Anyone ever killed a snake with shotshell out of a .38 snub?

[M2 Carbine]

TallPine

I've wondered about loading a light bullet or round ball over the top of some snake pellets. Anyone ever try that ???

I've experimented with the Buck and Ball load in the 38 (impressive in the shotgun).
It kind of defeats the purpose of using shot. Many times the snake must be shot where stray small pellets won't hurt anything but where a stray hunk of lead could do damage.

Personally, my walking around 38 is loaded with one or two shot shells and three or four lead SWC bullets. That will take care of most small problems that I might run into around the place.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've shot several snakes in the head with a 1 5/8" NAA .22 mini revolver shooting Federal HV hollow point. If I can do it with THAT, you can hit one from a 4" .38 and a wadcutter.

As I said above, many times the snake has to be shot where a bullet would be a problem.

I came out of the barn about 11 PM one night and there was a Rattlesnake several feet to the left of the door.
Where he was required me to shoot toward the barn. Shot skipping off the ground wouldn't hurt a thing but a bullet skipping off the ground not only would have probably gone through the bar tin wall but no telling what it would damage in the barn.

Now for you fellows that want to go get a rock, stick, or hoe.
The last thing I want to do at that point is take my eyes off that snake and go find something to kill it with, then come back and try to find that big Rattlesnake in the dark. Of course I could just leave but the chances are if the snake is here tonight, he will come back and I might not see him in time next time.

I've walked half way across the dark yard several times and heard a Rattlesnake before I could find it. Hearing the snake and not knowing where it is will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

Now days my walking around the place at night gun is equipped with a Streamlight TLR-2 laser light.

 

[TallPine]

That's a good point, M2

I guess I was thinking the other way - for shooting a porcupine or something the solid would be handy.

 

[Poor East Texan]

A decent flashlight is my companion when I go out at night! I don't usually go out armed however....

 

[45crittergitter]

I've killed a wagonload of 'em with a .38 snubby and shotloads. Rats too.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

A few with snakeshot from a .38 snubbie, but I much prefer a wadcutter due to the very limited range of the shot.

 

[Guillermo]

I usually dispatch any unwanted vipers with whatever defense cartridge is loaded in my handgun. In my experience the two legged varmints are more prevalent that the slitherers.

It the snake gets away I am fine with it. If I have to shoot a gremlin with snake shot I might have an issue.

 

[alemonkey]

I've thought before that I wouldn't mind moving to Texas some day. All this talk of snakes is going a long way towards curing that

Not that I mind them that much myself, but I'd fear for the dog and the kid. The dog is dumb and the kid is curious, so they'd both get in trouble.

 

[slabuda]

Flyfishing and snakes

Never shot one, but almost stepped on a rattler while fly fishing on the Deschutes. Did actually step on a water snake that went shooting out from under my boot. I made a noise I don't think I've ever made before and my son laughed his butt off.

I saw 2 snakes on SF Boise this weekend and one on Silver Creek. 2 I believe were hog nose, not sure the other but there are rattlers at SF Boise as I have heard some and seen a few on the road.

The water snakes wont hurt you and I say leave the rattlers, the more there are the less people may want to go to "MY" river.

 

[DevilDog0402]

I shot a snake in Reno just to watch it die.

 

[Headless]

once, with a CCI shotshell - it took 2 actually, from a distance of about 4 feet. The shot has a pretty wide spread pattern. It was totally dead with the second shot. Amusingly, the first time I tried to kill a rattler was with a 9mm semiauto...maybe 3 weeks after I bought it, and before I had practiced at all...(it was my first gun)... I managed to miss it not once, not twice, not 3 times, but 4 times from a range of 6-8 feet before it slithered under the deck and dissapeared. I'd like to think it was bobbing and weaving, but really, i just couldn't shoot worth a damn back then. I sure did get close though. Really. I mean it.

 

[TallPine]

I managed to miss it not once, not twice, not 3 times, but 4 times from a range of 6-8 feet before it slithered under the deck and dissapeared. I'd like to think it was bobbing and weaving, but really, i just couldn't shoot worth a damn back then. I sure did get close though. Really. I mean it.

At very close ranges you shoot low because the line of sight is above the barrel.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

the cci snake shot works. killed 2 copperheads on my friends 900acres land.

walked to the river and saw a water moccasin, that one was taken care of with 12ga birdshot. i hate snakes

 

[Headless]

At very close ranges you shoot low because the line of sight is above the barrel.

Well yeah, i know that now... of course, now i've sent 10's of thousands of rounds downrange with that pistol alone...then i'd shot less than 100, total

 

[farscott]

Not with a .38 snub. I have used my Bond Arms derringer in .410 to do the deed. The water snakes have been really aggressive due to all of the rain we have received. The dogs play in the back yard so I take no chances.

I also got chased by a Black Racer, and I finally shot that one as my wife was quite upset.

 

[MCgunner]

I've thought before that I wouldn't mind moving to Texas some day. All this talk of snakes is going a long way towards curing that

Not that I mind them that much myself, but I'd fear for the dog and the kid. The dog is dumb and the kid is curious, so they'd both get in trouble.

I've had one beagle killed and spent 200 bucks at the vet on a cat that got bit. It was NASTY, magots crawling in the rotting flesh. She healed up pretty quick, though.

Ran the kid inside once when a cat was protecting her babies behind my shop one day. I was working on something in the shop and heard the rattling, ran and got a hoe, and chopped off his head. Thing was 6 feet. Fried up real good, too, just like chicken. I've got pretty heavy woods behind my fence and lots of varmints and rats, why I like cats so much. But, the rats keep the snake population healthy.

 

[GP100man]

my wife says theres only 4 kinds of snakes , big ones , little ones , live ones & dead ones !!!!!& when it starts warming up she confenscates
a 38 & loads shot shells only!!!!

GP100man

 

[bluetopper]

20 years ago I used to rent a house with a barn in back and it had inside as well as outside walls. It left a gap in between that was a haven for rats. At night I used to go in there with a flashlight and turn it on intermittently and shoot rats with a snub full of .22 rat shot. Fun.......but quite spooky. Those rats would make the hair stand up on the back of your neck in the dark.

 

[SageMonkey]

I've never used pistol shotshells on a snake. I keep meaning to get some, and then forget, then have to do something crazy like shoot it with a .22 target pistol when its positioned right among the nearby rocks. Last one I at least had a shotgun with birdshot for, about 18 inches from my car bumper and glad I wasn't using a real bullet due to the possible damage from ricochet (rocks hide under the dirt too).

I DID once kill a copperhead with a rock. It took 4 or 5 blows with a nice large rock, and man did it get pissed off... actually chased me down the road a bit with its head all smashed up and an eye out. Not trying that again.

I've used 22 shotshells against indoor rodents. Works well and doesn't bugger up the house as much as the cat trying to get them.

 

[packnrat]

got a snake problem...get a bunch of ginny hens.
these birds will go after snakes....but alas even the good ones.




.

 

[Huddog]

Yes.

 

[rcmodel]

Much as I hate snakes, I'd rather have snakes then Guenna Hens!

Those suckers won't even let you sleep at night!

rcmodel

 

[MCgunner]

I've never used pistol shotshells on a snake. I keep meaning to get some, and then forget, then have to do something crazy like shoot it with a .22 target pistol when its positioned right among the nearby rocks. Last one I at least had a shotgun with birdshot for, about 18 inches from my car bumper and glad I wasn't using a real bullet due to the possible damage from ricochet (rocks hide under the dirt too).

I DID once kill a copperhead with a rock. It took 4 or 5 blows with a nice large rock, and man did it get pissed off... actually chased me down the road a bit with its head all smashed up and an eye out. Not trying that again.

I've used 22 shotshells against indoor rodents. Works well and doesn't bugger up the house as much as the cat trying to get them.

What's a rock?

 

[Guillermo]

guinea hen are noisy but they sure do taste good
good burglar alarms too

 

[MCgunner]

Peacocks. I hate peacocks.