351 WINCHESTER
Member
My use of snakeshot in .22, .22 mag and .38 special is dismal to say the least. 3 feet is about the max. for a .22 or mag. and the .38 isn't much better. Just beyond striking distance. They are worse on rats.
Will a .22 Shotshell kill a Snake?
- Thread starter LeontheProfessional
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When I was in the boy scouts, a camp guide used one on a snake during a hike. It died. You have to be pretty close though.
So to answer your question, yes it will. There are better options out there though. We have some .38spl shot shells but I don't think we have ever used them and I don't know why we had them in the first place since we rarely camp and never take the .38 w/ us lol.
So to answer your question, yes it will. There are better options out there though. We have some .38spl shot shells but I don't think we have ever used them and I don't know why we had them in the first place since we rarely camp and never take the .38 w/ us lol.
I once patterned a 22 shotshell out of a Single Six on a piece of particle board at about four feet.
OUCH!
Don't try this at home. And if you do, have eye protection.
OUCH!
Don't try this at home. And if you do, have eye protection.
Acera
Member
Funny thing about this thread.........
Those who have zero experience at it, say it can't happen.
Those who have actual experience say it works.
Plus, if you have a larger gun, you don't want .357 load, it is too strong, a .38 load is ideal.
If you want auto cycling, use CCI's .45 ACP loads, they reliably cycle my Kimber.
Noticed how we don't have anyone saying I tried it and the snake attacked me after I shot it with the .22 shot. (Well we don't have that post until some "expert" makes up a story and posts it, to counter this one.)
Those who have zero experience at it, say it can't happen.
Those who have actual experience say it works.
Plus, if you have a larger gun, you don't want .357 load, it is too strong, a .38 load is ideal.
If you want auto cycling, use CCI's .45 ACP loads, they reliably cycle my Kimber.
Noticed how we don't have anyone saying I tried it and the snake attacked me after I shot it with the .22 shot. (Well we don't have that post until some "expert" makes up a story and posts it, to counter this one.)
chevyforlife21
Member
they are pretty useless imo, i never got to try them out on a snake yet but they pattern horribly in a bolt action marlin, and a marlin mod 60. and they dont cycle themselves and mine always seem to get stuck in the chamber after i fire one, so i need to have a cleaning rod to push out the caseing or a knife to pull it out by the rim.
Impureclient
Member
It sounds like you guys are living in an Indiana Jones movie. Bang, got one...bang, another, bang bang.
If you are less than 10 feet from a snake, isn't a hard rake or shovel easier to dispatch these suckers instead of shooting at them?
Is that legal to do; shoot at a snake? Is that a State to state thing like open and concealed carry?
If you are less than 10 feet from a snake, isn't a hard rake or shovel easier to dispatch these suckers instead of shooting at them?
Is that legal to do; shoot at a snake? Is that a State to state thing like open and concealed carry?
floridaboy
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It absolutely kills snakes, at very short ranges. Let's say under 15'. At ranges over 20 yards, it won't penetrate your jeans. Do not ask me how I know.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Yes, it can work. It works best out of a .22 rifle than a pistol. You really need to hit the brain to get a relatively quick kill. Body shots don't produce death quickly in most cases.
Note that the brain is often very small compared to the overall size of the snake's head and large portions of it can be damaged without shutting down the CNS. For example, the forebrain is primarily associated olfactory and related senses, but does not control muscle movement.
Note that the brain is often very small compared to the overall size of the snake's head and large portions of it can be damaged without shutting down the CNS. For example, the forebrain is primarily associated olfactory and related senses, but does not control muscle movement.
pikid89
Member
ive seen water moccasins as bid around as your arm here in south FL take 3 .380's and then slither off..i think a .45acp hardball oughta do it
Impureclient
Member
Floridaboy, that was one of the coolest stories I've ever heard.
It may have been foolish but, I bet it was sure fun.
Not that I would let my 11 year old son read your story or what I said.
It may have been foolish but, I bet it was sure fun.
Not that I would let my 11 year old son read your story or what I said.
Mt Shooter
Member
Don't forget the reptile house in South Dakota pays 5000 big ones for a rattler over five feet long. That having been said I use a 12 gauge on them.
jlg
Member
The buckmark is an accurate enough pistol. Just use regular hollow points and make a head shot. If you miss, he'll likely run. If you hit, he'll likely die. You've got 10 shots, you should be able to land at least one good hit.
Greybeard
Member
I experimented with various shot loads in various guns and at varied ranges. Bottom line is you don't know for sure until shot out of a particular gun what the reliability will be for the second shot or what the pattern will be at a given distance.
The 22 rimfire shot loads have a very limited number of very small pellets and the most semi-effective use I've had for them is on Texas bumblebees at about 5'. On the other hand, at 5', I've had a .45ACP shot load chop the head completely off of a snake. Out of a Glock 36, which cycled fine, ready for the next shot. However, I can't say that I've ever fired a shot load out of a .22 semiautomatic pistol or rifle and had it cycle properly for a quick subsequent shot.
The 22 rimfire shot loads have a very limited number of very small pellets and the most semi-effective use I've had for them is on Texas bumblebees at about 5'. On the other hand, at 5', I've had a .45ACP shot load chop the head completely off of a snake. Out of a Glock 36, which cycled fine, ready for the next shot. However, I can't say that I've ever fired a shot load out of a .22 semiautomatic pistol or rifle and had it cycle properly for a quick subsequent shot.
mljdeckard
Member
None of the ones I killed with it were over three feet long. And they were close-in shots. We have a few big rattlers out here, but they are rare, I haven't seen one in a long time.
Kimber45acp
member
Why would you kill a snake? Do you love rats, mice, moles, voles, and every other disease carrying vermin? Use the .22 shot if you find a mouse in the house. Leave the snakes alone.
Having spent summers in central PA, I've run across a couple eastern diamondbacks. Grandpa would always carry some old .32 revolver with him when we made hay bales or were out an about on the farm.
One day I asked him about it, and he told me he'd show me if he got the chance. I thought it was odd, but he was in his 70's and I wasn't going to argue the point. Later that afternoon we ran across this 4 foot eastern diamondback with an attitude, he coiled up and shook his rattler. Grandpa drew the revolver, got it's attention and fired one time. The snake had saw the flash and tried to strike it, and instead got a face full of lead.
He turned to me and said, "Thus ends your lesson.".
I'm pretty sure it was not a one in a million shot as he did this regularly on the farm and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins has similar stories.
One day I asked him about it, and he told me he'd show me if he got the chance. I thought it was odd, but he was in his 70's and I wasn't going to argue the point. Later that afternoon we ran across this 4 foot eastern diamondback with an attitude, he coiled up and shook his rattler. Grandpa drew the revolver, got it's attention and fired one time. The snake had saw the flash and tried to strike it, and instead got a face full of lead.
He turned to me and said, "Thus ends your lesson.".
I'm pretty sure it was not a one in a million shot as he did this regularly on the farm and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins has similar stories.
Roccobro
Member
Growing up we were taught to dispatch Diamond back rattlers with BB guns. Just put the barrel right to its head and shoot. Who cars if it thought the muzzle was a danger and struck at it? The length of the BB gun was more than the length the suckers could strike. Never tried with any fancy rim fire or pistol though.
As I got older and dumber I'd just toss them in a plastic bag and freeze 'em. Mom never made the chili and snake meat dinner she promised.
Justin
As I got older and dumber I'd just toss them in a plastic bag and freeze 'em. Mom never made the chili and snake meat dinner she promised.
Justin
Riss
Member
Not sure about snakes, but they make a great game out of Bumble Bees.
Sawblade
Member
I've used 22 shot to knock squirrels off the bird feeders. It works for about an hour, and then you'll see the same one swinging off the bird feeder with a bald spot on it's back.
For rattlesnakes, I just pop it in the head with a 22LR, take the rattle with a pocketknife, and leave the rest out for the raccoons.
For rattlesnakes, I just pop it in the head with a 22LR, take the rattle with a pocketknife, and leave the rest out for the raccoons.
Myles
Member
The Winchester crimped shotshells have always performed better for me than the CCI capsule form.
I've used these successfully on mice and rats on a pig farm, so as not to risk harm near the animals. Pretty anemic, though. I've seen rats jump and run after being shot at well under 10 feet. I'm certain they died, but not DRT.
I've shot snakes in the past with them, and it is successful at making them curl up for a follow up shot. I took a 4 foot hognose from the front porch last summer; he was curled up in a rubber tree, taking goldfinches from the feeder. He had 3 in his belly.
However, if you remove all the snakes, you're going to have lots and lots of rats, gophers, moles, voles, and other rodents.
Since experiencing this in the past, I only kill a snake if it's an immediate danger to myself, family, or animals. If it's not close enough for a shotshell, you're hardly in danger. Usually, if you're already outside working, the shovel/rake/weedwhacker/lawnmower you are using is already enough tool for the job.
I've never seen it have enough blowback to cycle an autoloader. Revolvers are the best tool for shotshells.
EDIT: This only refers to .22LR shotshells, I've never used any of the larger caliber shotshells. If it's something that big, a shotgun might be the right tool. And if the snake is that big, I'm skeered.
I've used these successfully on mice and rats on a pig farm, so as not to risk harm near the animals. Pretty anemic, though. I've seen rats jump and run after being shot at well under 10 feet. I'm certain they died, but not DRT.
I've shot snakes in the past with them, and it is successful at making them curl up for a follow up shot. I took a 4 foot hognose from the front porch last summer; he was curled up in a rubber tree, taking goldfinches from the feeder. He had 3 in his belly.
However, if you remove all the snakes, you're going to have lots and lots of rats, gophers, moles, voles, and other rodents.
Since experiencing this in the past, I only kill a snake if it's an immediate danger to myself, family, or animals. If it's not close enough for a shotshell, you're hardly in danger. Usually, if you're already outside working, the shovel/rake/weedwhacker/lawnmower you are using is already enough tool for the job.
I've never seen it have enough blowback to cycle an autoloader. Revolvers are the best tool for shotshells.
EDIT: This only refers to .22LR shotshells, I've never used any of the larger caliber shotshells. If it's something that big, a shotgun might be the right tool. And if the snake is that big, I'm skeered.
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I knew someone would say this. I kill every venomous snake I see because I live 30 minutes from the nearest hospital so that's a full hour if I, or another family member, am alone and have to take an ambulance. I let my cat get all the rodents.
devildog32713
Member
So? More workout for you .17HMR, .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, .50 BMG?
haha
NMGonzo
Member
What about shooting the living heck out of the rattler with regular lead?
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