.22 Mag Shot Is Not Enough for Timber Rattler

I have never had a problem with .22 LR blue topped shot killing a snake from my 6.5" SA revolver.

You have to know that you are shooting a doughnut shaped spread and aim accordingly. Every time I needed to dispose of a snake with .22 LR blue cap shot, CCI I believe, it did just fine, and was very, very effective.
I just aim to one side a little. I don't see why .22 Mag shot if you aim correctly from a rifled barrel would not do the same if not better.

But if using a .22 LR for snake protection. I find that Super Colibri from a 6.5" SA Revolver is quite, and works great for disposing of large vermin and snakes at close distances.

I gave up on .22 shot shells and now use 40 grn LR hollow points for my viper killing(no one else's approval sought or needed). 100% effective(unless I miss).

A friend's grandmother used to keep her pay-to-fish pond water moccasin-free with a S&W Model 18, if I remember correctly. Now, they don't normally get nearly as big as a Texas rattler, but I never heard of her needing more gun.

All these people criticizing you for killing an animal? Was this website taken over by PETA? Jeeezzzz!!!!

^ No, Appalachian Pentecostals. Sorry, I had to.

The best .22 mag shot shell is a 2.5" .410 #6. Just sayin'.

Shot is for those that can't hit with a bullet.

Shot is for those that can't hit with a bullet.

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Actually,its harder to hit with shot from a rifled barrel than with a single projectile. Shot is much safer if you are dispatching vermin in an enclosed area such as a basement. One size does not fit all. Never has....never will.

Once upon a time. with a Webley MK. 6 loaded with speer 45acp.shot I leaned forward in the saddle and shot a cottontail at spitting distance SQUARE in the back . He hopped back to his briar patch...I have no use for shot less than .410.

For snakes the best weapon is a flexible green stick a little longer than the snake. break his spine first . rake it out onto the open , then crush its head into pulp before some curious fool finds the chance to stick his finger in its mouth.

.40 cal CCI shotshells work well.

Embarrassing memory: when I first started shooting I imagined that I could borrow a .410 derringer and use it to go rabbit hunting - as in from 30 yards away. It's a pocket shotgun, right? The good news is that I'm teachable and (eventually) can laugh at past doofusness.

Actually,its harder to hit with shot from a rifled barrel than with a single projectile. Shot is much safer if you are dispatching vermin in an enclosed area such as a basement. One size does not fit all. Never has....never will.

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A basement in coastal Texas is known as an indoor swimming pool. Only time I've ever shot snakes with shot was from a shotgun. Oh, I did take a rattler with my .410 Contender barrel. It shoots more like a bullet at 10 feet, though. Took that rattler's head clean off. I fried him. He was tasty, little 3 footer. I've killed a few around the house in town with a garden hoe. That works pretty good, too.

I have a friend who raises quail by the thousands. Which means rats by the million. When we visit every night is a rat shoot. Burning a 500 round brick is a weekend affair.
.22LR cheap crimped ratshot has little or no quality control some have no pellets at all while others have a surplus.
The shot capsules are a bit better but have a pathetic pattern when compared to a crimped shell that actually has shot in it.
Funny thing is while they wont always drop a rat on the first try they will always poke a bunch of holes in the watering systems.
T

MCgunner said:

A basement in coastal Texas is known as an indoor swimming pool. Only time I've ever shot snakes with shot was from a shotgun. Oh, I did take a rattler with my .410 Contender barrel. It shoots more like a bullet at 10 feet, though. Took that rattler's head clean off. I fried him. He was tasty, little 3 footer. I've killed a few around the house in town with a garden hoe. That works pretty good, too.

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He was tasty, little 3 footer. I've killed a few around the house in town with a garden hoe. That works pretty good, too.

That hoe would have to have a very very long handle.