Homestead mailing list

[Viking <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

rayzentz AT aim.com wrote:

> > From a gun buff, and concealed permit holder...
>
> I think before I mentioned an encounter with a snake on my way to the
>  post office.   Problem with pistols, and fear when about to be 
> attacked, is accuracy.   If snakes are your problem, I recommend 
> rounds that are filled with fine shot, such as bird shot.   Problem 
> with these in a semi-auto, such as most 9mm pistols, is that there is
>  not enough blowback to cycle the next round, which leaves you with,
>  essentially, a single shot pistol.   Far better a revolver, loaded 
> with 5 alternating rounds of shot and slug, with the hammer on an 
> empty chamber.   Shot first, for little varmints, and then slug 
> second, if you miss, or for varmints of the larger, or two legged, 
> variety.   You also then have follow-up shots, if necessary.
>
> Ray

I'm not a bigtime "kill-it" person, and you guys will probably be
surprised to learn that my pistol is not some huge honking 9mm or .44
caliber thing that would blow a hole in the barn.  I have a Ruger Mark
IV LR, a .22 pistol... I got it not for self defense, as it has almost
zero knockdown power, but for putting down animals and of course, for
snakes.  For a while, I used my .22 rifle for such, but carrying a rifle
around is cumbersome, that's why I got the pistol.  When I wear it,
people don't know that it is "only" a .22, so it still has that scary
effect that you want _people_ to have if you tote a gun.  I practice
with it, too, so I am a decent shot. I'm better with a rifle, though.
Anyway, what Ray described is exactly true.  I buy shotshell, basically
ratshot, rounds and since the cartridge jams and has to be manually
ejected, he is right that it becomes a single shot kind of thing about
50% of the time.  I also alternate rounds.  I'll load the ratshot,
which has the effect of stunning the varmit, then the next round is a
slug round.  Actually, my preferred combination is 1 shot, 3 slugs, so I
just load the clip accordingly.  The round in the chamber is always a
shotshell, so that in the event of an accident, it hopefully won't be a
a life-ender.  I just know that after my first shot, I may have to pause
to clear the casing. It seems wimpy, but a .22 can kill, too, because it
bounces around inside....it just leaves smaller holes.  I don't go out
hunting snakes with it, but during snake season, and especially when I
am doing something in a snakey environment or I know a snake is around,
I will wear it, because a big rattlesnake in my barn or greenhouse area
is gonna be a dead rattlesnake, conservation or not, and the same goes
for the smaller copperheads.  I value my fingers and toes.
Anyway, can anyone explain the duty belt thing to me?

Bev
--
erthnsky AT bellsouth.net  BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm      NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
34.498N 85.076W