Rattler vs 9mm

[model70hunter]

Good thing you're not here in Colorado. Our state legislature has classified rattlesnakes as small game animals, with a hunting season and license requirement. Go figure.

KS has this too, but is is for going out specifically to hunt them. Most states allow shooting vermin on your own property without licenses.

Nice job on the vermin OP.

Let me clarify, I need to exempt CA from the term most states. I think CA residents are by law to allow Bears and cougars and wolves to eat you.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Nice shooting. I'd stick with whatever you are using. My experience with snake shot in 38 Spl.–9 mm range is that it's just not worth it. For anything more than about 4 feet away it just doesn't do much. I tried it on a copperhead a few summers ago. I was maybe 10 feet and shot two rounds into it. I saw some of it hit and the beast just kept on slithering into the woods.

 

[416rigby]

Snakes-bears-bad guys-what cal? what load? what fun.
Not a Button, just the end of that rattle

 

[Dominus_Lex]

Hmm,maybe this falls under shoot,shovel and shh?

Words to live by....

 

[Texas Star]

Is the Glock 26 the little one of that line? Not that familiar with Glocks. Do know what the Models 17 and 19 are like.

My idea of a snake gun is a .357 loaded with Plus P .38's or even .357's if larger animals might be a factor. But if I needed a small gun for concealment or convenience, the three-inch barrelled .38's should be fine. Someone posted a three-inch Model 36 and a nice flap holster by a dead snake about a year ago. Don't know which ammo he used.

If you have to shoot one of those big pythons in Florida, a .357 or a .45 may not be excessive.

The problem with shotguns is that you usually aren't carrying one when you see a dangerous snake unless you're out bird hunting at the time.

 

[Jessie]

Is the Glock 26 the little one of that line? Not that familiar with Glocks. Do know what the Models 17 and 19 are like.

My idea of a snake gun is a .357 loaded with Plus P .38's or even .357's if larger animals might be a factor. But if I needed a small gun for concealment or convenience, the three-inch barrelled .38's should be fine. Someone posted a three-inch Model 36 and a nice flap holster by a dead snake about a year ago. Don't know which ammo he used.

If you have to shoot one of those big pythons in Florida, a .357 or a .45 may not be excessive.

The problem with shotguns is that you usually aren't carrying one when you see a dangerous snake unless you're out bird hunting at the time.

With some of those gator eating pythons I've seen pics of down there, I wouldn't feel comfy with anything less than a .50 cal or hand grenade!

 

[H Richard]

The Speer shotshells in 45 acp will cycle through a 1911, but I no longer trust them. I had the little plastic shot cover break under recoil and it dumped all the shot inside my 1911 and tied it up. Took me a couple hours to get it stripped and cleaned out. Never again with these loads.

 

[Jessie]

The Speer shotshells in 45 acp will cycle through a 1911, but I no longer trust them. I had the little plastic shot cover break under recoil and it dumped all the shot inside my 1911 and tied it up. Took me a couple hours to get it stripped and cleaned out. Never again with these loads.

Good to know. I'll keep it in the wheel guns. Should just roll right out of the chamber if that happens.

 

[Doug M.]

My concern would be adequate penetration. I think even the .44 shot shells I just got are only #9, which I would normally consider pretty small. I am not in too many areas around here where buzztails are an issue, but if I were to go to one of those locations, I'd consider loading my .44 with a shot shell up first.

 

[Bluecoat76]

I found a 3' rattler on the highway some years ago stretched out. I hit him once with a .44 Sp. using my Speer handloaded shot caps. He didn't move a muscle! I gave him three more and noticed his rattles were pointed downward and he was rattling on the pavement. That's all, no movement! I noticed a little blood and got a stick and moved him. He was absolutely penetrated by shot, and he'd bled out beneath. Dead. Killed instantly.

 

[rvanpelt]

Is the Glock 26 the little one of that line? Not that familiar with Glocks. Do know what the Models 17 and 19 are like.

My idea of a snake gun is a .357 loaded with Plus P .38's or even .357's if larger animals might be a factor. But if I needed a small gun for concealment or convenience, the three-inch barrelled .38's should be fine. Someone posted a three-inch Model 36 and a nice flap holster by a dead snake about a year ago. Don't know which ammo he used.

If you have to shoot one of those big pythons in Florida, a .357 or a .45 may not be excessive.

The problem with shotguns is that you usually aren't carrying one when you see a dangerous snake unless you're out bird hunting at the time.

Yes, the Glock 26 is the smallest of the 9mms, a baby Glock. Actually rattlers are pretty easy to kill if you can hit them in the head. Since the head is small, I try to aim for the backbone first to immobilize them. A .22 does a good job.
Rod

 

[dkizer22]

Some where on the great NET I have read about using a triple O buck shot to seal over a shot load of #9 in .38 cases. A 44 ball was used for 44 and 45 loads over #9 shot. The writers of the articles claimed that the singe ball was good for up to 25 yard shots for larger critters. I have never got around to testing these loads.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've played with a few recipes for 357 that have you use shot in the case over a cardboard wad then cap it all off with a lead ball. I've only shot paper but they seem to work as advertized. ( one big hole with a whole bunch of smaller ones around it.) I'm thinking it could be done for a 9mm with some careful thought but would make no such claims publicly. . I believe I got the idea over at gunblast.

 

[kwselke]

Yes, the Glock 26 is the smallest of the 9mms, a baby Glock. Actually rattlers are pretty easy to kill if you can hit them in the head. Since the head is small, I try to aim for the backbone first to immobilize them. A .22 does a good job.
Rod

I believe the 9mm CCI shot shells use shot smaller than #9 and has a low pellet count compared to other calibers. You might consider keeping one in the tube and your standard JHPs in your magazine. If you have a failure to cycle it would only take a second to clear and the snake wound probably be mortally wounded anyway.