Author Topic: Guns for killing snakes (Read 5923 times)

McFarland · « **Reply #75 on:** July 04, 2007, 04:59:50 PM »

I aint no snake handler, they are idiots. And yes, snakebites can kill, but not those of the copperhead, it will make you very sick, and swell your arm, but it generally won't kill you. They don't inject enough venom (when they do inject venom) to kill you. You sound like an ignorant coward who thinks the only good snake is a dead one. If you don't want to be within ten feet of a snake, you are a coward. I have picked up copperheads with me bare hands, and I have handled black widows. They will try to get away if you let them, and they will usually inject very little venom, for they need it for hunting.

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Originally posted by DieAz
if you insist on .22 cal. , the longer barrel and magnum is better. has about 10 ft range. IMO too close.

You are a coward.

McFarland · « **Reply #76 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:19:06 PM »

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some estimates put the number at 2.5 million bites, resulting in perhaps 125,000 deaths.[1] Worldwide, snakebites occur most frequently in the summer season, especially during the months of April and September, when snakes are active and humans are outdoors.[1] Agricultural and tropical regions report more snakebites than anywhere else.[2] Victims are typically male and between 17 and 27 years of age.[1]

A late 1950s study estimated that 45,000 snakebites occur each year in the United States.[2] Despite this large number, only 7,000 to 8,000 of those snakebites are actually caused by venomous snakes, resulting in an average of 10 deaths.[3][4] This puts the chance of survival at roughly 499 out of 500. The majority of bites in the United States occur in the southwestern part of the country, in part because rattlesnake populations in the eastern states are much lower.[3]

Most snakebite related deaths in the United States are attributed to eastern and western diamondback rattlesnake bites. Children and the elderly are most likely to die (Gold & Wingert 1994). The state of North Carolina has the highest frequency of reported snakebites, averaging approximately 19 bites per 100,000 persons. The national average is roughly 4 bites per 100,000 persons.[4]

Most snakebites are caused by non-venomous snakes. Of the roughly 3,000 known species of snake found worldwide, only 15 percent are considered dangerous to humans.[5] Snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica. The most diverse and widely distributed snake family, the Colubrids, has only a few members which are harmful to humans. Of the 120 known indigenous snake species in North America, only 20 are venomous to human beings, all belonging to the families Viperidae and Elapidae.[5] However, every state except Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii is home to at least one of 20 venomous snake species.[6]

Since the act of delivering venom is completely voluntary, all venomous snakes are capable of biting without injecting venom into their victim. Such snakes will often deliver such a "dry bite" (about 50% of the time)[7] rather than waste their venom on a creature too large for them to eat.

As you can see, the chances of dying from a snakebite is very minimal. You are more likely to die from the concusion of running away from it into a tree.

DieAz · « **Reply #77 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:24:49 PM »

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Originally posted by Deth7
44Mag with rat shot=410 close up:cool:

not quite.

more like .44 mag ratshot = 1/3 or 1/2 of a .410

oh found this http://www.castbullet.com/reload/44shot.htm < I might do this for fun.

McFarland · « **Reply #78 on:** July 04, 2007, 05:30:09 PM »

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Coral snakes are not aggressive or prone to biting however, and account for less than a single percent of the number of snake bites each year in the United States. Most coral snake bites occur because of accidental handling of the snake while engaged in an activity like gardening.

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Due to the small size of coral snakes, along with their having much smaller fangs than pit vipers, bites are frequently ineffective and have some difficulty penetrating shoes or even thick clothing. This along with the fact that coral snakes are not aggressive creatures and reclusive makes bites quite rare. However, coral snakes are highly venomous, being the only relative of the cobra found in the New World. Despite their relatively small size, their venom is a powerful neurotoxin, quite capable of killing an adult human. No deaths related to coral snake bites have been reported in the United States since coral snake antivenin became available. Before that time, the estimated case fatality rate was 10%.

You're right, wikipedia is a good source.

evenhaim · « **Reply #79 on:** July 04, 2007, 08:26:55 PM »

ive killed 4 rattlers in the last month while at my famalies in ca go figure:rolleyes:

gpwurzel · « **Reply #80 on:** July 04, 2007, 08:58:26 PM »

Lol, I've dived with and handled sea snakes, gorgeous colours and actually not aggresive at all......definitely ones to be respected .....given they tend to be more venomous etc......they are very curious as well.......must admit one made me jump and produce lots of bubbles when it appeared in the front of my mask.........as for killing rattlers..each to their own, i prefer to help them decide to move elsewhere.......without getting bitten, if that means i have to pick them up and carry them.....no worries....prefer not to....but will if required..never been bitten yet........(and no, dont want there to be a first time). And Eskimo, that is a beautiful little snake....gotta love constrictors..........good job on moving it on without scaring your daughters etc

Wurzel:aok

DieAz · « **Reply #81 on:** July 04, 2007, 10:17:31 PM »

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Originally posted by McFarland
I aint no snake handler, they are idiots.
I have picked up copperheads with me bare hands,
You sound like an ignorant coward

DieAz · « **Reply #82 on:** July 04, 2007, 10:18:10 PM »

some folks prefer not to voluntarily go for the Darwin Awards.
And that Murphy's Law is always lurking about.

culero · « **Reply #83 on:** July 05, 2007, 12:08:47 AM »

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Originally posted by Silat
I still need advise on a revolver that will use rat shot. And these are coral snakes.

Lew, best bet is a Ruger Single Six with the extra .22 Mag cylinder. We're obviously dealing with a neophyte shooter here, so a single action revolver being the most foolproof in operation is safest. It is also pretty much indestructible, nice fit and finish, and reasonably priced. The magnum loads are considerably stronger than the standard LR, so you practice cheap and hit hard for effect.

~edit~ TO ADD A LINK

NR-6 is the best all-round, NR-9 is best if you can handle how long it is. I've owned both and love 'em, great little shooters.

McFarland · « **Reply #84 on:** July 05, 2007, 12:15:23 AM »

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Originally posted by DieAz
some folks prefer not to voluntarily go for the Darwin Awards.
And that Murphy's Law is always lurking about.

I know that they will not kill me if they do bite me. And it's smart to pick them up right behind the head, so they can't bite you anyways. And picking up snakes with your bare hands is not being a snake handler, a snake handler does it in church and says God will protect them. Even though it says in the Bible not to do such things. I am a herpetologist, and an entomologist. I know what I am doing. And someone who does not want to be within ten feet of any snake is a coward. And you obvously don't know much aboot what you're talking aboot. And that makes you ignorant.

DieAz · « **Reply #85 on:** July 05, 2007, 02:32:24 AM »

you keep calling me, who, when I was 4 years old, tried to pet a copperhead, a coward.
I wouldn't want to be closer than 10 ft while provoking it with .22 ratshot, I'd rather not get bit.
not everyone carries anti-venom. and some people are fatally allergic to venoms. a single honey bee sting is fatal to some.
you keep on with your statistics of low death rates from snake bites. some people rather not be a statistic.
and all the preaching you spout about it won't change the fact, some people rather kill a snake than find out if they are the one in a gazillion that will die from getting bit.
I for one agree a human life is worth more than a snake's life. even if that snake was the last of it's species.

you like playing with snakes, then play with them.

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Originally posted by McFarland
And you obvously don't know much aboot what you're talking aboot. And that makes you ignorant.

Yawn and you earned your place with lazerboy/sailor on the ignore list.

sorry for this hijack.

[Newsflash] this a gun thread, Dr. IluvSnakes (IRtehSmarts) McFarland [/Newsflash]

back to the topic
as for the Ruger .22 single six yep it is a nice one. .22 mag ratshot is a lot better than the .22 long rifle ratshot. might be good enough for coral snakes, but wouldn't use it on rattlesnakes unless using solid nose long rifle or .22 mag solid nose ammo, aiming for the head shot.

as far I know ratshot ammo is made in .22 long rifle, .22 magnum, 9mm, .38 special/.357 mag, .44 mag, .45 acp.
at http://www.cabelas.com / search "ammo", click handgun ammo, scroll down click CCI Pistol Shotshell ammo , it is availible in a couple more calibers.

McFarland · « **Reply #86 on:** July 05, 2007, 03:19:51 AM »

Ni, I'm not "Dr. I love snakes", but I do beleive they are important for the environment. I have been bitten by black widows. I know that some people are allergic, but those are few and far between. If a snake was the last of it's species, I would try to create more of it through genetic cloning, so that they may not go extinct. Once a species is extinct, it cannot be brought back. A rather sad fact. I value all life, be it snake, man, or anything else, and I understand that sometimes you have to kill something to protect someone, but the problem is that if you kill it, more will come. It is better to just relocate them. The end of time will be soon anyways, I guess it can't be stopped no matter how hard one tries.

Angus · « **Reply #87 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:57:11 AM »

A small short barreled shotgun?

When you have pets and little kids, you don't want them in the garden or?

Luckily, where I live, it's too cold for them, so no snakes. Just the pink ones

-Concho- · « **Reply #88 on:** July 05, 2007, 07:58:53 AM »

Silat your a genius,

You get guns and snakes into the same thread and it's bound for a million posts.

lazs2 · « **Reply #89 on:** July 05, 2007, 08:15:49 AM »

mcfarland... I don't really want to see a child killed by a rattlesnake. If I want to get rid of mice I will use the most efficient means.. a cat.

A cat is also good for getting rid of most snakes too. Anyone who likes to play with poisonous snakes and spiders and such has a screw loose. I don't think it has much to do with cowardice or bravery or whatever..

As for the 44 mag.. you can get speer shot caps and load em yourself.. with the right shot you can get about a half an ounce of shot in em.

When I lived in nevada we had to drive quite a bit on blm roads to get there... I kept the 44 in a holster velcroed to the kick panel first two rounds were shot caps the rest solids. I killed about 4 large rattlesnakes a month that were lying on the dirt road... stop the jeep... pull 44... boom.. snake did not even wiggle. My partner wanted the rattles. he would pick up the snake with a stick to check but they were always dead.

44 with speer shot caps and, if I recall... #9 shot.. seat the plug way out to get another bit of shot... good to about 15 feet.

I have been bit twice by black widows.. it is not pleasant. I am not afraid of em but I am cautious around em and step on em or otherwise kill em when I see em... they are a very fragile spider.. daddy longleggs spiders kill em.

lazs