question: snake shot in a handgun
 

i've got a taurus 44 mag tracker with a ported barrel. i was planning on using it as a pack gun, alternatinga bear round with snake rounds, but a guy at the ammo store stated that you shouldn't fire snake round if you have a ported barrel.he couldn't say why, just that he heard it.

any thoughts on this? i don't plan on shooting the snake rounds extensively, but would like to have the option when i need it.

while i'm picking everyone's brains, any thoughts on a good bear round?

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

just a question....whats the snake shot for?? actual snakes?? i wouldnt want a charging bear coming at me and i shot it with a few grains of sand(essentailly what snakeshot is...)i never fired it but heard its pretty usless stuff unless super close.....i wouldnt wanna even fire them at a bear...best thing your going to to is scare him and alert him...and ring his dinner bell....just a thought.....i dont know FOR SURE how useless that stuff is but heard its bad....someone else should know for sure..goodluck.....if im worried enough about bears to carry protection from them i aint loading up with no shot......unless its buckshot out of a 12ga...

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

snakeshot's for snake. run into them a lot where we fish, and seen some of the black rattlers move fast enough that i know i'm gonna have a hard time hitting it with a conventional round under stress. got great reports on their effectiveness against snakes.

got a 5 round cylinder...planned on going 3 rounds bear, 2 rounds snake, alternating. just gottamake sure i shoot twice whatever i'm aiming at.

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

CCI/Speer's shotshells are loaded with a plastic capsule to protect the shot from the bore. Why would a plastic capsule be "bad" for a ported barrel? I guess bare shot MIGHT lead the ports somewhat, if you shot enough of them. I can see no issue with it. Buy a box and try them out.

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

What Charley said! The plastic capsule will not open up until it exits the barrel. I don't see how itcould harm the porting at all. I used to use them all the time in my Ruger 357 mag while crawfishing down in Louisiana. We handloaded our own with #6 or #8 shot. Wasn't unusual at all to shoot 10 - 15 snakes a day when running the crawfish nets. Very effective on the no legs slick bellies.

Where is "lehigh valley"? Just wondering where you live that you feel the need to carry bear protection.

Edit: PS: Once you get some shot shells, you can really impress your friends with your prowess with a handgun by taking a ping-pong ball, tossing it in the air and shooting it 2 or 3 times while still in the air. Guaranteed to generate some slack jawed wonderment!!!....LOL

firstshot
----------------------------
Make your first shot count!

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

Haven't heard about anything with the snakeshot andports, but if you are loading for bear, you want heavy, fast, hard-cast bullets with the widest front end you can find.

Expanding loads, even a 44mag, may not penetrate deep enough through all the bear's hide, fat, bone, and muscle to get into thesquishy stuff. The most important properties in a bullet for this useare that it stays together all the way in, and that it actually GOES all the way in. Thisrequires of course, lots of weight for momentum, lots of speed for energy, and one tough-a$$-slug to deal with it all. They are a handfull to shoot, but it beats getting mauled.

As far as alternating ammo, I think that's a poor solution, since if you need the bear stuffers, you'll need every round you can squeeze off to be the right kind of load, and God help you if you even need one.

I'd say havesnake shot in 1 chamber only, and carry some snake reloads and refill that chamber after its used. Youcan take a second morecarefully aimed shot at a snake with the magnums, but you'll get no second chance with a bear if you hit him with the light stuff. Maybe the muzzle blast and fireball might even relocate the snake and buy you some time. ;)

A second small gun with snake shot would solve your problem perfectly if that is an option, leaving the 44 for serious business. Even 22 mags have a decent rep against the belly-crawlers.

Hope you never need either one.
-Bulz

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

Lose shot and rifled barrels don't mix well...so just be sure and pattern you pistol before heading out. You'll need to know exactly how far you can shoot those belly crawlers. With my .22 pistol I know I won't do anything but tick the guy off if he aint close enough for me to fall onto him.

I agree with the idea of carrying a second small arm (but i don't know how well that plastic roundnose would hold up in a semi .22)

Of course, you could duct tape a garden hoe to the end of you rifle:D

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the HOYANET"

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

northeast PA. foothills to the mountains. we're basically being over run by an exploding blackbear population that seems to be getting more and more aggressive. several fishermen mauled last summer. we've run into several, but fortunately, the bear always thought better of it. on top of that, my 12 year old accidently kicking up a 6 1/2 foot rattler during muzzleloader season was the last straw. i winged it with a 50 cal flint, but would rather have more "options" next time.

thanks for everyone's input.

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

I load my own shotshells for my .44 using the Speer caps. In the .44 and .45, I normally load #9 shot but have tried the #11 shot. I'm shooting a Ruger SRH 7 1/2" ported barrel and have never had any problems. I'm sure you'll be OK.

RE: question: snake shot in a handgun
 

boysda

We've got a prety decent bear population here in NW Arkansas. I took my first bear season before last during muzzleloader deer season. (bear season open at some time)


Snakes aren't that bad here in NW Arkansas, as least not compared to Louisiana....LOL Around here, a bigger concern is the wild hogs. AKA Razerbacks. I carry a stub nosed Tarrus 357 loaded with +P for that reason. You sure don't want to run into a sow with pigs!!!

As far as alternating ammo goes, I agree with the others ....not a real good plan! And Bulzeye is spot on......If you must do that, make the first shot your snake load and load the rest for bear. I assure you that one snake shot load of #6 or #8 shot from a 44 or 357 mag will put a woopin on any snake within 10 feet of you.

As the others have said, a better plan would be to have a second gun. At 12 Yrs old, I think your son should be old enough to pack & handle a pistol. Pick him up a Tarrus 357, so he can shoot both 357 & 38. Have him practice with both. Both of you will need to practice a LOT!!!

The fact of the matter is Bears are FAST.....VERY FAST!!! I shot my bear behind the shoulder with 50 Cal muzzle loader at 20 Yds.....mortally wounded he covered 25-30 Yds in just about 2 seconds before piling up. Now, you do the math on that.....it's about 35 MPH.

As you mentioned,a black bear will in most cases try to avoid you. You would be much better off firing that snake load into the air and hopeyou frighten them off. Where you are at most risk is if you surprise them or come between a sow and her cubs.In either of thesecases you are probably going to be in a close 25-50 yard situation.

If the bear charges, you damn sure can't outrun them, so the bottom line then becomes, how many "controled andaccurate" shots can you getinto that bearin the 2 to4 seconds it takesit to cover 25-50 Yds?

Load for Bear (like Bulzeye recommended).....Practice, Practice, Practice.....but most of all, hope and praythe bear chooses to avoid you!

firstshot
------------------------------
Make your first (second & third & fourth...LOL) shots count!