22 shot comparison

[mikerjf]

I see the CCI snakeshot everywhere. Last year a local retailer had the crimped Winchester kind, which I'd always heard was more powerful and "more better".

Having both, I finally got around to a head-to-head comparison. Two identical pop cans, at about 3 feet, one took 2 rounds of CCI and the other 2 rounds of Winchester.

Results as shown. I'm surprised! Guess I'll be carrying the CCI.

 

[CB3]

For me, a single bullet to the head of a snake from six feet away rather than getting within striking distance to use shot makes more sense.

Of course, just leaving the darn thing alone and departing might be the wisest choice.

 

[Rpg]

At 3', I'll use regular old 22lr solids: why would I use a shot shell at fingertip distances?

In the spring and summer I carry a 22 handgun when I'm working my dogs in the field because of the possibility of running into a rattlesnake . In 40+ years running bird dogs, I've shot 3 rattlesnakes: all with 22lr out of a Colt Woodsman or a Smith Kit gun. I have no doubt that, had I been using 22 shot shells, each of those snakes would have eventually died of old age.

The only thing I've ever found 22shot shells of any variety good for is shooting dragonflies.

 

[Drm50]

Amen. One side note on CCI 22 shot loads. I had a problem with a varmit I didn't want to kill tearing up my trash. Had cartridges in a rifle. From about 25" I popped it. Planning on giving it a good sting. Took it in ribs, capsule failed to open and killed it dead.

 

[SMSgt]

I never understood the desire to get close enough to kill a snake with rat shot when one step away is self defense enough.

 

[joe44va]

Please don't shoot the dragonflies, they eat bugs. Dragonflies = good.

 

[Cal44]

Please don't shoot the dragonflies, they eat bugs. Dragonflies = good.

Slightly off topic, but I have a young cat who is anything but a great hunter.

He is mostly a house cat who hunts for food in his dish.

And he hides behind doors waiting to hunt me and jumps out whenever I come through.

He has never caught a bird or even a lizard as far as I know.

Anyway, a couple weeks ago, I saw him jumping around a window in the family room trying to catch a big dragon fly. Unsccessfully.

After several minutes of this the dragon fly moved down to the bottom of the wall, and I pointed him out to my cat.

The cat came up, took one look at the dragon fly, decided it looked too scary and sat down to take a nap.

So I grabbed the fly by hand and threw him out the door. The dragon fly flew away.

Anyway, I don't see much point in killing snakes around where I live. Most are harmless and eat mice, bugs and other pests.

 

[moosedog]

Thanks for making the comparison test. Snakes are not the only critters that get shot with a 22.

 

[NB4EST]

I live in a rural area, but kids at play, fishermen walking to the creek or fishing, and my property fronting a state highway all create a situation in which there is no safe direction to shoot ball ammo. Copperheads are likely to show up anywhere. Solid rounds may strike a rock or other hard surface and endanger even unseen people, pets, other animals, automobiles, or other property.....I like the idea of leaving snakes alone in their territory, but rely on shot shells in any of several handgun calibers to allow me, from two or three feet away, to safely dispatch copperheads that may endanger people or animals or are sighted crawling near dwellings on my place.

I, for one, understand the need for shot shells and appreciate the report contrasting the effect of the different types. I totally concur with the assessment of their performance.

 

[SMSgt]

The only thing I've ever found 22shot shells of any variety good for is shooting dragonflies.

Dragon flies are what I used for target practice with a BB gun as a kid. Knocking them out of the air with a BB takes a LOT of practice. Some probably feel I'm responsible for all the mosquitoes in the world.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Please don't shoot the dragonflies, they eat bugs. Dragonflies = good.

Dragonflies and Praying Mantis are very important hunters which should never be killed. I think in some States killing a Praying Mantis is illegal. They eat harmful bugs so they should not be killed.

 

[Troystat]

The praying mantis also kill the dreaded murder hornets.

 

[Silver GT]

Mike the Mantis

Keep him around the House.

 

[Dave Lively]

Please don't shoot the dragonflies, they eat bugs. Dragonflies = good.

But carpenter bees are always fair game!

 

[mikerjf]

I camped up at Lake of the Woods, and at the beach you could hardly see the sky thru the dragonflies. Never seen anything like it before or since.

 

[gwpercle]

So you can't believe everything you hear ?
Actual shooting and testing tells the truth and your photo's don't lie !
Looks like CCI is clearly the winner in your gun.
I bet the shot capsule has fewer deformed pellets and possibly a higher shot count ...the can for sure has more holes !
Thanks for posting the side by side ... Good Post.
Gary

 

[Green Frog]

Right after emerging from the last Ice Age I went to Boy Scout Camp where they had a shotgun range for the campers. They used special bolt action single shot Remington smooth bores with "Routledge Bores" using crimped 22 shot cartridges. The targets were called "Mo-Skeet-Os" and were simply miniature versions of conventional clay birds. Unfortunately, in order to be shipped or even tossed, the bird were sufficiently hard that they were almost impossible to break with the small charges of fine shot the 22s threw. Frustrating to say the least, but at least unbroken birds wouldn't bite you!

Froggie

 

[petepeterson]

But carpenter bees are always fair game!

That's what a tennis racket is for.

 

[petepeterson]

I see the CCI snakeshot everywhere. Last year a local retailer had the crimped Winchester kind, which I'd always heard was more powerful and "more better".

Having both, I finally got around to a head-to-head comparison. Two identical pop cans, at about 3 feet, one took 2 rounds of CCI and the other 2 rounds of Winchester.

Results as shown. I'm surprised! Guess I'll be carrying the CCI.

Good comparison. I liked the crimped-style because I've had the plastic capsules break in my pocket before. But those buggers need all the juice they can muster, so I'll live with the CCIs.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Some where around 1956 or so..........

I took careful aim at a black bird that was around 30 feet away from me, with a 22 rifle loaded with the new Winchester shot load.

At the shot, the black bird ruffled its feathers and kept looking for bugs in the grass.

It sank my hopes of being a great hunter for the day...........
never used them again.

As a note;
back then, what ever they put inside the 22 shell, was so small in size...........
that it had trouble killing paper targets !!