you answered your own question... of course it is

 

All rifled barrels give shot an incredibly fast spread. You have to be really close.

 

Yes, a .22 is plenty big and I prefer non-shotshells but that just preference and by no means the best method across the board... Growing up I killed enough copperheads and cottonmouths to fill up a truck bed ---- with pump up air rifles...

 

Have shot alot with normal 22lr. For my grandfather it is a 12 gage because he is not getting near them. If he could hit them with a 30.06 from his porch he would use that.

 

.22 birdshot is garbage. I load up my own shot loads for my .38, way cheaper and way more effective than the .22. I always carry my 4 in smith with shot loads when turkey hunting and fishing the rivers, i always see copperheads.

 

I use the 22 lR bird shot to kill wild sparrows in our poultry barn, it'll knock one down at 30 ft every time and that's out of a 5 inch revolver

 

I've killed basket fulls with a high-standard 22 derringer and bird shot. A rifle, or longer barrel pistol works even better, they just won't cycle the action on semi-auto guns. Get within 6 to 8 feet and shoot for the head. Something about that tiny pepper size spray that stops them in their tracks, must do something to their nervous system or something, works better than regular long rifle ammo. You need to shoot them in the head area though or they will crawl off, hopefully to die later.

 

12g, #4

It's the only way to be sure.

 

10 mm it's the only way!

 

Copperhead rattler? Is that like the car boat from James Bond?

Copperheads and rattlesnakes are two different members of the pit viper family. There is no copperhead rattler species.

A .22lr ~40gr hunk of lead I suspect would go through any snake no problem. .22lr shot shells, I'd want to test out on a big dead snake before I trusted them for dealing with live poisonous ones. .38 or better shot shells, I'd have a bit more faith in.

A Taurus Judge with .410 shot shells might be the ultimate snake handgun.

 

If your own your own property why not just pack around a normal shotgun?

 

I've killed a whole bunch of snakes with my old Hi-Standard Sentinel with shot loads. Keep a couple shot shells up first, then seven CCI Velocitors in case something a bit "larger" happens along while I'm fishing. Most snakes were Cottonmouths from twelve inches to three feet in length. I usually shoot the larger snakes twice just to be sure!

 

Ahhhh The dreaded copperhead water rattler. I've heard of them. :supergrin:

I haven't see a snake yet that a 22 wouldn't kill. Like the others I killed a fair number of them when I was a kid, but to tell you the truth, I used a shovel on most of them.

These days, I just leave 'em be. They're just being a snake. It's a full time job. I don't see near as many as I used to, and I kinda miss 'em.

 

Nobody's suggested a snake charmer!

 

I've shot 22 snake shot quite a bit at stuff to test for effectiveness, penetration, and spread. It will definitely tear some stuff up. I'd get whatever revolver you feel like owning, either would be effective. 22's can be had in 9 shot, 38's get more pellets. Judges are heavy. If your just packing it around for the occasional snake, a 22 is great. If you feel like you might encounter something like a wild dog or even a man-sized preditor, the 38 may be a better choice. Load it 1/2 with snake shot, and 1/2 with slugs. Little 5 shot J-frames carry great, and even a 6 shooter isn't hard to bare. Of course, you want to stick strictly with revolvers, for shot rounds. They won't cycle a semi, as said before.

 

I have a Taurus Judge for snakes. This .410 will get the job done.

 

You could get a Ruger Single Six .22LR/.22WMR convertible and load magnum shotshells.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/22-magnum-wrf-shotshell

If Ruger is too pricey, the Heritage Rough Rider is cheaper, but decent for the money.

 

10 mm it's the only way!

Never fire a 10mm into the ground at close range. It can cause Global Warming!:wow:

 

I have always heard that that shot in a rifled barrel with mess up your rifling, unless contained like the CCI shotshells? I have always just killed them with regular 40 grn lead. Unless I was mad at them, and then gave them the Stingers. Actually, as another poster said, I probably killed more of them as a kid with a Daisy 880 than any gun in the 3 decades since then.

 

I have always heard that that shot in a rifled barrel with mess up your rifling, unless contained like the CCI shotshells? I have always just killed them with regular 40 grn lead. Unless I was mad at them, and then gave them the Stingers. Actually, as another poster said, I probably killed more of them as a kid with a Daisy 880 than any gun in the 3 decades since then.

The shot is lead. If it could "mess up" a barrel how fast do you think lead bullets would turn a pistol in to a smooth bore?

The rfiling messes with the shot pattern far more than the lead shot messes with the rifling.

 

I have always heard that that shot in a rifled barrel with mess up your rifling, unless contained like the CCI shotshells? I have always just killed them with regular 40 grn lead. Unless I was mad at them, and then gave them the Stingers. Actually, as another poster said, I probably killed more of them as a kid with a Daisy 880 than any gun in the 3 decades since then.

Isn't the shot just lead? I can't see how that would do more damage than bullets against the rifling? :dunno:

 

Snakes is the reason God gave us the 12 gauge.


22 will do fine.

I tried 38 shot shells on Mr. No Shoulders and neither of us was impressed. It would probably work OK in a smooth barrel.

Plain ole 22 rimfire gets the job done.



To placate the snake-worshippers, never shoot the good snakes.

 

i prefer a boot heel for a snake gun:whistling:

but all seriousness, yes. it is plenty, unless you stumble across one of these

 

1) copperheads are not rattlesnakes. 2 completely different critters with completely different dispositions and tactics.

2) if you can see the snake well enough to shoot at it then save the money on ammo and whack it with a machete.

3) most times snakes are moving and acting aggressive in an attempt to get you to run away so they can get away. i know it's counter intuitive but try leaving the snake alone and giving it a chance to leave the area before you blast it with a full auto m-60.

 

... but try leaving the snake alone and giving it a chance to leave the area before you blast it with a full auto m-60.

This guy doesn't know how to have fun.

:50cal:

:tongueout: