Good small snake gun?

PaulR | PaulR

[Paul R.]

Unlike many Freepers, while I'm pro 2nd Amendment, I'm no expert on guns, so I'm, going to turn to those of you who are more knowledgeable, for some advice. See further "setup" to my questions regarding a good "snake gun" below.

[22202NOVA]

Why would she shoot the guy’s snakes?

[Rum Tum Tugger]

Here in Florida, I use a Ruger SP101 revolver with 38 shotshells. Very compact and very reliable. Much easier to carry in your pocket than a 12 guage. A little pricy though.

[Paul R.]

I do realize that a .38 or larger gun with shotshell carts is perhaps a better choice than a .22 for very inexperienced shooters or for those who fear snakes. In fact, I’d guess that a .410 pistol with a shotshell, because of the rifled barrel, creates a large “can’t miss” pattern. But even the .38’s & .357 Magnum’s I’ve tried are loud and have some kick - I need to combine the target / learning practice for my wife (with a sidearm she’s comfortable with) with the snake gun function.

In my own case, snakes don’t bother me unduly beyond the (instinctive?) 1st second or 2 of “yikes!” when one comes across a snake unexpectedly. And, I think I can place the pattern on the snake — problem is, with a .22 rifled barrel, unless one is really on top of the snake, the shot may go AROUND the snake’s head. That’s why I think what I’d really like to come up with is a used smoothbore barrel .22 pistol.

P.S. For a real challenge, one can try taking out a copperhead with a Crossman 1322. Not particularly recommended...

[Greysard]

I read reviews of that .22LR snakeshot, and by all indications it's like a fine dust that is marginally usable against an unprotected frog. Snakes have scales. I don't intend to fool myself by believing that such a .22LR cartridge will do anything good to anyone involved.

You could try to hit it with .22LR bullets, but you need to have a full box of rounds and some time; chances are that the snake won't be cooperating with your plans, and will escape under your house, or into some other most inconvenient spot that you can imagine. Not only many of your shots will miss the snake altogether; those that don't miss will not kill it right away.

If you can afford to fire a shotgun at the location, that's exactly what you may want to do - as long as you are safe from a ricochet. (This is something you have to always be aware of, shooting at such distances and against irregular, poorly absorbing backstops.) If you cannot use a shotgun where you are (such as around your home in a city,) then use a shovel or some other sufficiently long tool. If the snake has to be dealt with when you are in the field, then probably the easiest is to walk around it, since you are wearing snake-proof boots.

A .22LR pistol is a good training tool; you may want to get one just for fun, while you can. Semi-autos are trouble because .22 has not that much energy to cycle the mechanism; .22LR semi-autos are very choosy. Ruger Mark III, for example, won't work with any subsonic ammo. A revolver is a far more reliable tool, especially for a target shooter or a hunter who don't need to reload within a second.

You can take it with you to the field, but I doubt very much that you (or most other people) can hit a varmint with it. Varmints are not stupid, they won't let you come close - and with a pistol a common person can only hope to hit a large target at 25 yards. NRA's basic pistol test requires to hit a 9" circle that is 15 feet away. Imagine a varmint that gives you a 9" target area... it would be called a deer :-) Most varmints are far smaller, and consequently their vitals present a smaller area even at the optimal angle. A ground squirrel, for example, has to be hit within just 1". (There is ammo that is not so choosy, but not in .22LR.) Foxes and coyotes probably could be hit in a 3" circle, unless you want them to suffer for a few days and then die anyway. It is difficult to guarantee such accuracy with a pistol. People do hunt with a pistol, but they use a telescopic sight that makes it much easier not just to aim the weapon, but simply to see the target. In the field most small varmints cannot be easily seen - not only they are small, they are also have protective coloring, and they are hiding. A typical shooting distance against a rodent like a ground squirrel varies from 50 to 200 yards; longer if you are using .223 and the atmosphere is stable. If you want to hunt with a pistol, you need a pretty good one, and you probably need to ask questions on specialized forums.

[Paul R.]

Beautiful piece. But, way out of my price range, a web search suggests.

[lentulusgracchus]

How ‘bout a .45 Long Colt revolver stoked w/ “shorty” 1/2” shotshells loaded with bird shot or No. 6 field loads in .410 Gauge?

[Secret Agent Man]

Walther p-22 is a good choice.

[lentulusgracchus]

Or just a home-defense (18.1” barrel) .410? Stoked w/ that same short Ammo?

[Secret Agent Man]

Remove the head. Then destroy the head before placing in a hole. Heads can still bite for about an hour after being apart from the snake body.

[lentulusgracchus]

What are you expecting to shoot? A 30-foot Hollywood anaconda? You know, the kind that can creep at 32mph and strike a man 50 feet away?

[wardaddy]

Lol

Trust me

You know more about .22 caliber LR than 97% of folks here

Id be leery if somewhere snakes are a real threat relying on .22

I’d carry a little .410...
They make that in several revolvers now and floating pin box style too I think..

However small...that’s as impractical as .22 unless you’re a steady crack shot

Charter Arms I think used to make a survivor .410 in a two part little rifle gun that would store in the stock

It may have had an under barrel .22LR as well

This is memory from 30 years ago.....

Anyhow...you can buy a Stevens or JC Higgins single or side by side for less than 100 bucks used and saw down to 18 inches legally........shorten shoulder stock too....won’t be cumbersome

I spent 17 years off and on in serious tropical bush (yes...double entendre me please) and personally I carried a nice revolver in .357 or .38...latter easier ammo.....38 is everywhere

But that was for personal security....our staff usually had SLR...(Brit FN-LAR..think Dogs of War or Wild Geese or the ubiquitous in South America G3)

But for reptile threats...a fine machete...any will do....18-24”....wood handle

Martindale is top notch and found all over Africa...English made
Ontario is maybe world’s best....US made...heavy blade..chop chop
Tramantino....the only choice in Brazil....and a damn good one

I’m a Mississippi boy....I think seriously there are more cottonmouths and fat rattlers in Dixie than there are Bushmasters and Two Steps or Puff Adders in the tropics of both old and new world

I ran over a Bushie in Belize once between Belize City on Orange Walk by the old Mennonite air strip on the escarpment and we had a serious coral snake issue after flooding in Pedro Segunda (mines) in NE Brasil...pitiful it was...children died....usually leaving their hammock at nite to tinkle...we had to fly in antidote from Miami...Sao Paulo was out

Anyhow...God bless and rant over

[lentulusgracchus]

Specialty No. 9 cubic lead shot is made for ricochet-prone scenarios like storm sewers, talus slopes, etc.

[Viking2002]

Nah, for 30 foot Hollywood anacondas, I'd get out this werewolf killer.......

[Paul R.]

Uh, some of these copperheads we have around here will attempt to drive a human off of what they apparently consider their territory, or away from what they consider “their” food. (Say, those 6-8” bluegills on my stringer, that the snake can’t possibly swallow, but he’s determined to try, anyway.)

I know the above is not the “narrative”, but I and others with me have witnessed it repeatedly. I am totally serious in postulating that the copperheads and possibly some water moccasins in at least some locations have adapted to most humans retreating from them, instead of making the snake lunch. (Some of the locations I frequent are primarily fishing ponds / lakes, and very few fishermen bring along anything that can safely dispatch a poisonous snake. So, the fishermen / women typically “skedaddle”. But, many of these are “family fishing areas”, for one thing — one is also very nicely set up for handicapped anglers.

Alternately, if Mr. Copperhead thinks I’m going to abandon a stringer with a dozen nice bluegill on it, he’s not going to repeat that mistake. I had this happen and the snake absolutely refused to retreat — that’s when I ran to my car, got my machete — it took at least 2-3 minutes to get back, and then I performed a Muslim ritual.)

At home — Again, I had many a pet snake in my younger years, and even now, if anything from a ringneck to a big black rat snake turns up on our property and is easily caught, I’ll snag it, show it to my young daughter, and if it’s docile will let her handle it, before releasing it. They (rat snakes particularly) help keep the mice down. But with a poisonous snake, I’m not going to risk that my daughter or a neighbor kid could be harmed.

[Salamander]

I assume you mean venomous vipers.

Yes, I am for real.

Sorry about the dog.

Are you aware that they have “snake proofing” classes for dogs?

You know as well as I do that the snake bit the dog in self defense.

They never just up and attack something for kicks.

Obviously, the dog made the first move, hence the very effective training classes.

So what if they are “lurking”?

And by lurking, you mean exhibiting the normal temperature regulating behavior of all ectotherms; moving from a warm spot to a cool one and vice versa.

You chose to live where you do, did you not?

Were you unaware of the native wildlife?

We’re up to our asses in Timber rattlers but I’ve only heard of *one* fatality, and that was after a guy -sat- on it when he climbed back into his CAT.

Copperheads galore, too.

Be aware of your surroundings, scan for snakes and walk around them.

Leash your dog.

How hard is that?

Connecticut declared war on their native rattlers and the mice that are the primary vector for Lyme disease [and the rattlers’ favorite food] flourished and spread.

How’d that work out for everyone?

[Paul R.]

Eh, I don’t think I’m going to add a SHOVEL to all the gear I trek into some of my fishing spots. (Plus the fish on the way out, if I’ve had a good day.) I do often take a machete along, but with a sizable snake, that’s getting rather close for comfort.

[Salamander]

A spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol will send the worst “attacking snake” on its way.

So will just vinegar, really.

I’m sorry but I’d have to witness Pit Mocs doing such things to believe it.

The myth of snakes chasing humans is an old, die hard one.

[Paul R.]

Yes, that confirms much of what I’ve read. Except somewhere I read $5 for the tax stamp - not sure if that’s correct or what it applied to.

I read some discussion of modifying barrels to reduce the rifling but still meet the regs, but did not see any clear guidance on what actually was allowable.

It seems pretty crazy that a smooth bore .22 pistol is illegal or taxed “extra”. A Bond “Snake Slayer” is a h*** of a lot more of a dangerous weapon — it’s just more than I think I need, or can afford.

[skinkinthegrass]

agree, just move the d@rn snake(s) 🐍
You won't need a Firearm(s), I'm pro-2 Adm't.
save the Firearm;ammo,certification et.al. for the 2-legged snakes
get/use a wooden cane, it's very simple.

if you prefer any cane training; I can refer you to a very
effective dvd(s). I been in the Martial arts for decades.

[Paul R.]

I have not personally witnessed any mocc’s attempting to drive me off a “spot” (where I’d been for an hour.) These copperheads though - I’ve witnessed it myself. The 1st time it happened, I could hardly believe it. Most snakes DO flee if given a chance. This one wasn’t “chasing me”, but it swam right up to me, and despite me poking at it w/ my fishing rod, came right up on the bank where I’d been standing seconds before, as I backed off. Another fellow saw this and ran back to his truck and got the proverbial shovel, again taking perhaps 2-3 minutes, while I was continuing to poke at said snake and try to get it to leave. The snake just seemed to want that spot (right amongst my gear, though that time I had no fish / stringer there). It seemed to “assume” I was no threat and would back away. I’ve had a few similar episodes in that general area, and then most recently, the one where the almost 4’ copperhead seemed to think he could ingest my 7” long bluegill... and again the snake just would not leave.

I can imagine what could happen if a 5 year old who’d wandered a few feet off from Mom or Dad had encountered that snake. It might not kill the kid, but he / she would certainly be endangered, and very, very sick if bitten.

There are also many situations where the snake is concealed. When I was in Kansas, a next-door neighbor’s wife was simply walking through part of their property where the grass was high, and she stepped on a copperhead which instantly bit her.

I’ll say it again - I am very (and personally) familiar with “U.S.” snakes’ behavior in the wild and as pets too. I actually like most snakes (the reptilian kind, anyway, the human kind, not so much.) But poisonous snakes in areas people frequent (esp. kids) are a risk, and people come B4 snakes. If naught else, in such areas, replace the poisonous snakes with non-poisonous species that prey on the same creatures.

Now, a good squirt gun loaded with rubbing alcohol might not be a bad idea for remote areas. I might give that a try. It probably won’t help much if a human snake shows up, though. ;-)