“More seriously, I really am seriously interested in the technical / engineering side of what “shot” does in a rifled barrel, and why on earth the gov’t would enact barriers to someone having a .22 pistol with the ability for such a pistol to shoot a usable / moderately tight pattern of light shot, while someone can go out and buy a “Snake Slayer” and blow off someone’s face.* And, what would “fill the bill” for the usages I described (not just zapping a copperhead or three each year.)
Well, rat/snake shot will lead up the lans and grooves in your barrel if shot very much. If I were you I would go to a pawn shop and buy a well used cheap revolver with a 41/2 ~ 6 inch barrel to use exclusively for this purpose. About federal gun laws, don’t know why certain laws exist. But, I do know that it’s easy to get yourself in a heap of trouble when modifying or altering guns. As an example, I give you Ruby Ridge.
Right, that’s another consideration (rat/snake shot leading up the rifling / tougher cleaning needed.)
I think the used inexpensive revolver as you describe would work ok — “snake shots” should be in the under 6 a year range. Or, the Puma 1873 that Rural King presently has on sale would probably be ok, too, and I just have to get within 5 ft. to not have the shot go around the snake’s head. But that’s not going to work for starlings & rodents in most cases. Can’t have everything, I guess.
I wonder if a well used revolver would have some of the rifling worn off? Hmmm...