.38 Spl Snake Shot against Coyotes?

[cmansguns]

Consider "local legalities" in your "plan"

Tons of advice in above posts, which I have read each one with an eye towards a possible solution to recurring snake, skunk, unlicensed pack-dog issues around here. The county I live in is basically rural however nowhere near the 32 years ago when we moved in. Now there are subdivisions every 1/4 mile up and down the main roads.

Anyway, 2 doors down from me is a small footbridge over a creek that runs across my back property. For years myself and neighbors have had no problem with any of us dispatching copperheads, cotton mouths, and sometimes skunks who would be stumbling around in our backyards. 12 gauge was usually the best solution.

However...…….now 30 some years later.....original neighbors have died, moved or left the area. Replaced by younger families, parents with totally different attitudes and I guess upbringing too.

I did check with local sheriff, and was told that of several laws on the books, 1 for sure is not to discharge any firearm within 150 feet of any dwelling, and that with "new" (possibly anti-gun) people, even seen toting a shotgun walking down the street towards the footbridge could bring a visit from a deputy responding to a man with a gun call.

So...all in all...….YES.....IF threatened by something, I'm still going to react as best I can with my sidearm, but I no longer try to "help" the neighborhood, by assisting with snake/skunk issues, even in my own backyard. With the new anti gun laws just passed here in Virginia, it is getting very tough to remain positive about this State.

All I'm saying with this rant is: be sure of your local laws before you touch off a round of whatever. Firing at an intruder in your house could be very, very different than touching off a round against that coyote.

 

[p8riot]

...The capsule usually causes more damage than the shot load and that's at very close range.

That may be because the barrel is rifled and the capsule is travelling straighter than the shot. The spin caused by the rifling imparts some centrifugal force to the shot causing it to spread out when it is no longer constrained by the capsule. The only thing I trust snake shot for is knocking down those annoying carpenter bees, and I find 22 snake shot is sufficient for that.

 

[ispcapt]

That may be because the barrel is rifled and the capsule is travelling straighter than the shot. The spin caused by the rifling imparts some centrifugal force to the shot causing it to spread out when it is no longer constrained by the capsule. The only thing I trust snake shot for is knocking down those annoying carpenter bees, and I find 22 snake shot is sufficient for that.

The capsule while breaking up still retains larger pieces than any of the shot. Many of these capsules, like the ones Speer use to sell, had a plastic cap. The cap would not break up. It would lose velocity very fast but for a few feet it would still inflict damage more than the shot.
Exactly right about the shot spread. It didn't take very far before there were large holes in the pattern.
Just sent a few carpenter bees to their eternal reward this past Sunday using .22 shot. Great fun. I also use .22 shot when sparrows take up roost in my barn. No danger of it penetrating my roof and it drops them. Blackbirds and pigeons that get in there .22 shot isn't as reliable when they're roosted at the top.

 

[Steve912]

Bear spray is much more potent, comes in a large container that's fairly easy to handle and shoots an effective stream at good 50 feet.

.

It used to be (more potent than 'human defense' OC spray).
Somewhere along the line, the OC content in bear spray was
dropped, even lower than the people-intended stuff. Odd!

 

[steelslaver]

I would not use 22, 38 or even 44 shot shells on anything bigger than a small rat. They uually oppen up leave a big hole in the middle of the pattern aand won't even put a hole in a soup can at 10ft or so.Prettty worthless to me. Plus, the comment about just educating the coyote is 100% correct. They are smart and learn fast. Plus, the noise is about tthe a same as any other round and the police or judge isn't going to care much if you were shooting slugs or shot. You fired a gun in a area it wasn't allowed. Your guilty. If it was me I would use a 22, get the job done with as little noise as possible as quickly as possible and if questioned have some firecrackers .

 

[forrestinmathews]

I'm not comfortable in her ability with a 5 shot airweight to set-off a regular SD round in our neighborhood if attacked (not sure if she would even carry it).

Personally, I'd have no problem taking care of business.

Custer had Gatling guns that he left behind. While I applaud your bravado, unless you are present at the time, the measure of your willingness to impart violence upon transgressors of the animal kingdom which fail to be socially distant, matters not.

Her ability to use and willingness to carry a weapon are what you need to focus on.

Do you have some sort of polymer 9mm or .45 that isn't too heavy? They usually recoil pleasantly enough for ladies to shoot well. Realize that the walk is relaxing and carrying too much gear can become prohibitive to the relaxation and thus abandoned.

As another poster correctly stated sprays don't always work and are heavily dependent upon wind direction and intensity.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Plus, the noise is about tthe a same as any other round and the police or judge isn't going to care much if you were shooting slugs or shot. You fired a gun in a area it wasn't allowed. Your guilty. If it was me I would use a 22, get the job done with as little noise as possible as quickly as possible and if questioned have some firecrackers .

A .22 Magnum Revolver and I don't know where the noise came from sounded like some kids with fireworks. Don't linger and keep moving.

 

[oink]

The 38 snake shot I've made using the Speer plastic capsules work well for snakes out of my snub model 60 no -. At 6' I get about a 6" pattern. I've used it on several snakes. I didn't use factory loaded but did use the Speer cups. I assume mine were close to factory. Maybe a little hotter. I did shoot one at a dog but the distance was too great to have even hit him. Just trying to scare him out of my yard and he was probably 100 yrds away. He was a PETA.

If you shot a coyote at close range in the face I'm sure it would dissuade him. Good chance of maiming him but if you actually fear he's coming after you then so what.

As far as violating a law by discharging a firearm. Well if you're in reasonable fear I don't see how it makes any difference if 2 or 4 legged.

 

[Squarebutt]

Are Glaser Safety Slugs still available? They would be deadly out of a .38, but wouldn't cause a ricochet of anything more than BBs.

 

[fredj338]

A single coyote probably would not try anything against an adult. My fear would be if more than one appeared.

I come across coyotes all the tme walking the dog. Singles, pairs even 3 & 4, small pack. Never have they been threatening, eben at less than 20ft. I am sure the 80# Airedale has something to do with it but even on solo walks, they always run away, always. If one is rabid, not unlike rabid dog, its a potential problem. I have never felt the need to shoot at one unless I was hunting them. People need to stop being so afraid. Pepper spray would probably be a better tool, get the gel type that shoots a stream. Less wind sensitive.

 

[fredj338]

As far as violating a law by discharging a firearm. Well if you're in reasonable fear I don't see how it makes any difference if 2 or 4 legged.

Just what distance is that? I have had 3 with 20-25 feet. Stop, look, run off. Yes my big dog was with me but people are scarier to yotes than dogs. Small children & small dogs, yes you should be extremely careful about leaving them unattended. Even small dogs on a leash can provke a hungry yot to attack the little dog. A stout walking stick would be useful. A stray Rotti or pitbull is likely a far greater threat though.

 

[Uraldriver]

38 Full wadcutters would be adequate and light recoiling. I would not trust a "wild" animal that does not fear a human. I'm not sure a coyote could kill an adult but I would not want to fend one off with just my bare hands.

 

[sarg1c]

That used to be true but lots of wildlife these days is getting urbanized. The coyotes in my suburb show very little fear of humans and will stand and look at you boldly. My son lives in a quite urbanized area of Dallas and has bobcats showing up in his yard.

But, I think you need to be prepared to kill them, if necessary, or leave them be. Don't blind them or leave a wound.

I don't believe I would shoot a Coyote with rat shot unless that's all I had. Most shot cartridges are loaded with 9 1/2 shot. I buy the shot capsules and load with #4 shot but I only keep one or two shot cartridges in my Air Weight S/W backed up by something better.

 

[steelslaver]

Correction I would use shot on a coyote. If he was within 20ft 2 00 buck balls one top the other in a 38 case with a couple grains of Red Dot should work fine.

Most coyotes weigh under 35#. Most of them are not what I would call truly scared of you. But, they are very wary and quick to figure out real danger. They are also extremely opportunistic and if you were down and helpless one might attack. Several are more dangerous than a single. But, unless absolutely starving I can't see them attacking a human. We have a zillion of them and it don't happen here. I know it has happened, but although they are hundreds of times more common than bears there are fewer real coyote attacks than bear attack. I would bet good money that just the addition of a walking stick would make the coyote about 10 times more leery of getting closer..

I have a several deer that come around every morning in the winter for some corn and alfalfa pellets. 3 in particular are very used to me and I can often get withing 5' of. But, if I pick up a small broom I keep next to the small platform I place it on to push the snow off it, they are gone and around the corner and not back until they hear the corn hitting the platform. How do they know sticks are dangerous? Don't have a clue, they have lived near town for their entire lives, never been shot at or anything. But, they are afraid of even someone they know holding a stick, even after seeing me with the stick multiple times and nothing bad happening. Interesting isn't it. A rock or even a rifle doesn't spook them, I have thrown apples and carrots at them and they back up a bit then come to see what it was. During hunting season I walked about 10' past one carrying a rifle in close in front of me and she just watched me put it in the truck. A stick held a bit away from me and she would have bolted for sure. I have no doubt I could hold a pistol at arms length and shoot the one I call Bucky right between the eyes at about 5 ft. while he ate corn.

But, maybe my judgement on this is clouded, around here coyotes all know about people and rifles and if they see you they think you can see them they are not going to stick around. Around here it is understood that if you see a coyote you shoot it. No, property owner permission necessary. Nobody is going to complain about you shooting a coyote.

 

[skwchock]

I agree that shot may not be an effective deterrent to a coyote that is prowling. Wounding is not good, either. We have "urbanized" their territory. We moved into their space. They are trying to survive and exist, too. Unless, they are vicious... I would try to leave them be.

 

[oink]

Just what distance is that? I have had 3 with 20-25 feet...... A stray Rotti or pitbull is likely a far greater threat though.

Standard 38 snake shot will be little more than a noise maker at 20'+, probably 12'+.

No doubt a loose dog can be very dangerous, especially if running in pairs or a small pack.

I had a pair of full height but young Great Danes get after me on my walk several years ago. I know they aren't supposed to be aggressive but these sure were. They very likely wouldn't have been had they not been a pair. I had walked past their house and they got out of their fence. It finally got to the point that I decided I had to take action so out pops my P3AT. As I was starting to squeeze the trigger I guess their instinct read me and they backed off and I was able to continue on my way.

I got word to the owner through another neighbor (Large acreage neighborhood with owners house a good mile away) that their dogs almost died and they needed to fix their fence.

I believe they did fix the fence as the problem didn't repeat (There had been a previous encounter with them that didn't get so critical). I did carry my PF9 on my walks for awhile after that but the P3AT sure is a nicer carry back pocket walk gun. I wouldn't want to have been carrying only snake shot at the time. I think what made them back off was somehow they read me that I had decided to kill them and was determined to do so.

I'm not sure I would have broadcast the same aura to them armed only with snake shot although they were certainly close enough for snake shot to have possibly blinded them. Broadcasting the "death to you" aura might not have worked with a breed more aggressive by nature.

 

[pennzy]

LCP Coyote Special
YouTube

 

[Florida J Frame]

Yeah, I walked into the residual mist trying to get closer after trying to spray a bear on my deck at midnight, wearing only underwear. Thankfully, there are no pictures. I'm pretty sure I got the short end of that stick.

What possible reason could you have to try and get closer??

 

[Rivoak]

Anyone ever shot a coyote with .38 Snake Shot? Is this enough to scare off a coyote? Or is pepper spray a better choice for a non-lethal option.

Why non-lethal? Coyotes are an invasive pest most places. If you can shoot shot, why not be hurling lead?


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[fatcat3]

If it comes to the safety or well being of my family vs a suffering animal...the family comes first every time. No I would not shoot a coyote with rat shot, you now have a wounded animal thats twice as dangerous as it was before to you,yours, and those around you. If your wife can't /wont do it then you need to just go out and kill the damn thing. Remember the 3S's Shoot. Shovel. and Shut Up.