Maxwell wrote:AlaskanInTexas wrote:Coming from Alaska (where we don't have such unsavory characters) and with a huge snake phobia, I would have started with the .300 win mag at about 500 yards, and then finished it off with as many 12 gauge rounds as it took to turn it into pulp. Then I would have grabbed the flamethrower.
I was raised in South Texas and I fully agree with the above recommendation!
Kill 'em! Kill 'em all and by any means necessary!
That said, I've never heard of a rattler that could strike the 5+ feet of a shovel handle. [/color] I used to carry a couple of rounds of .38 shot shells when I hunted in Travis County but if you want a little more room for safety (me, I like about 10 yards or so, 100 is better...) get a 410.
A rattler can strike up to 2/3 of their length. And they don't have to be coiled in order to do so. We have a lot of them down in this brush country. Personally, I have shot several with .22 rat shot and all that tends to do is pi$$ them off. Though the ranch is miles from anything and noise is a non issue, I still tend to use 22 shorts. Just a habit and it saves my 22LR ammo.