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Don't shoot at snakes while in the water with a .410 Load
Cal Sportsman ^ | 5/12/2016 | E Nestor

Posted on 05/12/2016 8:40:32 AM PDT by w1n1

Here's a story from one of the angler's on his experience shooting water moccasins with the .410 load. While out fishing with his brother-in-law, snakes were everywhere swimming right up to within a few feet of us to check us out, heads above the water the entire time and not even remotely afraid. Given that I live about 100 yards from the pond, and I'm not a fan of water moccasins (which I'm pretty sure is what these were, because most harmless water snakes swim with their heads down and shy away from disturbances), I ran back to the house to grab my Bond Arms Snake Slayer.

The Snake Slayer was loaded with .410, #9 I believe, and I fired right into water about 8 feet away. I could see the snake’s entire body, and his head was poking above the water looking at me. The shot churned up the water right where he was, and he just calmly floated there looking at us like, "Is that the best you got?" Read the rest of the story here.


TOPICS: Hobbies; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: 410load; banglist; cottonmouth; guns; shotgun; snake; watermoccasin
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To: w1n1

I’ve shot quite a few water moccasins.

The first time I used a .22, nearly point blank range. The guy was swimming right at me, finally stopped about a foot away. (Yes, I was on shore and about to run.)

I fished him out of the lake and counted the holes.
It took seven hits to finally stop the guy.

After that I used a 20 gauge shotgun. Cut the little guys in two, and put a big hole in the big ones. Always shot at the part that was on the surface of the water. Stopped ‘em all.


21 posted on 05/12/2016 8:58:58 AM PDT by EternalHope (Something wicked this way comes. Be ready.)
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To: dfwgator

I actually have a NIB, unpunched copy of The Log Game. I should sell it on eBay.


22 posted on 05/12/2016 9:00:09 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: NonValueAdded
I thought he would be talking about ricochet off the surface of the water.

That's what I figured also. I thought maybe he had an eye injury from a ricochet.

23 posted on 05/12/2016 9:01:01 AM PDT by fireman15 (The USA will be toast if the Democrats are able to take the Presidency in 2016)
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To: BobinIL

Yup Yup and Yup

3” derringer LOL #9 shot LOL prolly a 2.5” shell LOL


24 posted on 05/12/2016 9:01:11 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: w1n1
Water moccasin has dark stripes that are continuous over the back and sides. Harmless water snake has splotchy black areas that don't form stripes. The pic shows a typical water moccasin.
25 posted on 05/12/2016 9:02:53 AM PDT by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: dfwgator

It’s Lo-og it’s Lo-og
It’s big, its heavy, it’s wood!
It’s Lo-og it’s Lo-og
It’s better than bad, it’s good


26 posted on 05/12/2016 9:03:36 AM PDT by Mr. K (Trump will win NY state - choke on that HilLIARy)
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To: EternalHope

I put a 7.62x54 just below a water snake and it blew him 20feet out of the water LOL


27 posted on 05/12/2016 9:04:15 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: w1n1

#9 shot works fine on wasps but is too small for a snake.

7 or larger. Take the shot cup out and replace with wads as the shot cup spins and produces a hole in the middle of the pattern.


28 posted on 05/12/2016 9:04:29 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: w1n1
About 8 feet away

#8 shot

410 load

Basically an inch of muzzle to achieve velocity.

Not a big suprise.

I have a Judge revolver that is essentially the same barrel length (although w/5 rounds), and I wouldn't rely on it to bother anything more than 6 feet away with birdshot. I keep buckshot in it in the car (probably 4 pellets per round) for that special guest.

29 posted on 05/12/2016 9:07:24 AM PDT by freedomlover
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To: mylife
I put a 7.62x54 just below a water snake and it blew him 20feet out of the water LOL

That would have been fun to see!

30 posted on 05/12/2016 9:08:48 AM PDT by EternalHope (Something wicked this way comes. Be ready.)
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To: EternalHope

It was hilarious and he lived to see another day LOL


31 posted on 05/12/2016 9:11:08 AM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: w1n1

You can also just shoot 1 inch or so to the side of the snake and it will take him out.

Always worthwhile to shoot at paper and find out where and how big the hole is.


32 posted on 05/12/2016 9:12:32 AM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: w1n1

Part of his problem is he used a 3” derringer instead of an 18” shotgun.


33 posted on 05/12/2016 9:13:08 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Billthedrill
I don’t like snakes either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ_8IwwNKGg

You, me, and Pee Wee.

34 posted on 05/12/2016 9:19:36 AM PDT by IYAS9YAS (I got nothin'.)
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To: w1n1

Did I mention that I really hate snakes, especially water moccasins?
I got bit by one 60 years ago when I was 10. My dad killed the critter with a steel bar and then took me and the snake to the hospital, where I received antivenom, a tetanus shot, and had a surgeon extract several dozen teeth and fangs from my hand.
Did I mention that I really hate snakes?


35 posted on 05/12/2016 9:20:26 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (The reason for Gun Control has always been Government's Fear of Rebellion.)
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To: mylife
My boat gun is a saiga 410

Regretfully lost in that fateful boat accident

36 posted on 05/12/2016 9:20:33 AM PDT by HangnJudge (Cthulhu for President, why vote for a lesser Evil)
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To: w1n1
We used to live on Oyster Creek, lots of water Mocs and copperheads.

Right outside my front door was a moccasin laying on the grass. I grabbed the first gun I could find, a deer rifle and shot him at close range, about 3 feet. It blew him up on the roof of the house and dug a hole in the yard.

Then I had to get a ladder, get up on the roof, get him off. Work work work!

37 posted on 05/12/2016 9:29:37 AM PDT by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
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To: mylife
I put a 7.62x54 just below a water snake and it blew him 20feet out of the water LOL

THIS ONE worked REALLY well, at :20. :-)

38 posted on 05/12/2016 9:34:31 AM PDT by Oatka (Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young.)
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To: w1n1

The #9 shot works just fine on snakes. It is what is used in the Speer 38 and 44 shotshells. I reload those myself and they kill snakes dead no problem.


39 posted on 05/12/2016 9:42:59 AM PDT by CodeToad (Islam should be banned and treated as a criminal enterprise!)
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To: Richard Axtell

I did that once. Just once...


40 posted on 05/12/2016 9:49:19 AM PDT by Mathews (Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV), Luke 22:36 (NIV))
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