Anyone sell 12ga snake/rat shot (#12)

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Arizona_Mike

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For vermin. Smallest I see in stores is #8 for 12ga and #9 for 20ga. Anyone have a source for super fine shot?

Wasn't snake shot used for breaching before the powdered metal stuff came out?

Mike
 
Well, if #8 or #9 shot in a shotgun isn't 'snake-shot', I don't know what it would be.

It would not be #12 'dust shot' like you are asking about though.

It would have very little use for anything, except killing snakes at very close range.
The range would be very limited for other uses like upland game or small game, or clay targets due to the small shot size.

That's why you are unlikely to find any for sale.

rc
 
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#9 12 ga abounds. Anyone familiar with a game called "skeet"?

I have seen # 10 shot for sale, maybe at Cabelas?

#12 shot would be for dragonflies at 10 ft, far too small for even mice at more than few feet.

I'd look for some Win AA international skeet loads or 7/8 oz #9 if you need manufactured ammo.

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Been a while since I've seen #12 in loaded ammunition in 12 or 20 ga., but if you load your own BPI sells it. Precision reloading might have it too.
 
A 12 ga. payload of any size lead shot is going to damage stuff at close range. Best consider an alternative to lead. Old timers used to use popcorn (unpopped) for vermin loads inside barns etc. A modern substitute might be something like Airsoft projectiles.

This of course requires experimentation as well as reloading capability ... and again, at close range, anything fired out of a shotgun can do significant damage. Caution is still in order...
 
#12 shot would be for dragonflies at 10 ft, far too small for even mice at more than few feet.
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. I've nailed a few chihuahua sized rats with #12 from a .22lr at over 20 ft.
 
I have a nice reloading press Dillon 550 (B--I think) but am not set up yet to load shotgun.

I'll look into #9 skeet loads. I usually use #7.5 for skeet.

Mike
 
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A few years ago I bought a 10 pond sack of size 11 shot that I use in 38 and 44 shot capsules. The only way I know to get shot smaller that 9's is to roll your own.
 
Try #9 1 oz loads for skeet and watch your scores go up. There's a lot more #9 shot in 1oz than #7.5 so those couple that you don't precisely center will be broken now ;) in theory....

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Cheaper Than Dirt used to have loaded 12 ga. ammo with #12 shot (dust) in 25-round boxes. I think it was Rio or S&B. I don't see it on there today.
 
Fred Fuller said:
A 12 ga. payload of any size lead shot is going to damage stuff at close range. Best consider an alternative to lead. Old timers used to use popcorn (unpopped) for vermin loads inside barns etc. A modern substitute might be something like Airsoft projectiles.

This of course requires experimentation as well as reloading capability ... and again, at close range, anything fired out of a shotgun can do significant damage. Caution is still in order...
Click to expand...
As for "old-timers" using popcorn. (not popped). rock salt or any other light weight substitute for lead shot: These had to be used with black powder because virtualy all smokeless powders simply would not build sufficient pressure for effective velocity.
 
Mike, if you are limited to using 12 ga. (way more than needed, really) why not just use 8 1/2 birdshot or target loads.... cheap, available, and will certainly get the job done.

Or .38/.357 snakeshot in a revolver of some sort?

I had a western diamond back rattler on my back patio at my desert home in Scottsdale a few weeks ago. Hated to kill him, but didn't want my wife or dog to ever encounter him again. 00 Buck already loaded in the little coach gun that I keep close by did the job swiftly and surely. Overkill, of course, but you use what yas got at hand at the time!

If I had regular use for it for snakes and vermin, a S&W Governor with .410 birdshot might be a good resource.
 
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You mentioned you are a reloader, look around at yard sales or classified boards. In my area Lee LoadAlls can frequently be purchased for $20-25. It will not take long to recover your money on specialized loads.

I know the Lee press is not fast, but it will work just as well or even better for the type of loads you are wanting. You will probably have to pour the "shot" into each load individually. Popcorn shot or dust shot is just not in the shot bushing charts.
 
In finally loaded up some 1 1/8oz 12ga #12 snake shot a couple weeks ago and it works great. Whether from 6 ft or 20 ft it fills a 500mL water bottle with holes. Pattern is small salad plate sized at 20 ft or so, fist sized up close.

I have never had to shoot a snake and would leave it alone unless it was very close to my house, cabin, or camping site. I'd also want to collect one that had bitten me for identification. I have three rural properties in Mohave rattlesnake (Type A) range, one of which near Prescott has a lot of them.

Mike
 
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#11 and #12 are what is loaded in .22 snake shots and good for about 6 feet. If you do not want to get that close, #9 (used for Skeet) will do the job nicely
 
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