I suspect the #9 shot is the problem, not the .410. I use #4 shot for most pest control, and killed a snake that was messing with my dog at ~30 feet, a shot which resulted in complete separation of head from body (snake, not dog, who was behind me at the moment).
Forgot to mention, using .20 gauge, but I think a tight patterned .410 would have similar results.
exactly
Load selection was his problem. I’d not use less than #6 for something like that. #7 1/2 smallest I ever use for quail.
A .410, or pretty much any shotgun with any amount of choke. is only going to be throwing a pattern a few inches wide at 8ft. A 1/2 oz load of #9 shot traveling at 1200fps is going to blow a moccasin in half at 8ft. The guy missed is what happened.
I suspect the #9 shot is the problem, not the .410. I use #4 shot for most pest control, and killed a snake that was messing with my dog at ~30 feet, a shot which resulted in complete separation of head from body (snake, not dog, who was behind me at the moment).
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Didn’t I see a video showing a snake head can remain viable and dangerous for hours?