I go running on my property with my glock 26 on my hip. There is at times a poisonous snake, usually a water moccasin, in my path. I use my glock 26 to eliminate them with impunity. Lately, I've been worried about the bullet coming back up after it gets done with mr. snake and smacking me. I am firing at either dirt or a dirt road with some gravel. What precautions should I take as far a ricochet and angle of shot? Should I lower the angle by using a crouching shot? I know it's an odd question, but I would appreciate any insight. (physics is not my strong point)
I shoot snakes at ground level with 9mm often, I'm worried about ricochet.
- Thread starter Ben86
- Start date
- Status
Ragnar Danneskjold
Member
Have you considered just not shooting them and slowly walking the other way? I know that's not an answer to your questions, but killing snakes just to kill them seems excessive.
Four Knives
Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2009
- Messages
- 103
They do make snake shot in 9mm
The shot will not cycle the slide on a G22, but as I recall, it will cycle the slide on a G26 and a Taurus 709, YMMV.
I'd suggest snake shot, since a hardened gravel road could not only endanger you or anyone you are walking with, but there is the potential (however slight) that in an errant moment, you could have a ricochet further down your path that could endanger someone else. **especially if you crouch down to shoot the snake, you could have a skip ricochet that travels a greater distance and end up well beyond your line of sight.
We each make our own choices. I'm not judging you, but if it's enough in your mind to post here about it, I'd say your gut is telling you the risk:reward calculation is higher than you'd like.
The shot will not cycle the slide on a G22, but as I recall, it will cycle the slide on a G26 and a Taurus 709, YMMV.
I'd suggest snake shot, since a hardened gravel road could not only endanger you or anyone you are walking with, but there is the potential (however slight) that in an errant moment, you could have a ricochet further down your path that could endanger someone else. **especially if you crouch down to shoot the snake, you could have a skip ricochet that travels a greater distance and end up well beyond your line of sight.
We each make our own choices. I'm not judging you, but if it's enough in your mind to post here about it, I'd say your gut is telling you the risk:reward calculation is higher than you'd like.
Deaf Smith
Member
While I'm not a fan of the 'Judge', I'd think that .410/.45 LC would be the thing to use.
And if I did, I'd get that new snubber CCW Judge, I think it's called the 'Public Defender'.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=662&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=41
I think that would take care of any snake.
And if I did, I'd get that new snubber CCW Judge, I think it's called the 'Public Defender'.
http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=662&category=Revolver&toggle=tr&breadcrumbseries=41
I think that would take care of any snake.
ILikeLead
Member
Ben, I am not here to determine whether you should kill snakes or not, but I personally would be a bit concerned about either dirt or rocks or a bit of lead flying back up toward my face, and eyes.
"Ratshot" is an option, but it's awful high priced. It could still bounce back at you as well.
What I might do would be to back up 10 feet or so if the surroundings allow, and expect the bullet to ricochet away from me or mine.
Obviously this would be only feasible in a rural area, which is what you describe...
"Ratshot" is an option, but it's awful high priced. It could still bounce back at you as well.
What I might do would be to back up 10 feet or so if the surroundings allow, and expect the bullet to ricochet away from me or mine.
Obviously this would be only feasible in a rural area, which is what you describe...
mljdeckard
Member
I use snakeshot. I don't feel bad about dispatching them, there certainly isn't a shortage of them, and they will make more.
maroast
Member
I've seen someone die from a snake bite before....not very common, but also not very pretty.
Hey, you could make a stew from the meat....then it would be a win-win situation!
that would be my choice.
I might try some snake shot, I've seen a box at my local Gander Mountain. Pricey stuff though. I'm trying to get this straight, concerning the path of the ricochet, if the bullet is shot at an extreme downward angle it will bounce back higher (bad for me). However the less extreme the angle in relation to the ground, (done by standing further away, or couching) the lower the ricochet will travel. I'm sure a lot has to do with the way the ground is shaped and what it is composed of as well.
By the way it's nothing but thick woods 360 degrees around my property. No neighbors. So there's no real danger of others getting hit.
By the way it's nothing but thick woods 360 degrees around my property. No neighbors. So there's no real danger of others getting hit.
Last edited:
You can't control the direction or distance (can be several hundred yards) of a ricochet...shooting in random directions without adequate backstop makes *you* more of a danger than the snakes.
It's a poor choice of actions considering that you *could* dispatch them with a stick and knife. I believe that if you were to hit someone, you could be successfully prosecuted.
It's a poor choice of actions considering that you *could* dispatch them with a stick and knife. I believe that if you were to hit someone, you could be successfully prosecuted.
Zerodefect
member
When I was in Florida we'd have a dozen Cottonmouths, which are known to be aggressive, and Rattlesnakes in the yard at any given time.
The Cottons will hold thier gorund if you walk up to them. The Rattles will tend to leave , if they can. the Rattlesnakes are allways kinda slow when I spot them.
Neither is really a significant threat. Also snake venom will only kill you quickly if your luck is very bad. Usually you have plenty of time to seek help. I knew a ranger that hiked 10 miles to get help after being bit on the upper leg. He sat on a rattler.
When I'm hiking people often make fun of me for stepping over the curled up pile of dog poo not knowing that the dog poo is actually a rattle. They don't rattle too well in the cold.
You leave them alone and they'll leave you alone, I promise.
The Cottons will hold thier gorund if you walk up to them. The Rattles will tend to leave , if they can. the Rattlesnakes are allways kinda slow when I spot them.
Neither is really a significant threat. Also snake venom will only kill you quickly if your luck is very bad. Usually you have plenty of time to seek help. I knew a ranger that hiked 10 miles to get help after being bit on the upper leg. He sat on a rattler.
When I'm hiking people often make fun of me for stepping over the curled up pile of dog poo not knowing that the dog poo is actually a rattle. They don't rattle too well in the cold.
You leave them alone and they'll leave you alone, I promise.
Last edited by a moderator:
It's a beautiful creature leading its snaky little life. Don't kill it unless it makes an unprovoked assault on you and you cannot escape except by killing it.
Just curious, what did you mean by the phrase "with impunity"?
snakes impart fear on alot of people.. justified or not.. Rare reactions aside, there is no snake in the US that will kill a person in less than several hours.... IMO, most cases of people being bitten are quite avoidable in that the person sees the snake, approach it, and attempt to kill it...then they get bitten.
Am I on THR or the PETA online shooting forum? Seriously guys I don't believe in killing for the heck of it but Water Moccasin is still dangerous to humans therefore I'd eliminate them as well. Blacksnakes, Garters and the like I live be but Copperheads and Moccasins get sent to there Snakey Maker.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,710
Wow, you are going to promise my safety? Thanks a bunch.
I didn't get to be this old taking advice from idiots. And I'm not going to start tomorrow.
I sure hope that others don't start today.
ZeroDefect my arse. You have one obvious and glaring defect that you have exposed to one and all.
Humans are dangerous to humans so on that logic you would shoot every human you see!
jmortimer
Member
Most of the dogs I have owned have been bitten by rattlesnakes so I kill every rattlesnake I find. Cheaper than vet bills and anti-venom. There are way too many here.
dmazur
Member
I don't have a snake issue, but when they are in season, I like to try for grouse with a pistol.
CCI shotshells in .45ACP are loaded hot enough to cycle the slide.
While the package says "Pest Control", I believe they will work fine for grouse, based on some patterns I got on a cardboard box at 20 ft.
If you're really set on this, it could be an excuse to get a .45
CCI shotshells in .45ACP are loaded hot enough to cycle the slide.
While the package says "Pest Control", I believe they will work fine for grouse, based on some patterns I got on a cardboard box at 20 ft.
If you're really set on this, it could be an excuse to get a .45
Zerodefect
member
Is there anything a Fudd won't find an excuse to shoot?
By aggressive I meant they'll just sit there and hold thier ground. I've woken up on the ground with these curled right up next to me. As soon as i unzip my bivy, there's old hissy white mouth staring at me. And their intimidating to. Way fatter and shorter, stocky looking.
I've never seen any of these snakes move quickly. Even when I have taunted them with my trekking pole. Usually they'll spin around slowly and attak my pole. It's allmost as if they know they're screwed allready.
If you have hundreds of these things in your yard i can see exterminating them, but a few snakes are no biggie. Unless you like rodent infestation.
By aggressive I meant they'll just sit there and hold thier ground. I've woken up on the ground with these curled right up next to me. As soon as i unzip my bivy, there's old hissy white mouth staring at me. And their intimidating to. Way fatter and shorter, stocky looking.
I've never seen any of these snakes move quickly. Even when I have taunted them with my trekking pole. Usually they'll spin around slowly and attak my pole. It's allmost as if they know they're screwed allready.
If you have hundreds of these things in your yard i can see exterminating them, but a few snakes are no biggie. Unless you like rodent infestation.
Great point!
dogtown tom
Member
Guys who shoot snakes are panty wearing girly men...
REAL MEN will get a big stick and beat it flatter than roadkill.
Big sticks are cheap, ammo is not.
Oh........just because someone suggests that you leave that snake alone, doesn't mean you should get your panties in a wad and accuse them of being a member of PETA.
A poisonous snake in my backyard, he's a dead man.
If I'm in HIS backyard, I go around.
.
REAL MEN will get a big stick and beat it flatter than roadkill.
Big sticks are cheap, ammo is not.
Oh........just because someone suggests that you leave that snake alone, doesn't mean you should get your panties in a wad and accuse them of being a member of PETA.
A poisonous snake in my backyard, he's a dead man.
If I'm in HIS backyard, I go around.
.
GigaBuist
Member
I'd probably pick up a Taurus Judge and some .410 shells loaded with #9 if I were in this situation. It's about the only practical use I can imagine for the Judge.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
