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A pistol for snakes?

A few years ago I talked my wife into going on a call to a transmitter site one night. I got to the site after dark and she said she would just sit in the truck and wait on me. It was summer time and it was hot that night so she just let the windows down to try to cool off. Well this transmitter site was in a cow pasture. I didnt see any cows when I drove in but I knew they were around somewhere.
After about 30 minutes sitting in the truck my wife was asleep.  I opened the door on the transmitter building just in time to see a big cow stick its head in the window and give my sleeping wife a big lick on the face. She let out a scream that could be heard for miles and nearly tore the inside of my truck up getting out the other side. I didn't know she could move that fast. That was the first and last time she has gone on any night time calls with me. I would give anything to have a video of this.
 
I can imagine 'bossie' mooving on her.

The errant horses moved onto a milo field and began feeding on vegetation that could poison them; so I called the local Sheriff's office and asked for assistance. Much to my good fortune, a genuine farm couple came along and began to assist.

OK, took over is a better descriptor. Shortly before they came along, I grabbed a few flakes of alfalfa and the lady in the truck took a flake towards the four-some. They took the bait and after a few samples, she whooped: "NOW GET ON HOME!" Whereupon, they bolted off of the milo field and ske-dattled onto the road towards the Sheriff's pickup. He pushed them into the corral and they surrendered into the pen.

Now, that's lot of typing to get to another story where another friend was cuffed & stuffed after he brought his tool box onto a carry-on position; forgetting about his snake pistol.
 
I'm quite interested in the snake pistol story. I know that CCI makes birdshot loads for handguns, that shoot very small lead pellets perfect for dispatching small creatures at very close range (it's only effective out to a few meters). It's often called "snakeshot" or "ratshot," for reasons which I'm sure you can figure out. I've never used it, as there are no venomous snakes native to Maine, and I'm not one to shoot an animal without good reason.
 
Thanks for your interest KC.

In my days before cellular, I worked around some interesting individuals who supported a rather extensive 800 mHz trunking Land Mobile Radio network.

One day a problem developed 6 road hours away from one engineer but a commercial flight was available. He attempted to board the flight with his tool box; totally forgetting about his snake stopper. It was 'handcuffs and lawyers' for him.

This was (obviously) before 9-11; but still a very grievous error.
 
KC9AIC said:
I'm quite interested in the snake pistol story. I know that CCI makes birdshot loads for handguns, that shoot very small lead pellets perfect for dispatching small creatures at very close range (it's only effective out to a few meters). It's often called "snakeshot" or "ratshot," for reasons which I'm sure you can figure out. I've never used it, as there are no venomous snakes native to Maine, and I'm not one to shoot an animal without good reason.
Click to expand...

I'm certainly not one to shoot an animal for no good reason either (I don't even hunt) but a few weeks ago at a remote site a rattlesnake became very aggressive and had to be dispatched by a generator repair technician who was on site that day with a long pry bar (this entailed getting WAY too close to it for comfort from my perspective). After that I purchased a long steel handled shovel and the aforementioned CCI ammo-which is number 9 bird shot in an aluminum case for my .40 cal. I had a Bodyguard .380 with me at the time but I haven't found snake ammo in that caliber. I don't go to any sites now without the .40 and a magazine full of snake shot since we do have many poisonous rattlesnakes and copperheads here in Arkansas. I probably will never see another snake while in the field but the surest way to not need protection is to be prepared.
 
I love the 40 caliber with CCI #9 birdshot ammo for dealing with snakes with 1" dual hypodermics in bad moods. I have had encounters with Timber Rattlesnakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, and Copperheads. I have spina bifida, bad clubfeet, and wear Allard Toe Off braces. My braces have had fangs broken off on them. For once, physical challenges are an advantage in this job.
 
Another "tactic" is to simply make a lot of noise and stomp around. Unless a snake is cornered, it will usually try to get out of the way. Just be careful jumping over stuff (logs or piles of wood) if there are copperheads around. I had a couple of field geology class for my minor in college. I wanted to see minerals not wildlife. Never had an issue with a snake or bear.
 
TVJunkie12 said:
I'm certainly not one to shoot an animal for no good reason either (I don't even hunt) but a few weeks ago at a remote site a rattlesnake became very aggressive and had to be dispatched by a generator repair technician who was on site that day with a long pry bar (this entailed getting WAY too close to it for comfort from my perspective). After that I purchased a long steel handled shovel and the aforementioned CCI ammo-which is number 9 bird shot in an aluminum case for my .40 cal. I had a Bodyguard .380 with me at the time but I haven't found snake ammo in that caliber. I don't go to any sites now without the .40 and a magazine full of snake shot since we do have many poisonous rattlesnakes and copperheads here in Arkansas. I probably will never see another snake while in the field but the surest way to not need protection is to be prepared.
Click to expand...

My comment about not "shooting an animal without good reason" was in reference to me not using it on snakes up here, because they're all nonvenomous, and therefore not a threat. I'd say that a dangerous animal that's being aggressive (like your rattler) is a good enough reason to kill it, since it has both the inclination, means, and opportunity to kill or seriously injure you. In case you're interested, CCI's page on their various pest control cartridges is at http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/pestcontrol_specialty.aspx. The smallest shotshell cartridges they sell are in .22 LR and .22 WMR (Magnum), with the next step up in size being the 9mm and .38 Special. It's too bad that they skip .380 ACP.

I totally agree with secondchoice that it's preferable to just avoid disturbing snakes, when possible. As many wise people have said "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
 
I prefer snakes living. Very useful to keep mice and rats down to size. I will shoot a venomous one if it attempts to go for my body.
 
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