[Bountyhunter]

I picked up some shot shells for my Montado and have been carrying it in my cross draw holster lately while walking the dogs. We walk the dogs down by a river a half mile from the house. It's usually dark when we go and I know that there are skunks, racoons, fox and even dogs around. Now my figuring is that I'm more apt to run in to an animal than a person who is looking for trouble. But the shot shells will make a person think twice as well I'm sure. As most of you know the one dog we have is very small and could litterally be carried away by a hawk. I think the shot shells and 45 are a good idea. My buddy doesn't seem to think so. I don't live "out in the woods", but .... I just want some opinions from people who work and play with guns on. Good idea or stupid idea?

 

[XLCH]

Makes since to me, I have never tried them myself, hell if I shot a fn skunk in my yard they would put me in jail, no discharge of fire arms in the city. :x

 

[Bountyhunter]

Well I would only shoot the gun in defense of myself, family or dogs. I would hope that would be allowed. Plus I'm loading shot shells so that I don't endanger the public. I mean I can fire my sp101 in the middle of town in self defense. :?

 

[XLCH]

Fear for your life is the way it is here, a fine Fn line. Know that is why you were using them.

 

[tx gun runner]

I HAVE 357 BH I CARRY THE 1ST 2 SHOTS ARE SHOTSHELLS WHEN HUNTING OR I CARRY MY BOND WHICH HAS KILLED 3 COTTON MOUTHS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AROUND MY POND . GOOD IDEA I THINK SO . MY DOG DUKE CAN FIND SNAKES 2 OF THE LAST 3 HE WAS FIGHTING THEM SO I KEEP HIM ON A ROPE WHEN WE WALK NOW .

 

[Bountyhunter]

My biggest concern is rabies. I'd hate for my dogs to get bit by something that has them. I'd hate for the kid or girl to get bit by something that has them. :?

 

[tx gun runner]

Yes..... I know what you mean . I hate my dog to bite one of the Drugster around here and get AIDS from one of them .

 

[Terry_P]

I'm assuming they are 45 colt shot loads. I would load a couple and then regular 45 colt ammo for the last 4. When I'm wandering around the scrub in Texas I carry two 38 shot (snake) loads and the rest 158 or 180 gr 357 loads. As long as you aren't within 300' of a building or on posted property I wouldn't worry a lot about it. If you are defending yourself then you are within your rights to shoot anyways.

 

[Bountyhunter]

If you are defending yourself then you are within your rights to shoot anyways.

That's what I'm thinking. It's not like I'd be walking around shooting tree rats or anything. It'd only be if something was to think my dog was dinner. :?

 

[deputy125]

do some testing to get familar with the effective range.............it will be short---very short.

a couple of paper targets will tell the tale for testing................they spread out purty fast to make holes in your pattern big enough to miss somethin'..........

and that tiny shot looses energy purty quick as well....some coke can testing at various distances ought to show that...........

but within its effective range it will do the job.............

 

[Bountyhunter]

Deputy I figure the range will be real short. I wouldn't chance hitting one of the dogs by mistake. I think a shot within a few feet will work fine. I'm more concerned with the legal aspects.

 

[deputy125]

well, liability is liability............but if someone's dang dog comes after me and mine, i'm gonna make sure it won't happen again. and i won't be liable for vet bills cause the dog will be dead.....

as far as rabies, the coyotes and a bobcat i've seen took a killing shot to stop them as they are out of their mind ..............



.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I came across a rabid Racoon while hunting years ago. He was next to a swamp and so sick he couldn't move. I shot him, but I'm glad he was so sick that he wasn't a menace to anyone. Meaning me. :? Scary disease.

 

[louiethelump]

I DO live in the woods, but if you are walking your dogs by the river, going armed is a good idea. I also like the snake shot, especially in 45 Colt. It has a lot of shot and is very effective. The 38 spl snake shot works very well also. I killed a Florida Diamond back that was in a lady's trash pile behind her house back when I was a police officer a few years ago. We still carried revolvers back then and most of us carried a few rounds of snake shot for that. We have a lot of snakes here in florida and they get BIG. The one in the trash pile was 5'3" long and the fangs were over 2" long and almost 2" apart in the snake's mouth. Anyone or anything bit by that sucker would have been HURTING! I had originally gotten out of my cruiser and gotten the shovel I always carried in the trunk to take around to the back of the house with me as it was a snake call. When I got back there and rattled the brush pile thinking it was a little rattler I could dispatch with the shovel, and this one came out aggressively, head off the ground about 8 inches, I backed up and got rid of the shovel. The first snake shot round was to the head and put it right down. I put in a second for good measure.

 

[Terry_P]

5'3" long how big around was it?

 

[b.roberts]

That is a big snake.

 

[louiethelump]

I did not measure around its fat belly, but it was surprisingly (to me) large. A co-worker took a picture of the dead snake all stretched out, but I don't know where the pic is anymore. (the guy that took the pic is now a Captain, and I am retired) It was heavy when I picked up the body on the shovel and I went and buried the body in the public works compound so no kids would get to it and get hurt on the fangs.

Here in Florida, there is so much life in the form of mice and lizards and all, and it is all year round, that most of the animals are big and fat. I live at the edge of the Withlacoochee State Forest (it starts at my back fence) and we see a lot of animals. We have great big slow moving Indigo snakes come through the yard and they are huge. Some over 6 feet long and real fat and glossy. I keep the dogs away from them so they won't hurt the snakes and shoo them on their way. All the grey fox I see are fat and glossy, and the raccoons the same way. I notice the turkeys (I only see hens and chics) seem kinda scrawney, but maybe wild turkeys are like that. I don't know much about them. The hawks and owls do real well too.

 

[Nite Ryder]

I picked up some shot shells for my Montado and have been carrying it in my cross draw holster lately while walking the dogs. We walk the dogs down by a river a half mile from the house. It's usually dark when we go and I know that there are skunks, racoons, fox and even dogs around. Now my figuring is that I'm more apt to run in to an animal than a person who is looking for trouble. But the shot shells will make a person think twice as well I'm sure. As most of you know the one dog we have is very small and could litterally be carried away by a hawk. I think the shot shells and 45 are a good idea. My buddy doesn't seem to think so. I don't live "out in the woods", but .... I just want some opinions from people who work and play with guns on. Good idea or stupid idea?

Bountyhunter,

I think from the short barrel of a Montado the shot would spread out pretty quickly. Recently I shot some 2-1/2" 410 shells from my Contender barrel, which is designed for 410 shotshells. At 15 yards they still spread out quite a bit. If I wanted a 'snake killin' gun' I'd buy an older Black Hawk 44 mag, and resize and reload some 444 Marlin cases for it. I'd also hone the barrel until the riflings were almost but not quite gone. I had a friend that put a liner in a 44 barrel that was made for a muzzle loader. The muzzle loader has a very slow twist, and in a short 7-1/2" barrel the riflings are almost straight, so there is no spin put on your shot as it travels down the barrel. At 25 yards his gun shot a fairly tight pattern. Yep, I know this stuff all costs money, so keep the 444 cases in the back of your mind and bum some off your friends, resize them and givethem a try.

NR

 

[tx gun runner]

I've used the 444 case in my 410 . They will except 410 plastic shotgun wads and after firing resizing is not needed . Bullseye or Unique powder , wad , shot and seal with RV silcone and your good to go . I have empty 38/357 capsel if anyone is interested and 410 plastic wads also .

 

[Bountyhunter]

I learned something new. Thanks, NR. I haven't even shot any of the shot shells. I haven't found a reason too. :?