Henry Rifle Forums

Didn't have a snake handy, so used a cereal box. This is a one handed, one shot at approx 6 ft from the muzzle at about a 45* down angle to simulate a shot on copperhead or other snake.

The gun and ammo: 3.5" Rough Rider. Patterned a little low & left, but that's my fault. Still gudnuf I think.

Yup, good enough.

daytime dave wrote: ↑

Mon May 05, 2025 3:33 pm

Yup, good enough.

For now anyway. I've been checking every week or so at local shops for a snubby DA/SA revolver in .22wmr since I'm not that fond of the Rough Rider for this purpose. A 2" barrel would tighten the pattern up some, and would be lighter & easier to carry and use around the property. The only mfg I'm aware of that offers that is Taurus, but they are scarce in these parts. I'm not interested in on-line sellers, even tho they are in stock at a couple places. I'm kinda picky about buying guns.

Seems to cover pretty well. I have some and have not tried it yet.

Ernie wrote: ↑

Mon May 05, 2025 7:15 pm

Seems to cover pretty well. I have some and have not tried it yet.

What gun? You really should pattern it. It spreads out quick beyond 5 or 6ft. Just don't use a plywood backer for your target, that #12 shot will bounce back at you. BTDT.

GunnyGene wrote: ↑

Mon May 05, 2025 7:32 pm

...that #12 shot will bounce back at you. BTDT.

Bet that stung....

Don’t you need a smooth bore for this shot?

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Tue May 06, 2025 8:00 am

Don’t you need a smooth bore for this shot?

No. That would be ideal to control the pattern much better at distances over a few feet, but I don't think anyone makes a smooth bore revolver in .22lr or wmr. Henry does have the smoothbore Garden Gun in .22lr, but it would be awkward to carry around mowing and such.

Sir Henry wrote: ↑

Tue May 06, 2025 8:00 am

Don’t you need a smooth bore for this shot?

No. The shot is contained in a plastic capsule that's ruptured/discarded the instant it leaves the muzzle (see below). A smoothbore would be ideal to control the pattern much better at distances over a few feet, but I don't think anyone makes a smooth bore revolver in .22lr or wmr. Henry does have the smoothbore Garden Gun in .22lr, but it would be awkward to carry around mowing and such.

https://www.cci-ammunition.com/rimfire/ ... /6-25.html

That looks like adequate coverage for a snake or some other vermin at spitting distance. And I'm sure you have at least one more of those rounds in that cylinder for a follow up if necessary. Having that on your hip would be good enough for sure!

A buddy and I played around with using different sizes of buckshot from a rifled 12 gauge. This was in case we hit a deer with a slug, and wanted to have a round of buckshot chambered as we approached the downed deer. At least that was our thought process. We got donut shaped patterns at anything more than about 5 yards. Also seemed like the smaller size shot, like #4 buck, would do it more than larger size, like 000. A smoothbore that we had shot great with everything, but we were convinced that we needed rifled barrels for those $5 slugs.