best rifle for pythons

[JShirley]

Semi-auto .22 Magnum with a red dot. Head shots should be no problem.

 

[lemaymiami]

Very grateful that this thread wasn't locked.... The only additionl to add is that the pythons were in place and breeding before anyone noticed. I'm very worried that like a few islands in the Pacific where snakes were introduced... the pythons have the ability over time to dramatically change the nature of the Park's biology... (the islands I'm talking about lost their entire bird populations after snakes were accidentally introduced). The only road into the Park is exactly 38 miles long (compared to the roughly 90 by 90 miles the Park covers) so we have a very, very limited access to it unless you're in a boat. So far I haven't seen or heard that they're spreading rapidly towards the west - all the new sightings have been back towards the east and down into the upper Keys. Eastern Diamondback rattlers, cottonmouths.... yes, we have plenty but they don't concern me at all. The pythons with their appetites and ability to breed in great numbers... they worry me a lot.

 

[Pete D.]

Shots

Semi-auto .22 Magnum with a red dot. Head shots should be no problem.

Head shots are not the issue. Brain shots are the issue.
But....if you are a good shot....
Pete

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'd think this would be about the only thing one of those funky .410 revolvers would be pretty good for. Probably BB's or so and make sure the range is optimized for proper spread/pattern to the headbone.

 

[krupparms]

I agree with J.S., a semiauto in .22wmr. w/a red-dot site &light. I would also go with a 12ga. A handgun like the judge or governor would make a good backup for whatever rifle you use! The state SHOULD PUT A BOUNTY ON THEM! They will destroy the park & the cattle industry around it. And it could spread to south GA. In '89' they caught a gator on the GA./ Tennessee border in lake Nickajack.

 

[lobo9er]

certaindeaf has a good point this might be where the judge type revolvers could really shine they are sorta the ultimate snake handgun. for the up close encounters they would be quick and destructive. hickok45 did a good review on one on youtube.

 

[lobo9er]

I have heard many times rattlers and other snake actually sense the bullet coming and attack it helping to put your bullet where it needs to be. I wonder if python and the bigger breeds possess the same speed, and innate reaction?

 

[brnmw]

Maybe an M203 mounted on a M16A2, just to be sure

This would be my first choice .... However in my reality not owning an M203 my next choice would be a .12 Ga. Shotgun.

 

[smalls]

.50 BMG, or some sort of flamethrower. We can't take any chances here.

Snakes

 

[Boostedtwo]

I hate snakes kill them all lol.

 

[Art Eatman]

lobo9er, you'll hear lots of nonsense in your lifetime. Carry a salt shaker or wear hip boots--particularly around a gun shop or at hunt camp.

 

[lobo9er]

lobo9er, you'll hear lots of nonsense in your lifetime. Carry a salt shaker or wear hip boots--particularly around a gun shop or at hunt camp.

ha yeah I know not saying its fact but I think theres something to that one. I'm gonna do little click'ty clack'n on the key board see if I can find anything credible, or worth bringing to the conversation.

 

[JohnM]

Everyone knows only Superman is faster than a speeding bullet.
If you think a snake or any other animal can sense an on coming bullet and move out of its way you need a new Kryptonite shield.

 

[lobo9er]

ok its ridiculous

 

[Art Eatman]

Aw, guys get the shakes, jerk the trigger, and guess what?

Gotta blame the speedy snake, right? Couldn't have been a bad shot.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Everyone knows only Superman is faster than a speeding bullet.
If you think a snake or any other animal can sense an on coming bullet and move out of its way you need a new Kryptonite shield.

Heh!

Faster than a speeding bullet...but not faster than a thrown handgun.

~

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

The problem with these snakes is that they are too long !If you shorten them by about a foot from the big end , they become docile ! Kevin

 

[unwise11]

12 Guage with 7 1/2 shot....


Done and done-er.

I say 12 guage because it's all I have in shotguns, first shotgun was a 12 guage and I just grew up learning how to handle recoil, now I can shoot it comfortably all day..

 

[oneounceload]

Anything in 12, 16, 20 or. 410 gauge.

You left out the 28 gauge!

 

[rodensouth]

Has anyone here eaten a python? They look tasty to me. We are not allowed to kill them by law if found on your property, but I think I would fire up my smoker anyway.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I can't BELIEVE nobody has nailed this one yet.

The very best weapon for this application is obviously a Colt PYTHON!!

 

[Wes B]

I think Hiram Gummer used a punt gun. That was a bigger snake though.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

A mini-gun...... I am petrified by snakes. Seriously thou, any semi .22 should do without tearing up the skin too much...

 

[dubya450]

Whatever keeps me far far away from a snake! Ick!

 

[lemaymiami]

roden... actually the python is fair game wherever you fnd them (even Park Rangers down here in the Everglades will come running, shotgun in hand, if you have a live specimen...).

I've enjoyed all the back and forth on this topic (and still wonder why it was started at all...). For those from other parts of the country it's helpful to remember that ground zero for this particular problem is in a national park where no hunting is allowed period. Here's a link to a marine chart of that neighborhood to give you some idea of why eradicating them is going to be almost impossible. Flamingo, itself, is roughly 70 miles from Miami... the Park is where I am most days when guiding....

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11433.shtml

Remember, as well that there's only one 38 mile road into the area (the chart shown is fully interactive - you can zoom into any area for closeups, etc). There are actually both crocs and 'gators at the boat ramp each day, here's a pic of one of the crocs sunning himself.. they get quite a bit bigger than this nine footer.