Shotshells in Semi-Auto Handgun

[Hunter125]

Had a little run in with a 42" copperhead last weekend and all I had on me was .40 JHP and a gun that I just got and hadn't had very much practice with. They guy that owns the property I was on always carries a .44 Mag with a couple shotshells in it for just that reason. I looked up shotshells for .40 S&W and they have them, but I wasn't sure how well they would work with an autoloader.

Anybody ever use them? Do they work well and do they actually blow the slide back? I was told by someone that they weren't sure that it would.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I don't think they work very well (just hearsay), but what would it matter when you're dealing with a snake? Just rack the slide and shoot again - almost as easy as a single action revolver...

 

[azyogi]

Not in a 40 but the main problem is they are light loads, and most won't cycle the gun. I don't worry about the snakes, we got a deal they leave me alone I leave them to eat mice and rats. Never had one chase me, most people [better than 90%] that get snake bit were aware of the snake and did not back off.

 

[hammerklavier]

Just shoot it in the head with the hollow point.

 

[nitetrane98]

Never had one chase me, most people [better than 90%] that get snake bit were aware of the snake and did not back off.

Over 90% of all statistics are made up on the spot. (Including this one)

 

[Greg528iT]

The story I heard was..... most snake bites are on peoples faces, as they either get down in front of or hold up to show off their "manlyness". Sounds too good to be wrong.

The few rattlers I've seen. come across, really don't want to mess with you. Most on golf courses, and then I am appropriately armed (a 7 iron) to deal with most snakes. In those cases, I retreated, and looked elsewhere for my golf ball, or called it lost.

 

[samurai]

Not sure with 40, but the 9mm won't cycle my pistols.

 

[azyogi]

Numbers vary depending on source, I was quoting my Job Saftey Program, put on by Pima County Risk Management. [I'm retired now so this was 8 years ago] The Walk AZ website puts the number between 50% and 70%. To make you happy I'll revise my statement to most AZ snakebites occur when people don't leave snakes alone. World wide snakebites might be a problem, but here they are not. Most biologists will affirm that snakes perform a vittle function in our ecology and should be left alone.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I haven't shot any snakes yet, but the CCI 9mm and .45 shotshells function very well in my 1911's and CZ75. I'm sure I have used the 9mm shotshells in my BHP, also.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Never had one chase me

It does happen and I have been chased. A cottonmouth is extremely aggressive if you back them into a corner. In most cases you have cornered them before even knowing they were there. They WILL come after you. They will attempt to get into the boat with you even while you are trying to beat them to death with an oar. I have seen and experience all of these things personally. On topic, my Browning Buckmark wont cycle shotshells. I Carry a .44 mag revolver with Speer #9 shotshells.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Shot a snake in my mother-in-laws bathroom with a Ruger Mark II and .22 CCI shotshells (snake was coiled up under the clothes hamper); did not cycle the action.

Have testfired CCI .45 ACP shotshells in a 1911 and they did function.

 

[Grey Morel]

Your prayers are answered!
http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/sh20-e.htm

maybe not quite...

 

[Mitch from LA]

Numbers vary depending on source, I was quoting my Job Saftey Program, put on by Pima County Risk Management. [I'm retired now so this was 8 years ago] The Walk AZ website puts the number between 50% and 70%. To make you happy I'll revise my statement to most AZ snakebites occur when people don't leave snakes alone. World wide snakebites might be a problem, but here they are not. Most biologists will affirm that snakes perform a vittle function in our ecology and should be left alone.

As a biologist with a great deal of experience working with snakes I can confirm this. Glad you got in here before the BS started getting too thick.

 

[gmh1013]

I live in Ahwatukee foothills and my backfence faces South Mountain reserve...Last year I had a
6 ft Diamondback in our pool about this time last year.....I called Maricopia animal control
I would not even try to get near that monster unless I had my 12 gauge winchester....
and sure did not want snake guts in the pool.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I can think of nothing else but to buy enough of them to fill a magazine and try them in your individual handgun. Even densely packed little pellets in a plastic cap weigh less than a bullet, so they may or may not generate enough recoil to cycle your action or to feed.

 

[bernie]

The CCI's do not cycle my 1911, but I have never needed more than one. Just don't shoot them from a long way away. Most snakes will leave you alone. So will most people. I carry snake shot for the snakes that will not leave me alone and a concealed handgun for the people that will not either.

 

[Walkalong]

I have always used a revolver. (CA .44 Spl as soon as I experienced the failure of .22 mag rat shot against snakes) I have never needed a second shot with the .44 Spl.

Only way to know for sure is try some in your gun. They certainly are not going to cycle the gun. The best thing would be if they did not move the slide enough to jam anything up so you could manually rack it and get a second shot if needed.