We have started seeing more snakes at our farm. What is y'alls go to snake gun? I want to put one in the ranger.

My first thought was a 12 ga with #4 shot. Then thought about getting a .22 pistol and load up with shot shell.

Just be sure.

I have a youth model Mossberg .410. Great little gun and doesn't take up that much space.

BMF_AG95 said:

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We have started seeing more snakes at our farm. What is y'alls go to snake gun? I want to put one in the ranger.

My first thought was a 12 ga with #4 shot. Then thought about getting a .22 pistol and load up with shot shell.

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Any shotgun with any shot.
I prefer #9s...... denser pattern.

Rat shot in a .22 works as good as anything, but to be honest all you need is a stick as long as whatever snake you are trying to kill. They can only strike 2/3 of their body length and are very easy to kill with a stick. Hit them once anywhere to slow them down and then a second time in the head, and voila dead snake.

If you are planning on going on a snake massacre I suggest at least educating yourself here on the snake threads first. Snakes are one of the most helpless creatures out there. The fastest snakes in the world top out at a little over 5 mph and humans jog at about 10 mph. Even the venomous ones are only dangerous in a couple foot radius right around their head and have no interest in harming you. To me, it is as sad as shooting turtles on land.

Just my opinion but killing every snake you see isn't a good idea. If you see numerous snakes on your property it's a good bet that there is an ample food supply, like field rats and mice, that keeps them around. If you remove the predators all you will have left is the prey.
There is a good snake thread at the top of this forum that has really been a benefit for me and others. I use to be the kill every snake I see type. Now I'm much more discriminate. I live by a creek and get the occasional moccasin and other water snakes. Some water snakes do resemble their venomous cousins but I have learned to tell the difference. 90% of the time when they sense someone is close they will go in the opposite direction under the fence and towards the creek. I do get the occasional one that wants to stand his ground. Non venomous will get a pass but venomous snakes with an attitude will be quickly dispatched with my "snake stick" that I keep on the deck. I also have a Spaniel that will always let me know when she sees one. So far this year I've seen a copperhead, two water snakes and a king snake. All left my property intact.

Agree with all except copperheads. Those guys are dicks

Seen two copperheads over the last month compared to one over the last three years. Saw one yesterday afternoon running fast but couldn't confirm kind due to speed.

I can't vouch for them personally but the Taurus Judge seems like it might make for a good snake gun to keep in the truck/Polaris. My mom is a realtor and just gifted one to a client that closed on a large piece of land in Kaufman County for that purpose. He was apparently very happy to receive it (technically she gave him a gift certificate to purchase said gun).

They also have the least deadly venom of the pit vipers in Texas. The effects are usually limited to pain and swelling, but that is not to say you shouldn't seek emergency care if bitten because the effects can get pretty bad.

This is classic TexAgs right here.

Dude asks about a favorite snake gun and the most popular response is "a stick."

That said, its hard to argue with the reasoning of said post.

I carry a judge in my ranger and they are effective. Just have to get close as the pattern spreads a lot with that short of a barrel.

I have a GP 100 (.357) that I keep 2 rounds of shot. Much more effective than .22

Kel-Tec .22mag. pistol with a 30rd mag. Weighs next to nothing. And a blast to shoot.

I agree with any shotgun and prefer shot size 4 and up

Friend has the .357 revolver with half shot and half regular rounds. He said the shot was hard to find and expensive but set it up anyway.

So what does he do 95% of the time at his ranch? Carries a shovel with him walking or riding around.

Daisy single shot .22 with plastic stock loaded with a CCI shot shell. Works great in nest boxes and tight spots where I cannot use my snake stick. Snake stick is a four foot fiberglass hot wire rod that I keep in Ranger and walk with.

I bought a Mossberg 500 .410 pump shotgun for my ranch. I keep it loaded with #6 shot, it's long enough to get a good head shot on stretched out rattler without destroying the rest of the snake.

I Like That said:

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Username checks out.

You can use a .38/.357 if you have one and reload some rat shot with Speer shot capsules. That will save you a ton of money over factory rat shot since it's so darn expensive.

I just picked up a Bond Arms Snake Slayer with the 3.5 inch barrel and .410/.45 barrel. Some #9 bird shot and very little recoil. If I wanted I could swap out the barrels and put the .22 barrel on it and shoot some rat shot. Pretty cool little hand gun.

I'd think a little 410 with small shot would be about perfect if you had to kill a snake. Minimal chance for a dangerous freak ricochet shooting down at the ground closer in and plenty of kill without that much recoil, and a bit of margin of error.

Careful when loading mixed cylinders of shot shells with regular .357/.38 ammo: shotshells easily creep, so if you shoot the normal round(s) first (especially hot load 357 or +p .38 in lighter revolvers), the recoil/effects can pull the plastic caps far enough out of the cylinder to lock It up. Not the end of the world, but that gun is done until you can get back to the bench. Just remember to take the SS's out if you rotate to the normal loads.

Good to know. Thanks for the insight.

I don't know if they still make it, but there used to be a 410 Snake Charmer that you could carry in a side holster.

I use a 9mm Flobert. Basically a 9MM full brass shot shell that's intended purpose was killing rats/snakes in barns. I have a 1936 (don't quote me on the year) Winchester like the one below:

Doc Hayworth said:

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I don't know if they still make it, but there used to be a 410 Snake Charmer that you could carry in a side holster.

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That would have to be a big side holster to fit 410 of them in there.

I just got to look at a Bond Arms .45/.410 Derringer. It does have several qualities that are worthwhile...

It is made in the USA.
It is small and lightweight.
The combination of the safety, and the derringer action make it a weapon that would be difficult to accidentally discharge.
It is a beautiful little handgun.

Cons: the price, and only two shots. For me, I would not care if this was a "snake gun"..... just need one shot !

I do not own one, and probably never will, but I thought it was really nice. This particular owner did not want to own a semi-auto.

I carry a older ruger vaquero 45LC while doing anything in the brush in south texas. First 3 shots are 45LC Snake Shot, then the next three are 45 LC hollow point.

I just use whatever's handy. I've killed one with a screwdriver, several with rocks, but I prefer a shotgun for range and lower odds the snake will escape. But when you see one, the real question is just - now whats the handiest thing to kill this snake?

Like another poster mentioned. I kill snakes with whatever is convenient and close to get to that will work. I dont care what they are, if they come on my property and I see em, I kill em. No exceptions. Thats the rules. Snakes is snakes, they have no good intentions toward you, your family,your pets or livestock. Fck em. They die.

Badace52 said:

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Snakes are one of the most helpless creatures out there. The fastest snakes in the world top out at a little over 5 mph and humans jog at about 10 mph. Even the venomous ones are only dangerous in a couple foot radius right around their head and have no interest in harming you. To me, it is as sad as shooting turtles on land.

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You jogging 6 min/miles there sport?

Not now a days, but that was about right when I was young and in shape.

DayAg! said:

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Like another poster mentioned. I kill snakes with whatever is convenient and close to get to that will work. I dont care what they are, if they come on my property and I see em, I kill em. No exceptions. Thats the rules. Snakes is snakes, they have no good intentions toward you, your family,your pets or livestock. Fck em. They die.

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I hope this is a troll. Otherwise, just pure ignorance.