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Aaryq

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Howdy, folks. I'm thinking about getting a revolver to carry when I'm out in the country when I'm in ND during the warm months. I haven't really decided on what I want but it needs to be a revolver (single or double action), it needs to take abuse without me cringing at a little scratch, it needs to shoot inexpensive ammo (I'm not a reloader), and the pistol can't break the bank. I'm not too worried about 2-legged predators and I probably won't have to worry about the 4-legged type too much. I'm more concerned about the Prairie Rattlers and Bull Snakes. The reason I would like a revolver is because I can carry it with shotshell rounds and keep some real ones in my pocket. The first 2 calibers that come to mind are .22lr (maybe with a .22 magnum cylinder) or a .357 magnum so I can also shoot .38 special. I'm not currently in the market for one right now, but come a few months my mind might change.

**ETA** Would .22LR or Magnum shotshells work on snakes or just tick them off?
 
When it comes to using shotshells for snakes you'll be far better off with a 38/357. Shotshells from a 22 are pretty anemic.
 
Just about any .38/.357 would work fine, even a double action.

You can carry one or two snakeshot shells and the rest solids. I doubt you're going to have to shoot six snakes at a time ;)

Watch out for the two-legged snakes as well.
 
I carried a Ruger Blackhawk in the N GA mountains for years.Snake shot killed many a copperhead. Factory 357's give a good variety. Being on a budget,the Remington UMC 125 grain Soft point would be good in 357.
Byron
 
You have a large choice of fine weapons in the .38/.357 range. Most are rugged and dependable. Single action or double action. High dollar and not so high. S&W,Ruger, and Taurus. Good luck.
 
The Taurus Judge Model 4510- Shoots 45 Long Colt and .410 shotgun shells

Shot one for the first time this past weekend. A blast.:D
 
S&W 686 with a 4 inch barrel would be my call. Or 586 if you prefer blue, but they are tougher to find. You can probably go to a range and rent one.

Try as many as you want to pay for the ammunition. Save you purchase mistakes in the future.

My first purchase was a BERSA BT 380. Not a powerhouse but fun to shoot with a 4 inch barrel and inexpensive a great value, reliable, 24oz, I still have it and use it in situations where if it gets stolen or confiscated I don't really care.

It's an auto and there is a BERSA forum website if you are interested. Looks like a Walther PPK.

I have run of track due to beer.
 
My vote would be for a Ruger SP101 in .357
Probably with a 3 1/4" barrel, it's extremely rugged, would carry great in a pancake holster (Simply Rugged Holsters come to mind) and can double up as a house gun and even CCW if you decide to do so.
 
Taurus Judge sounds very appealing. I've been thinking about getting one for such a long time, but I can't bring it back to PRK with me. Then again, I'll be getting a bunch of non-CA approved weapons and stowing them at my parents' house in ND. How is .410 and .45LC for a small weapons/ammo budget?
 
Go with a .22. I never had the slightest problem killing a snake with a solid bullet from a .22. I'd get a Ruger Single Six and a couple of thousand rounds of Wal-Mart bulk pack ammo and have a ball.
 
Aaryq said:
Taurus Judge sounds very appealing. I've been thinking about getting one for such a long time, but I can't bring it back to PRK with me. Then again, I'll be getting a bunch of non-CA approved weapons and stowing them at my parents' house in ND. How is .410 and .45LC for a small weapons/ammo budget?
Click to expand...
In my neck of the woods .45LC is between $.65/round and $1.00/round. And those are the only two brands I can find. I can get it mailorder for somewhat cheaper ($.39/round), but even at that, it's a reloader's caliber.

.410 shells can be more expensive that 12 gauge simply because they're less common. Slugs are expensive.

-- Sam
 
A 22lr or 357/38 would be great calibers.22 shotshells are not anemic,I have killed plenty of rattlers with one shot from a 22lr shot shell.I second the notion for the taurus judge or ruger sp101.Both of them would fit the (out hiking in the woods)bill a little better IMO.
 
The Taurus Judge is a real idea thats time has arrived...about a decade late.
I really like its versatility in the type setting you are describing. I have been looking at one for a few weeks now. We have those nasty cottonmouths, rattlers & copperheads down here and they just spoil a fishing or hunting trip.

Thanks for the report Parasite!
 
I just can't say enough good things about my Taurus 44-Ten. A real hoot to shoot. Uncannily accurate with .45 Colt at 25 yards and absolutely devastating up close and personal with shotshells. Mine ranks real close to the top of my list of favorite guns. I've owned it for just over 18 months now and have shot the beejeebers outta it. Still just as tight as the day I took it outta the box. Mine is the 6.5" SS model, other models may not be the same. I'm not sure I'd like the gun as much in barel lengths less than 4", but that's probably just my preference. I shoot mostly 6" and longer revolvers.
 
Toncat47.........The Judge with some .410 birdshot ought to take care of those pesky rattle-headed copper moccasins. :D
We got em thick here in East Texas too.
 
Check out (dare I say it) the SW J-Frame for a revolver in a .357 mag. You can pick one up for $300 brand new from any dealer but probably less if you find a deal. You can check Taurus for the same type in a .357 mag but the quality is even worse I feel than the S&W.
 
I agree with Eightball, I also have a 620 and it is a great gun.

You can shoot shotshells, easy .38spl, and high power hollow points and heavy 180 to 200 gr. hardcast for the bigger snakes:)
 
It is not my intent to high-jack your thread but I am moved to express myself on this issue a little. First off, let's talk snakes.

Snakes are not going to attack you....they just aren't. They will either hide and hope you pass without noticing them (Most Likely) or run the other way to hide. You frequently hear of Cottonmouth Water moccasins advancing toward you (on land and in water) It may be a bluff. I have never been (or seen or heard of anyone) that was run down and bitten. Besides, Cottonmouth Water moccasins are pretty rare that far north. Just be careful and watch where you step. A gun will not usually help. If you saw them in time to shoot them, you could avoid them entirely. Don't know about prairie rattlers and Bull Snakes in particular but bet they are pretty similar. Seeing them first; that's the key!

Worse things we have down here are alligators. They are too big and tough and dumb to be afraid. They generally hang around or in the water. But I wouldn't expect any of those in ND.

Don't you all have grizz up there?

PigPen
 
Pig pen.... You should visit the wetland of coastal SC...if you dont think a cottonmouth will challenge you. I would say it is a 50/50 thing 50% says he detects you first and slinks away undetected, the other 50% says he comes to see what you are and when you run up on one with this attitude .... well you need the shotshells. They also are notorious for joining you in the boat. Here in the south east it is designated the most agressive of the aforementioned 3 species.

If this goes any further we may want to start a what snake do you hate thread....
 
Cottonmouth snakes won't attack...you must not have seen Lonesome Dove. That poor Irish kid :(

BTW, I always take my notions of truth and reality from movies.
 
Had a whole family come after me in a aluminum john boat while in the Swamps of Virginia babies and all. I must have drifted into them, sounded like someone was throwing pebbles at the boat. Glad mamma didn't decide to come in. I used to carry a little Davis .22 derringer on the boat for that very reason, the .22 shotshells wouldn't put a hole in the bottom of the boat. In the field a 2" .38 Taurus 85 with the first 2 rounds being shotshells that was used many times. That area was just full of snakes.
 
While I think the Taurus Judge is pretty high on the coolness scale, I vote for 38/357--lots of different platforms and types of ammo available.
We've had lots of snakes in our yard this year and almost half of them have been rattlers of respectable size--not good in a neighborhood with cats, dogs, and kids running around. Finally got a shot at a rattler the other day (he was close to where I needed to mow and didn't show a lot of inclination to move) and CCI 38/357 shotshells performed very well.
 
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