Pat, we have had several run ins with snakes this summer also.
If you have never tried shot, you may well like it. Ben and Nash have been using the .22 and .38 shot loads for years with great success. We love the shot because it allows us to shoot straight down into rocks, or back up under the front porch without danger from ricochets. We have patterned all the commonly found loads and the boys and I like the old Supper X crimped loads of 12 shot most of all. (denser pattern out to 10 feet or so) Sarah mainly shoots the CCI .38/.357 with 1/4 oz of 9 shot. Seems like she always needs a second shot, but she probably doesn't get as close as the boys do before shooting. All summer long our daily carry guns have the first two chambers packing shot. Just remember, it is a very close range proposition, so don't expect your favorite sixgun to throw shotgun patterns at 15 yards. Think six to ten feet and you will be happy.
