Snake guns?

Hartsock · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 06:34 PM

So, I just purchased a Taurus Judge to use as my "trail" gun. I was surprised to see how many guns are now being advertised as a great "snake gun." I went to 3 different gun shops and saw many advertised that way in each store and heard clerks say the same thing.

My gun shoots .45 long colt, but also .410 shot shells. The shot shells are what gives it the name as being a great snake gun. I explained to the clerks I was looking for something to take on the trail that would be light, that would be versitle as a self defensive weapon (geocaching last year I stumbled onto someone's pot field in the middle of the woods that had all types of barbed wire hidden as trip wires and you could tell it was their party place as well with numerous bottles and cans plus shell cases left on the ground from shooting something) as well as something against larger animals (crossed paths with 3 bears this past summer, the last one being a cub..didn't see the mother on that one thankfully). I never even gave it a thought about snakes.

So finally when I was fed up by the 3rd store, I said to the clerk, "well, I am not really worried about snakes because they generally don't chase you so why shoot them?" He wasn't quite sure what to say...

I still don't get it....if I am going to go hunting snakes, well fine, then I would say you need to take a shotgun of some sort and even a revolver with bird shot would be fine, but if you run across one in the wild, why must you kill it? And more so, why must you make sure you are very well armed in case of "snake attack"?

John_White · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 06:42 PM

Snake Gun?
Snake Gun Pics - High Resolution Snake Gun Pictures - Photoshop Pix

Hartsock · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 06:47 PM

ALSO, what I just found pretty amazing on the PA Fish and Boat Commission (which regulates reptile and amphibian wildlife in PA) under the regulations of hunting snakes and which require tagging and limits and permits and such there was this stated in their Q & A page.

Quote:

10. Can I kill a timber rattlesnake or any snake with a firearm?
No, it is now unlawful to take, catch, or kill a reptile or amphibian through the use of a firearm.

Now...you come across a wild copperhead or timber here in the woods, it starts to slither away OR GOD FORBID it assumes a striking position. Instead of walking away from the snake which you can easily remove yourself from the situation, you shoot the snake.... you just broke the law. Sooooooooooo, why is everyone saying these are great guns to go kill snakes when they should know the law for what they are selling?

Hartsock · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_White

Snake Gun?
Snake Gun Pics - High Resolution Snake Gun Pictures - Photoshop Pix

LOL, thats a great pic John.

Louise, don't google the topic or you won't be sleeping for awhile.

John_White · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 07:00 PM

In my state it is illegal to kill a snake unless it presents an imminent threat to one’s personal health and safety.

Unfortunately, people fear what they don't understand and fear is an effective motivator.

From: Snake Guns « The Shooter's Log

"Throughout all of recorded human history, man has feared snakes. And for the most part, rightfully so. Silent, deadly, and occasionally prone to aggressive unprovoked attacks, vipers and various other venomous snakes have a more or less permanent place on many people’s list of varmints to be killed on sight."

Hartsock · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 07:05 PM

prone to agfressive unprovoked attacks? Guess that would be something like the size of a human stepping all over it's home and almost on them because we don't see them or put ourselves in their area and mess with them. Yeah, I don't have a clue why they would become defensive...

RioBravoReptiles · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 07:16 PM

I was hiking the Arizona Huachuca mountains in July quite a few years back. I hit the monsoon perfectly and was seeing a lot of snakes!.. venomous and non-venomous. It's natural to romanticize things that happen in the past, especially very memorable things.. but of all the places I've gone in search of reptiles and more that was among the most fabulous herp trips I've ever experienced! If you still have good knees (the Carr peak climb is not for duffers).. go do it!
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What this has to do with your post is this; we were hearing the repeated cracking and popping of small arms fire above us or below us or from the adjacent canyons (Miller canyon).. When we got back to the Reef campsite we found out what was going on..
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A group of University 'researchers' and students were on the mountain 'collecting' specimens.. with .22 calibre guns loaded with 'snake rounds' (like rat shot).. they showed off one jar, bragging it contained over two dozen Willardi!.. the back of their vehicle was stacked with boxes.. each holding four one-gallon jars! .. one jar showed lots of red and black and white.
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I guess most any gun that is used to kill a snake (even rare and/or protected snakes) can be called a snake-gun.. but when I asked those 'researchers' what they had used to kill all those poor snakes they replied.. 'SNAKE GUNS!"
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As you may suppose, that experience and some few more in the intervening years, has permanently colored my opinion of field 'researchers' and the term 'snake gun'.
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Adios!

morti · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2010, 07:21 PM

Some people just kill everything that moves. I don't like it, but it is a fact of life that there are people who kill snakes, bats, rabbits... anything... just because it's there.

Sliding Scales · #9 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 12:19 AM

I used to hunt years ago, and Morti is right as people do seem to think that just because they are out there for whitetail that means that they can shoot anything they want. My brother was a deputy game warden in some seasons and it blew me away (forgive the pun) just how people change and think once they have a gun in their hands.
The "snake guns" moniker is used to sell guns. If they said that the gun can shoot 410 shotgun shells, well most people would say "why would I want that?" So they glorify the terminology in order to sell more guns. The implore the "snake gun" as it instills some fear and is a subliminal buying message.

Hartsock... That Judge is a nice pistol, and would be my choice too. In fact I was looking at them just the other day. The 45 long colt can be loaded with hot rounds that would give adequate protection to a Black Bear...but I would use it only as a last resort. But a Grizzly on the other hand...? Well you better have that thing shoved down his throat when you pull the trigger. Better to carry pepper spray and a bear-bell than lugging a heavy pistol around. I know...I did. In fact I did so in Arizona. Then again...I found this sign somewhere...

Not to hijack this thread, but years ago my brother-in-law was elk hunting in Montana and as he slept in his tent a black bear came into camp. He saw it because it was a full moon and he could see the silhouette from the moonlight. It came right through the tent after him and he was forced to shoot it and in that case it was good to have had it. He hates snakes with a passion, but would never shoot one as he knew that the noise would probably ruin the hunt for that day. In fact...I saw a guy get chased out of the field he was in because he was messing around shooting at all sorts of things. Most "good" hunters are there for what they have tags for and will band together to remove those that are there to mess it up for others.

SS

Hartsock · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 01:23 AM

Great post Sliding and would there be a chance for Grizzlies I know that this wouldn't do anything but make it madder....well, if emptied into it I have a feeling it would die, but after it ripped me limb from limb. lol.

I use a bear bell now ($1.88 from walmart) and have been laughed at but at the same time, I believe it works. The cub that we saw at the end of the summer seemed interested in it as it skittishly kept looking toward us to figure out what we were. Where mom was that day I don't know, but I am just very thankful we could backtrack out of there and not see her at all.

oh...and I got the ultralight...lol.

I get the panic that the advertisements are trying to instill in people, but common sense tells you that a snake that is running away from you is no threat... now, they are in an area where there might be little kids playing, then I say there is a threat and they need to be captured and removed but all this hype stuff is a bunch of what that sign of yours says smells like pepper.

Sliding Scales · #11 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 02:53 AM

Yeah Hartsock...I wish I could get that gun. I love that thing. I was told by someone that the action was not that good...so I was wondering if you have shot it yet. Personally I love Taurus, and one of my favorite guns of all time was a 45 cal Taurus. On the trail the only problem I ever had was with people. When my son was little we were on a hike and four big guys jumped down from the rocks and confronted us. Scared the heck out of my son! They sure got bug-eyed when they saw the 44 magnum on my hip.

That 410 with 00 buck would have cut a swath through those guys.

Back on topic though I heard something from this old guy once that both bothered me and intrigued me. He carried a large rattle from what had to have been one monster rattlesnake. He swore that when he saw a bear all he had to do was rattle that thing and the bear would loose interest real quick. I know that some bears will eat a snake, but I would think that they would have had to have a personal experience with a rattler to give the rattle that kind of consideration. It bothered me because some nice big old rattler died to give up that rattle. The old guy was kind of...

a character if you know what I mean.

Hartsock · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 04:22 AM

LOL, met a few old guys like that...

Interesting about the rattles...

I have shot it the bare minimum, which was 5 rounds of 45 and 5 rounds of .410 000 buck. Cocking the hammer to shoot SA gives you a nice feeling trigger pull, didn't think it was too bad, used to my father in law setting his handguns to where if you blow on it, you can make it go off...lol (not really but feels that way at times). DA does have a long, long...did I say long, pull; however it isn't one that keeps you guess. If I do it slow, I can feel when it hits that spot where you know it's going off. If I do it quickly, i don't notice it too much at all...

So far I love it and have no real compliants. I saved and saved for the gun I wanted to do just what it does, so far I am happy. Although I still want to use it to explode some watermelons like the videos show. lol

Icicle · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 04:25 AM

Here is the one I would want with me
Snake Charmer Rifles/Shotguns single shot 18.25 stainless 410ga -thegunsource.com

Sliding Scales · #14 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 04:45 AM

I messed up posting the sign I posted and so it was removed. I should have read it...I forgot it had the naughty words.

If anyone wants to see it, pm me and I'll email it to you. Really funny. Curious if providing a link is against the rules??

The only thing I shoot, and actually I haven't shot it once yet, is a Taurus 38 special. I used to shoot a lot, and reloaded...all that stuff. However...I will have that Judge somewhere down the line.

Hartsock · #15 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icicle

Here is the one I would want with me
Snake Charmer Rifles/Shotguns single shot 18.25 stainless 410ga -thegunsource.com

Ice! You aren't suppose to shoot snakes!! lol

Hartsock · #16 (**permalink**) 09-11-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliding Scales

I messed up posting the sign I posted and so it was removed. I should have read it...I forgot it had the naughty words.

If anyone wants to see it, pm me and I'll email it to you. Really funny. Curious if providing a link is against the rules??
The only thing I shoot, and actually I haven't shot it once yet, is a Taurus 38 special. I used to shoot a lot, and reloaded...all that stuff. However...I will have that Judge somewhere down the line.

LOL, I figured you might get some flak for that. I quoted someone some years back and the quote had a bad word and I got nailed as well as the person who said it. I was going to point that out but then was afraid it would draw attention your way. lol. Did you get a ....ummm...forgot what they are called...the bad boy mark. They never go away even after they expire. If I look at my page they are still listed there showing when I got them...