Pumkinslinger
I use #12 shot for the first shot, and #9 shot for the kill shot.
The #12 shot seems to immobilize the snake long enough to get a really good shot at him and then I use the #9's to put them out of my misery.
I would not recommend using the #12 shot unless you are very careful after shooting the rattler and use caution when approaching. I won't guarantee the #12's but the #9's will do the job just fine.
This is just my way of doing it. The 700X load worked great! I think I will stay with that load.

See you later.

Gidday Wildhorse.

Whilst I am not necessarily agreeable with killing snakes because I really don't have a problem with them, in fact I really like reptiles, I do accept your decision to bust a cap on their "bitey butt" if they are a problem for you.

I am surprised that you use #12 and #9 shot...personally I would use #7.5 shot. Sure, there are less pellets, but I think that is far outweighed by the slightly heavier shot that would deliver a little more energy per pellet. Of course you would have to pattern your shot loads to ensure that they deliver the appropriate density of shot at a given range...say 5 yds.

Just my 2c worth mate. Oh yeah, I'll have a rattle snake belt if ya get a spare skin.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks Wildhorse. I have some .38/.357 shot capsules here but haven't played with them. I hate to buy a 25 pound bag of shot for that! Wish someone sold 1 pound sample/test boxes of shot. Of course I could find someone who is loading shot shells and beg some from them.

Pumpkinslinger...Why not disassemble a shot shell. Should be enough shot in one of them to fill several .38/.357 cases...

Well Bushmaster, seems that I'm not that smart... Now where are those old shells I had... Thanks

Gidday Punkin. I used to load 38/357 shotshells for my 586 Smith and I did what Bushy suggested. Just be aware that you are, from memory, restricted as far as shot size is concerned.

I had a bit of fun with the 38/357 shotshells, but they don't hold a lot of shot which makes them marginal for anything but fairly close range work...the sort of range that would get a snake pretty snarly if you missed or didn't get a good hit.

As an aside....I remember reading about making flechette loads using those very same shot capsules. Of course I tried it, and they do actually work quite well. I made my flechettes from the rib of a child's broken umbrella. It was a simple exercise to cut them to length and fill the capsule with them. I tried to put fins on some of the flechettes by heating one end and belting it with a hammer to flatten it out...it worked but not very effectively, although the flechettes did fly straight without tumbling. Those that I didn't flatten out on one end tumbled.

Whichever option you decide to try, shot or flechettes, remember to weigh your "bullet" after loading the capsule and load with the appropriate quantity of powder, although you may have trouble finding a load for very light bullets. I always used Bullseye, but cannot remember what the load was that I used.

Cheers, Vince

Thanks Vince. Speer recommends 8-9 shot. The #14 manual shows 5 loads for .38 Special, which they also recommend for use in a .357 Mag. The flechette idea might be fun to play with too!

Speer #14 loads for .38 Special shot capsules, OAL 1.500":

Unique - 5.5 grains
700-X - 4.5 grains
HP-38 - 4.5 grains
Bullseye - 4.5 grains
231 - 5.0 grains

Velocities from a 6" barrel were between 1000 and 1100 ft/sec.

What about gas checks between the pellets and the powder and a gas check crimped in the mouth of the case to hold it all together? I'm on a learning curve here...

Bushmaster, it could be done that way but the Speer shot capsules sure are easier! I think they come in ..357, .44 and .45 now.

As the little wheels turn here... What about a home made "safety slug" consisting of a shot charge held together with some sort of wax or adhesive so that it stayed intact until it hit the target? Might make for an interesting short range varmint load.

Vince
Wow! That seems to be a lot of work to load flechettes.
I bought a pound of Vietnem era flechettes. I think I paid about 6 or 8 dollars US. I load them in a shotgun shell and use them like that. they work great on snakes.
Some of you may have a misconception of my attitude towards snakes.
I would never kill a bull snake, or any other, (except a rattler), snake for that matter. snakes have their place, its just not around me.

Ok Wildhorse...what a good idea. I didn't realise that you could buy the proper flechettes. The flechette loads I read about in American Handgunner were intended for home protection...they would do a nasty on a bad guy but not smoke on through the walls to hurt your family.

Bushy, the Speer capsules come with a soft plastic plug that goes in the back of the hard plastic capsule. I am assuming that this plug is designed to act much like a shotgun wad, pushing up into the capsule on ignition, shattering it and then the shot is in a column much the same as a shotgun would create.

Thinking about that, I don't suppose that flechettes would do the bore of a revolver a lot of good.

Cheers, Vince

Vince

If you cannot find some flechettes to play with let me know and I will send you some.

WildHorse wrote:

Vince If you cannot find some flechettes to play with let me know and I will send you some.

Thanks mate, but I've sold my pistols to the Government now so I would have no use for them, but your offer is very much appreciated.

Cheers, Vince

Maybe after the Government takes all your weapons you could use the flechettes with a slingshot

Now WildHorse, You know that with some 3/4" pipe and a shorter length of 1 1/4 inch pipe you can make a rapid reloading 12 ga. in about 20 minutes.
If the muzzle end is threaded you can even use a pipe bushing to make a decent choke on it.