# What size 12 ga shot for a snake? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546 "2009-06-22T02:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/1 "2009-06-22T02:15:15Z")
I shot a copper head near Mrs. Plant’s car with a .45 tonight. I hit him the first or second time, but when he started wriggling I freaked as I always do and gave him the rest of the clip. I can’t hear too well at the moment. All I’ve got for the shotgun are target rounds. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/2 "2009-06-22T02:18:42Z")
I’m no expert in herpetology or ammunition-ology (or whatever), but I just have to believe that just about any shot would do a good job on a snake if shot from the same range that you had to be in to hit it with a .45. I guess by target rounds you mean 7.5 or 8 shot–that’s gotta be able to do the job. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/3 "2009-06-22T02:21:29Z")
Hitting him with a stick will work just as well, with less chance of damaging people or property. Try that. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/4 "2009-06-22T02:24:04Z")
Bird shot, maximum number of pellets. Ideally with an open choke or fired from enough distance to allow the shot to disperse. That said, I’m not big on killing snakes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/5 "2009-06-22T02:32:02Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Hitting him with a stick will work just as well, with less chance of damaging people or property. Try that. I broke a [water gardening tool](http://www.lilypons.com/prodinfo.asp?number=92091) and a rake killing a water moccasin last week. Firearms are less expensive and are effective at a greater distance. 🙂 River Hippie: I like to leave animals alone myself, but the moccasin was in my water garden where I put my hands and the copper head where Mrs. Plant puts her feet getting into and out of the car. Thanks, all. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/6 "2009-06-22T02:42:56Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I guess by target rounds you mean 7.5 or 8 shot–that’s gotta be able to do the job. No. 8 1 1/2 ounce Light Target Shot, whatever that is. It makes a white spot on a tree. I bought a Mossberg at a pawn shop and wanted the lightest load in if it blew up in my face. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/7 "2009-06-22T03:43:03Z")
The anti-gun lobby can bookmark this thread when it comes time to revive the argument for responsible gun ownership. ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/8 "2009-06-22T04:13:23Z")
I don’t know much about guns, but I do know my husband has a weapon called a “Judge”, that is supposed to be good for killing snakes. We live where there are huge rattlers, so I don’t ask questions. He can do what it takes!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/9 "2009-06-22T04:20:02Z")
Do they make snakeshot rounds for the .45? I’ve seen them for other pistol calibers. Would be better than firing the shotgun at such close ranges. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/10 "2009-06-22T04:21:17Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Do they make snakeshot rounds for the .45? I’ve seen them for other pistol calibers. Would be better than firing the shotgun at such close ranges. [Ah, here ya go.](http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product278.html) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/11 "2009-06-22T04:25:47Z")
> [@hellpaso](#): > > I don’t know much about guns, but I do know my husband has a weapon called a “Judge”, that is supposed to be good for killing snakes. We live where there are huge rattlers, so I don’t ask questions. He can do what it takes!:eek: [Taurus Judge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taurus_Judge). There you go. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/12 "2009-06-22T05:23:04Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > No. 8 1 1/2 ounce Light Target Shot, whatever that is. It makes a white spot on a tree. I bought a Mossberg at a pawn shop and wanted the lightest load in if it blew up in my face. This. What you really need is a .410 loaded with snakeshot, but this will do. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/13 "2009-06-22T16:19:58Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Hitting him with a stick will work just as well, with less chance of damaging people or property. Try that. Shotgun is more humane than a flogging. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/14 "2009-06-22T16:23:06Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Shotgun is more humane than a flogging. Are you even allowed to flog your snake in public? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/15 "2009-06-22T17:34:47Z")
> [@Patch](#): > > Do they make snakeshot rounds for the .45? I’ve seen them, but I don’t know what it would do to my barrel. And I seem to be dispatching one a week, now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/16 "2009-06-22T17:46:25Z")
I can say from experience, bird shot in from a .410 (do they still make those?) will make a half of a black snake disappear. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/17 "2009-06-22T17:56:19Z")
Any bird shot will do the job nicely. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/18 "2009-06-22T18:42:45Z")
Thermonuclear weapons…I really don’t like snakes. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/19 "2009-06-22T18:51:36Z")
> [@akira5822](#): > > Thermonuclear weapons…I really don’t like snakes. 😛 That _might_ take care of the [privet hedge](http://landscaping.about.com/od/hedgesfences/p/privet_hedges.htm), too. It would play hell with the water garden though, and Penny the dog likes to watch the squirrels. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546/20 "2009-06-22T19:16:36Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > The anti-gun lobby can bookmark this thread when it comes time to revive the argument for responsible gun ownership. What, because somebody killed a _venomous snake_ in their own garden? Now, I get upset when people chop the heads off harmless vermin-eating reptiles with hoes, but I have no problem with killing the crap out of a lethally venomous animal that’s hanging out where I like to dig around in the dirt. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-size-12-ga-shot-for-a-snake/500546.md?page=2)