Anyone Pattern Snake Loads in Your Pistol ?

hm1996

hm1996

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Was pretty pleased w/the .38 shot capsule filled w/7 1/2 shot out of Mod. 60, @ snake range (about 2 steps down the trail :D ) A bit high and right of POA, however. (8" square box.)
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Not too shabby for a snubbie...........
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Back when CCI factory shotshells were unobtanium, I was out of .38 shotshells and Keith (Ackleyman) responded to my WTB shot capsules to reload some. Keith was good enough to offer to fill 50 w/7 1/2 shot for me. Factory looked to me to be #9 or smaller. Have had the factory require follow up shots on some of our big rattlers, so I gave it a shot (pun intended) and was very pleasantly surprised at the results. Promised Keith I would let him know how they worked on snakes.
After a year or so, I had to report that they were the best darned snake protection I have ever carried because I haven't seen a rattlesnake to try them out on ever since! That's OK with me, too. :D
 
My limited experience is that shorter barrels, like on your Chief's Special pattern better than longer barrels. My theory is that there is less rifling to spin the shot capsule, thus not disturbing the pattern as much as a longer barrel. I have no proof and very limited testing, so take that with a grain of salt. I tend to not use shot loads in my pistols and usually have no trouble planting a bullet in the right place. This rattlesnake challenged the right of way on a narrow trail and caught a 10mm 200 gr. XTP at 1250 fps for his aggressive nature. My 10mm is my favorite hiking gun in bear and hog country, and as it turns out works quite well on mean azz snakes too.



Cottonmouth... This hefty moccasin wasn't posing a threat, so he got a pass. Plus, the rocky backstop may have been a ricochet hazard.



Copperheads should not lay on trails where they pose a threat to people, kids, and pets. Out in the sticks, they may get a pass, but not where the grandkids could get bit. If I remember correctly, a 9mm 124 gr. +P solved that issue.

 
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Years ago when we lived down in Texas I bought a titanium Taurus Judge. It shoots ..410 shotshells or 45 Long Colt. When I was in snake country I alternated cylinders between the two. I was always covered for snakes and hogs, or anything else that lurked in the South Texas brush! BTW, a 2 3/4 inch .410 #8 is deadly on those big South Texas rattlers!
 
That is the best use for one of those 410 pistols. I have a friend who kayaks in some cottonmouth-ridden waterways, and after a couple of bad experiences, he bought a Judge for snake protection. Loaded with the shorter 410 loads of #8, he said it was devastating at boat paddle ranges. He is very satisfied with his Judge for this purpose.
 
GC said:
My limited experience is that shorter barrels, like on your Chief's Special pattern better than longer barrels. My theory is that there is less rifling to spin the shot capsule, thus not disturbing the pattern as much as a longer barrel.
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That makes sense, Gary. I hadn't given it much thought but was thinking the longer barrel might hold tighter patterns. Come to think of it I never patterned the 6" Ruger BH I used to shoot a lot of snakes with. I was really pleased how the pattern held together around the capsule.
GC said:
I tend to not use shot loads in my pistols and usually have no trouble planting a bullet in the right place.
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I keep the 60 loaded w/2 shot shells followed by 158 gr SWC's. Have had quite a number of close calls in close cover and the snakes are usually not holding still enough (or I'm not :eek:) to trust my shooting w/slugs. Likr the confidence the shot gives me of anchoring the snake w/first shot, then, if necessary he'll be holding a bit steadier for follow up (as will I).🤣
 
WyoBull said:
Years ago when we lived down in Texas I bought a titanium Taurus Judge. It shoots ..410 shotshells or 45 Long Colt. When I was in snake country I alternated cylinders between the two. I was always covered for snakes and hogs, or anything else that lurked in the South Texas brush! BTW, a 2 3/4 inch .410 #8 is deadly on those big South Texas rattlers!
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Yea, I bet it is deadly! I thought about the Judge, but really do like the little 60 for carrying. I bought some 45ACP shotshells for the 1911 and to my surprise, they actually feed & function (in a Kimber) plus have a bit more shot than the .38, but I hate to carry the 1911; too big/heavy and the area I hunt is very sandy, the 60 is easier to clean in that environment.
 
This is a fun topic that I got into 10 or 12 years ago pretty deep. I actually bought a box of 12 ga loaded with #9 because that's actually a lot of shot when you break them down and it was cheaper than buying a whole bag of shot I'd never use up.

That aside, I worked on 38s with the capsules, that was fairly easy and I did pattern a few out of a 2" sp101 and maybe the BH but I can't remember. I got a couple boxes of factory cci for the 1911 45, and thought I could make those too. I started out with 308 brass cut down, sized, then formed a neck with a 40 s&w die, made cardboard powder cards and plastic shot cards, and crimped with a 38 spc seater iirc. They work and function, only shot 1 snake with them, but I did shoot some plastic bottles out of the air lol. Set an empty bottle on top of a water filled bottle, small Gatorade bottles work well for this. Shoot the bottom one with a hp then the top one with the shot shell as it flies through the air. Amaze your friends lol.

After loading those 45 like that, I kind of decided there's a good reason the factory ones are so expensive. They're a pita to make.
 
And talking about killing snakes, my old hunting partner, who no longer can physically hunt, several years ago showed me how he hunts them with a 5 gal bucket and a machete. I took a video I was so in awe. He'd hold the bucket towards them, getting close enough for them to strike at it, then whack them with the machete and cut their head off. The head got buried and the body went in the bucket so he wasn't seeing the dead ones everywhere while looking for more live ones. They were pretty thick in a p-dog town we both shot at. I avoided the snakes, he hunted them down and pretty much wiped them out for a few years there. They're probably back in force now.
 
204 AR said:
After loading those 45 like that, I kind of decided there's a good reason the factory ones are so expensive. They're a pita to make.
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I followed that thread, Russ. Quite interesting, and in fact, I was sorely tempted, but decided before starting it was too much trouble, especially in view of the fact that I don't like to carry the 1911 where I hunt.
204 AR said:
He'd hold the bucket towards them, getting close enough for them to strike at it, then whack them with the machete and cut their head off.
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Ain't no way! The mod. 60 is my machette and/or shovel of choice! 🤣
 
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Sure hard to tell where that snake ends and the leaf covered ground begins, Gary. If it wasn't for the bullet hole I wouldn't know where the end of the snake was. 🤣
 
Yeah, here on the Ozark forest floor, most snakes are perfectly camouflaged. No telling how many we walk by without seeing them. As long as they mind their manners, we get along fine. I do not kill snakes without a cause, if they are aggressive, they get dealt with. If they are in a place where family or pets could be bitten, the snake gets dealt with. Otherwise, I practice the live and let live motto for the most part. The wife and I tried to walk around that rattler and leave it, but for some reason, it got in a fighting mood, and even though we were trying to get away, the trail was narrow and steep, and he pushed the issue. He was rapidly moving, and the head wasn't an option, but a hot 10mm to the body settles most things down quickly.

Referencing your little Chiefs Special, I used to pack a Colt Detective Special when fishing the river. I really liked that little .38, especially since it was a six-shooter. A 2,5" S&W M19 was also a favorite for that duty. Recently, I have been doing some turkey scouting and morel mushroom hunting. This old S&W M15 4" .38 has been along for the trip. Loaded with six 150 gr. hardcast wadcutters at 900 fps it is extremely accurate and capable of snakes and meth head defensive duty.

 
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