Perhaps a stupid question to ask here but someone might have some info on this one.

I have a slight snake problem at my sommer house in Finland. Dont know the english name for the snake but its a venomous snake (not fataly) that might hurt the children and our pets. A grown snake would be about 1 meter long and perhaps 2-3cm wide. That would be about 3-4 feet long and an inch wide.

Would a .22 rimfire shootshell from a .22 revolver (6inches barrel) do the snake from, say, 5 feet distance? Or is it too weak a round to kill. And what about shoot placement, should I aim for the head or what? Or should I just throw a rock on them as I usually do?

if anybody have some advice for me I would be very grateful.

Thanks

It's been my experience that .22 shotshells are highly effective on snakes at distances up to 10 feet when shot out of a 6" revolver. 5 feet won't be any problem. A shot to the head would be best but anywhere near the head should immobilize the snake.

Thomas,

I have used the 22 Shoot loads from CCI on a few rattlesnakes here in Montana which are basically the same size critters you discribed.

These loads do work if you hit the head at relatively close range, 5 feet is plenty close. In fact at that range, I prefer a shovel to lop their heads off.

Personally, I feel that the best shot shell on teh market at this time for medium size snakes are the CCI 45 ACP shot loads. These loads will flat out destroy a snake inside 10 feet with instant stoppage of the reptiles. There is more noise and more cost per round but they are much more effective as well.

If your in a developed area with people around you, the 22 load would be your best, QUIET option. just make sure you get the head.

Good Shooting!!!

50

Great, thanks guys.I will defenitly try it this summer.

Thanks

The .22 would definately do an adequate job, but personally I would use the rock. Not a fan of shot ruining my barrels.

I seriously doubt if shot would ruin a rifled barrel at all. I haven't tried the 22 shot shells, but have shot more than a few Rattle Snakes with my Ruger MkII 22 pistol and Federal bulk HP's.

Im out in Montana and we used to have a hell of a rattler problem..........until I found their den. Anyway we used 9mm, .38 special and the CCI .22 Mag shot loads ALL with great results. Want to pass on though......DO WEAR EYE PROTECTION. Especially if your shooting near rocks.

Some day I should write up "The Day We Gased the Snake Den". Could also be called, "How to walk on air when thirty snakes stream out all around you". Shoulda seen the shotgun work I did that day!

FN in MT

The shot will NOT harm a barrel in any way, shape or form. Maybe a little more fouling from the inefficiant powder burn is all you will see.

Seems that I remember an article compareing the different snake shot loads. They took some small potatos and blasted with different calibers from different ranges to get an idea of the destruction. I could probably help you get an idea of your max range to shoot from?

If nonpoisonous, I'd stay with rocks, if not the 22's actually work better than most other pistol shotshells.