Author Topic: Snake loads (Read 2451 times)

S.B. · « **on:** February 20, 2005, 04:18:51 PM »

Anyone here load or carry any of these things? What load do you use on different calibers, .32.38,.357. .41,.44? I've seen everything from round balls on top to cardboard wads to Speer shot capsuls. What works best with different calibers? Faster burning powders?

crawfish · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2005, 04:23:11 PM »

Not to be a smart ass but what works best is LEAVE THE SNAKES ALONE. If you dont muck around with them or torment them then snake loads are not needed and if you are doing that then STOP MUCKING AROUND WITH THE SNAKES.

S.B. · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2005, 04:27:26 PM »

Quote from: crawfish

Not to be a smart ass but what works best is LEAVE THE SNAKES ALONE. If you dont muck around with them or torment them then snake loads are not needed and if you are doing that then STOP MUCKING AROUND WITH THE SNAKES.

Perhaps your right but, you must not bowfish for carp in the spring when water moccocins and copperheads are active while they are trying to recooperate after the winter siesta?

The deerslayer · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2005, 04:39:48 PM »

If you are going to use a 38/357 or a 44 use cci shotshels. Good loads for pest like snakes rats mice and those sorts of things.

S.B. · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2005, 05:23:57 PM »

The deerslayer, to what extent is your experience with this stuff? I've loaded many of these in both .357 and .44 and at times have had trouble getting sparrows to drop, a few feet above me? My point is, a lot has been written about this type of load but, I've never seen anything of this sort that works reliably. And now question whether this is a fallacy or can they be loaded to a reliable load? Or perhaps would a person be better served by loading a multiple bullet load, with several small, lighter, wafer like bullets (sandwiched) loaded on top of each other? Or perhaps use larger shot size? And, by the way, I don't go looking for snakes to shoot. My experience has been when I'm in their hunting ground and they are irritated. If you've ever seen a bald, fat man scrambling to get back to shore, it's not a pretty sight.

Duffy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2005, 05:48:11 PM »

I've messed around with different loads in the 45 acp and found that with them #12 shot really packs a punch. Haven't tried it in the 38's yet. Seems like powders in the 231 burning class are the best. If it's too fast the pattern spreads out quickly (from spin) and too slow hasn't enough energy. Maybe it's because of the wad in the 45's but they will hold a nice pattern out to 25 feet. I wouldn't go larger than #7 shot in any of them because there's just not enough of them in there and more is better.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:52:34 AM »

I reload a lot of the shot shells from Speer. 38 Spec, 44 Spec and 45L/C. I use 9 shot in mine. All three work good. I just follow the Speer reloading manual for there loads recommended.

crawfish, I use to go fishing in Georgia and the water moccasins would follow or top water bait back to the boat and try and get into the boat. :eek: You did not have to mess with them to get them to come to you. Also the copperheads are all over the lake areas. So it is not a matter of just leaving them alone. :-)

Special Ed · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2005, 02:31:57 AM »

I saw an add the othe day for a 45/410 derringer, I imagine it might be quite a handfull. You could use a 2 1/2 skeet load in it, to knock the recoil down a little.
Just a thought.

AntlersDS · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2005, 04:02:46 AM »

I used .22 shotshell in a High Standard 9 shot on a 5 ft rattle snake last spring and it was like shooting dust at him. Had to reload and took about 15 shots to kill him, I probably missed some, but still made me want to get something more potent to carry with me. Thats how I got into this big bore handgun stuff and bought a SBH Bisley .44 Hunter and love it. I got the .44 because the .44 shotshells are readily available and shoot bigger shot than a .22. I shot a couple of pine cones with some and looked like to me it would do a pretty good trick with one shot on a snake if you hit him about 6-7 ft away. This handgun has opened up a whole new world of hunting and shooting I never thought would be interested in but am now. Looking to get a .41 SBH now. This stuff is great! Thanks for all the great information on this forum.

The deerslayer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:36:27 AM »

I don't have much experience myself, but some people I was with killed snakes pretty easily with the cci shotshels.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2005, 07:34:02 AM »

It seems to me like a pair of high top thick rubber boots would serve you better than a handgun loaded with a shotshell.

myronman3 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:36:21 PM »

on swamps, rivers, and lakes snakes often get tired of swimming and will try to take a break on anything they can- logs, grass clumps, or even boats. they arent trying to be mean, just trying to survive. that being said, i dont care what their motivation is; i know i dont want them in my boat. once you have it happen to you, you know what i am talking about. trying to push it away with an oar gets hairy when the snake is determined. i believe in live and let live, but there does come a point.
cci makes some shotshell cases that some recommended already. dont try to use hot loads as nothing is gained (and it doesnt work well). follow the instructions in the speer manuel and you will have good luck. i have also had good luck with the preloaded 45 auto capsules. they cycle through my kimber perfectly, and i even killed a asparagus eating rabbit at 15 yards with it.
there is information on homemade shot capsules using gas checks in the reloading forum i believe; the info was posted a while back but when you find it will be worth your time. good info. i just run the speer shotshell capsules myself. later.

Gun Runner · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2005, 02:41:06 PM »

One of the calibers CCI dosent make snake shot loads for is the 41 mag.
Naturaly this is the cal I carry in the woods. Solved this problem by making my own. Works great out to 10 feet or under.

Gun Runner

crawfish · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2005, 03:23:18 PM »

Quote

Perhaps your right but, you must not bowfish for carp in the spring when water moccocins and copperheads are active while they are trying to recooperate after the winter siesta?

Nope my thing is wading and tube boats for trophy blue gill with ultra light fly gear and micro light spinning gear on small ponds and lakes. I have 7 of these on my farm so I don't stray to far from home to fish. I carry a graphite snake hook with me attached by my net on my vest. I use that to fend them off or even pick up and throw away from me. I guess we all have our creepy crawlies mine is the thought that BIG SNAPPING TURTLES are hiding out just below my dangling toes. Ive eaten enough of them over the years that they just have to be plotting some pay back. :eek:

Sixgun · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2005, 04:13:07 AM »

I have tried CCI Shot capsules and they just plain don't work for me.

I use gas checks and 7.5 to 9 shot and it works great. The process is, usea a few grains of fast powder, like bullseye. Unique is about as fast as I have tried. I use about 2 grains for 357 mag and about 4 grains for a 44 mag. Use a dowel to push a gas check down, tight over the powder. Then fill the case with shot. Put a gas check, upside down over the shot and crimp. You now have a shot shell.

I have killed starlings with this load at 50 feet. I have even shot them on the wing with this load. I've killed mountain grouse at 20 feet. Works great.

Sixgun

volshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2005, 11:07:21 AM »

The .44 spc/mag handloaded shot shells are indeed deadly. I load a few hundred of them a year to kill running rats up to 30 feet. I only load #6 or #4 because the smaller shot won't have the energy past 20 feet. (rats are tough) On the rare occasion I just have to be in copperhead country I carry #12 shot. If a snake gets close enough to hurt one of us, take my word, #12's will remove anything in its path under 10 feet. I also load .38/357 but find the load wanting on running rats. I use Bullseye and Speer shot caps. (Midway about 6/50) I won't kill just any snake, just those that might be dangerous to me or others. (close to the house, woodpile, you get it) Ignoring a copperhead/rattlesnake around your house or barn is like leaving a loaded and cocked gun in the kids room, just plain stupid.
Rick

mr.frosty · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2005, 02:23:49 PM »

i just leave the snakes alone unless its bigger than me

daddywpb · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2005, 11:44:14 PM »

I have also loaded my own 45 LC shotloads for years with one gascheck up and one down like sixgun already described. Factory loaded shotshells filled with #12 shot are useless in my experience. I load mine with #6 or a combo of #6 and #4. We have a lot of mocassins here, and at certain times of the year they get aggressive. I have never had to shoot one twice with one of my shot loads. If you load them yourself, the case will hold more shot that the plastic capsules, and you also get the two gaschecks as projectiles. These loads will shred a big mocassin. Keep powder charges light - more powder equals poor patterns.

By the way, I'm not one to just kill anything for no reason, untill snakes come into the picture. I've heard all about how they help the environment and control pests - uh, uh! An old hunting partner of mine had that mindset. We were walking in a sugar cane field rabbit hunting and went by a good size moccasin coiled up on the path we were on. I drew my Ruger 45 LC Blackhawk, and he told me not to shoot because the snake was cold and trying to warm itself in the sun. We moved as far to the other side as we could, and as we went by that snake shot across the road almost faster than I could see, and bit my buddy through a pair of rubber boots. It got him a ride in a Tramahawk helicopter to the hospital, and he almost died. He's never stopped me from shooting again. I don't go looking for snakes, but if one ends up in my space, he's getting shot.

I took my daughter to a hunter education class, and there was a section of the class dedicated to snakes. They had an "expert" to talk to the kids, and he told a story about getting bitten by a coral snake that he was handling for a demo, and almost losing his hand. I guess I'm missing the "expert" part of that.

v-man · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2005, 04:51:37 AM »

Sixgun is right on with the fast powders and gas checks. I also have had good successes with the CCI capsules. I have found that the gas checks loads scatter quicker and require me to be a little closer. If I stand too close with the capsules I don't get a good enough pattern. At 6 to 8 feet they have no problem with 5 foot rattlers and fat angry mocs.
I have never had a failure to penetrate within those ranges and those distances are safe as long as you see him first.

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:03:54 AM »

If me and a poison snake meet one of us is gonna die. End of that discussion. I shoot first and don't even ask questions later.

MtJerry · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:09:32 AM »

What Graybeard said ... I HATE snakes !@@!@!@!

dakotashooter2 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:34:41 AM »

For the 41 mag try about 6 gr of unique followed by a 410 shot cup filled with #9 shot and capped with a .358 gas check placed inside the shot cup and roll crimped. I have not had opportunity to use it on snakes but it has a pretty good pattern out to about 20-25 feet with the exception of a silver dollar size hole in the middle which I suspect may be caused by the shot being deflected by the gas check. An appropriately sized card wad may cure that but I haven't tried it yet. I have tried with just a GC below and one on top but the pattern has not been as good. One of the Speer loading manuals (# 10 ??) has a recipe for cut down 410 shells for the 45 colt.

Rmouleart · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2005, 07:16:41 AM »

If I happen to come bye any type of snake in the field, well in my area of hunting ect... I will capture it and get rid of it, off of deep cliff, just kidding, I have used shot shells in the past, using my SRH 44mag\454 casull using 45LC's. kinda worthless, CCI's are ok for a real close encounter, and I mean close, using a revolver, the forcing cone and the rifling really makes it come out like a swirl, no accuracy to speak of, but good enough for a close range shot on a cuby of winter grouse or a rat running bye the barn, or a possum up in a tree within hands reach ;)twenty feet at most, stand back at a range and put up cardboard covering 4x4 and at twenty feet, when you hit the peace of cardboard,its all over the place.Only good at real close range. Most likely was designed for shooting rats or small varmints in a barn or around the farm, I have heard the word ratshot before,regarding the type of shot,Well at least the sound will scare most varmints away LOL. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

williamlayton · « **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2005, 03:00:43 AM »

a pump or lever .410 used to work wonders in my younger days.
Blessings

Lawdog · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2005, 09:26:05 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard

If me and a poison snake meet one of us is gonna die. End of that discussion. I shoot first and don't even ask questions later.

I agree!! The only good rattlesnake is a dead rattlesnake! I have used CCI Shot Shells(in both .38/.357 and .44) for years with great results. Last year I killed 23 rattlesnakes and used the CCI shells on 18 of them. No they are not going to kill a snake at any distance but will work nicely at ranges under 15 feet. Lawdog

Gun Runner · « **Reply #25 on:** March 01, 2005, 10:34:35 AM »

Like Graybeard says its a dead snake. Last rattler I killed was last year at about 10 feet or so, Had a 12 ga with 7 1/2 shot out of a 20"bbl, can you say SNAKE HASH? :-D

Gun Runner

HappyHunter · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2005, 11:30:11 AM »

The twist rate in a barrel make a shot load spin outwards. The longer the barrel the more this comes into play.

I have found that a shorter barrel will hold a tighter pattern than my 8-3/8 or 6 inch barrels.

I use the speer capsules, but I will try the gas check trick.

Fred

pastorp · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2005, 11:44:16 AM »

Never had much luck killing small birds with the shot captusules. For snakes I just use what ever handgun I'm caring at the time. If I can't hit a rattlers in the head at 5 or 6 foot I'll just stay home. When I lived in Florida a 410 shotgun or 22 rifle worked well in the swamps. I can usually shoot the heads off ptarmigan and grouse with a rifle, and I have never had a problem hitting a snake in the head.

I don't trust the small load of fine shot to do the job. Just practice until you can hit them in the head with your pistol. It's really not that hard.

:grin: Regards, Byron

pastorp · « **Reply #28 on:** March 02, 2005, 12:59:40 PM »

I got to thinking about this post and wondering why I have never felt it hard to shoot a snake in the head. I have never been much of a paper target shooter with a hand gun always preferring field shooting at impromptitude targets.

I have used the usual tin cans and pop bottles before I learned better than to leave broken glass in the woods. As my shooting improved I went to smaller targets, one of my favorites is now empty shotgun shells. Fellas if you can hit a empty shotgun shell at 50' a snakes head should not be a problem at 10'. As young men my friends and I would push dimes into the bark of an oak tree and shoot at them. The idea was a greater challenge.

When I lived in the New Mexico high desert I would walk 5-10 miles a day for the exercise. I would carry a handgun and shoot everyday at whatever targets presented themselves. I would kill 20-50 rattlesnakes each summer all shot in the head with everything from 22lr to 45lc. Great fun and put me at the top of my form.

I will admit that since I moved to southeast alaska my shooting has fallen off. With the constant rain, the muskeg, the alders etc it just is work not fun to travel in the woods here. I still shoot once or twice a week but not everyday like I did in New Mexico and it has , of course affected my shooting.

Peoples shooting goals are deferent. I have a friend who is a 1/2 minute of angle shooter with his scoped contenders. No caribou within 300yds is safe. Actually most of the time no ground squeral is safe. He works at being good at that. I guess my focus has always been more combat oriented. I want to be able to put 2 quick shots into the second button down from the top as quickly as possible. My shooting is almost all with open sights even at hunting ranges. As my eyesight is not what it used to be I have just limited myself to shorter ranges for hunting.

My grandfather taught me to shoot at the old wooden kitchen matches stuck in a log. The idea was to light the head with your shot. If you keep the ranges reasonable it is possiple. If all you ever shoot at is bullseye targets you will never progress to this level of shooting skill.

I like the saying one of our posters here uses. "aim small hit small" A few years ago I was jack rabbit shooting with some friends near El Paso TX in the desert. We spotted one under a misquote bush and I took the shot. As we approached the dead jack one of the guys said "did you shoot him in the head" well yes thats where I was aiming I said.

Regards, Byron

John · « **Reply #29 on:** March 03, 2005, 10:00:02 AM »

Snake shootin, alright, I speak that language.

Now any non venomous snake is a friend of mine, and are welcome around the place any time.....I do not bother them.

There's a watersupply lake right here on two sides of my place that is infested with cottonmouths. Those things are not friends of mine. They come around from time to time, I think they might be lookin fer me, they might be right on my front porch, or in my field...something I often think about when I go out barefoot at night to water the shrubs.

When spring comes and those little monsters are finally out of the dens, I have me an annual snake killin for a week or so till things get greened up to where I can't find em.

I take the little Ruger Mark 1, a dozen clips, a bulk box of hollow points and ease around the shoreline in the jon boat. I'd say over a hundred are murdered each spring in this way, and I do look forward to it.

Now and then I'll take a guest, some have used those shot loads in 44 and 45, they are factory loads, so I don't know just what's in em, but for me it's 22 all the way, more sportin....hells bells, I don't wanna kill em all.....what about next year ?