Well, we finally bit the bullet and got chickens. Does the OB have a recommendation on a pistol or revolver (preferably) for the inevitable chicken snakes and other critters that get curious? I'd like it to be something my kids, 10 and 7, can use.
Pistol or Revolver for protecting chickens
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Last: 8 mo ago by Gunny456
Snakecharmer is pretty kid friendly.
I'd recommend any single action 22 pistol with rat shot
.22 Revolver or .38 Revolver using rat shot. That will be the safest and do the job. Ruger or S&W.
.22 Revolver with rat shot was pretty much what I had in mind.
Yes sir.
This.
I paid just about nothing for my 9 shot HR revolver. It stays loaded with rat shot in a holster I got out of the used bin at Burdett's. I prefer the gelcap over the crimped ratshot but use both. The crimped type fire forms and can be hard to eject from the cylinder. Not sure of the gelcap looking ones melt in fog or rain.
I paid just about nothing for my 9 shot HR revolver. It stays loaded with rat shot in a holster I got out of the used bin at Burdett's. I prefer the gelcap over the crimped ratshot but use both. The crimped type fire forms and can be hard to eject from the cylinder. Not sure of the gelcap looking ones melt in fog or rain.
I'll vote for a .410 shotgun. Safer than a pistol for a kid to handle.
I'd avoid a handgun with shot shells. I bought a .357 derringer for snakes and even found that shot shell with #4 shot.
I'm pretty sure that if I had a snake within 1' of my foot, that I from a standing position, o would most likely hit my own foot with the shot. The spread at 5' is pretty significant.
I'm pretty sure that if I had a snake within 1' of my foot, that I from a standing position, o would most likely hit my own foot with the shot. The spread at 5' is pretty significant.
I thought about a shotgun, but I want something smaller for when they are messing with the coop or in the run. If I get a revolver (most likely), I'll probably limit them to a single round when I let them carry it.
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AG
Ruger 10/22. Pistols and kids, nah.
Ruger LCR in 22 magnum with rat shot. Loaded with bullets it's also a good pocket carry weapon. My wife has this one.
I wouldn't have a kid use it though unless they were at least twelve.
I wouldn't have a kid use it though unless they were at least twelve.
Killed more snakes with a shovel or hoe than a firearm, also way less accident prone. For 4 legged critters a single shot rifle or shotgun is way easier to hit with from a distance.
That's honestly not a bad point.
I'm going to give a contrarian view.
Teach them to properly i.d. snakes and handle rat snakes. Rat snakes do far more good than killing them. Handling rat snakes is not that hard, IMHO. Give them a large trash can with a locking lid and a snake hook - easy peasy. I just grab them by the tail first and then grab the head - but I have 30+ years experience handling venomous and nonvenomous snakes. We used to catch rat snakes on property and throw them in the hay barn (at the zoo). Never had to lay any poison - they controlled the rats and mice well.
Teach them to properly i.d. snakes and handle rat snakes. Rat snakes do far more good than killing them. Handling rat snakes is not that hard, IMHO. Give them a large trash can with a locking lid and a snake hook - easy peasy. I just grab them by the tail first and then grab the head - but I have 30+ years experience handling venomous and nonvenomous snakes. We used to catch rat snakes on property and throw them in the hay barn (at the zoo). Never had to lay any poison - they controlled the rats and mice well.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
I've caught hundreds of rat snakes bare handed and thrown them over the fence. It's not hard at all. They're pretty easy to grab. If you are concerned about it some heavy leather gloves or a snake tong works.
suppressed 22 seems to work pretty good
Also, even a full grown 6' plus rat snake won't mess with adult chickens. They'll hang around them waiting for eggs though. They are terrors on eggs and young birds though. You have to have your birds that aren't nearly full grown behind 1/2" mesh or you will lose them.
A great Pyrenees or some type of LGD will keep most all predators away. Except maybe snakes. Ours has done more than any firearm could do.
I guess that you could translocate them. I don't mind not killing them, but like an egg sucking dog, once they get in they will keep getting in.
They make this in 6.5 and 9.5 barrel length. Comes with both .22 and .22 WMR cylinders.
Single Action.
https://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixConvertible/specSheets/0624.html
Something that will hold its value and last.
Longer barrels work better with shot shells.
Single Action.
https://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixConvertible/specSheets/0624.html
Something that will hold its value and last.
Longer barrels work better with shot shells.
Not just longer barrel but a smooth bore - this is like a .22 bore shotgunGunny456 said:
They make this in 6.5 and 9.5 barrel length. Comes with both .22 and .22 WMR cylinders.
Single Action.
https://ruger.com/products/newModelSingleSixConvertible/specSheets/0624.html
Something that will hold its value and last.
Longer barrels work better with shot shells.
https://www.henryusa.com/shotguns/garden-gun-smoothbore-22/
I have one and that holds the shot tight and is lethal even at surprising distances
Inexpensive Heritage.22 pistol with rat shot. Has absolutely worked great on snakes in our coop in the past.
Ruger Mark IV Target 22LR
BurnetAggie99 said:
Ruger Mark IV Target 22LR
Got one fitted with can. Perfect for dispatching trapped coons.
Rossi Tuffy in .410. It's my most used gun.
As others have stated, get a .22, maybe even an air rifle. With a 7 & 10 year old, you should be worried about gun safety. A pistol/revolver is not what a kid should start on for safety. Get them something that makes it difficult to point it in a dangerous position, as well as something they can shoot accurately when trying to kill something.
I second or third or whatever we're on as to the 'learn to ID' part and learn to catch/handle. Great snakes to have around.
I love my 7 YO to death but I dunno about him grabbing the pistol to go shoot a snake without me or mom there with him.
jmazz said:
I second or third or whatever we're on as to the 'learn to ID' part and learn to catch/handle. Great snakes to have around.
Until your eggs start to disappear over and over…..
On my 8th Birthday my dad got me a High Standard "Double Nine" .22 revolver like this. He bought it for $45.00 at Western Auto.
A box of 50 .22 Long Rifle was 25 cents.
He also had a Hispanic man in SA make me a holster for it.
We lived in the country and our nearest neighbor was over a mile away. Dad was a cop and had me shooting a .22 single shot rifle at six. I was allowed to go out and shoot around the fields and barns at seven.
I still have the gun and the box it came in. (Not this picture)
It was a different time.
A box of 50 .22 Long Rifle was 25 cents.
He also had a Hispanic man in SA make me a holster for it.
We lived in the country and our nearest neighbor was over a mile away. Dad was a cop and had me shooting a .22 single shot rifle at six. I was allowed to go out and shoot around the fields and barns at seven.
I still have the gun and the box it came in. (Not this picture)
It was a different time.
I recommend a 12 gauge…..
10 or 14 or even 16 would work too. I just like a 12 gauge metal shovel.
10 or 14 or even 16 would work too. I just like a 12 gauge metal shovel.
I studied in Mays so not an expert, but every area has a carrying capacity to support X# of snakes. Introduce chickens (prey) , carrying capacity goes up. If you kill the "good" snakes, that's just creating more room for "bad" snakes.
Learn to ID the snakes. Better snake proof the coop.
Learn to ID the snakes. Better snake proof the coop.
Have you found any .410 8-9 shot lately?
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