Do you alternate shotshells with regular shells?

[aterry33]

I'm curious to see what people's preferences are. For example, say you are carrying a Model 29 in the woods, do you load the first two rounds with shotshells and the remaining four with regular loads?

Of course, it would depend what the threats are. In areas where I worry most about snakes, I sometimes load the first one or two with shotshells and the others with regular loads.

Do any of you carry a separate revolver loaded with exclusively shotshells just to deal with snakes and then your other revolver for larger threats?

 

[PDL]

Out in the woods in snake country the .38 has 2 snake shot and 3 hardball. The auto stays fully hardball. I don't like to carry just one in the woods.

 

[flop-shank]

Snakes aren't much of a concern in Michigan, although a couple of the boys in my last guard platoon ran into a rattlesnake on a Camp Grayling rifle range. He gave fair warning so they left him alone and he left them alone.

I don't even own a single round of snake shot and feel no need to. If I were concerned about venomous snakes, I'd keep my NAA .22 lr. mini stoked with snake shot and carry that too.

 

[sheriffoconee]

we get low crawling varmints around here a good bit, most of which are of the non venomous types which are allowed to run free....
I keep 38 shot in my patrol car, and on a speedloader in my pocket at home for those times one of the dangerous types shows up in a place where he shouldn't go.
I don't see the point in keeping the first chamber loaded with such a specialty round....if I see him first, I have time to load a shotshell...if he gets me first, then it doesn't much matter what I shoot him with, since I am gonna kill him back anyway

 

[NE450No2]

Here in Texas where there are a lot of "Jake no shoulders" [ie Jake the Snake], I carry 2 shotshells followed by 4 regular rounds.

When I am hunting in bear/grouse country I carry 6 bear loads and keep the shotshells handy for grouse.

My thoughts are I will have time to change over for grouse, maybe not for bear...

I never go into the field without some handgun shotshells.

 

[safearm]

When working around the my ranch, I carry 2 shotshells backed up by 4 JHPs in my Model 67.

 

[Joe Kent]

The only time I use Snake Shot in my "carry" gun is when I am prairie dog shooting out west. At first ,I loaded 2 shot and 3 hps. in my 696 which is my pd shooting carry gun. Now I carry all shot loads in the field and change back to 200grain hps when we get back to the hard road. I also carry a speedloader with hps at all time.

 

[Goldstar225]

If I'm in the woods I load with 2 snake shot followed by JHP's or SWC's.

 

[Scuds03]

Killed a rattler with a cinder block and a shovel before. I try not kill wildlife even venomous snakes unless they decide to hang out where my kids might play. If I'm out hiking or hunting the way I see it is if I come across a snake and see it, backing away/running is just a good defense as shootin it. If I don't see it and get bit it's too late anyway I'm on my way to the ER.

 

[Larry from Bend]

We have lots of Rattlesnakes here and I used to carry with 2 shotshells "up first" followed by ball loads. I quit because sure as shootin' I'd see a coyote or a ground squirrel and fire the shot loads at it -- forgetting I had them loaded. I now carry shot shells in a small plastic cylinder in my pocket (for a .22) or on my belt (for a .38/.357). Keeping things simple works better for me.

 

[Krull]

I tend to try to carry my .22 WMR pug with shotshells for the first two rounds.....but if a snake tries to nibble on me I tend to just open up with whatever is in reach (witness me last night with a .223 rifle going all Valhalla on one )

 

[JollyJerry]

Here in north central Kansas we have prairie rattlers and copperheads. If I am hiking I keep 2 shotshell rounds followed by 4 hollowpoints in my 66 or 686 or my .44 Special Flattop. I keep two speedloaders or speed strips in a belt pouch.