NGC ...Good Snake Gun Taurus The Judge???

[bobrebos]

I need a revolver for a snake (Timber Rattlers) gun for when Im up in the mountains at my cabin.  I was reading that the Taurus "The Judge" would fit the bill.  Anybody agree or have one or??  Thanks for your opinions......

[wavedog]

Seems like any revolver that you are comfortable with will work. In Arizona I used my .357 and my wife used her .44 special, both loaded with snake shot.

[jbell]

A long handled garden hoe used to work pretty good for me.

[rocker59]

Taurus sells a lot of "Judge" revolvers.  The option of .45 LC or .410 shotgun seems appealing for some.

Downside is the piece is heavy and the balance is a little clumsy.  Upside is being able to use .410 shotgun rounds.

Personally, I'd recommend any revolver which you're comfortable shooting.  Load a couple chambers with snake shot, and the rest with JHP rounds.

But, if you're at your cabin, it's hard to beat a normal shotgun for the task.  You can pick up a Turkish import double barrel .410 or 20GA at Academy Sports for a few hundred dollars. 

[Dilliw]

Timber rattlers are pretty easy to avoid but I do get the being prepared part ( a scout is...).

Keeping it stock I would suggest a Model 65 in 4" .  There are a ton of them used and the .38 snake loads are off the shelf.

If you are adventurous you could go with a used  Taurus Model 415 Titanium.  You'd have to have someone make your snake loads but  the .41 Mag. is really a great shooter.

[Lannis]

If snake defense is really going to be the main purpose of your gun, it almost doesn't matter what it is.

You don't need a nice or accurate pistol for blasting #9 shot out of a .410 shell at a snake at point-blank range.   You could make a homemade zip-gun and it would work as well as a $2000 Colt .... !

If you'd like a nice pistol because it'll be used for other things too, or just because you like the feel of a nice pistol, the choices are endless ....

Lannis

[Sasquatch Jim]

  A howdah pistol can be had in 20 gauge and there is no better snake shooting pistol available.
 It can also be found in .410  and .45 colt.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3HTuDgjSs

[wrbix]

Overkill! .... or underkill if counting rounds.
Get yourself a used 22LR wheel gun and rat shot ammunition - that'll give you at least six shots at that venomous rascal.

[wrbix]

  A howdah pistol can be had in 20 gauge and there is no better snake shooting pistol available.
 It can also be found in .410  and .45 colt.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3HTuDgjSs

That's essentially a sawed off shotgun; which I've been taught to believe is illegal in most places.
Correct me if I'm wrong
Edit: https://www.google.com/search?q=are%20sawed%20off%20shotguns%20legal

[busdog]

I  have a 410 snake charmer which is a downsized and shortened single shot.  Hard to find these days.  This is for copperheads at my cabin near the Big South Fork in Fentress County, Tennessee.  Remember is is illegal to kill a snake in Tennessee!  So you are only "harvesting" one.  I would never wish to harm a timber rattler, but copper heads are a dime a dozen so... I like the 38 with snake shot idea myself. 
Keith

[Dilliw]

I  have a 410 snake charmer which is a downsized and shortened single shot.  Hard to find these days.  This is for copperheads at my cabin near the Big South Fork in Fentress County, Tennessee.  Remember is is illegal to kill a snake in Tennessee!  So you are only "harvesting" one.  I would never wish to harm a timber rattler, but copper heads are a dime a dozen so... I like the 38 with snake shot idea myself. 
Keith

Yes they are.  Luckily we have a good population of Kings in our neighborhood.

[JJ]

That Taurus "Judge" .45 / .410 is a HUGE, heavy, hog-leg!!  - - but I am sure with the right pepper-shot...in either caliber, it would certainly do the job...and then some!!





...and here is the Pedersoli Howdah...also in .45 / .410 gauge!   - - another HOG-LEG!!

[Guzzistajohn]

I worked on a seismograph crew in sw oklahoma in my 20’s seeing 10 to 12 diamondbacks a day was fairly common, never shot one, never bitten. You’re in thier territory, be aware

[JJ]

I worked on a seismograph crew in sw oklahoma in my 20�s seeing 10 to 12 diamondbacks a day was fairly common, never shot one, never bitten. You�re in thier territory, be aware

We have these (Western Diamondbacks) as well here in Arizona.  I have seen large ones WHILE hiking...best to just let them pass across the trail...

[Chuck in Indiana]

We have these (Western Diamondbacks) as well here in Arizona. I have seen large ones hiking...best to just let them pass across the trail...

snip

JJ, if they are big enough to hike..  I'd want a bigger firearm than a snake gun. <shrug>

[JJ]

JJ, if they are big enough to hike..  I'd want a bigger firearm than a snake gun. <shrug>

Picky...picky...PIC KY!!!   

OK-OK - I changed the wording!!  (Geeeez!!!) Tough crowd here in wildguzzi-Land!

[bad Chad]

Maybe something to think about when it comes to rattlers?

Perhaps, maybe some of the conventional wisdom handed down over the years may not be as accurate as thought.  I don't have to deal at all with snakes where I usually run, but my brother has been big into snakes his whole life, and has educated me a bit on them.  I'm still not a fan of snakes, but I do now understand that they mostly do far more good than most think.

If you think rattlers should be killed on sight, I encourage a quick read here.
https://rattlesnakeawareness.blogspot.com/2011/12/when-is-it-ok-to-kill-rattlesnake.html

[Sasquatch Jim]

  The Howdah is a muzzle loader in 20 gauge, therefore it is legal.
 And it will kill any snake you ever imagined.  Even the one in the first Conan movie.
 Those that hike are Childs play for it.
  It was invented to kill a charging tiger at point blank range for vacationing Brit officers in India.
 It has probably taken care of two legged snakes as well.

[Lannis]

If you think rattlers should be killed on sight, I encourage a quick read here.
https://rattlesnakeawareness.blogspot.com/2011/12/when-is-it-ok-to-kill-rattlesnake.html

Good article, and one I follow for almost any potentially harmful animal.   There's my turf (see "Property Rights" and "Food Chain") where my grandchildren play and I live, and store firewood, and there's HIS turf, out in the woods, in National Forests, timber company land, and places like that. 

Two sets of rules, like the article says.

Lannis

[JJ]

  The Howdah is a muzzle loader in 2 gauge, therefore it is legal.
 And it will kill any snake you ever imagined.  Even the one in the first Conan movie.
 Those that hike are Childs play for it.
  It was invented to kill a charging tiger at point blank range for vacationing Brit officers in India.
 It has probably taken care of two legged snakes as well.

"Uncle Jim" is correct on all counts!! "Howdah-Mania!!"




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[JoeB]

If you can I suggest shooting a .410 pistol before buying. Some find the recoil uncomfortable.
My police trade in S&W .38 special model 10 fits the bill for me. As suggested first two lead shot, next four wadcutters.

[Dilliw]

Good article, and one I follow for almost any potentially harmful animal.   There's my turf (see "Property Rights" and "Food Chain") where my grandchildren play and I live, and store firewood, and there's HIS turf, out in the woods, in National Forests, timber company land, and places like that. 

Two sets of rules, like the article says.

Lannis

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=boV0t-riFuw

[Lannis]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=boV0t-riFuw

Lotta truth to that!   Fair's fair .... it's their house ...

... but the chances of my getting killed by her car while she's driving along recording a viral youtube video are probably a thousand times greater than me getting ate up by a shark at Topsail Beach this summer .....!!

Lannis

[Muzz]

I am so pleased we don't have snakes here in NZ. Some have tried to hitch-hike here but so far (I hope) they have been cut off at the Pass.

Just the thought of them gives me the ab-dabs.

[fotoguzzi]

Glad I don't need a gun to protect me from snakes.. not sayin' I don't have a gun(s) for other protections tho..

[Zoom Zoom]

Overkill! .... or underkill if counting rounds.
Get yourself a used 22LR wheel gun and rat shot ammunition - that'll give you at least six shots at that venomous rascal.

Or a Ruger 22 revolver with 10 shots on hand.

When growing up in Florida, my dad always carried a 22 with shot cartridges. On the other side, he carried a 44 mag for larger things. This was while hunting in the orange groves. I don't recall him ever needing either one.

John Henry

[Nic in Western NYS]

ooops, thought this might be a muscle car thread..

[Lannis]

ooops, thought this might be a muscle car thread..

It would be a good one.   The "advertised" performance (and "tested" performance depending on how much you believe the tests in an advertiser-funded magazine) of the 1990 Taurus SHO and the 1970 GTO "Judge" (about 14.5 - 15.0 sec quarter mile and 140+ top end) was so close on the two cars that you'd have to do a head-to-head, or timing slips at the same place at the same time, to determine which one was going to be faster.

There.   Now it IS a muscle car thread, at least for a few minutes .... !

Lannis

[slowmover]

Keep it simple. Small .22 LR revolver unless you like to see things explode.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Hey! Guys *like* to blow up stuff..