
If your just packing it around for the occasional snake, a 22 is great. If you feel like you might encounter something like a wild dog or even a man-sized preditor, the 38 may be a better choice. Load it 1/2 with snake shot, and 1/2 with slugs.
Can you shoot a snake shot out of a 22 rifle?
The snake-shot is capable of being fired out of any .22LR firearm, although, semi-auto users should be warned that you will have to manually cycle the firearm in order to fire the next shot as the round doesn’t have the energy to operate any semi-automatic .22LR gun.
What is the best 22 LR ammo for killing a snake?
Just about all of the .22 LR snake-shot ammo cannot be depended upon to do a terminal job on a snake of any size. Moving up to the .22 WMR, you begin to get enough shot and enough power to do the job on one of these critters. However, I find that the best snake loads are built around, at least, the .38 Spl. and 9 mm.
How well does snake shot penetrate gel?
The 124 grain HST round can penetrate over sixteen inches of gel, so it zipped right through our test snake. The 45 LC snake shot penetrated well at five feet, making it through 3.75 inches of gel. The lighter shot inside the 9mm snake shot did not fare as well, penetrating only about 2.5 inches. Once again, the PDX-1 round had different results.
Can you shoot 22 rat shot in a revolver?
Yes, you can shoot .22 rat shot in a revolver. You will find cycling challenges in a pistol, however. Somewhat paradoxically, handguns sometimes produce better patterns than rifles, possibly due to less rifling abuse. That’s good news for those encountering pests or snakes on the go.

What are 22 shotshells good for?
0:001:31CCI 22 LR Shotshell Ammo Test - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHey everyone this is James from all outdoors. And today we'll be having a look at a common trailMoreHey everyone this is James from all outdoors. And today we'll be having a look at a common trail walk and close range a pest-control load 22 long-rifle rat shock or snake. Shot or 22lr shotshells
How far does .22 Ratshot travel?
The . 22 rat shot drops in power within a few yards and becomes pretty much worthless beyond 10-12 feet. In my experience, seven yards is a practical outer limit. Depending on the performance of the firearm and size of the quarry, you might luck out at 10 yards.
What is the best shotgun shell for snakes?
#12 Shot Ammo: #12 Shot Explained #12 shot will take care of snakes and other potentially dangerous small animals. This ammo type typically comes as #12 lead shot, and the amount of pellets per shot is staggering. It can be found in shotgun shells as well as pistol ammo.
What is the best snake gun?
45 Colt or . 410, the Taurus Judge sets the standard as the snake gun of choice. Advertised as the perfect trail gun, the Taurus Judge is indeed versatile enough to take small game, snakes and varmints when firing a .
How effective is 22?
You can fire 10 accurate shots from a semi-automatic . 22 pistol or rifle in about the same time you can fire five or six shots from a centerfire handgun or rifle. In other words, you could shoot a bad guy nearly twice as many times, in the same amount of time, using a . 22 LR as you could with a 9mm handgun or rifle.
How far is 22lr lethal?
The . 22 LR is effective to 150 yd (140 m), though practical ranges tend to be less. After 150 yd, the ballistics of the round are such that it will be difficult to compensate for the large "drop".
What are snake loads?
For those who aren't exactly sure what a snake load is, I'll tell you. Essentially, it's a handgun cartridge—centerfire or rimfire—that fires a swarm of small pellets rather than one bullet. Basically it turns your handgun (or rifle) into a mini-shotgun.
What is the best 410 pistol?
Best . 410 RevolversTaurus Judge. The Taurus Judge is perhaps the best-known . 410 revolver on the market. ... Smith & Wesson Governor. Our next pick comes from Smith & Wesson, and I think we can all agree S&W knows revolvers. ... Magnum Research BFR. Last up is the Magnum Research BFR.
What is the best pistol to carry in the woods?
The Best Handguns for HikingSmith and Wesson Kit Gun (Model 63) Smith & Wesson Model 63 “Kit Gun” Smith & Wesson. ... Browning 1911-22 Black Label Grey Compact. Check Price. ... Glock 20. Glock 20 via Glockstore.com. ... Colt Lightweight Commander. Colt Lightweight Commander Handgun Colt.
What makes a good snake gun?
2:414:15Top 5 Snake Guns - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn an expensive way to alter the use of a gun you may already own is - of course take a 357 magnumMoreIn an expensive way to alter the use of a gun you may already own is - of course take a 357 magnum revolver and just insert the CCI 357. Shot shells.
What guns have snake shot?
The Snake Shot Akimbo loadout for the . 357 revolver is the most popular Akimbo loadout of all. This turns the . 357 into a devastating long-range shotgun, which when dual-wielding can down an enemy in one or two shots from short to medium range.
Can you shoot a snake with a 9mm?
The 9mm jacketed hollow point round, however, was able to strike on the centerline of the target at all three distances. Any of these shots would be an incapacitating blow to even the toughest of snakes.
Can you use 22 shorts in a long rifle?
The good news for the . 22 Short is that it can be safely used in any firearm chambered for . 22 LR. And since gun makers have chambered virtually every action in .
How far can a 243 bullet travel?
The cartridge can be extremely accurate to 300 yards (270 m) and beyond, but may not retain enough terminal energy to reliably drop medium game at that distance. Highly experienced hunters use the .
How far can a 556 bullet travel?
According to theUS Army Technical Manual, the 556 cartridge has a 547-yard range for individual or point targets with a carbine (area target range is up to 650 yards). When used in a rifle, the individual or point targets range is up to 602 yards, and the area target is up to 875 yards.
How far can a 45 bullet travel?
Range of a Handgun BulletCaliberWeight/TypeMaximum Range (yd)30-06* Springfield180 gr SP BT56759mm Luger124 gr RN240045 ACP230 gr RN180044 Magnum240 gr FP25002 more rows
What is snake shot?
Simply put, snake shot is a shotgun cartridge you can shoot out of a pistol. They are sized the same as common pistol cartridges, and as such, they carry a smaller amount of shot pellets than most shotgun cartridges. There is one exception to this: the Taurus Judge and similar guns.
How big is a 9mm snake shot?
This is much smaller than the shot normally used in a shotgun shell. Each pellet is the equivalent of 0.25 of a grain and is just 0.053 inches in diameter. Inside of each 45 Long Colt shot shell round are pellets of #9 birdshot, which is slightly larger and heavier.
How many BBs are in a Winchester PDX-1 round?
However, where that group would hit on the target would vary widely. All three shots had the same aiming point; however, the discs landed slightly to the right of the target at ten feet and distinctly above the target. This is consistent with the discs engaging the rifling in the barrel of the Judge and then spinning out randomly after the round was fired. The twelve BBs inside a round of PDX-1 also spread out significantly as the distance to the target increased. These results make me believe that is would be an ineffective choice for use against snakes.
What is a shotgun?
Shotguns Are Shotguns. One of the defining characteristics of a shotgun is that it is a smoothbore firearm. There is no rifling inside the barrel of a shotgun like there is on a rifle (hence the term “rifle”) or in a pistol.
Is a snake shot a shotgun?
As snake shot is essentially a pistol-sized shotgun shell, we’re going to test its effectiveness like we test shotguns. We’ll be testing how dense the shot pattern is at common distances for a snake encounter. We will then test how far it penetrates into a clear ballistics gel analog of a snake.
Does rifling inside a shotgun barrel work?
However, rifling inside a shotgun barrel has the opposite effect. Spinning the shot cup and wad inside the barrel imparts centrifugal centripetal force to the shot cop and everything inside it, which in turn spreads out the shot once it leaves the barrel.
Is rifling in a shotgun good or bad?
Bottom line is, rifling in a rifle or pistol barrel is good, rifling in a shotgun is bad. This is a fact that will pop up later in our testing.
My Chipmunk Problem
It was a mid-March morning. Spring had nearly sprung. The day dawned clear and cold, but the sun was still strong enough to ease the chill. Stepping out onto my front porch, a few robins had reappeared and the taste of spring was indeed in the air. Life was good – that is, until I spied… “The Hole.”
What is .22 Snake Shot Good For?
Well, the moniker probably says it best – to a point. Forget upland birds (well, mostly – more on that shortly). Most four-legged critters, too. The chipmunk was fair game only because he was close.
Last Words
Right now ammo of any sort is scarcer than chicken lips. If you can find any bulk ammo deals, seize ’em. Somewhat more potent centerfire shot loads are available in the popular handgun calibers. They fire heavier payloads and some have larger pellets.
How effective is a round for snakes?
From 5 feet, the round seems quite effective and this would probably be your optimal engagement range. A majority of the pellets fall within a fist-sized area. At 3 feet the devastation is obvious. Absolutely 100% effective against Snakes at 3 feet.
What is a 22LR shotshell?
This week I’d like to discuss .22LR shotshells. Colloquially referred to most often as “snake shot” or “rat-shot,” the round is geared towards pest control. Generally, these “mini-shotshells” contain about 30 or so grains of #12 shot. The snake-shot is capable of being fired out of any .22LR firearm, although, semi-auto users should be warned that you will have to manually cycle the firearm in order to fire the next shot as the round doesn’t have the energy to operate any semi-automatic .22LR gun.
How far does a #12 pellet spread?
At about 5 feet, the spread is contained in about an 8inch circle. Reaching out to 10 and even 15 feet, the spread grows quite sparse, with most of the #12 pellets falling outside the target area.
How many pellets are in a 2.5" target?
At 10 feet, the spread is quite wide covering this 2.5″ target with approximately 22 pellets. I would judge this to be the round’s maximum effective range as shots beyond this range cannot guarantee adequate target coverage.
What is a Henry.22?
Henry makes a lever action smooth bore . 22 they call a garden gun that patterns nicely and would be great for pests in gardens, barns or attics. Also, Short Lane adapters work great in shotguns. My 12 ga/.22 adapter gave me good patterns at 35 feet with an improved cylinder choke.
Can a 22LR kill mice?
In my estimation, these rounds have a use, a niche use but a use nonetheless. When I was younger, my Dad would buy these .22LR shotshells for our 10/22 to kill mice. At the time, we lived in a mobile home in rural Texas. While mouse traps would suffice, the shotshells provided an instant kill without completely destroying the walls or carpet. Overpenetration (or really any significant penetration whatsoever) is not an issue. The round is not loud enough to damage your hearing and when wearing proper eye protection any ricochets are harmless, although I would advise against shooting indoors all together if possible.
Can a 22LR shot shell kill mice?
I personally wasn’t able to test the penetration effect of the .22LR shotshells but from the info I’ve gathered online, it seems that the shot is capable of penetration on small pests like roof-rats, mice, and snakes at ranges of about 5 feet. Absolutely out of the realm of self-defense or anything else but small pest control really.
Why use a 22 rat shot?
The whole idea of .22 rat shot is to keep from shooting the barn full of holes. It may only wound the rat, but wounded rats don't live long. The round is very good for not damaging much else.
What is a 22 shot shell?
Continue Reading. As Terry says, .22 shotshell ammunition is marketed for the purposes of killing rodents and other pest animals at a very close distance.
Why use a CCI revolver?
Used the CCI version in a High Standard revolver for rodent control in Florida. The choice of ammo was for safety as rats were often found inside of or next to occupied buildings. At 3 meters the first shot either stuns or kills the rat. A second point blank shot always was lethal.
Which is better, a 22 or a 38?
The 22 magnum shotshell is definitely better than the lr. If you really think you might be in a position to need to take a quick shot at a snake, a small .38 revolver with .38/.357 shotshells would be a much better choice than either of the .22s.
How far can a 22 shot shell go?
If you are lucky to have an antique with a smooth barrel (I believe only long guns are legal, handguns are not), then you can expect the more typical shot spread of one inch per yard traveled and a 22 shotshell may have an effective range of 10 yards, or 30 feet.
What size shot shell do I use for a 6" barrel?
I use .22 shotshells out of a 6″ barrel pistol frequently to control rats inside buildings and there is a lot of variability in performance depending on the brand…
What is a 25 ACP?
Today, the 25 ACP (aka 6.35 Browning, 6.35x16 SR, etc.) is basically an obsolete self-defense pocket pistol cartridge (that dates to 1905) is still being loaded by most major makers because of the countless (huge) number of arms that were produced for it over the last 115 years by likely 50 to maybe more than 100 makers worldwide.
How far can you shoot a bird shot to get rid of snakes?
So, if the situation allows, grab a shotgun loaded with fine bird shot (#7 or smaller) and try to get a clear shot from about 10 yards to let the pattern spread. That recipe makes for highly effective snake medicine.
What is a shotshell fired from?
A shotshell fired from a shotgun, or maybe a Smith & Wesson Governor or Taurus Judge, or even a shotshell designed for a handgun or rifle , makes it a lot easer to get hits on a slithery, squirmy target a lot longer than that it is wide.
Can you use fireplace tongs on a dead snake?
Once I knew it was dead, I used the fireplace tongs to untangle the still-writhing critter from around the slat in the vent. That’s another thing the newbie snake shooter needs to know. Snakes have very primitive nervous systems. Plenty of folks have suffered venomous snakebites from dead snakes. All it takes is one squirm and for a fang to hit flesh, and you’re bitten.
Can a snake gun shoot a bullet?
Note: If at all possible, a snake gun should fire some sort of shot load, instead of a solid projectile. I’ve been a part of plenty of snake killings achieved with bullets through the years. I’ve used .22s, .380s, a .45 ACP (1911, of course) and an M1 carbine. While solid bullets kill snakes dead, it sometimes takes a couple of shots to put the little bullet onto the fairly-small, moving head of a copperhead.
Can you use a shotshell on a snake?
I have encountered situations before where no shotshell will work. For example, I’ve killed a venomous snake that was wrapped around the wiring of my air conditioner unit. Using a shotshell in that case could have taken out the wiring along with the snake. I had to wait until its head was clear and on the ground, and single shot of .22 solid took care of the problem.
