Didn't know where else to put this but since we deal with rattlers when we are hunting, this seemed like the best place.
Mrs Blacktailer stepped over a rattler the other day on our threshold and promptly asked if she could have a gun to deal with this sort of problem. I got her some 22lr scattershot for the Ruger MkII she likes to shoot and said I also had 38Spl loads.
This got me to thinking that I had never patterned shot loads for a pistol so I thought I would share my findings. All shots were at a distance of 5-6ft from the muzzle as I thought that ia about as close I as would get to a rattler.
Here is the MKII 22 with 5 inch barrel #12 shot and a pattern of 5 inches in diameter

here is the same load from a 6 inch Colt revolver with a 4 inch pattern

Here is the CCI 38spl load from a 6 inch revolver 71/2 or 8 shot 12 inch pattern

Here is the 38spl load from a 1 7/8 barreled revolver giving a 13 inch pattern

I think they would all be deadly on a snake at this distance but the 38 offers a lot more leeway.

Thanks, Blacktailer. It is nice to see someone do this. I have shot .22 Mag against some cardboard and the pattern was much better than what your 22LR shows. Both are shooting shot so small it best qualifies as dust. However, the .38 with real shot puts them both to shame.

FYI - I've seen California rattlers, specifically crotalus ruber, that could cover 6 feet in no time, striking on the way. Be careful!

My experience has been the shorter the barrel the tighter the pattern.

Mike Venterino (sp?) did an article in Handloader, I think, a few years ago trying to find the "ultimate" snake load. Evidently he is absolutlely terrified by snakes and wanted to find the load that would work best. Dence pattern, large kill area, whatever.

The result as I recall was a 45LC or 44mag handload with #12 shot. The load contained 300 grains or so of this little shot and delivered an extremely dence pattern. He was building them with overcard wads etc but if you could find a bag of that fine, #12, shot I suppose you could use Speer shot caps?

I have shot dozens of snakes with a simple .22 LR. Hit them in the head and they are dead.

You aren't fast enough to kill them with birdshot when they are striking, so hitting them when they are the in the "heads up and rattling" mode is your only option. If you can't hit them in the head with a handgun from 5-10 yards, you need to practice.

Sounds like a job for the Taurus Judge or the Smith & Wesson Governor. The .410 with number 4's or 6's would be a sight better and they shoot a pretty nice pattern.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I have shot dozens of snakes with a simple .22 LR. Hit them in the head and they are dead.

You aren't fast enough to kill them with birdshot when they are striking, so hitting them when they are the in the "heads up and rattling" mode is your only option. If you can't hit them in the head with a handgun from 5-10 yards, you need to practice.

I won't disagree with you but I am more comfortable with a shot load. I've shot them with straight .2LR, .38 Spl. and even my .44 Mag. but I've gone to shot loas simply because my wie uses the same guns and she's just not that good a shot.
Most of the time if I run into a snake of the poisonous variety it's at the range. The seem to like to go to the rest rooms when it's hotter'n hell. A dose of #10 shot takes all the fight out of them from my .38 Spl. and I take home some fine eating. On hike, I usually haaaave my 4 5/8" Ruger Super Blackhawk and the first one up is a Speer shot capsule full of #10 shot. I won't shoot a snake while hiking unless it gets agressive or it's a situation where I can't go around it. If they leave me be, I leave them be. fter all they were there first.
Paul B.

quote:

I won't disagree with you but I am more comfortable with a shot load. I've shot them with straight .2LR, .38 Spl. and even my .44 Mag. but I've gone to shot loas simply because my wie uses the same guns and she's just not that good a shot.

My reason for this exercise exactly. I'm sure something bigger than 38 would work better but Mrs Blacktailer doesn't care for the bigger stuff.
Besides, the snakes around where we live are fairly small.
Besides I don't need a slug ricocheting off of the patio and doing more damage to her than the snake

I remember seeing .38, .44, and .45 plastic cups for reloaders to use with whatever shot they choose. I bet #9 shot would work well. It would give you plenty of pellets and still have enough pellet mass to prove lethal to a snake or other small varmint.

If you're going to be around your house or range, the easiest deadly snake killer is a long handled hoe. I'm sure my grandmother easily killed hundreds of them with her hoe.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
If you're going to be around your house or range, the easiest deadly snake killer is a long handled hoe. I'm sure my grandmother easily killed hundreds of them with her hoe.

+1



SSR

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Sounds like a job for the Taurus Judge or the Smith & Wesson Governor. The .410 with number 4's or 6's would be a sight better and they shoot a pretty nice pattern.

+1

If I'm doing a lot of walking around during the summer, I carry my S&W Governor loaded with four rounds of .45 LC hollow points and two rounds of .410 #9 shot.

Shot two snakes with handguns one 6 foot rattler with a 315gr hard cast tip of the nose at 15 feet. It did a good job .

The other a 2 footer at 3 feet 9mm shot it did a good job too.

Eland Slayer
I used to spend my summers outside of Conroe as a youngster. My dad's family lived in that area. You definitely have your share of snakes around there.

I don't trust 22LR birdshot to kill a snake.
I once shot a 3 ft rattler in the head, twice, at 6-7 feet with .22lr shot. All it did was pizz him off.
One 40 gr solid did the trick.
Tried some shot out of a .44, now that did it !
.

Research my previous posts on Speer Shot Shells.

I have shot a bunch of stuff with them over the years.
I killed some snakes, including a couple of good sized rattlers for the skillet just this last turkey season with 22R Speer Shotshells.

They work great

Like Eland Slayer, my snake gun is a S&W Governor (when my wife lets me borrow it). I will alternate 45 colt plunkers with Win. PDX1 410 Defenders (3 plated discs and 12 plated BB's). They should work fine but, I haven't had an opportunity to try them on a snake yet.

Blacktailer – I’ve killed a lot of CA rattlers in Napa/Lake County. I’ve used 22lr snake shot with great success, but it’s always been out of a rifle and it’s always been at point blank to the head (or when they strike at the end of the barrel). A 22 with ss fired at average pistol distance, will not do the job. Any pistol bigger than a 9, loaded with snake shot will work, but it will not be instant.

quote:

Originally posted by CA Safari Hunter:
Blacktailer – I’ve killed a lot of CA rattlers in Napa/Lake County. I’ve used 22lr snake shot with great success, but it’s always been out of a rifle and it’s always been at point blank to the head (or when they strike at the end of the barrel). A 22 with ss fired at average pistol distance, will not do the job. Any pistol bigger than a 9, loaded with snake shot will work, but it will not be instant.

I'll keep that in mind. Maybe I can get her to use the 38.

A large 4'+ rattler missing it's rattles struck at my wife with no warning just 75' from the house, maybe 20' from the pool. He was on a raised rock wall planter area and struck so hard he fell off the wall on to the tile walkway where he was curled up ready to strike again. The CCI 38 shot load not only killed him instantly but it didn't damage my tile - something a 20 guage or even 22 slug would be hard pressed to do.

She was looking into it's mouth as it missed he arm by a couple of inches - she is happy to lug around a 38 now.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
If you're going to be around your house or range, the easiest deadly snake killer is a long handled hoe. I'm sure my grandmother easily killed hundreds of them with her hoe.

I am sure she did, but you have to be careful when using grandmother/wife and hoe in the same sentence.


As a cop I regularly got called to rattle snake calls. I found a hoe or shovel works as well as a gun, especially in town.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
If you're going to be around your house or range, the easiest deadly snake killer is a long handled hoe. I'm sure my grandmother easily killed hundreds of them with her hoe.

As a cop I regularly got called to rattle snake calls. I found a hoe or shovel works as well as a gun, especially in town.

I prefer the trench axe.

My Ruger Single Six with the magnum cylinder in it and shotshells does a pretty good job on one within about ten feet! Usually two shots at most and he ain't rattling any more.

] Pattern test of 22LR shot out of Ruger SS

If I need to shoot a snake and want to use shot--- I'll take a 12 ga. everytime! I have had very poor results with factory shot shells for handguns in everything I have tried!

quote:

If I need to shoot a snake and want to use shot--- I'll take a 12 ga. everytime!

What kind of holster do you use, LOL!!!

A big one!