Snake shot....

[Papa]

Sorry, should have posted the picture of my Speed Six. Sure which Ruger hadn't stop making them. If you've never torn one down - completely - you would be amazed at how quick and easy you can pull the guts out of the frame, clean it up, lube and reinstall all those parts.

Here it is. Purchased in about 1982/83 and then I removed the spur so I could carry it as a back up in my right duty coat pocket with the two speed loaders in my left duty coat pocket. Also carried it every time I went fishing due to the number of copperheads/rattlesnakes along those rocky/brushy banks of the New and Gauley Rivers. Never killed a snake with it while fishing. Also carried it while groundhog hunting as I like to sneak up on them and that meant crawling through the weeds/brush along the fence lines, creeks, woods edge around the fields. Figured if I ran across a snake it would be close up when I saw it and that's the way it happened.

Despite their "sticky" texture, the Pachmayrs are the default grips for mine, although I'm slowly modifying a Herrett for my mitts. This is in my informed opinion the best short-barrelled .357 ever built. And the trigger on one that's broken in is outstanding.

[diving dave]

3 inch 44 magnum with a shot shell is what I use, if I don't have time to run and get a shottie.....Does double duty with hardcast for big hairy critters.
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[jlwilliams]

I'll second a knock off j frame with snake shot. A Brazilian 5 shot is my rat shot lawn mowing gun. A Tac 14 or a full stocked shotgun is definitely the best choice for killing snakes but the beater revolver in the back pocket wins when working in the yard. I virtually never see a dangerous snake unless one or both hands are occupied with tools or the lawnmower or whatever. Sometimes depending what I'm doing Ill load up a 410 and keep it nearby but it never seems to work out to being used. It's the blaster on your person or bust.

As an aside, back in the old days they made smooth bore revolvers. There are examples in the Cody Museum. I've always thought a smooth bore cowboy pistola would be a ton of fun. Sure, you could shoot snakes so it's kind of "practical" but who's buying the "I neeeed it" jive. I just want to shoot stuff thrown in the air like they did in old Western movies. Iirc "Winchester 73" has a scene where they shoot thrown coins. I'm not sure if that was the movie but I remember the scene well enough. It's not hard to make 44 shot cartridges but I've never bit the bullet to commit to reaming a barrel. (Yeah, I know...NFA, tax stamp, blablabla. I'm more hung up on not irreversibly buggering a good single action.)

[Papa]

Don't rule out using the mower to buy time--or for the kill.

[barnetmill]

I'll second a knock off j frame with snake shot. A Brazilian 5 shot is my rat shot lawn mowing gun. A Tac 14 or a full stocked shotgun is definitely the best choice for killing snakes but the beater revolver in the back pocket wins when working in the yard. I virtually never see a dangerous snake unless one or both hands are occupied with tools or the lawnmower or whatever. Sometimes depending what I'm doing Ill load up a 410 and keep it nearby but it never seems to work out to being used. It's the blaster on your person or bust.

As an aside, back in the old days they made smooth bore revolvers. There are examples in the Cody Museum. I've always thought a smooth bore cowboy pistola would be a ton of fun. Sure, you could shoot snakes so it's kind of "practical" but who's buying the "I neeeed it" jive. I just want to shoot stuff thrown in the air like they did in old Western movies. Iirc "Winchester 73" has a scene where they shoot thrown coins. I'm not sure if that was the movie but I remember the scene well enough. It's not hard to make 44 shot cartridges but I've never bit the bullet to commit to reaming a barrel. (Yeah, I know...NFA, tax stamp, blablabla. I'm more hung up on not irreversibly buggering a good single action.)

People like Annie Oakley are are to have used shot. Bullets do tend to put holes in things like tents and maybe even bystanders.
My .38 is brazilian also.

[barnetmill]

Don't rule out using the mower to buy time--or for the kill.

There are stories of rattlesnakes with the tail clipped off by mowers. Snakes ducks its head, but leaves the tail up as tractor and mower pass from either the state-countt or private farmer go by. I accidentally did kill a good black snake that way. Make a sure a badly injury snake is not thrown on you if you do it. Even dead snakes can inflict a bite.

[Ragsbo]

Last copperhead I met was freely given a couple douses of 00 buck! (that is what was in the sling on the gun!)

[Travlin]

I hate looking at guns trying to decide what to buy. I find things I don't need.

Finding wheel guns right now is..... just wrong, and Snake shot doesn't exist it seems.

I have a SS J frame I think will do well for the wife. I just need to come up with something for me. The shot will be the issue, we'll be down there in about a month.

[Huntindoc]

I’ve not been impressed with 22 or even 38 shot shells on snakes. Copperheads are smaller and seem easier to kill than larger rattle bugs and cotton Mouths. 44 shot shells are minimum size for me but even those the shot size is too small. Usually I just shoot em with whatever I am carrying for 2 legged creatures.

[BigEd63]

Don't rule out using the mower to buy time--or for the kill.

I've taken out two with a hand held brush cutter saw blade attachment. And another two with a 6ft pry bar. Last one was perfect shot placement driving the head right into the ground.