I load capsules with # 8 or 9 shot for my 44 special and 44 mags. Deadly on pop and soup cans out to 10 feet. Surprisingly, they group much better from my 2 1/2" CA Bulldog than my 4" 629. Guessing less swirling effect from the shorter barrel? It's fine since the little Bulldog is my hiking/working/fishing/bumming around the woods gun anyway. Haven't had to shoot any snakes, but am confident the CCI capsules would do the job within close range.