Functional .38 for Snakes

[M29since14]

We don't have many snakes where I live, but my western friends are hard on them. I remember as a lad I was once turned loose with a rancher's horse on the condition that I shoot any snake I saw. (Not from the back of the horse, of course.) At the time, that was a bit of a shock to me because I was raised to not kill anything I did not plan to eat, but I understand that they are trouble around horses and other livestock.

A Model 64 is as good as any other gun for shooting snakes and they are available at reasonable prices, but really, no special gun or cartridges are needed for killing a snake. Anything will do. Why not a .22?

 

[David LaPell]

I tried out some snake loads with my Model 10 after I found a dead rattler in my yard a couple years ago, and with my two year old around if I see one and I have a gun on me it is taking its chances although they are rare to see up here. I used to catch snakes when I was a kid but they never really bothered me much and my grandfather told me that they were good for gardens so I leave them be. It's the poisonous ones that will get my undivided attention. I would think a decent snub .38 would work but I would pattern the gun first to see how well it does, the .38 doesn't have the pattern spread the .44 or .45 shells have but at about 5-6 yards it should work fine.

 

[DRYHEAT]

My "just in case" rig for prairie dog outings: cut down Victory S.H. w/1947 M&P 2"

 

[oldafsp]

what gun for fire ants?

Napalm works.......

 

[Stu Honea]

Mcgiver,Lately I've been using a Mod.317 S&W AirLite in .22LR.Since you specified being able to finish off game I would suggest any "J" frame gun in .38/.357.
As a general rule,I have found the CCI Speer Shot shells to be the best,and I avoid any brand with "star crimped shells". Be cautious of shot shells loaded for autoloaders, using them in a revlover can lock up the cylinder when the crimp separates.It has always been my experience that the shorter the rifled barrel the less distortion of the shot pattern.When I feel the need for something a little stronger than a .22 in the woods I carry a Mod. 60 3" in .357 mag. but I hardly ever use mag loads.If I need something bigger then it is hard to beat a Mod. 29 or Mods. 57 &58. Nick

This is correct.The shorter barrels will give a tighter pattern with the CCI snake loads,due to less spin being imparted to the shot cup in the shorter barrel.

 

[rromeo]

As it is, my home is not a place that snakes would generally like. The grass is short, there are not rocks in the sun, and I have cats that tend to kill most of the food that snakes would eat.

 

[nipster]

The model 10 is a much older model. It has a tapered barrel as opposed to the 64's heavy barrel
There are probably more differences that don't come to mind. The model 10 can be found in most any finish.

I'm about a year late on this, but this post is classic