Can a .177 Cal Rifle Kill a Snake?

Question

Can a .177 cal rifle that shoots at 1000fps kill a snake? What else can it kill besides rats and squirrels?

Answer 1

Depends on the .177 caliber gun we're talking about. Something like a Daisy Red Ryder probably couldn't kill anything bigger than a garter snake. Something like a RWS 34, Benjamin Discovery, RWS 350... could kill a good sized snake if you hit something vital (brain or spine). However that's a lot of ifs to worry about if you have to deal with a venomous snake.



Honestly I think if I had to deal with a venomous snake (or any snake really), I'd much prefer a shotgun. The reason is actually really simple. A .177 caliber pellet gun will basically punch a small hole through the snake. Unless you get very lucky and hit either the brain or the spine, the snake isn't going to die immediately. Which means you have to reload and shoot it again. And again. And again all the while hoping the sucker finally bleeds out. And the snake won't be sitting still while you do that. It will either try to slither away or strike at you. A shotgun on the other hand, even a .410 using .5 ounce, 2.5-inch loads at the 10 feet or so you're likely to be shooting at will kill a snake with the first shot every time, provided you manage hit the snake. If for example you aim for the head, the snake basically won't have a head left. And this is with a diminutive .410 shotgun shell... A typical 12 gauge field load delivers 1.25 ounces of shot. It literally will blow most snakes (except for something like a big python, anaconda, or a huge rattlesnake) in half. And provided you hit the snake a 12 gauge is going to deliver a 1-shot kill every time even on a huge snake. Since that's the case, the odds of an injured (and aggressive) snake getting away are greatly decreased. Ditto on you getting bit while you try to kill the snake. And that's a very good thing.



As for what else a .177 caliber airgun can kill... Again it depends on the gun. However assuming you're asking about one of the "adult" airguns that produce 12-15 ft-lbs of muzzle, energy, you can add nuisance birds (English sparrows, starlings, feral pigeons) and rabbits to the list. Ditto on frogs, chipmunks, iguanas, and other animals in that size range. However, in spite of Gamo's marketing claims, larger animals like raccoon, fox, etc... are too large to reliably take with any .177 caliber airgun.

Answer 2

Yes, this will kill a snake if you hit the spine or its tiny brain. But you will have to be quite accurate. I'd prefer a shotgun for this.



You can kill all sorts of smaller animals with an air rifle that shoots a .177 cal projectile at 1000 fps. The problem is that your shot placement will have to be very precise on animals like skunks, raccoons, etc. For animals such as these, the only truly effective shot with your air rifle is right between the eyes- and sometimes you won't even get penetration there.

Answer 3

Yes it can definitely kill a snake if your a great shot and can hit it in it's tiny head. If you don't it will probably just wriggle away or if you hit it in the back it will start doing flips for several minutes. Why not just use a shovel or a .410 instead. It would be more consistent and quicker (meaning safer depending on the snake) The only reason I would use a pellet gun is if it was poisonous and had nothing else on hand to shoot it with. You can kill alot of stuff if your a good shot. Birds of all kinds including waterfowl like ducks, rabbits, cats, any small animal that you can manage to hit in the head. That doesn't mean it's ethical or legal i'm just saying it's hypothetically possible

Answer 4

>>Can a .177 air rifle kill a snake<<

Sure if you can get one to sit real still for you while you put the pellet through its head.



>>1000fps<<

Almost all of the .177 caliber air rifles that "claim" >up to< 1000fps, actually chronograph around 850fps to 900fps when using average weight(8gr) pellets. Airgun manufacturers use lightweight and in some cases ultra lightweight pellets to inflate their muzzle velocity claims



>>What can I kill<<

Small game(rabbit, squirrel, etc) when they are in season, and pest birds when necessary.

http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk

http://www.americanairgunhunter.com

Answer 5

If you're a rather incredible shot, yes. But you'd better get real close and he'd better be coiled up, standing still. Tough shot, otherwise.



At 1000fps you might take small game if you're using pellets, not BBs, but unless you get a head or heart shot at a possum or skunk, you're probably just going to wound it. If you move up to 1000fps in .22 pellet caliber, you can usually take possum, coon, woodchuck and similar size game, if you use the pointed hunting pellets.

Answer 6

I have a taxidermist friend who carries a .177 air pistol for small to med sized snakes so he can kill them with our ruining the skin. but he is an absolute crack shot with it. Aside from a shot the the brain/base of the spine, or taking off their heads, snakes are surprisingly durable creatures.

Answer 7

yes but i wouldn't try it it is very hard to hit a snake I would use a shotgun preferably a 410 the taurus judge is a great snake and home defensegun.

Answer 8

Can it? Yes. Is it a good idea? Nope. If you need to kill a snake, try a .410. Never seen a better snake gun.

Answer 9

Your an a$$hole killing an animal that kills varmints thats like shooting a cat or a dog. I'm not an animal rights person but dam dude, i mean cats eat rats and mice and a dog chomps on bunnies and deer, so next time go pull up a .500 on a cat or a dog, think about it smaller animal smaller gun

Answer 10

oh yes definetly. although i agree with fmj hunter, a shotgun would be better