{{Short description|Handgun and rifle cartridge loaded with lead shot}} thumb|upright=.5|CCI .22LR snake shot loaded with No. 12 shot
'''Snake shot''', '''rat shot''', or '''dust shot''',<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/guidetotaxidermy00reed#page/22/mode/2up/|title=Guide to taxidermy|pages=22–23|author=Reed, C.K. & C.A. Reed| year=1914|publisher=Worcester, Mass., C.K. Reed}}</ref> more formally known as '''shotshell'''<ref>{{cite web |title=CCI.pdf |url=https://www.helmuthofmann.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CCI.pdf |publisher=helmuthofmann.de |access-date=2023-04-30}}</ref> (a name shared with the shotgun shell) or '''canister shot''', refers to handgun and rifle cartridges loaded with lead shot canisters instead of bullets, intended for pest control (essentially small arms canister shot). The main targets for such ammunition are snakes, rodents, birds, and other pests at very close range.
The most common snake shot cartridge is .22 Long Rifle loaded with No. 12 shot. From a standard rifle, these can produce effective patterns only to a distance of about {{convert|3|m|abbr=on}}, but in a smoothbore shotgun (or garden gun) that can extend as far as {{convert|15|m|abbr=on}}.{{source needed|date=April 2023}}
== Uses == thumb|Military issue .45 ACP M15 "shot shell" on the far right Snake shot is generally used for shooting at snakes, rodents, birds, and other pests at very close ranges. It is also used as foraging ammunition by hikers, backpackers, and campers. Snake shot is ideally suited for use in derringers and revolvers (especially "kit guns"), chambered for .22 Long Rifle, .38 Special, or .357 Magnum. Snake shot may not cycle reliably in semi-automatic pistols.
Shot shells have also been historically issued to soldiers to be used in standard-issue rifles and handguns.
The .45-70 "forager" round, which contained a thin wooden bullet filled with birdshot, was intended for hunting small game to supplement the soldiers' rations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=.45/70 FORAGER CARTRIDGES AND SHOT FILLED GUARD CARTRIDGES - SCARCE INDIAN WAR ERA ISSUE CARTRIDGES |url=http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/06_ammunition/06_item_058.htm |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=McPheeters Antique Militaria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WORLD WAR TWO .30 CALIBER M-1 RIFLE ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION –BOX OF 20 ROUNDS - HEADSTAMPED 1943 – ST. LOUIS ORDNANCE PLANT |url=http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/06_ammunition/06_item_053.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714062807/http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/06_ammunition/06_item_053.htm |archive-date=14 July 2011 |website=MC Pheeters Antique Militaria}}</ref> This round in effect made the .45-70 rifle into a small gauge shotgun, capable of killing rabbits, ducks, and other similar game animals.
During World War II, the United States military developed both the .45 ACP M12 and M15 shot shells cartridges. They were issued to pilots, to be used as foraging ammunition in the event that they were either shot down or forced to land in known or unknown territory. The M15 cartridges were loaded with 118 pellets of No. 7 1/2 birdshot.<ref name=":0" /> The boxes were marked "For use in hunting small game effective range {{convert|25|ft|abbr=on}}".<ref name=":0" /> While they were best used in the M1917 revolvers, the M15 cartridge would actually cycle the semi-automatic M1911 pistol's slide.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History of the M15 .45 ACP shotshell |url=http://www.avr-developers.com/45shotshell/m15history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927120858/http://www.avr-developers.com/45shotshell/m15history.html |archive-date=27 September 2021 |website=AVR Developers}}</ref> The current CCI .45 ACP shotshell cartridge is virtually identical to these rounds.
== Snake shot shells == [[File:WinRat.JPG|thumb|A regular Winchester .22 LR cartridge (left), with a star-crimped .22 Long Rifle snake shot cartridge loaded with No. 12 shot (right).]] thumb|CCI .38 Special shot shells using plastic capsule Both Winchester<ref>{{Cite web |title=X22LRS |url=https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Rimfire/Super-X/X22LRS |website=Winchester Ammunition}}</ref> and Federal<ref>{{Cite web |title=Small Game, 22 LR, 25 Grain, 12 Shot, 1000 fps |url=https://www.federalpremium.com/products/rimfire/federal-small-game-target/gameshok/716 |access-date=19 April 2025 |website=Federal Ammunition}}</ref> make star-crimped .22 Long Rifle snake shot loaded with No. 12 shot. These cartridges resemble traditional crimped blank cartridges.
CCI's rimfire and a few of the centerfire snake-shot cartridges use a hollow plastic capsule which holds the shot, and is often shaped like a bullet to aid in feeding.<ref name="fs75">{{cite journal |last=Brister |first=Bob |date=March 1975 |title=Two Magnum movies and Other News |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J_A2it4g_WoC&pg=PA124 |journal=Field & Stream |volume=79 |issue=11 |pages=124–126}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shop products in CCI Site Catalog today |url=https://www.cci-ammunition.com/search?q=Bismuth&lang=default |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=CCI Ammunition}}</ref> The plastic capsule shatters during firing, and allows the shot to disperse after it exits the muzzle of the barrel.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! colspan=6 |'''CCI pest control and centerfire pistol shot shell ammunition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=All CCI Ammunition Loads |url=https://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/products.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301134722/https://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/products.aspx |archive-date=1 March 2016 |website=CCI}}</ref> |- !! data-sort-type=number | '''Name/caliber''' !! data-sort-type=number | '''Muzzle velocity in ft/s (m/s)''' !! data-sort-type=number | '''Shot size No.''' !! data-sort-type=number | '''Approx. weight in grains (grams)''' !! data-sort-type=number | '''Box count''' |- | Rimfire Shotshell .22 Long Rifle || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 12 || {{convert|31|gr|abbr=on}} || 20 |- | Rimfire Shotshell .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire|| {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 12 || {{convert|52|gr|abbr=on}} || 20 |- | Pest Control Shotshell 9mm Luger || {{convert|1,450|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 12 || {{convert|53|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Big 4 Shotshell 9mm Luger || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 4 || {{convert|45|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth 9mm Luger || {{convert|950|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 11 || {{convert|43|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell .38 Special/.357 Magnum || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|100|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Big 4 Shotshell .38 Special/.357 Magnum || {{convert|1,100|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 4 || {{convert|84|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell .38 Special/.357 Magnum || {{convert|1,100|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 8 || {{convert|80|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell .40 Smith & Wesson || {{convert|1,250|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|88|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell .40 Smith & Wesson || {{convert|1,300|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 8 || {{convert|78|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell 10mm Automatic || {{convert|1,250|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|105|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell .44 Special/.44 Magnum || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|140|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Big 4 Shotshell .44 Special/.44 Magnum || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 4 || {{convert|110|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell .44 Special/.44 Magnum || {{convert|1,050|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 8 || {{convert|112|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell .45 Automatic Colt Pistol || {{convert|1,100|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|120|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell .45 Automatic Colt Pistol || {{convert|1,050|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 8 || {{convert|130|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Shotshell.45 Colt || {{convert|1,000|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 9 || {{convert|150|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Big 4 Shotshell .45 Colt || {{convert|800|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 4 || {{convert|140|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- | Pest Control Bismuth Shotshell .45 Colt || {{convert|1,050|ft/s|abbr=on}} || 8 || {{convert|130|gr|abbr=on}} || 10 |- |}
== Garden guns == {{main|Garden guns}} "Garden guns" are smoothbore guns specifically made to fire .22 caliber snake shot or 9mm Flobert shot-shells, and are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for pest control. They are short-range weapons that do little harm at distances greater than {{convert|15|to|20|m|abbr=on}} and are quieter when fired with snake shot than with standard ammunition. The guns are especially useful inside barns and sheds, because the snake shot will not injure livestock with a ricochet, or make holes in the roof or walls of a structure. They are also used for pest control at airports, warehouses, stockyards, and similar locations.<ref name="Eger">{{cite web |last1=Eger |first1=Christopher |title=Marlin 25MG Garden Gun |url=http://www.marlinforum.com/Marlin-25MG-Garden-Gun.html |website=Marlin Firearms Forum |publisher=Outdoor Hub LLC |accessdate=17 September 2016 |date=28 July 2013}}</ref>
== Safety considerations == thumb|Federal 22 Long Rifle snake shot with crimped case * Snake shot may be mistaken for traditional crimped blank cartridges. * Snake shot may not function properly in semi-automatic firearms, causing malfunctions. * Snake shot may not function properly in handguns and rifles not specifically made for their use. * Snake shot may not function properly in lightweight revolvers, as they may cause "cylinder lock" due to the capsule movement resulting from recoil inertia. However, crimped cases do not exhibit this problem. * Snake-shot plastic capsules may shatter when being fed from a magazine. Crimped cases do not exhibit this problem, but may fail to extract in semi-automatic firearms.<ref name="fs71">{{cite journal |last=Horton |first=David |year=1971 |title=New Handgun Shotshell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aKOmPvA9PYC&pg=PA16 |journal=Field & Stream |volume=76 |issue=7 |pages=16–18}}</ref> * Unsafe in firearms with suppressors, ported barrels, or ported recoil compensators. * Snake shot is effective only against snakes, rodents, birds, and other small pests, and only at very close range.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=R. K. |date=2005 |title=Handgun Shot Loads Work For Pests But Not Defense |url=http://www.gunweek.com/2005/feature1001.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928112111/http://www.gunweek.com/2005/feature1001.html |archive-date=28 September 2007 |website=Gun Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Howard |date=15 June 2015 |title=Shotshells in Revolvers |url=http://aegisacademy.com/shotshells-in-revolvers/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313041743/http://aegisacademy.com/shotshells-in-revolvers/ |archive-date=13 March 2016 |website=Aegis Academy}}</ref>
== See also == * Canister shot * Marlin Model 25MG * Rimfire ammunition * Snake Charmer (shotgun)
== Notes and references == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh0jCg8Ymuo You Tube video... .22 LR CCI Shotshell] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i193GIk-Td0 You Tube video...Ruger LCR .22 LR VS Snake] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYt6P6hF6LQ You Tube video...Snake Shot Test (CCI 38/357 shotshells)] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKyu2-vagrI You Tube video...Snakes & Shot Cartridges] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38zJfxdPDbE You tube video...38 special blue vs red shotshell as a self defense load (including slow mo footage)] *[https://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/products.aspx All CCI shot shell ammunition loads] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928112111/http://www.gunweek.com/2005/feature1001.html Handgun Shot Loads Work For Pests But Not Defense], Gun Week, 2005
Category:Ammunition Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges Category:Rimfire cartridges Category:Shotgun cartridges