"Snake shot" out of a 1911?

F

Fish_Scientist

New member
Do "snake shot" rounds cycle well through a semi-automatic, specifically a 1911? I have a new job that, when I'm outside on the ranch, my boss has suggested that I carry a pistol loaded with snake shot. Between the number of rattlesnakes and other vermin that are on the ranch, it does make sense.

I shoot a Kimber .45acp 1911 but have never run snake shot rounds through it and I'm thinking that my new job could be a good reason to buy a new revolver.

Thoughts? Could I safely run snake shot through my 1911 or would I better off using a revolver? Also, can home reloaders load snake shot rounds with a normal (i.e., single stage) press?

Fish
 
it's safe. but only because they feed so unreliably.

revolvers are much better with all commercially available shotshells i've seen.
 
Safe has nothing to do with it.
Some 1911s will cycle them, one of mine didn't years ago when I tried 'em in it.
Denis
 
the CCI 45 acp round works fine in the Kimber compact ss and a Colt combat elite. the CCI round would lock up a S & W 745 and I would have to drop a cleaning rod down the barrel to loosen it up so it could be extracted.

the Remington 45 acp round wouldn't eject because the fired case was just a little bit too long and wouldn't make it out of the ejection port. I don't think thsi round is being made anymore.

you will just have to try them to see if they work

there is also a warning that they shouldn't be shot in revolvers due to case setback locking up the cylinder
 
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I would not encourage the use based upon the number of rounds I observed being required to dispatch small copperheads. I have tried them with several different 1911s and they did not want to cycle. An ineffective round that does not allow follow up shots easily is a poor choice in my mind.
 
Sounds like a mission for a Judge... .45 LC and .410... perfect heavy duty Ranch Revolver.

Hate to say it, but the best Ranch-Revolver might actually be the king of them all, a Colt SAA or clone in .45 Long Colt. You can handload up some pretty darned good snakeshot rounds for them using trimmed off .460 S&W Magnum brass, trimmed to be full length to the cylinder. Doubles the amount of shot you can load. Extraction in the SAA is a piece of cake... it's the diametric opposite of the 1911, but heck: It's still a viable gun. They are light, reliable, have good manstopping capability if needed, and are versatile. You can also look at S&W Model 25-5 revolvers if you really "need" DA, but... go handle a SAA if you never have done so. The darned things grow on you. And that's from a guy who has carried a 1911 for over 30 years and went to Gunsite when Col. Jeff taught the 250 course personally.

Another choice, albeit an eclectic one, is something else I have shot rather a lot, and that's a S&W Model 25-2 in .45 ACP, loaded with half moon clips. To make snakeshot cartridges for these all you need to do is to cut off .308 or .30-06 brass to full cylinder length and load 'em up. Load them into half moon clips too. How many have ever looked at the base dimensions between .45 ACP and the .30-06 family? Hmmm..... :D

If not a 25-2, then either a Colt or S&W Model 1917... all good and classic choices.


Other than that... dunno. I've loaded snake shot into .45 ACP in years past, both handloads and factory, and it worked "OK" guess... nothing earth shattering. Then again, why bother killing snakes on the Ranch? They keep the other vermin down, rats and such... I always encourage them to stick around by walking the other way. Rats on the other hand... shoot 'em. In fact we don't call it snake-shot here, we call it rat-shot. #12 shot is damned small stuff... good at point blank range and that's it. Rat-in-a-Trap-Shot is more like it.


Our farm-motto for vermin is: If it doesn't eat seeds, don't shoot it.


Willie

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They don't cycle through my auto (though M&P not 1911).

Also, I wouldn't even bother with it. Stick to your regular ammo.

Or buy a judge and **** the forum off ;)
 
Willie Sutton said:
Then again, why bother killing snakes on the Ranch? They keep the other vermin down, rats and such... I always encourage them to stick around by walking the other way.
Click to expand...

It's hard to argue with the boss. If he says "shoot 'em," I'm not going to say no. Besides, there's a lot of noxious and invasive weed spraying that goes on in rattlesnake habitat and it's hard to wallk away from that.

Thanks for the tips on the Colt SAA. I'll check one out the next time I'm at a show/gun shop. I don't need a DA revolver on the ranch, but I've never shot a SA--ever--so it's hard to know if I'd appreciate one.

I like the S&W 1917 idea. I've wanted one of those for a while...

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas.

Fish
 
Yeah, the old S&W Hand Ejector is a hard thing to not appreciate. Not too costly, heavy duty, load it up with "whatever" as per needs.... but it's heavier than a SAA and you'll be nowhwere near as famous a cowpoke as if you carry a Gen-u-Wine Colts Shootin' Iron out on the back 40 ... :D


Now if you REALLY want to be manly... get yourself a Remington 1861 New Army: Nothing is as easy to load snake shot in than a cap and ball pistol. Powder, Wad, Shot, Wad, Cap, BOOOM!! Carry a spare loaded cylinder and enjoy.

And for 2 legged vermin, a 45 caliber round ball does the trick too.... :)

Here's a tactical reload for ya:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1aA3ziqNrQ

Ahh: The fun of having an open mind...



Back to reality:

Really, the 1911 is a great pistol for what it was designed for, but what you describe is not its forte. There are other large-bore options that make more sense and those options will probably be a revolver. Case size is just not adequate in the ACP, and semi-autos are not likely the best platform.


Willie

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Speer/CCI commercial .45 ACP shotshells won't cycle in many autos & they're not recommended for revolvers because of the way they're constructed. Typically, they'll jam up the cylinder.

If you want to mess with your own loads, do whatever.
If you want to go commercial & with a revolver, I'd suggest the .44 or the .45 COLT (not ACP) Speer/CCI shotshells.

They can work just fine on snakes.
Denis
 
I just posted this and didn't realize there was already a thread......... a 4 year old thread.......

Here's my post:

So, there's very few things I hate and am afraid of more that snakes.........

I carry a 1911 almost exclusively (yes, even when I mow). I have loaded numerous .38 Spl shot loads in the past because they're easy, but I decided to do a little research and cook up some 45ACP shot loads that would cycle my pistol. I have been tinkering with this for a couple of weeks. Mission accomplished as of today.

This load data is not published, so use it at your own risk.

I took .308 Win cases and cut them off at 1.15". I used a copper tubing cutter. This measurement was based on trial and error for the throat in MY pistol and what would fit in the magazine. It would likely work in most chambers and magazines, as after I found what worked for mine, I shortened it a few more thousandths.

Next, I chamfered/de-burred the case mouth, and ran the case through a 45ACP sizing/de-capping die, and primed with a Lg Pistol Primer.

Next, Making sure to lube around the case mouth, I ran the case up into a 40/10mm seating die to neck down the mouth. I ran it in an 1/8" or so, took it out and checked head spacing in my barrel, and repeated until I found the proper head spacing. The die was then adjusted accordingly.

Based on other research and experiments, I opted to use Titegroup, which was the fastest powder I had available. Based on what I could get for shot payload (140 gr), and what data is available for TG in 45ACP loads, I settled on 5gr of Titegroup.

Once the powder was in the case, I used a 45ACP case and mallet to cut an over powder wad, and used the head of a nail to seat that wad card, which was cut from a primer sleeve. I added about 140gr of #8 shot and then cut an overshot wad of the same primer sleeve using a 10mm casing and mallet and placed it over the shot.

I then rolled the edges of the case mouth over using an old Lee Classic Loader crimp die for 38 Spl and mallet. I put a small drop of Gorilla Wood glue on the over shot wad card and smeared it around in there to help weather proof and keep the card in place.

After letting the glue cure, I loaded 7 in my Kimber mag, set up a piece of cardboard, and backed off about 15 feet. All 7 rounds shot, cycled the pistol (even though the empties just kind of "dribbled" out the side) and it patterned well enough to kill those that would slither up to me. Since I rapidly shot the rounds into the same piece of cardboard, I didn't measure the pattern, but it made a mess of the spot I was using as a bulls-eye.

Anyway, I figured I would throw that out there for anyone who felt the need to make shot loads for a 45ACP. instead of paying outlandish prices for commercial CCI's.

You may have to tinker with the powder and shot payloads to get YOUR gun to cycle, but as I've shown, it can be done.
 
+1 on the .45LC home-made snake shot with Speer capsules. They "might" work with .45 acp.
I bought two boxes of 25 each, loaded up about a dozen with #9 shot for LC (S&W M-25) and shot a few.

Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end.

I am intrigued by the .460 cases idea as well. Might have to find a half dozen or so, and try it out. :)
 
I used to load the Speer shot capsules in 38/357 and in 44. Both worked very well on small reptiles at short range. My friend always had me load up a couple hundred for him when he went to his grandfather's home in Texas. He said they were great snake medicine.

They need to be loaded pretty light to keep a useable pattern, so they often do not cycle semi-autos well.

Today's best option, and cheapest to shoot is probably the Judge of the S&W .410/45 with 4-6" barrel.
 
rattlesanake

molesting snakes of any kind in tn. is illegal but i agree very good eating. had a chance a few years ago to try it from a grill. guy was expermenting it was excellent. :D
 
Poisonous snakes, along with wild hogs, are fair game here in Texas, and sooner or later so well gators (they are becoming pest.. dangerous pest, but not as numerous as pigs.)

Snake are everywhere and them rattlers get HUGE.

Oh, and I have a few GI WW2 .45 ACP shot loads that were issued for downed airmen. Interesting but I doubt hugely useful.

Deaf
 
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