44 Magnum CCi Shotshells
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Centerfire handgun shotshells work really well on rats and snakes at around 6-8'.
I've used 38 and 44 caliber and they both did the job. The rimfires, not even close.
I've used 38 and 44 caliber and they both did the job. The rimfires, not even close.
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I've shot CCI's as well as reloaded Speer capsules. You need to sight/pattern your gun to the shotshell you're using. At close range they are very effective 8-12' in my 4" 44spl. I loaded #12 and #9 shot in the Speer capsules, factory is #9. I keep 2 shotshells then 4 bullets in cylinder. That was all we had until Judges and Governors came along.
I bought them for my 629. I originally bought them to try & use for rabbit hunting, but never did. I also never used them on a snake or any small mammal. I believe they are fairly weak, though. I tried them at the range once shooting at a target about 7 yards away that had a plywood backstop. I got peppered a little in the face from the back richochette off of the plywood. I was glad I had glasses on, otherwise I barely felt it. Probably wasn't too smart, but never expected that.
At reasonable ranges, six to eight feet, maybe a little more, they are deadly for snakes and rats. I've used 38/357s, 44s, 45s and they all work fine; both CCI factory and hand loaded Speer capsules. Like S&W ucla I carry two rounds of snake shot and the rest bullets during snake season. . .which in Texas is most of the year. One shot on even the biggest snakes at six to eight feet does the job.
Jeff
SWCA #1457
Jeff
SWCA #1457
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Why shoot any snake?
DonD
Member
Because rattlers, moccasins etc are freaking DANGEROUS!. Those *******s are like a 3yr old with an armed nuclear weapon. They can maim and kill creatures that they cannot eat. Overkill.
The numbers of people they kill in the US is not high but the number who suffer badly mutilated limbs and other disabilities is high.
Are you aware these monsters are mutating with their venom? Some are changing from hemotoxic to neurotoxic? How does an ER know what to use?
Do you realize that because of the cost of anti venom, a snake bite can result in an ER bill of $100,000 or more? BTW, the ER cost wasn't my wild guess, it came from a neighbor who is an MD. For a stinking snake??
A bull snake does everything in vermin control that a rattler does but is harmless to man or pets.
I'll kill every rattler I can see if I have the means to do so. Killed two on my property in the past year. Good riddance to them.
I should add that I LIKE non venomous snakes. We had a neat moss green with yellow stripes snake near the house, bright red tongue. Unfortunately, it left, never saw it again. Don
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DonD
Member
Back to the original topic. I've used shotshells in the .40 S&W and .45ACP but not on a snake.
CCI is now offering these handgun shotshells loaded with larger shot for greater penetration but of course, you then have far fewer pellets per load.
I haven't seen them yet.
I have handloaded shotshells for my 500 Mags. Some work very well, quite potent, some for whatever reason don't do as well. I wish CCI would make their shells for the 500. I asked one time they said it wasn't economically practical based on estimated sales. Don
CCI is now offering these handgun shotshells loaded with larger shot for greater penetration but of course, you then have far fewer pellets per load.
I haven't seen them yet.
I have handloaded shotshells for my 500 Mags. Some work very well, quite potent, some for whatever reason don't do as well. I wish CCI would make their shells for the 500. I asked one time they said it wasn't economically practical based on estimated sales. Don
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Rpg
Member
Most of us have purchased shot shells for our handguns: I know I have.
Each time I do, I'm later reminded how useless they are for me.
Unless your target is at arm's length, they are worthless. You might think they make hitting something at that range easier with a shot shell. They don't because the shot column doesn't spread at those distances. You have to be as precise as you would with regular ammo. Fringe hits don't count.
There is nothing I could use them for that regular ammo won't do.
Each time I do, I'm later reminded how useless they are for me.
Unless your target is at arm's length, they are worthless. You might think they make hitting something at that range easier with a shot shell. They don't because the shot column doesn't spread at those distances. You have to be as precise as you would with regular ammo. Fringe hits don't count.
There is nothing I could use them for that regular ammo won't do.
I use CCI .44 SPL shot shells in my 329 at around 10 feet or less, with excellent results.
I only shoot water moccasins that are on my property and a threat to my dog; all non-venomous snakes are left alone to go about their business.
I only shoot water moccasins that are on my property and a threat to my dog; all non-venomous snakes are left alone to go about their business.
I used to play with shot shells in my 44. I would use No5 and 6 shot.
Killed a few squirrels too..l have a partial bag of #12 shot... More than
Double the pellets than 9 in an ounce... 12s give great coverage. Same
As Dust in 22shot shells
Killed a few squirrels too..l have a partial bag of #12 shot... More than
Double the pellets than 9 in an ounce... 12s give great coverage. Same
As Dust in 22shot shells
Dale53
Member
I have reloaded .38's and .44's using Speer shot capsules. Using #12 shot I find them effective at a max of 20 feet. They will shred a snakes head at 20 feet. Using .38's, my two sons cleaned a barn of a pack of feral cats in short order a number of years ago at the request of the farmer.
Dale53
Dale53
I've shot a bunch of them out of 44 and 357. To start with every
Gun I own shoots a doughnut windmill pattern with them. 20'
on a snake is a lucky hit, shoot one at paper and you will see
what I mean. Effective killing range is more like 5'-6'. I have
been loading my own Speer shot caps for years. In the 44s I cut
Solder and stack it in capsule, like a tube of pencil lead. It's not
good for more than 10', but will shred varmints better than shot.
In 357 I use #10 shot. The 22s are a joke.
Gun I own shoots a doughnut windmill pattern with them. 20'
on a snake is a lucky hit, shoot one at paper and you will see
what I mean. Effective killing range is more like 5'-6'. I have
been loading my own Speer shot caps for years. In the 44s I cut
Solder and stack it in capsule, like a tube of pencil lead. It's not
good for more than 10', but will shred varmints better than shot.
In 357 I use #10 shot. The 22s are a joke.
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.
Larry from Bend
Member
Has anyone used the CCI or any brand of snakeshot in a 629 in the field as in shooting a real snake? If so how do they perform?
Many thanks,
I've killed MANY Prairie Rattlers with 44 Special Snake Shot capsules loaded with #9 shot (about 140 grains). Very effective to 8-10 feet; which is all you need.
38 special, 22 mag and 22 long rifle shot shells also work fine on our Rattlers. I once killed 24 in an afternoon with the old WW 22 long rifle shot shells with 25 grains of #12 shot using a 4" Model 34.
After the first week in May, I keep 2 shot shells first up in the cylinder of whatever I'm carrying around the farm.
When we are Prairie Dog shooting we all carry snake shot in our revolvers{full load} and switch back to carry loads when we are leaving the field. It works great on the snakes at 5 to 6 feet which is the main reason to have it. When I have heard the "buzz" at my feet, my hunting buddies swear that an over weight "old" man can go straight up in the air while drawing and firing his 44 Special at his feet while also "screaming" like a girl. I of course, dispute the screaming thing but not the other parts. The snake shot is most effective and I would not be without it. I most often carry it in my 696.
DonD
Member
Wow, would make me want to wear snake chaps whenever I was out. Stay safe, don't get hit. Don
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