My wife shot a 40 incher 12 rattles here at home with a 4 5/8 inch Ruger 45 colt...CCI shot loads. at about 10 ft....close 'nuff for her. First shot stop...2nd because it was "wiggling". I had to bury it. Truly shredded. That is her under the pillow gun...loaded with 2 shot loads 4 452-454 cast bullets follow up. first two are for the face. Can't hurt ya if they can't see ya. I have some of the "old" Remington 45 auto crimped shot loads. Out of a typical 45 auto they shoot darn good patterns. I've killed about 8 rattlers with them up to at least 15 feet on one. All one shot kills. Those old things cycle every 45 I've shot them in too.. I bought one of those Rock Island 410 fold up single shots at a gun show for 90 dollars. Next to the sofa 2 -2 1/2 inch # 7 1/2 loads taped to it. Any rattlesnake around the house...but the chickens seem to keep 'em chased off. They harrass any snakes