Sticks

I have been informed that a couple of the job sites that I will be working at this year are having a huge problem with rattlesnakes (READ - above normal for the area)

The company policy is "No Guns" (Verbal only), yet my supervisor mentioned that one should probably keep the snake shooter handy.

I responded with "So, I won't catch any grief if I keep a .410ga derringer in my pocket?" No response but no denial either.

I remember seeing a derringer that was fairly popular that ran only $150 in what ever caliber you want. I am not going to keep snake loads in my carry gun (It's a secret - Always carry, never tell).

Anyhow, I am not too worried about them if I come across one (you go your way, I'll go the other), just when I am in a position where either backing up or avoiding is not going to work so well (crawling under a piece of equipment, I need to be where it is currently at and it turns into a territory dispute...) an eye to eye meeting does not appeal to me.

I am not walking around with a shovel all day, and I am not qualified to be a snake handler with the hooked rods.

So, having said that, any recommendations for a reliable, small, not going to break my wrist, snake gun?

Web links appreciated.

__________________
Sticks

Curiosity was framed, poor judgment killed the cat

911 is just part of the procedure for filing paperwork

halfcrazy

check out the judge Here Comes the Judge! Taurus .45/410 Revolver

BikerRN

I'd look at Bond Arms.

I believe they make a .410 Derringer. If not you can always check out Taurus and their 5-Shot 45LC/410 combo.

__________________
"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Double Naught Spy

So if you whip out a gun and shoot a snake, don't be surprised when you get fired. In other words, don't designate yourself as the snake shooter for the crew just because you are carrying a gun.

Wow, it should be fun being under a piece of equipment and shooting a shotshell. You may not want to carry a shovel all day, but I would suggest you wear some ballistic goggles/glasses so that ricochets don't blind you. Little pellets in the skin can be removed fairly easily, but restoring vision is much more difficult. By "ballistic" I mean glasses that will stop the pellets, not your everyday cheapo shooting glasses. I believe Gargoyles, Wiley, and a couple of other companies make glasses that will stop birdshot.

Buying a derringer would be a bit stupid, especially a Bond Arms derringer. It is big, heavy, and you get ONLY 2 shots. Plus it is single action only and so you have to thumb cock each shot. You would be much better off with a .357 snubbie 5 shot revolver firing CCI shotshells. Recoil with shotshells really isn't bad at all (nothing like a slug). You will get 5 shots instead of 2. You can carry .357 or .38 spl loads. You can have a gun that is MUCH lighter if you get an airweight or the like. Plus, the gun will be more useful for things outside of work than the Bond Arms.

The Judge would be a good gun, BUT if you want to shoot buckshot every, then you need to buy the long cylinder version (3" I believe) and not the standard smaller version. Also, the gun is MUCH larger than other than snubbies or the Bond Arms derringer. It would be great for the job, but it isn't a gun you are going to readily and easily conceal which makes it a bad gun for you on the job site where guns are not allowed.

DON'T go with a NAA mini revolver loaded with rat shot from CCI. It is single action only and you need to hit the brain with it and the tiny pellets just aren't great for the job.

My advice to you, if you are worried about being under equipment and meeting a snake, is to buy a security mirror on a stick (such as is used to look under vehicles by security folks). You can look at the areas you need to visit under vehicles before you crawl to them. You look before you go under and then you use it to look around corners up in crevices, taking it with you as you go.

__________________
Considering yourself to be defenseless is the first administrative step to becoming a victim.

UpOn2Wheels

I agree with consensus that shooting a snake will get you fired, so proceed at your own risk.

Rather than buying another gun (especially a .410 derringer) my choice would be snake shot rounds for one of my carry guns. I know you can get them in 9mm, and I'm pretty sure you can get them in .45 too.

SleepingZ

Don't know, but what would OC spray do to a snake???? If it will stop a bear, I would think it may give the snake a chance to re-evaluate it's situation.

If OC spray would work, then it take the gun/company policy thing out of the picture, and may save your job.


Z

__________________
You can run & hide, but it will take them that much longer to find your body

ch612

I have worked in areas that are homes to snakes. The old "bucks'' always said carry a revolver with shot in them. CCI shot shells will keep the snake down allowing you to exit or shoot it again. Personally I carry a Tarus 669 with the first 3 chambers loaded with shot.

Another tip would be to run your machine around the area you are going to work in and the ground vibrations should cause the snakes to exit. Notice I said should..... does not always work but is always worth a try. Nothing like walking up to look at a tree and find a snake looking at you........

I generally carry most days because of working in remote areas that offer a variety of dangers (rabid animals, bears, snakes etc).

Yoda

I have used CCI shot shells in my 9mm Glock to shoot 7 snakes at my pond, but they frequently do not completely cycle the action. They worked so well that I switched to regular practice ammo so that I could give the snakes a little better chance. I hope there are no PETA members on here, no snakes are alright for my wife, and when they quickly move away close to my stepping it is startling. One confirmed cottonmouth and one chicken/rat snake (in the barn) but the rest were variegated water snakes. It is now my ritual practice when I go out to feed the catfish to walk around the pond slowly with my sidearm. It also gives me some draw practice.

__________________
Help you I will, yes

SIXTO

Jframe with CCI snake shot works well.
Be cautious of the low velocity shot though, it will skip and ricochet all over the place.

__________________
Bran dish
1 : to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly
2 : to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner

DMan

I have dealt with a lot of dangerous snakes in my time (even kept one as a pet for awhile!). Personally, I wouldn't bother with a snake gun - If you miss the head, its amazing how alive and dangerous they still can be. And as pointed out, the ricocheting shot can cause some issues. I was using one once to demonstrate it, the shot came back and hit my buddy in the check. Only the very surface of the skin was broken (no blood) but a nice little red spot made it easy to find. After this experience - I decided it wasn't for me.

A good shovel with a long handle works good, and if that just pins it down (versus cutting it in two) a second shovel to the head works great. Once its dead, the shovel is the best way to remove it as well.

Okay - with that said, if you see the snake before it bites you - give it a chance to retreat, it will retreat before it tries to attack you. There are very few snakes that will aggressively (offensively) attack you and most of those live in Africa and a few in Australia. Striking is defensive and/or a feeding method. Give the snake some room, and it will retreat. Just like BG's it is the ones you don't realize are there that can make a bad day.

__________________
If guns cause crime, then forks made Rosie O'Donnell fat!!

Rosie - Say bye bye: You aren't much of a View anymore! Your true colors have been shown, and they are not Red, White, and Blue!