? .38/.357 ammo for shooting snakes?
- Thread starter tyro
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
CCI makes shot cartridges for .38/.357.
Those would be a good choice for up-close snake control.
Those would be a good choice for up-close snake control.
Chris McDermott
New member
For reloaders there is an interesting solution for snake loads at
http://gunblast.com/Snake_Stopper.htm
http://gunblast.com/Snake_Stopper.htm
Gunslinger
Moderator
As Mike said the shot loads from CCI are probably your best bet. But are you sure you want to shoot them?
Seriously. If they are in fact a cotton mouth and therefore venomous they need to be eradicated post haste. However, if they are harmless, nonvenomous water snakes, often referred to as water moccasins, you may be defeating your purpose. Common garden variety water snakes, usually a dirty brown in color, will comsume the food supply in a pound themselves. If there are enough of them they will consume the food there and make the area unattractive to cotton mouths, striking black in color with a snow white mouth. (Of course by the time you see the mouth and realize it is not a common black snake you are probably too late and way to close.)
Where I'm at I have problems with copperheads. For that reason I do no harm to every nonposonous snakes on the place....much to the chargin of Terri.
None of my business but food for thought.
Seriously. If they are in fact a cotton mouth and therefore venomous they need to be eradicated post haste. However, if they are harmless, nonvenomous water snakes, often referred to as water moccasins, you may be defeating your purpose. Common garden variety water snakes, usually a dirty brown in color, will comsume the food supply in a pound themselves. If there are enough of them they will consume the food there and make the area unattractive to cotton mouths, striking black in color with a snow white mouth. (Of course by the time you see the mouth and realize it is not a common black snake you are probably too late and way to close.)
Where I'm at I have problems with copperheads. For that reason I do no harm to every nonposonous snakes on the place....much to the chargin of Terri.
None of my business but food for thought.
Gunslinger,
You make good points, with which I heartily agree.
We have many kinds of snakes here, including harmless water snakes. All snakes are welcomed, unchallenged, and unharmed on my wooded and watered property, except for two: the copperhead and the cottonmouth.
I assure you that the snake I encountered yesterday has been positively and accurately identified as a venomous cottonmouth.
You make good points, with which I heartily agree.
We have many kinds of snakes here, including harmless water snakes. All snakes are welcomed, unchallenged, and unharmed on my wooded and watered property, except for two: the copperhead and the cottonmouth.
I assure you that the snake I encountered yesterday has been positively and accurately identified as a venomous cottonmouth.
That's an interesting solution on Gunblast and similar to one I've read about for years. The way that I've heard to make your own shot loads is to use 2 gas checks, seat one deep in the case - about where the base of a bullet would go - fill the case with shot and top it off with the second gas check, then taper crimp. It's supposed to work well on snakes etc at close range, I'd guess it would work better in 44 or 45 calibers due to the larger # of shot they would contain.
John
http://www.handloads.com
John
http://www.handloads.com
Point Blank
New member
Sorry to butt in,but in my book...ALL snakes are venomous, and will be killed prompto!!!I am a very nice guy,and avoid killing anything,including a stray ant that makes his way in our "shack".But i have zero tolerence for a slithery,slimey snake!!!!Cant stand em....and one spotted close and by surprise will make this fat boy do the shuffle..hehe.
Before you shoot a snake with the CCI pistol shotshells, pattern a few on paper first.
I bought a package of them (10 rounds?). The guy at the shop tried to talk me out of it. He said the rifling in the pistol makes the shot go in a donut pattern. With the hole where you aimed. I fired five of them on paper, at different distance.
Based on my sample of 5, the effective range from my 9mm is 3 feet (not yards). After that, the pattern was too sparse and donut shaped to give me confidence of a kill.
3 feet is a little too close for me, so I will stick with traditional loads for snakes.
I bought a package of them (10 rounds?). The guy at the shop tried to talk me out of it. He said the rifling in the pistol makes the shot go in a donut pattern. With the hole where you aimed. I fired five of them on paper, at different distance.
Based on my sample of 5, the effective range from my 9mm is 3 feet (not yards). After that, the pattern was too sparse and donut shaped to give me confidence of a kill.
3 feet is a little too close for me, so I will stick with traditional loads for snakes.
Dave R.,
Many thanks for the tip. I've already ordered some CCI shotshells. I'll be sure to test them as you suggest. 'Wish I had read your post before I ordered, because it sounds like the phenomenon I found when firing shotshells from a rifled shotgun barrel - not an effective pattern for HD or SD.
Many thanks for the tip. I've already ordered some CCI shotshells. I'll be sure to test them as you suggest. 'Wish I had read your post before I ordered, because it sounds like the phenomenon I found when firing shotshells from a rifled shotgun barrel - not an effective pattern for HD or SD.
Doc Hudson
New member
Don't worry Tyro
If you ordered .38/.357 shotshells you will have better performance than using 9 mmP shotshells. For one thing, you have more shot and the shot capsule protects the shot from distortion.
I've used CCI shotloads and handloads using CCI Shot capsules for years, and have shreded beaucoup rattlesnakes and cotton mouths with them. Give the CCI's a try before you write them off.
Doc Hudson
If you ordered .38/.357 shotshells you will have better performance than using 9 mmP shotshells. For one thing, you have more shot and the shot capsule protects the shot from distortion.
I've used CCI shotloads and handloads using CCI Shot capsules for years, and have shreded beaucoup rattlesnakes and cotton mouths with them. Give the CCI's a try before you write them off.
Doc Hudson
My dad and I went through this same thing. He decided not to buy any sanke shot for his .38 and instead took his .22 rifle with HP. The first day working on the ranch he shot a 3 foot long cotton mouth. He hit it but not enough to kill it on the road.
I'd go with the snake shot or a 12 or 20 gauge.
I'd go with the snake shot or a 12 or 20 gauge.
Tyro, for your reassurance. I can break about 3 out of 4 skeet from station #8 with the CCI shot loads from my 4" model 686. Distance is probably about 10 feet (I am guessing here. Skeet shooters chime in!). I have killed two copperheads with the same load. From snake shooting distance, about 6 feet, the stuff will shred a snake.
I would take the above suggestion of Dave R and shoot a couple at paper to see how the pattern developes out of your handgun. My tests with CCI shotshells are much like his and I agree the effective range is very short.
The snake stopper load information is very interesting and I think I'll try it - only in .44 Special instead.
The snake stopper load information is very interesting and I think I'll try it - only in .44 Special instead.
"Sorry to butt in,but in my book...ALL snakes are venomous, and will be killed prompto!!!I am a very nice guy,and avoid killing anything,including a stray ant that makes his way in our "shack".But i have zero tolerence for a slithery,slimey snake!!!!Cant stand em..."
Very few snakes are venomous. And they're scaley as opposed to "slimey". As was said in two other posts -- the non-venomous ones will eradicate the venomous ones. Out here in Montana, we have many rattlers, and we have many bull snakes. The bull snakes kill rattlers. When you first bump into them they hiss rather loudly and may frighten you at first. But once identified they are left alone.
I NEVER shoot at something unless I know EXACTLY what I am shooting at. Snakes, animals, or other.
Very few snakes are venomous. And they're scaley as opposed to "slimey". As was said in two other posts -- the non-venomous ones will eradicate the venomous ones. Out here in Montana, we have many rattlers, and we have many bull snakes. The bull snakes kill rattlers. When you first bump into them they hiss rather loudly and may frighten you at first. But once identified they are left alone.
I NEVER shoot at something unless I know EXACTLY what I am shooting at. Snakes, animals, or other.
Point Blank
New member
Sorry,i used "slimey" as a figure of speech.When i was young and dumb,i caught countless gardener snakes with my hands(even the ones with their mouths open looking at me..hehe)I guess i just have a thing about snakes,ALL of them!!!Living here in Georgia and being a fisherman i have had encounters with cottonmouths also.Too me ALL snakes are cottonmouths...and will be dealt with accordingly.....