Is birdshot good for snakes?
Rachel Newton
Updated on April 13, 2026
Then, what is the best gun to kill snakes?
The problem with a shotgun for snake defense is that due to its size, you may not always have a shotgun with you. The shotshell pistol loads from CCI have proven very effective on snakes, which is why most every Gunsite Academy instructor carries a spare magazine loaded with these specialty rounds.
Subsequently, question is, will 22 birdshot kill a rattlesnake? A conventional 22lr bulleted load will dispatch a rattlesnake at ten feet quite nicely though. For a shot cartridge, I would prefer at least a 357. 12 gauge would be even better. Two shots from the 12 ga ended the problem.
Also question is, can you die from birdshot?
A 12 gauge with birdshot (or a target load) can certainly kill a man. A 12 gauge shotgun can deliver a devastating wound, no matter what kind of shot is in the shell. If the intruder is close enough (say within 10 yards - 30 feet) a hit to anything but the extremities could be fatal.
Will a 410 kill a snake?
410 will do the job. I normally try to live and let live with snakes since they keep down rodents etc. DO NOT shoot a large snake with the little shot shells in a . 22 pistol.