Rat Shot

[labgrade]

Do whatever you want regards "rat shot" out of a handgun.

Beforehand though, I'd suggest shooting an empty Coke can at 20 feet & seeing (for yourself) what it does, or doesn't do.

Buy a 6-pack & go shoot a light-skinned aluminum can - at 20 feet.

The stuff sucks.

I've shot a robin-sized bird at 10' - didn't kill it, shot a 3-1/2' rattlesnake 3 feet from my own - 3 times, covering the head, with the .44 cal stuff - pissed 'im off .....

Shotgun forum seems to have not just a few who know what patterning/penetration is all about - ask them.

Go shoot a can & come back & tell us what it's good for.

 

[Dave R]

The only thing I can add to this great discussion, is that sometimes the shot from a rifled pistol makes a "donut" pattern. So the shot goes everywhere EXCEPT where you are aiming.

I tried the CCI 9mm snake shot in my H-Power. It patterned OK at 3 FEET, but by the time you get to 3 yards, the donut was pronounced, and there only 1-2 pellets within 3" of where I was aiming.

IOW, if you aim carefully, you are guaranteed to MISS.

I look at it this way. At any range where the shot might be effective, I can hit what I'm aiming at with "real" bullets. So what's the advantage?

 

[Clemson]

Snake Gun?

There is a difference between guns and how effectively they handle "snake shot." I have a 4" S&W 686 that shoots a darned effective pattern out to 10 feet or so. My S&W Model 15 with the same length barrel is not nearly as good. My .45 autos don't do well with the stuff either. I think it is really gun-specific.

 

[RugerFan]

Years ago I reloaded my own bird shot rounds for my Ruger 44mag SBH. I don't have the exact recipe in front of me, but as I recall I used either 700X or Unique behind about 5/8 oz of #7 1/2 shot. A pre-sized gas check was used as a powder/shot separator and another on top of the shot load. The case mouth was then crimped. These rounds were actually very effective on grouse, squirrels, and rabbits up to 30 feet. I had no cleaning problems and the patterns were consistent and uniform (not donut shaped as I have previously heard mentioned).

 

[provalov]

Greybeard:
I'm with you on using snake shot for wounded game birds. I've carried shot shells in my Springfield XD40 ever since I had to make a close shot on a wounded dove with my 20 guage -- the only thing left was two legs and a wing. Since then I've finished off several with the .40 snake shot. Just watch for the "grit" when you are dining on your game.

BTW, I have experimented with snake shot in various loads. The .22 shell barely seems to bother copperheads unless you are close enough to them to get bit. 9mm works better, but doesn't cycle my semi-auto. 40S&W seems to do the trick best -- throws a good bit of shot at reasonable distances, and cycles the action to boot. When out hunting in warm weather, I usually have two rounds of shot shell -- one in the pipe and one in the mag, the rest are FMJ for bigger problems.