sidestep snakes unless I want me some fried rattler, then I just shoot the head with a bullet. Works every time. Head shots are pretty easy at 20 feet on a coiled rattler. I've even shot a few moving water snakes this way, though it took more'n one shot on a few occasions to connect. Was a .22 pistol.

I carry a .357 snub with the first 2 rounds being the CCI shotshell cartridges backed up by 3 rounds of .357 Magnum 158gr soft points or 140 gr LeverEvolution rounds.

My suggestion would be a 4" Ruger GP-100 (357 mag). I'd carry about 6 rounds of shot and whatever you want to for regular 357 loads. I personally would keep it loaded with regular 357 loads and keep a few shot shells available. Snakes usually aren't quick shots. If a quick shot is needed, you certainly didn't need to kill the snake.

I would avoid shooting snakes unless it is a Cotton Mouth, or one of the exotics that are becoming common in South FL. Rattlesnakes and Copperheads can be just avoided in most cases and don't need to be dispatched.

Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. Shotshells for snakes, slugs for hogs.

Snakes usually aren't quick shots. If a quick shot is needed, you certainly didn't need to kill the snake.

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Have you ever had a cottonmouth come right at you? They are aggressive. I've had them come after my ATV while just driving down the road. I've had them attack the truck, try to get to me. That's why I keep the first 2 shots as snake shot. Sometimes, quick shots are most definitely needed.

Hogs are not a threat to humans if you're worried about one eating you. The only time I've EVER been attacked by a hog is when I attacked him first and then had to blood trail him.

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Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Tell that to the farmer in Texas who was recently attacked and eaten by his hogs.

I've had my tangles with Cotton Mouths. It is just about the only snake that I absolutely hate and would kill on sight.

Wouldn't the "Judge" be the optimum choice here for this given situation???? Personally I'm not a fan of it but it may have a use yet in this particular situation.

I have a much more usable gun that da Judge in .410/.45 Colt..



Of course, you only have one shot, but just don't miss. Carry it choke installed. If you wind up blood trailing a hog, take the choke off and put a .45 in it.

Judge? Well, okay, if ya can't shoot.

I was using an h&r 22 revolver for snakes today while cutting grass, I got 2 copperheads and missed one, I've used it on hogs before also.

In the field I prefer .357

I have a bondarms 45lc that holds over 700 #12 shot that is good for snakes while fishing but generally use what I have on me at other times.

No problem hitting them even with shorty pistols and 9mm is plenty.

I was on a little 43 acre lake in a "sportsman's club' I was in once, one of the leases. It was infested with water snakes, not moccasins, but the very aggressive non poisonous water snakes with the flat fin like tail. I went there to fish, but had a little Phoenix Arms HP22 on me. Now this little pocket auto has a 3" barrel, is kinda a POS, but it's very accurate and quite reliable. I shot a dozen or more that day swimming and on tree limbs out to 25 yards. I was having a ball, forgot all about fishing. There was one on a limb about 20 yards from the boat, couldn't see his head. He was FAT, probably 3" diameter, so I shot him amid ships. He rolled off that tree, spotted me, rared up out of the water half his body length and came after me. Now, I'm in a 10 ft john boat. I took aim at his head and started firing, 9 shots left in the gun. On about shot number 7, I hit the head as it was weaving back and forth. By this time he was 10 yards max from the boat, maybe a bit closer. I was getting ready to drop the pistol and grab the paddle for CQB.

That was a buncha fun. I've kept that little gun all these years with that memory of it being the best. It's had its problems and I've replaced it with a Ruger SR22 as a pocket fishing take along. I keep the HP22, though, too cheap to get rid of and it's still working. I don't shoot it much, figure the zamak will snap soon, probably 2K through the little gun over the years.

Yeah, if you can shoot and you ain't skirt, you don't need shot loads.

FredHunter said:

I live in Florida and want a back up sidearm while archery hunting. I want to be prepared for snakes and hogs. What handgun and caliber do you suggest?
Thanks

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In order to legally bowhunt with a firearm in Fla., it has to be concealed and you must possess a concealed weapons permit. A revolver on your hip will get you written up. Therefore, a .38 snubby with Speer shotshells would work for close snakes but be useless for hogs unless you are an excellent shot with it. Maybe a .40 cal. auto would do with a handloaded shotshell for the first shot.

.357 Mag.

I handload shotshells for my 357 SP101 and it handles snakes just fine. The longest shot was about 5 yards. My last one was a water snake that way getting in the way while I was seining for bait fish.

In order to legally bowhunt with a firearm in Fla., it has to be concealed and you must possess a concealed weapons permit. A revolver on your hip will get you written up. Therefore, a .38 snubby with Speer shotshells would work for close snakes but be useless for hogs unless you are an excellent shot with it. Maybe a .40 cal. auto would do with a handloaded shotshell for the first shot.

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I've killed a lot of hogs in the trap with a .38 +P carry load in 140 grains. Head shots are final. But, I wouldn't hunt hogs with it, but I'm thinkin' if he's archery hunting, he ain't handgun hunting and, therefore, it's for finishing off the animal? Just slide a carry load in it for that. Might be good to have something to finish it off since a bow ain't that good for that. But, then, I thought you waited 30 minutes to track an animal that's bow shot. I guess you COULD walk up on it still breathing. I don't know, own and shoot bows, but never shot game with one.