Best Snake Solution

[ShootnStr8]

Ian's post regarding a derringer holster got me thinking about the best handgun for snake protection.  He was considering a Bond Arms 410 derringer for snakes.  I've also thought about a derringer as well as the Taurus Judge and a SW Airweight in .357 using snake shoot.  I also have played with some old snake shot loads my dad had for his 1911.  I thought the performance was good.  

I've since opted for more passive protection in the form of a pair of snake boots.  Given my slow reflexs, it probably is the best approach for me though I still wonder about the handgun option.  

What do "all y'all" recommend and why?

Blessings!

ShootnStr8

[Dee]

I grew up within 75 feet of where I now live. 60 years of payin attention has kept me from gettin bit, but I admit, I have had some close calls. I have copperheads, cottonmouths, a few rattlers, and a rare coral. When I'm fishin or walkin off my place I have either a Model 60 Smith, or a Model 686 Smith with a couple of CCI 38 special snake loads in two of the chambers. I never pass up a chance to kill a poisonous snake.
On my place Ikeep it mowed, and the grass out of the fence rows, and I have a Jack Russell Terrier that kills anything that gets in fenced in half acre. If he ain't big enough to handle it, then I step in and help. He don't need much help though.
My mother two days ago yard broke a copperhead with a hoe, in her back yard.

[sachel.45]

my dad carrys a .38 sp derringer with the cci snake loads i always thought the taurus judge would be a great snake gun

[Dee]

I"ll bet that Taurus Judge WOULD be hard on snakes, but I'll bet it would be hard on the jury too. I don't want to shoot it.

[S.B.]

I think far too much attention is given to snakes? They do rid our world of other smaller vermin, and that's a blessing in it's self. Not saying anything like rattlesnakes are a good thing in the yard.
Steve

[coyotejoe]

I've found shot loads out of revolvers to be less than certain. My choice is the "Super Comanche" single shot .45/.410. It takes a full 3" .410 shot shell and with its 10" barrel and choke tube it is actually a viable small game gun not just a single purpose "snake gun". Best of all, it retails for under 200 bucks.

[DANNY-L]

2 3/4" 12ga. loaded with popcorn kernals or rice depending on the size of the snake.

[ShootnStr8]

S.B.

I do like your point about the usefulness of snakes and LOVE having black rat snakes and such around the house for the reason you mentioned.  

However, fishing in swamps and around some ponds can get kinda wierd with those fanged critters slithering around.  

I had one drop in a boat once which added my understanding of the word "dilemma."  I certainly wouldn't to shot in that situation and turn the whole boat into a live well, yet cottonmouths don't make the best fishing buddies.   Fortunately, the invader landed on a oar and was flipped in the water. 

Blessings!

Shootnstr8  

[jpred1]

Id like to try the 45 acp shotshells, I guess they will cycle OK?

[S.B.]

The only reloading dies I know of are RCBS and they ain't cheap!
Steve

[Dee]

Id like to try the 45 acp shotshells, I guess they will cycle OK?

No you will have to cycle them by hand in a 1911.

[kctibs]

I will never pass a chance to get rid of a poisonious snake.  My removel method right now is the Judge with 2-3/4'' #6 shot.  but really anything I have in my hand or near by will do the job.
One thing anybody can try is if you get a snake trained in on the barrel of any gun and slowly move it back and forth then squeeze the trigger. You will  never miss and hit them in the head every time. You don't even have to aim, the snake will follow the barrel perfect. If it is a little cold shoot one away first to warm the barrel, the rest is a cinch. It's really fun too.

[S.B.]

Id like to try the 45 acp shotshells, I guess they will cycle OK?

I think I've read somewhere that they cycle ok as long as you limit magazine capacity to less than full? This of course with RCBS reloading dies. If the military has issued them(and they did when 1911s were their gun of choice), would think they would cycle in issue guns?
Steve

[Dee]

I've built a many a snake load, and never shot any that would cycle a 1911. There is not going to be enough pressure build up, however if you ever do, let me know what you used.

[SHOOTALL]

I have shot snakes with a Ruger Blackhawk in 357mah , a Bond derringer in 410/45 , a mod 38 airweight , a 12 ga. and a 410 single shot . I have tested snake shot in a 45ACP , 40S&W , 9mm and 45 Colt. on paper but not snakes .The BH in 357 worked best of the hand guns next and very close was the S&W body guard . I tried the Bond derringer on snakes and field rats and it didn't handle either very well IMHO. with a derringer length gun/bbl you have very little bbl for the powder to build pressure ( reason several co's are comming out with handgun spefic 410 loads ) . I also had a 45/410 bbl for a TC contender and feel that would work well . The judge might be good if bbl is long and gap is tight . I feel the pistol rounds work well because the loads were ment to be used in a revolver or pistol to start with. I load my own which is very easy with shot containers and you can load #9 shot instead of #11 .
BTW i did try 22mag and 22 lr on frogs and they worked well , the 22mag did . The 22 lr are great for shooting wasp , bees ,hornets and other flying pest and great pratice even in side buildings .

[williamlayton]

In a boat I think a trash grabber would be the safest.
In the woods a .410--or--maybe a 6' brush hook.
Where Dee lives, a .410.
In a barn, a Machette, maybe snake shot.
When a pistol? When I was driving around a place on a four wheeler and wanted a moving target.
Blessings

[jpred1]

Seems like a 45 acp would do Ok loaded with 8 shot at close range . Maybe half the power of a 2 1/2 410 shotshell?

[sachel.45]

i got the cci shotshells in 45 auto to cycle in my 1911

[Swampman]

I never give snakes any thought.  If I see one I ignore it.

[Dee]

i got the cci shotshells in 45 auto to cycle in my 1911

By hand, or on their on. Your saying that you can load a magazine with CCIs shotshells and just start shootin, and they will shoot just like ball ammo?

[sachel.45]

on their own they shot fine in my 1911 it was a lightweight officers model it if matters

[S.B.]

Dee, please list your process for the .45 shot cartridges? Maybe some here has a better technique? I've never heard of any major problem with these as long as the magazine capacity is held to less than full. Please describe the gun you're trying them in? Modified in any way? Worked on by anyone? Magazines reliable with other ammos?
Steve

[SHOOTALL]

I have never had a Remington factory loaded snake shot or CCI snake shot shells cycle the action of a Colt 1911 or take the slide back enough to lock it open . If yours will do it you are very lucky . I considered using a light recoil spring but didn't want to batter the gun with ball ammo so i just hand cycled it.

[Dee]

I used 308 shell casings cut down to 45ac9 overall length, a cut down 410 gauge shot shell cup on top of the powder charge, # 9 shot, and a crimp over either cardboard or a 38 caliber gas check. These were very good shot loads, but even these would not cycle a 1911. I have never found one that would when loaded factory. There just wasn't enough resistance as the shot load was considerably lighter than all the bullet weights.
S.B. I have shot them in factory stock guns, and guns I personally either built or customized. I've used 16 pound springs and 18, and 20 pound springs. If you have a combination that will, stay with it.

[S.B.]

Nope. Sounds like you're doing everything according to Hoyle, to me. Could it possibly be an overall length issue? Curious, what powders did you use?
Steve

[Dee]

S.B. I sold all my 45s and quit building for other folks sometime back. I don't carry anything but 38 and 357 mag anymore. I gave an uncle almost a thousand rounds of reloads, and a cop about 700 rounds of brass in 45 acp. At my age I am full bore on KISS for guns, and calibers. I sold all my other guns several years ago, and don't want any more. Other than a couple of 22 rifles and a 22 pistol, all I have is three using rifles, and two shotguns.
As far as powders I pretty much abandoned Bullseye years ago, and use Unique. The newer Unique is cleaner and is as always versatile. I load light 38s with it, and for my pistols and rifle in 357 mag I use 2400, and H110. For the pistols the bullet is 125 grain jacketed hollow point, and for the rifle it is 158 grain jacketed soft point in my business loads.
You can load a pretty good snake load in old 357 mag cases with about 3 or 4 grains of Unique, a cardboard wadding, pour in a little nine shot, then a single cardboard cover. I usually then put a little 5 minute epoxy on that to seal it. Their cheap, fast, and easy to put together.

[myronman3]

i use the cci shotshells in my kimber.  they cycle all on their own and i can empty a full magazine as fast as i can ball ammo; not that i would want to.   i never shot a snake with them, but i did kill a full grown cottontail under a spruce tree at about 25 feet.  it tipped right over.  i imagine a snake at closer range wouldnt fair very well at all.      i was shocked that it cycled through the gun as i did not expect it.  i tried it a few times afterward, and the results were the same.  perfect function.    different guns may produce different results. 

[goldhound56]

My Judge with a 6 1/2 inch barrel works very well ! If I can't hit the snake shooting , I can beat it to death !

[Larry Gibson]

Attached is a photo of various snake loads I use in various handguns.  Snake disposal is a close up affair for me.  If they aren't close to me when in the field I don't mess with them.  However dealing with a poisenous snake in ones yard is a personal affair and probably a close one at that.  Any of the ones shown will dispatch a snake very well within 5 yards.  Out of rifled handgun barrels the shorter the barrel the better the pattern.

The .45 ACP shells shown are made from 7.62 balnks.  I cut them to 1.165" and size in a .45 ACP die.  I then turn the front part down to .444" diameter leaving the "case mouth" at the correct headspace measurement of .898".  The crimp is removed from the primer pocket and they are primed with WLPs.  A charge of 6 gr of Bullseye is then put in.  I used to cut the wads out of the primer cartons using a sharpened steel .45 ACP case.  However these days I just use the .006" veg Walters wads used in 45 cal BP cartridges. I hand push one of these wads down onto the powder using a dowel that is a slip fit inside the cases.  The case is then filled with #9 shot leaving just enough room for another wad to be seated over the shot.  I slightly compress the wad/shot with the flat bottom expander die for the 45 ACP.  I then use a couple methods to crimp. My RCBS seating die will not sufficiently crimp the case mouth.  So I use a funnel from my Lyman 55 Powder thrower in a Lyman adapter die so it fits in the reloading press.  It is then adjusted to give a simply roll type crimp as shown in the pictures.  A camfer tool with the three pronged end on it can be tamped or pressed down slightly in 2 different places to slightly star crimp the case mouth also.  I use a real cheap finger nail polish as a sealer.   

I've reloaded the fired cases simply by FL sizing the case body in a .45 ACP die and sizing the mouth part in a .41 magnum seating die.  These have functioned through any number of commercial M1911s and numerous issue M1911s that I've carried along with Glocks and other makes of .45 ACPs.  They also work very well in .45 ACP revolvers with or without the clips. I've killed numerous rattle snakes with them that I walked up on or they slithered up on me while varmint hunting in the west and also other snakes and rats around the world on numerous deployments.  I lost a few cases and gave a few away over the years but all in all they are well worth the effort to make. It's nice to have a .45 ACP shot load that functions the action without fail but actually a short barreled .38/.357 with the Speer shot capsules loaded with #9 (or preferably #12 if you can find some) are just as effective at "snake" range.

Larry Gibson

[Lloyd Smale]

I just run like a little girl!