Ok, I am looking for some shotshell ammo for when I start hiking again in another month or so, preferably in either .45 LC, or .38 Special. What do you guys recommend to start off with?

CCI-Speer make Shot loads in both calibers that aren't bad, they come in 10 packs. There is also some Alcan 45 LC plastic shotshells on Gunbroker.

The .38 Specials have worked great for me against rats, mice, and snakes. You can also reload your own and use larger shot size, and that works well.

I have done both...reload and factory loads from CCI. Both work great.

If you do reload - try smaller shot for snakes #12 (dust) works wonders. Most of CCI are loaded with #9 shot

I shot one 4' timber rattle snake in the head with CCI .45 colt shot out of my 625-9 MG. It was like hittng him in the head with a golf club.

What kind of pattern would I get using shot shells out of a .357 snubbie at arms length to the ground (3')?

I have killed quite a few rattlers over the years with the Speer .38 shot loads fired from a Python (appropriately enough) and a 2.5" 66. It has always been quite effective at a range of 5-10 yards. Regarding the group at very close range, I once shot a coiled rattler outside my back door (a stray cat that "adopted" us had it cornered) at about 5 feet, using the 2.5" Model 66, and it absolutely vaporized the snake's head, and no shot splatter on the wall behind the snake. We looked for the head, or any piece of it, for quite some time, but there was just nothing left of it. Based on that, I would say that you are not going to get too much spread at a distance of 3 feet. BTW, the cat was so fixated on keeping the snake trapped that it didn't even flinch, let alone run off, when I fired the shot. Tough little critter. I've also killed a few snakes using the Speer .44 shot loads, again, quite effective. Good loads for turning bad (live) snakes into good (dead) snakes.

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What kind of pattern would I get using shot shells out of a .357 snubbie at arms length to the ground (3')?

I haven't tried them at such a short range but the pellets spread very quickly. I would not bother shooting anything past 25' or so, I shot at cans and empty ammo boxes at 6' to 15' and they were peppered with tiny holes from 6" .38 spl.

CCI brand comes in packs of 10 (cheap) so you might give them a try and see if you'd have any use for them.

I killed a snake on my yard once, my dog spotted it and it hid under some bushes under the kitchen window where I could not see it. Once I saw its head I shot twice at about 8' and that was it. No damage to the house either. Single #12 pellets don't have much penetration but for a snake not much is needed.

I shot a 6" diameter snapping turtle directly in the face from about 3 feet away with a Model 60 snub when he poked his head out of the shell. Gave him a case of acne, but nothing more. None of the pellets penetrated his skull. Next round was a JHP that worked just fine.

At longer distances (8' - 12') I see a doughnut shaped pattern due to the spin imparted by the rifleing. It hasn't been an issue at 6' or less.

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At longer distances (8' - 12') I see a doughnut shaped pattern due to the spin imparted by the rifleing.

I agree, and have shot and patterned a lot of this stuff and you get better results with shorter barrels, hence less rifling.

Very interesting thread. Has anyone tried a Taurus Judge or a Magnum Research BFR in 45 LC / 410? I like the CCI shot shell loads, but am leaning towards a 410 revolver for an extra measure of protection.

I checked out a Judge at my local gun shop a couple of weeks ago. It had one of the most assed-up triggers I've ever felt. Between that and the fact that it's a Taurus, the Judge is right where it belongs. On my never list.

I loaded up some 357 cases with a reciepe posted here. It was some bullseye, 2 over powder wads, all the #8 shot that would fit, one over shot wad. Crimp and seal with wax.

At 8 ft and under, it is quite effective on snakes, mice, rats, and allagators. (kidding on the gators).