I got two small kids that play out there and I missed the snake on the first chop and it got a little closer than I wanted. Bird shot will work fine. Probably better than any other load. Then, what is the best gun to kill snakes?
The problem with a shotgun for snake defense is that due to its size, you may not always have a shotgun with you. The shotshell pistol loads from CCI have proven very effective on snakes, which is why most every Gunsite Academy instructor carries a spare magazine loaded with these specialty rounds.
Subsequently, question is, will 22 birdshot kill a rattlesnake? A conventional 22lr bulleted load will dispatch a rattlesnake at ten feet quite nicely though. For a shot cartridge, I would prefer at least a 357. 12 gauge would be even better. Two shots from the 12 ga ended the problem.
Also question is, can you die from birdshot?
A 12 gauge with birdshot (or a target load) can certainly kill a man. A 12 gauge shotgun can deliver a devastating wound, no matter what kind of shot is in the shell. If the intruder is close enough (say within 10 yards - 30 feet) a hit to anything but the extremities could be fatal.
Will a 410 kill a snake?
410 will do the job. I normally try to live and let live with snakes since they keep down rodents etc. DO NOT shoot a large snake with the little shot shells in a . 22 pistol.
Related Question Answers
Will snake shot hurt barrel?
Does firing shotshell loads from pistols harm the barrel? Absolutely not. Been shooting "snake loads" since 1960. Killed many Rattlesnakes and Copperheads. Can you kill a snake with a 22?
Snake shot is generally used for shooting snakes, rodents, birds, and other pests at very close range. The most common snake shot cartridge is . 22 Long Rifle loaded with No. 12 shot. Can snake shot kill a human?
At 21 feet, snake shot may not do much harm to a person. Your range with snake shot is very limited. Can you shoot a snake in your yard?
Anyone can kill a rattlesnake at any time in California, with one exception: the endangered red diamond rattlesnake. Mostly because California considers snakes game animals but puts its reptile regulations under the fishing regulations (for some odd reason). What size shot snake?
Exactly what this ammunition was made for, #12 shot is very good for snakes and rats – but you will have to be a lot closer than if you were shooting something larger, like #9 shot. A range of about six to 10 feet seems to be the rule for this ammo, and guarantees you're going to kill even a large snake. Is snake shot good for self defense?
. 38 caliber rat shot can potentially permanently blind somebody, but outside of that it has no application for self-defense. The same can be said of every other handgun caliber birdshot, rat shot, or snake shot cartridge. Rat shot of any type is never effective for self-defense. How effective is 22 snake shot?
From 5 feet, the round seems quite effective and this would probably be your optimal engagement range. A majority of the pellets fall within a fist-sized area. At 3 feet the devastation is obvious. Absolutely 100% effective against Snakes at 3 feet. Can a co2 pellet gun kill a snake?
Yes this gun is definitely powerful enough to kill rattlesnakes. also large squirrels as long as you use pellets. I use it to kill water snakes , I'm sure it will kill rattlesnakes . How hard is it to shoot a snake?
Since a snake is a narrow target, it can be hard to hit with a pistol--which is why some folks prefer shotguns. However, a sharp garden hoe or a sharp machete is better than any gun. What is snake afraid?
Understanding Ophidiophobia: A Fear of Snakes. Can you shoot a snake with a shotgun?
If a pit viper (rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin, AKA cottonmouth) a shotgun if you are not a good shot, a pistol with a “shotshell” should work. If it is not poisonous, leave it alone. If a pit viper and it isn't in your house or yard, leave it alone. Can a rattlesnake strike if not coiled?
Rattlesnakes can only bite from a coiled position. Fiction. A rattlesnake can bite from any position it pleases. It can simply turn its head, then open and close its mouth to deliver a bite. Is 4 shot good for home defense?
Varmint control, target shooting, home defense and hunting birds of all shapes and sizes can easily be handled effectively with #4 lead shot. Its superior ballistics and tendency to penetrate deeper leads to easier kills, making it preferred over steel when hunting. What shot size for home defense?
Most experts agree that reduced-power 00 buck shells in 12 gauge are the best overall choice for home defense. Slugs – These are essentially oversized bullets designed to be fired from a shotgun. They offer the advantage of tremendous stopping power. Is #8 shot good for home defense?
Birdshot is not effective for home defense because the small and light pellets won't penetrate enough to stop a determined home invader. Is #5 shot good for home defense?
For home defense, anything classified as bird shot might not be your first choice, as it does not penetrate as well as heavier shot, such as 00 buck. #5 lead shot is a versatile shot, but as with all ammo, make sure lead is okay to use where you plan to hunt, so you don't walk away with a hefty fine. Can 20 gauge birdshot kill a human?
With birdshot, the attacker may well be fatally wounded, but in the many minutes or hours it takes before the attacker succumbs to their wounds, they still can kill you or a loved one. Is 00 buckshot good home defense?
Hornady Critical Defense 00 Buckshot is another great home defense option. With an innovative Versatite wad, these shotgun loads deliver tight shot patterns. They also leave the muzzle at a blistering 1600 feet per second, so they hit the target with some serious power. Is 2 shot good for home defense?
#2 steel shot is a good overall choice for large birds, medium-sized mammals and home defense. The less dense and environmentally safer steel is quite popular, with the only downside being the loss of penetration with steel due to lead being heavier. How far is birdshot lethal?
40 yards
Will birdshot stop an intruder?
The link above shows what happens in a typical birdshot defensive shooting. The birdshot created the desired response (stopping the attack), but it certainly didn't incapacitate the burglar. Can you shoot 22 rat shot through a suppressor?
Shooting . 22LR shot cartridges through a suppressor is a poor idea at best. We did some high-speed photos of the shot fired from a Ruger MK2, and at 5 inches from the muzzle, the shot pattern had spread to about 5/8 of an inch. Are shotshells bad for pistols?
The shotshells probably will lead-up the barrel some, but no real damage. Patterns will not be very good, usually sort of a doughnut shape. Is snake shot loud?
Loud enough to make people look if they're nearby, but not really loud enough to make people think "GUN !!!" These rounds are certainly powerful enough to kill snakes. They are more powerful than even the most powerful spring-piston airguns that are often used for hunting rabbits and squirrels. Does 22lr hurt?
22 LR load. It might not be the same as a bullet from a . 357 Mag., but it will hurt. 22 LR have almost non-existent recoil, and most people find them easier to shoot more accurately and faster. How far does 22 birdshot travel?
22 birdshot from about 20 feet. Will birdshot damage a rifled barrel?
First it will not hurt the gun shooting shot down a rifled barrel but the lead will foul up the rifling and effect accuracy even with just one shot. Can you shoot rat shot in a revolver?
No damage to the gun, but they ricochet really bad, even against backstops like wood. Be careful of your eyes. Lead will not damage steel - period. Now, that does not make the shot accurate but you just have to see what the limitations are with some testing. Will .22 rat shot kill a dog?
It will kill it. Make sure you are 30 yards or so away from the dog. It has little report and you can actually see the bullet hit the target. It is a perfect round for what you are after. Will a 22 Shothell damage a rifle?
They will not damage a gun. 
