Strat-0's Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery

[strat-0]

I had better luck today. The snake was back - poking his head up out of the water again. This time, from up on the deck, I got him with the .22 pellet gun after a few shots. I'm certain I killed it - it rolled over and writhed around, and I could clearly see in the scope that its neck was broken. (Neck? I guess they're all neck, but it was right below his head.) I got another one in him, too. He stopped moving soon and I figured he was dead. Then another larger one showed up! I hit him too, but I don't know how badly it was injured. I waited patiently for him to show up again, but he never did. I went down to get the first one and couldn't find him anywhere - I guess he slithered under the dam and died. Dammit! I still don't have a posivite ID, but it's one of three I mentioned. Maybe he'll float up in a day or two. You can't say he didn't get a sporting chance! Still going to get a .22 firearm, but I can't decide on a pistol or rifle. Target shooting with the pellet guns is great sport, but when it comes to those things, I want to be assured of eliminating them. KayJay won't even go down there now - she was already scared of snakes. I haven't found any traps that would be practical down there. I also saw the little guy again - he hangs out right under the spillway and pokes his little head out of a hole just a bit. Can't get at him with a hoe or gun, the little fucker. Under the dam is where the fish USED to like to hang out. I think the snakes have eaten most of the larger ones. That really pisses me off.

Here's a weird aside: when I was down there looking for the dead snake, I heard this "whump" about halfway down the hill, and something tumbled down to the creek. I went to see what it was, and it was a roof vent cover from my roof. The hurricane had blown it off and it was stuck somewhere in the 300 ft tulip poplar behind the house all this time. I don't know why it decided to fall at that moment, but it's a good thing - I didn't even know it was missing, and a good rain would have done a lot of damage to my house. I put it back this afternoon, and dealt with the broken willow tree trunk - that was a chore!

Awaiting your valued input, Strat.

[strat-0]

Well, Strat, I just got little .22 carbine. It's a Marlin 60 series. It's a real sweet little thing - it's small! It holds 14+1 rounds, and it's very light.

I got a bunch of standard loads cheap, and a box of the #12 shot shells.

KayJay reports that the snakes are still taking over today. You have to get pretty close for those shot shells to be effective, so wish me luck!

[stratman19]

admin said:

Well, Strat, I just got little .22 carbine. It's a Marlin 60 series. It's a real sweet little thing - it's small! It holds 14+1 rounds, and it's very light.

I got a bunch of standard loads cheap, and a box of the #12 shot shells.

KayJay reports that the snakes are still taking over today. You have to get pretty close for those shot shells to be effective, so wish me luck!

Strat, I've got the very same .22 rifle!



Mine's many years old, and has a few battle scars on it from many rabbit hunting expeditions, but it's been a great little gun. You made a good choice. Marlin has made and sold about a kabillion of those Model 60's!

Yes, those shot shells won't be very effective unless at close range, but if you can manage to get close, they will certainly do the job. I think hollowpoints would be overkill just for snakes, but if you can't get close enough for the shot shells, regular ol' long rifles should do the trick.

Loved the tales of your target shooting! Sounds like a blast! Yes, if you've got a pellet gun that shoots .22 caliber pellets @ 900 fps, it's certainly no toy.

If I ever make my way to 'Bama, we're going to have to play guitars and shoot guns! Whaddya say?

[stratman19]

Oh Strat, I forgot to add something. All clean guns are happy guns, but that Model 60 really needs to be kept clean. That action is real sensitive to being dirty, and will jam on ya. You certainly don't have to clean it every time you use it, especially with today's gunpowder, but just keep an eye on it, and keep it clean. Good shootin' my friend, and lotsa luck with those damn snakes!

[phil]

Cz 452 LUX

Of course, mine is an older(much more older)model
of this fine european (Czech Republic) 22LR rifle ...

Haven't been fired since 1982 ... !!

[strat-0]

I guess great minds think alike, Strat! I've made a mental note on the cleaning caveat. Looking at the exploded view, I could see where that small semi-auto action could jam from residue. I guess that's always a factor with auto-loaders. I filled and emptied it several times yesterday and got to know the spring and chamber behavior. Seems as smooth as you are.

Nice looking bolt action rifle, Phil - you ought to fire it once in a while!

Of course, not a sign of the snakes anywhere now... I expect the coons have found the dead one by now.

Strat, I'm thinking of sub-sonic ammo for use from the deck. I can't shoot those standard 1280 fps from there without attracting unwanted attention (I think). Maybe shorts?

[strat-0]

Still no sign of the unwelcome reptiles... Now that I'm ready for 'em.

You're right about the shot shells, Strat - I fired off a couple of rounds of them this evening down there about six feet from a target, and they spread out way too fast. Supposed to be 12" at 15', but it was more like 12" at six feet. More than about three feet probably wouldn't do. If I'm that close, I might as well hit him with the butt! It just made a lot of tiny pinholes with no center concentration. Well, it's designed for rats - still would have to be a wimpy rat at 15'.

The good news is that the report was about like clapping a couple of pieces of wood together. Today I got some subsonic .22 longs, which will probably come in more handy. I believe I'll be able to use them from the deck with no problems as well. A little more knock-down power than the .22 pellet rifle, and no reload/cocking to slow you down, but back to open sights w/o a scope. But shit, I ought to be able to get the job done at 25 yards, with the semi-auto capability.

I'm just sick that that first one I nailed disappeared - I had plans for that hide! It really was quite beatiful.

[strat-0]

And don't think I didn't think about taking the Colt .44 pistol down there, 'cause I did! That would have done with him quick, if I could hit him, that is! That might have been a bit loud and smoky for discretion's sake, though. ;D

[stratman19]

Christ, I've been working too much...

Strat, that Model 60 is only chambered for long rifles. Don't be puttin' shorts in it! If you've got longs, you should be alright. About the only difference between longs and long rifles is bullet weight, about 29 grains for longs, 40 grains for long rifles (just going on memory here! I haven't used longs in forever!)

The important thing is the length of the brass, and the powder charge. Brass length for longs and long rifles is the same, as is the powder charge (unless we're talking magnum loads). A short's brass is too short to work properly, and my guess is that the powder charge is too light to open the breech, eject the shell, and load another. That's just a guess on my part.

A .22's report is very negligible (hence my favorite weapon back in my poaching days ), so don't be afraid to use long rifles as opposed to longs. The bullet weighs twice as much, and will knock the shit outta those damn reptiles!

As for usin' that .44. I hear ya! For me, bullet caliber is like cubic inches; there is no substitute! ;D

[RocDoc]

<sub>Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes? I hate snakes, I tell ya! I hate 'em!
- paraphrasing a certain Mr Jones</sub>

THAT is not a good thing there. I hope you get some good advice/ideas on how to roust the MFs....short of blowing up your friggin' crik...

_{I'm also getting a chuckle out of the idea that certain board members here might be a bit aghast at the ease with which you, ahem, violent neanderthal Americans handle guns, discuss them in a very offhand manner and generally disrespect 'sacred life'.}

[strat-0]

Believe I've got it under control now, Doc. I just BLAST 'EM!

Hee, hee - actually, no critters around here have anything to worry about from me, except for poisonous snakes within 100 ft. of the house, and biting water snakes that try to eat all the fish in the ponds. I do like fish and frogs better than snakes, I guess. Guns? I suppose it's just second nature when you've spent as much time as I have on the farm in Texas. They're not too squeamish about them in Alabama, either!

Thanks for the info, Strat. The book says you can use shorts but Marlin doesn't recommend them because they may not feed right (as you pointed out). I think the subsonics will fit the bill. (For anyone who might be curious, the sonic boom (crack!) is louder than the report for many rifles. So if the muzzle velocity is below 1,100 fps, no sonic 'crack.')

[stratman19]

Shit Doc, there's nothing wrong with guns. Michigan's a lot like 'Bama I guess. Michigan has a very strong hunting tradition, and I've been around guns my whole life. Hell, the schools here even close for the opening day of firearms deer season.

Hey Strat, if you ever get one of those snakes and find out what species it is, post it eh? I'm real curious about those bastards.

[strat-0]

Will do, Strat. Still haven't seen a sign of them again. I think the remaining live ones may have decided it was a little too hot for them here. I think even a snake can figure that out sometimes. I will still be vigilant. I do wish I could have made a positive ID on them.

[strat-0]

How about his cute little guy! This is from a series of photos of moccasins at an oil rig after Katrina.

[strat-0]

Die, you forked-tongue devils!