Racewin
Member
I'm looking for recommendations on a lightweight gun that can be carried while hunting to defend against snakes. I've tried an airweight .38, but the loose plastic tips bind up the cylinder. Any suggestions?
Advice on a snake pistol
- Thread starter Racewin
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Racewin
Member
I'm aware of the ammo, thanks though. 
The .410 revolvers are too heavy. I was hoping something like an NAA in 22 mag would work, but don't know if they have the same jamming issue.
The .410 revolvers are too heavy. I was hoping something like an NAA in 22 mag would work, but don't know if they have the same jamming issue.I use the CCI 38 Special shot loads in a S&W 638 without any problems.
But that is a bit of overkill for rattlesnakes and now use the CCI .22 shot shells in a S&W 317.
But that is a bit of overkill for rattlesnakes and now use the CCI .22 shot shells in a S&W 317.
Racewin
Member
is the .22 (assuming its LR) strong enough?
The NAA doesn't bind with .22 WMR shot-shells. Its widely accepted that the .22 caliber shotshells are generally ineffective at more than a few feet. The NAA Revolvers are really nice. They will reliably shoot any .22 WMR ammo or at least mine does so far. I have been hiking, hunting, biking, camping in AZ for 40 years. Never been attacked by a snake. Seen dozens mostly rattlesnakes. By design they warn you before you see them so you can get away. Best defense against snakes is watching out for them and staying away. They don't hunt people or want to cause you harm. If you scare them or corner them they will defend themselves. If that happens you likely wont have time to pull and fire a pocket gun anyway before the damage is done. No need to kill a snake unless you want to eat it. But that's just me.
For my uses the .22LR shotshell is enough, but I always double tap them anyway.
All my shots have been around 10 feet or less.
Never had a need to shoot one further away than that.
All my shots have been around 10 feet or less.
Never had a need to shoot one further away than that.
Stray Horse
Member
No need for a snake gun. Walk away. Most people that get bit f*** with them.
AZ Husker
Member
I grew up on a ranch in Nebraska where Diamondbacks were as common as sparrows. I've killed dozens with a spade. In my opinion there is no need for a "snake gun". The effective range is extremely short, especially with small shot. If you chose a small bullet you'd better be one hell of a shot. If you are close enough for one to get you, you don't have time to draw and fire accurately. Much better to just avoid them.
Solar_Empire
Member
could always get an altor single shot pistol in 9mm. Ugly as sin but dirt cheap and reliable.
Racewin
Member
I agree that the Bond is too heavy. If 22mag is strong enough, then the NAA would probably be ideal.
First consider just walking away, they really don’t want to mess with you.
If that isn’t an option, .22 snake shot is garbage. There are not enough pellets to do the job with one shot and it doesn’t reliably cycle a 10/22. 9mm snake shot on the other hand works great and reliably cycles my glock 19. I don’t have a designated snake gun just a designated snake shot magazine whenever I go out into the desert.
If that isn’t an option, .22 snake shot is garbage. There are not enough pellets to do the job with one shot and it doesn’t reliably cycle a 10/22. 9mm snake shot on the other hand works great and reliably cycles my glock 19. I don’t have a designated snake gun just a designated snake shot magazine whenever I go out into the desert.
pvreb
Member
I have used .22 snake shot successfully in a revolver or bolt action rifle. It is interesting because I have noticed the tone of the rattle change when the snake is hit. They continue to shake for a while. Shot one many years ago and put it into the trunk of my car. Had to search for it later because it moved around with the head cut off.
Shot another a few years ago. My buddy had a jacket with a pocket in the back and offered to carry it because my jacket didn't have the pocket. Watching him was hilarious when it started moving without a head.
FWIW they are good eating.
Shot another a few years ago. My buddy had a jacket with a pocket in the back and offered to carry it because my jacket didn't have the pocket. Watching him was hilarious when it started moving without a head.
FWIW they are good eating.
shooter444
Member
Rattlers,... Rattlers,.. Rattles,... subject seems to come up every early summer!
When I moved from Cave Creek to S/E Az twenty five years ago, to set up a goat and horse breeding hobby ranch,... fencing was my #1 chore. Doing fence in my area, was always fraught with rattler surprises. My personal problem, was, I had many, many, Mojave Rattles, aka grass rattlers, here in this desert / grazing country.
Some will say that Rattlers serve a purpose, which they do! Some will say, just let them be. My problem with some rattlers was/is they didn't let me be! Not only were they a danger to my horse operation,... horses graze with their nose a few inches off the ground, prime target for a scared rattler. When struck in the nose, a horse's nose can swell up to the point of suffocation,... horses only breath through their nose!
Mojave Rattlers, aka grass rattlers, will and have charged me EVERY TIME I have come across one!!!
Eventually, they will, and did, move off my place once the ground vibrating heavy hooves of the horses, that let them know they were in danger of being stepped on. In fact, now, I only have rattlers around the house and milk room, where grain is stored, or, around the buckets of dog food for my 9 dogs, that mice dine on,... when the mice population explodes due to lack of cat population, they roam and coyotes get them,... the snakes come in and fill up .
Walking into my pump room, first thing in the morning, to find a coon tail hunting mice, can be more awakening than my morning triple espresso coffee!!!
I feel that rattlers should not be tolerated on my place, for the reasons explained above! I also don't tolerate them within a half mile of my place. Rattles, like most wild critters, have a circuit they travel. Interrupt the circuit enough times and the trail isn't used again.
Now,... on topic,... SNAKE GUN!
I wore out NAA Black Widow 22 mag in the first year, doing fence here. It was a poor choice, in my experience. Wounded Mojave Rattlers would continue to strike, even while dragging their entrails. A moving snake size target, continuously striking as it attacked, wasn't dealt with efficiently with a 22 caliber, imo. You want to use a 22 caliber on a snake all curled up in the corner of a blocked patio, not moving, just rattling away,... go for it, probably will do just fine. Which brings up another lesson I have learned,... NOT ALL RATTLERS,... RATTLE BEFORE STRIKING!!!
Dealing with a Mojave Rattlers in THEIR natural desert grassland territory, where you can lose sight of it in a heart beat,... something better than a 22 caliber suddenly comes into mind!!!
I have used a multitude of calibers and commercial shot loads,... only to realize I could put something better, together,... so I did.
Uberti Colt clone in 45 Colt with Marlin 444 caliber cases cut a 16th of an inch shorter than the cylinder chambers, filled with #6 shot, capped with 410bore card board spacers 1/4" below crimped case mouth and topped off with a glue of your choice,... will produce a KILLING shot pattern good out to 15 feet in most type of cover a rattler could choose!!! It may be good even further, just never tried, figured 15 feet good enough!
I have learned a few things about Rattlers,... the most important, to me, is,... if they are on my place, and I just chase them off,.... THEY WILL RETURN!
You have a snake around your house in the city,... if you miss killing it with a shovel or a rock,... IT WILL RETURN!!!
When,... no clue,... just, until it RETURNS!!!
For my encounters when out riding, or walking, enjoying the country side,... I don't kill a rattler,... just because it's a rattler,... they do serve a purpose,... just not on my place!
When I moved from Cave Creek to S/E Az twenty five years ago, to set up a goat and horse breeding hobby ranch,... fencing was my #1 chore. Doing fence in my area, was always fraught with rattler surprises. My personal problem, was, I had many, many, Mojave Rattles, aka grass rattlers, here in this desert / grazing country.
Some will say that Rattlers serve a purpose, which they do! Some will say, just let them be. My problem with some rattlers was/is they didn't let me be! Not only were they a danger to my horse operation,... horses graze with their nose a few inches off the ground, prime target for a scared rattler. When struck in the nose, a horse's nose can swell up to the point of suffocation,... horses only breath through their nose!
Mojave Rattlers, aka grass rattlers, will and have charged me EVERY TIME I have come across one!!!
Eventually, they will, and did, move off my place once the ground vibrating heavy hooves of the horses, that let them know they were in danger of being stepped on. In fact, now, I only have rattlers around the house and milk room, where grain is stored, or, around the buckets of dog food for my 9 dogs, that mice dine on,... when the mice population explodes due to lack of cat population, they roam and coyotes get them,... the snakes come in and fill up .
Walking into my pump room, first thing in the morning, to find a coon tail hunting mice, can be more awakening than my morning triple espresso coffee!!!
I feel that rattlers should not be tolerated on my place, for the reasons explained above! I also don't tolerate them within a half mile of my place. Rattles, like most wild critters, have a circuit they travel. Interrupt the circuit enough times and the trail isn't used again.
Now,... on topic,... SNAKE GUN!
I wore out NAA Black Widow 22 mag in the first year, doing fence here. It was a poor choice, in my experience. Wounded Mojave Rattlers would continue to strike, even while dragging their entrails. A moving snake size target, continuously striking as it attacked, wasn't dealt with efficiently with a 22 caliber, imo. You want to use a 22 caliber on a snake all curled up in the corner of a blocked patio, not moving, just rattling away,... go for it, probably will do just fine. Which brings up another lesson I have learned,... NOT ALL RATTLERS,... RATTLE BEFORE STRIKING!!!
Dealing with a Mojave Rattlers in THEIR natural desert grassland territory, where you can lose sight of it in a heart beat,... something better than a 22 caliber suddenly comes into mind!!!
I have used a multitude of calibers and commercial shot loads,... only to realize I could put something better, together,... so I did.
Uberti Colt clone in 45 Colt with Marlin 444 caliber cases cut a 16th of an inch shorter than the cylinder chambers, filled with #6 shot, capped with 410bore card board spacers 1/4" below crimped case mouth and topped off with a glue of your choice,... will produce a KILLING shot pattern good out to 15 feet in most type of cover a rattler could choose!!! It may be good even further, just never tried, figured 15 feet good enough!
I have learned a few things about Rattlers,... the most important, to me, is,... if they are on my place, and I just chase them off,.... THEY WILL RETURN!
You have a snake around your house in the city,... if you miss killing it with a shovel or a rock,... IT WILL RETURN!!!
When,... no clue,... just, until it RETURNS!!!
For my encounters when out riding, or walking, enjoying the country side,... I don't kill a rattler,... just because it's a rattler,... they do serve a purpose,... just not on my place!
Ballistic Therapy
Member
I've always used a shovel or a 12 gauge.
They both work just fine.
They both work just fine.
littleleft
Member
shovel and then a .22 works for me
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