OT - Copperheads and CCI Shotshells, oh my!

[GoatGuy]

Just killed the 2nd Copperhead snake of this Spring a couple of hours ago. Our Catahoula dog, Pepper, alerted me to it by her distinctive bark, saying, "hey Dad, there's something out here that requires your urgent attention!" Found the bugger ensconced on Pepper's bed on our back porch, daring her to make it leave. It was only a small one, about 14 inches or so long, but, like most vipers of my experience, full of attitude.

That's the 9th Copperhead I've killed on our place in the last 3 1/2 years. Don't much care for those vermin and don't want them anywhere they can cause harm to family, pets or stock, so I'm more than happy to dispatch them whenever possible. When out and going about work on the place, I carry a 38 spec. with several CCI shotshells in the cylinder. They work as advertised! Anyone else use this load in any caliber for such work?

[Ram Hammer]

I've killed three in my yard so far this year. They all were small but copper heads just the same. I have some cci shot shells but never had the opportunity to use them on snakes. A few years ago, handloader magazine ran an article about loading your own using #9 shot and gas checks in the 45LC and 44 mag cases. They tested shooting at potatoes with great results!

[AmBraCol]

I've never used shotshells on snakes, preferring a well placed (head shot) solid. I can see the utility thereof for use in places where a solid would do damage (like the dog's bed on the porch) but for general around the place use a regular slug does fine. A lyman wadcutter over a dose of Bullseye in a 38 special will kill 'em dead right there - if you place your shot carefully.

[Hobie]

I've always used standard bullets even though I've got some shot cartridges. I've killed carpenter bees with them.

I'd have responded sooner but I was installing a Tyler-T on a Cobra... That's just the kind of walk around the house gun you're talking about...

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, we moved in town a couple of years ago but when we were out in the country we also had a copperhead problem. I kept my Ruger bearcat loaded with CCI shotcaps and they worked perfectly.

I tested these on potatoes and they really chewed them up.

IMHO, the .22's are good for any snake - head shot. Covers about a 3" -4" diameter shot from 6 feet away.

[GoatGuy]

Thanks Paul, I agree with the wadcutter recommendation. And I'm not sure that a solid wouldn't have done less damage to Pepper's bed (one hole vs shredded bedding). Most of my shots come about when I'm on the tractor or 4 wheeler and the snakes are moving pretty quick to get out of the way. The shotshells seem to give me an edge on those occasions. Kinda like squirrel hunting with 2 3/4" 20 gauge vs .22lr early in the season when the woods are still in heavy leaf cover.

[GoatGuy]

Hobie, I'm a Tyler fan big time. Use the T's on most of my revolvers, In fact I have one on the S&W 67 that I dispatched the copperhead with this a.m. Also a big fan of the "dick special" and variants.

[rjohns94]

I have a Bond Snake slayer in 45lc/.410 just for such a case. I carry it quite a lot when out in the woods. I don't have a snake problem in my yard or I would carry it a lot more than I do. I happen to have it with me in my carry pack today, loaded with solids with .410 shells at the ready.

[JohndeFresno]

Goodness! I hope the politicos in my state don't see these posts - they will be mortified!

Since I live in the Condor zone in California, I use only Barnes copper solids to dispatch snakes.

[Bob A]

Like JohndeFresno, I live in the so-called Condor Zone where we don't have copperheads or condors. However, we do have rattlesnakes and use the CCI shotshells in a 45 Colt. Only 2 this year, so far. Spring is always the worst time because the baby rattlers are on the move. We find them in the barn and around the house. The adults tend to stay hidden in the grassy hills.

Bob A

[don Tomás]

Been using the Speer Shot Capsules (.45C) for a couple of years (I think Hobie made the suggestion) and have been happy. Easy & cheap to make up and work well out of the 5.5" NM Vaquero and the M92 Rossi (single feed). IIRC 6gn Unique with as much #7 shot as I can fit. Only one rattler this year, but it was one shot one kill...
Tom

[RIHMFIRE]

BUDDY OF MINE GOT BIT LAST YEAR DURING TURKEY SEASON.
THE COPPERHEAD DID NOT INJECT ANY VENUM...THANK GOD...
WE HAVE OUR SHARE OF POISONESS SNAKES HERE IN FLORIDA...
WE HAVE LOTS OF EASTERN DIAMOND BACKS
PIGMY RATTLERS
COPPERHEADS
WATER MOCCASINS...COTTON MOUTH...THEY ARE EVERYWHERE
CORAL SNAKES AND PINE SNAKES....

[AndyM]

I witnessed a buddy shoot a Timber rattler that was snuggled up next to our camp one year with the CCI 38 special shot loads - that guy went limp pretty quick. IMO those shells work real when for thost vermin....

[Rimfire McNutjob]

WATER MOCCASINS...COTTON MOUTH...THEY ARE EVERYWHERE

I popped a Water Moccasin out by the lake last year. Used a Smith 648 and the CCI 22Mag shotshell with the dose of #11. Worked quite well. I've used the CCI 22LR shotshell in the past but that was the first one with the Magnum. It was pretty definitive ... which is good because those things are pretty irritable snakes and will chase you down if threatened.

[Slick]

I've shot rattlesnakes (have lots of them on my rural land) with bullets and even shot shells. They don't die fast - but I've found that a quick chop with a shovel (right behind the head) is the cheapest and fastest way to take care of them.

I've also used hedge pruners - but only on the small ones as I prefer to keep more distance from the big ones.

[MikeS.]

Any of you eat the snake afterwards? I like fried rattlesnake.

[El Chivo]

I may get a pellet pistol to carry just for snakes. Lead ban doesn't apply to pellets!

I came upon a pretty big rattler two years ago, he was drinking from the creek. Fat as my arm and he had nine sets of rattles. I had my rifle but at the time didn't know if killing snakes was legal. So I passed, and he rattled me as I left. Creepy sound!

Next time I'll take him, I want a snakeskin and might even try the meat.

[don Tomás]

Any of you eat the snake afterwards? I like fried rattlesnake.

Howdy Mike,
Once a year our VFW Post has a rattlesnake feed. Guys will save them up for a year in their freezers (I'm not one of them, the Better Half draws the line at having frozen rattlesnake in her freezer ). Deep fried, they're pretty good...
Tom

[GANJIRO]

I used the CCI 38 shotshells in my .357 magnum chambered "Bang-Stick" for dispatching larger gamefish before bringing on board, and sharks that get too friendly while diving. I seal the primer and crimp with clear nail polish.

[oldmax]

I hate snakes ,,

New York State loves them, They even worry about snakes suffering from ""physiological stress"

Read following:

Mine Owner Found Guilty of Harming Rattlesnakes with Four-Foot Fence

Since 1990, Jay Montfort of Fishkill, New York has been trying to expand a gravel mine on his own land. But the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been finding one excuse after another not to give Montfort the permission he needs to expand. Montfort believes "the motivation for such abusive tactics appears to be the desire of the state" and a local conservation group, Scenic Hudson, to acquire his property for a land trust.

For four years, the rationale was that Montfort's mine would threaten a den of rattlesnakes that dwell near the property. Rattlesnakes are protected under New York's endangered species law. DEC officials claim that a four-foot, wire-mesh fence Montfort built around his property to protect his employees was illegal because it reduced the snake's habitat by about 20% and would inflict "physiological stress" on the snakes. In early 1999, a New York state judge ruled that Montfort's fence did pose a threat to the snakes. Montfort will do as he has been doing for nine years now and appeal yet another unfavorable decision.

Source: Property Rights Foundation

[mescalero1]

oldmax,
You are putting us on , right?

[jeepnik]

Any of you eat the snake afterwards? I like fried rattlesnake.

You "like" rattlesnake? Tried it once, it sure don't taste like chicken. Maybe we didn't season it right.

[Bis]

In the last month I have shot 4 copper heads and 2 cotton mouths, all with my Ruger 22 auto. pistol.

I have given up on the 38/357 shot loads. The cotton mouths that I see are to far out in my lake to do any good with shot loads and the copper heads are close enough to easily hit with the 22, plus I can use the 22 on the trutles. Not to mention that the 38/357 shot shells are $1.00 each.

[piller]

I like using a hoe or a sharpened shovel on them as it is quiet, and I live in the city. Neighbors would get scared if they heard a gunshot. My Dad used to work on natural gas wells and there were a bunch of rattlesnakes around them in our part of the U.S. He carried a sharpened long handled shovel with him. It was sharp enough to slice paper, and he resharpened it after each snake dispatched. He used another shovel to bury the dead snake. At one time he had a large coffee can full of rattles. I think he finally threw that can full of rattles away after he retired.
In the Army we had a Sergeant from Kentucky who could spit Red Man about 6 feet. He splashed several snakes in the face with it. When the snake opened its mouth and the tobacco juice dripped in the snake flipped on its back and went into convulsions. Every time. They all died qretty quick, too. I am not going to start chewing tobacco just to try it and see if it works for me. Having a mouthful of someone else's tobacco spit would probably make me go into convulsions, though.

[Jaguarundi]

Allways have a Bond Arms "Cowboy" derringer 45/410 in my back pocket.I have killed 9 copperheads in the last 5 years here.The beagle has a way of Bay'n when a copperhead is found.I got my wife a Cold Steel Zulu short Spear to use when I am not at home.She has killed 2 copperheads,1 coral snake and 1 diamondback !

[oldmax]

Story is true

Scroll down in following.

http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/e ... t_list.htm

Verification

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A96F958260

I lived in the area, Knew the Guy ( casually from working at the airport )

And The state does want the land , That is the primary reason they
are protecting the snakes. ,

[1894]

Yup , that sounds like typical NYS BS to me . I've heard that even trying to gently encourage a rattlesnake off a trail with a stick is a ticketable offence.

[shawn_c992001]

I keep these around in 357 for use in my Blackhawks and 45 Colt for use in the Super Redhawk in 454 Casull. These always do the job up to 10 ft. away.

Eating Rattletail? This usually ends up like "Hey man, if you just want the rattles, can I have the rest?" I always get a Rattletail for the frying pan.

My recipe for Rattletail is as follows: ABSOLUTELY FIRST REMOVE THE HEAD!!! This is the dangerous end!
Chill the critter for about 2 hours after it's been skinned and gutted this is done with scissors to split the belly and remove the intestines. Pull the skin down to the tail. Wash with cold water and cut into 1 1/2" chunks, and soak in buttermilk for an hour or while getting everything else ready. Mix up 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup corn meal, salt, pepper, garlic powder, sage, cumin (just a pinch). Dip Rattletail in egg, roll in dry stuff, and toss in deep fryer, until golden brown. Also fry up French fries, hush puppies, or onion rings (which I prefer). Sit down with an icy cold beer and enjoy your dinner.

This is totally optional. Remember the head that you removed? After you fixed your plate and poured your beer. Set the head in front of you, facing you. Sit down, extend your middle finger, and enjoy. After your done, bury the head in your back yard.

[J35]

going about work on the place, I carry a 38 spec. with several CCI shotshells in the cylinder. They work as advertised! Anyone else use this load in any caliber for such work?

I have a set of the RCBS 45 acp shot shell dies, you cut down any brass from the .308 family to make the case, then use a shortened REM .410 wad, it hold's around a 130 #9 shot , I use a 35 cal gas check crimped in the mouth of the case to hold the shot in, I use 231 powder for a measured 1200+ FPS. and the finished rounds will feed and function from the magazine of a 1911.

It is death on any small vermin out to around 15 yrds, a neat thing is the rifling puts very little if any spin on the wad and shot, the REM wad has a unique gas seal on its bottom that will barely make the seal in a .451.452 groove, it was a bit of a balancing act at first to find the right powder charge that would not blow the seal and thus the pattern and still give reliable functioning. But hey that's part of the fun.

good shooting

[mescalero1]

How much does 130 #9 shot weigh?

[J35]

How much does 130 #9 shot weigh?

Roughly 115 grs, depending on your shot -- manufacturer, chilled verses magnum etc
good shooting

[mescalero1]

J35nut,
Thanks for the info

[JerryB]

I have used the .22 CCI shotshells on alot of snakes here in Arkansas,all with the end result being they were not a problem latter.I have loaded the .38spl and .44spl with the CCI capsules for many years and have had the same results with them too. Years ago I read an article by Mike Venturino on loading the .45Colt with gas checks. That is an excellent snake load in my 5 1/2 inch Colt SAA. I keep an old single action .22 on ttop of the fridge from early spring until early winter loaded with CCI shotshells. In this part of Arkansas there is just to much rock on and in the ground to shoot a bullet down around my feet,so I'll stick to shot for snakes.