Pistol Help Needed for a Non-Pistol Owner

Eric Patterson

Moderator
Staff member
I own shotguns, not pistols, and as such am naïve to them and the laws concerning carrying them. Here's the situation. Thomas (19 today) has started working for Wally (my employer) at the hunting property. Yesterday he planted trees and will be doing outdoor work all summer. Wally's property manager advised Thomas to get a pistol due to the frequency of snake encounters. So my questions are what are some good calibers and models for him to carry while he works? Secondly, what permits will he need to carry the gun to and from work and have on him at other times he wants his pistol? Thanks for the advice.

Eric Patterson
 
Carry laws will vary state to state, so won’t comment on that. For snakes, a revolver with rat shot rounds are what I would pursue.
 
Your states vehicle carry laws are what you need to review. If just transporting to and fro from work I would guess transporting unloaded pistol and separate ammo in vehicle trunk would be legal . As far as type a snubby 38 or 357 revolver with snake loads will do the trick. The 22 with snake loads just don't do the trick at a respectable distance from the snake. If he can transport firearm in equipment while working a better alternative might be a little sawed off 410 with some 8,s. Remind him even supposedly dead snakes might have a reflex bite left in them if freshly shot!
 
Eric, You live in a shall issue state to carry concealed. Your local sheriff is the one to contact. You also are in an open carry state which means it only has to be holstered. I would go ahead and follow through with getting him a concealed carry permit. Tarus makes a 45/410 revolver, I cannot give you any advice on it but the others advice on a revolver is good advice from a safety stand point. if you go the sawed off shotgun route remember the law is no shorter than 18 inches even in Alabama.

Happy Easter
 
I would recommend that you find a good instructor. An instructor will start him on the correct safety path, and shorten his learning curve. The instructor canrecommend an appropriate pistol and holster.

For a work piece I would strongly recommend stainless.

A 357 is a very good beginner pistol caliber and is large enough to deal with vermin of all types, 2 legged, 4 legged ad slitherers, but with 38's mild to shoot and relatively cheap to practice with. However, I am not so sure about the stubby. Stubby pistols have there place but I am not a fan of them for beginners.

That said take the instructor's advice. If the instructor recommends a different caliber, a different barrel length or a semi instead of a revolver take the advice of the professional you have hired.
 
Check with your local PD. They can give you the ins and outs. Snake gun, a used 38 revolver with snake shot. Don't get fancy, it's going to be like a hammer on a tool belt. Go cheap and safe. Stay with a name brand.
 
The wildlife biologist in me says don’t bother, 90% or more of the snakes encountered will be harmless and needs to be left alone to control rodents.
And by the small chance he is bit by something venomous it’s pretty much too late to be worried about shooting it. Getting medical attention is more important at the point.
If he does see a venomous snake, and thinks he really needs to whack it a hoe is just as good as a pistol.
I worked for a year on a place with more diamondbacks per acre than anywhere else Ive seen in my 27 years as a biologist. We encountered them weekly some days more than one. I personally Stepped on one, over another and past 2’others None of them struck, most didn’t even rattle.
 
Pistol for snakes?

You better be a darn good shot, even very close. From personal experience, in rattle snake country in north central PA, while back country fly fishing years ago. Shoot a rattle snake now there , and your in big trouble.

TC with a .410ga, or just carry a 20ga "Sawed off Shoot gun". Way better off in the long run.

Pistol laws very greatly from state to state, and in NY are darn right ridiculous, so mine are gone. As in, more trouble than they are worth here.

my 2 cents
 
Eric,
You have a tough situation on your hands because of different gun laws in different states, especially concealed weapon. I Know 1st He Would have to get a Fire Arms Id Permit just to purchase a fire arm of any kind & a Pistol More red tape ,Then Add Cary Concealed weapon,I Check with your local police dept 1st. Then go from there. just to give you an example In N.J.You have to be connected with law enforcement to carry any concealed GUN. get ready for a major hassle.
 
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Pistol for snakes?

You better be a darn good shot, even very close. From personal experience, in rattle snake country in north central PA, while back country fly fishing years ago. Shoot a rattle snake now there , and your in big trouble.

Really? I grew up in a place with no poisonous snakes. After college, I was exiled in NJ for a few years and used to head out to Central PA looking for trout. One day I made a long bushwhack from a gravel road cross country to a nice little stream, fished a couple miles of the stream, then bushwhacked back up to the road for a quick route back to my car. It was mid afternoon, and there was a steady of stream of cars and truck driving very slowly down the road. Finally a truck stopped, asked me if I wanted a ride, and I hoppped in the back with two kids. As their dad drove me back to my car, they explained they were looking for snakes, and showed me a sack in a trash can they swore held two big rattlers. Apparently that little valley was the favorite spot for the local round up.
 
No real opinion on shooting snakes but on the pistol-1. .357 2. stainless 3. 4" barrel 5. Major name brand. Check with local law enforcement for the best info on carry etc. Side benefit of a .357 is you can shoot .38 Spec for practice and cheap low recoil.
 
Paul you guys in Nj have it bad ,one of the toughest states to get a ccp. I have NY,Florida and Utah concealed carry permits. when I took my class for Florida&Utah they told me to totally avoid driving through NJ . New York is tough but as long as your not a wife beater it just takes time ,10 months for mine. Shall Issue states are just that,you apply and they issue. I believe Maine is also shall issue for concealed and of course open carry if you wear it on your hip.
 
your post reminded me of this backwoods home article about guns and snakes written by Massad Ayoob. Link below.



http://www.backwoodshome.com/of-guns-and-snakes/

 
Carl said:
The wildlife biologist in me says don’t bother, 90% or more of the snakes encountered will be harmless and needs to be left alone to control rodents.
And by the small chance he is bit by something venomous it’s pretty much too late to be worried about shooting it. Getting medical attention is more important at the point.
If he does see a venomous snake, and thinks he really needs to whack it a hoe is just as good as a pistol.
I worked for a year on a place with more diamondbacks per acre than anywhere else Ive seen in my 27 years as a biologist. We encountered them weekly some days more than one. I personally Stepped on one, over another and past 2’others None of them struck, most didn’t even rattle.
Well said and true.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Pistol for snakes?

You better be a darn good shot, even very close. From personal experience, in rattle snake country in north central PA, while back country fly fishing years ago. Shoot a rattle snake now there , and your in big trouble.

Really? I grew up in a place with no poisonous snakes. After college, I was exiled in NJ for a few years and used to head out to Central PA looking for trout. One day I made a long bushwhack from a gravel road cross country to a nice little stream, fished a couple miles of the stream, then bushwhacked back up to the road for a quick route back to my car. It was mid afternoon, and there was a steady of stream of cars and truck driving very slowly down the road. Finally a truck stopped, asked me if I wanted a ride, and I hoppped in the back with two kids. As their dad drove me back to my car, they explained they were looking for snakes, and showed me a sack in a trash can they swore held two big rattlers. Apparently that little valley was the favorite spot for the local round up.
 
There are a number of manufacturers that produce revolvers that chamber .410 / .45 long Colt interchangeably. Some have 3" barrels which would be easy to draw and shoot instinctively.

Joe
 
Joe Daly said:
There are a number of manufacturers that produce revolvers that chamber .410 / .45 long Colt interchangeably. Some have 3" barrels which would be easy to draw and shoot instinctively.

Joe

The famous “Judge”... at least famous with some people. I like to shoot one to see what it is like. Sure would work.

As to the original question, I don’t have a good answer, but I’m all for any job where a pistol is required for vermin control on the job.
 
Eric - Regardless of whether he needs one or not for snakes... I asked some of the same questions last year as I was not a pistol owner but it seems everyone else I work with is (former military or affiliated with military family) and exercises their rights in AL. I got a pistol permit from the courthouse in county where I live which was quite cheap (not sure min age for that though)... and then got a buddy of mine who is a NRA firearms instructor to guide me through the "basics/essentials" class because, quite frankly, pistols scared me after a lifetime of handling only long guns. Having that permit allows me to not worry about how it should be transported; in plain site, locked, concealed, etc.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Vince Pagliaroli said:
Pistol for snakes?

You better be a darn good shot, even very close. From personal experience, in rattle snake country in north central PA, while back country fly fishing years ago. Shoot a rattle snake now there , and your in big trouble.

Really? I grew up in a place with no poisonous snakes. After college, I was exiled in NJ for a few years and used to head out to Central PA looking for trout. One day I made a long bushwhack from a gravel road cross country to a nice little stream, fished a couple miles of the stream, then bushwhacked back up to the road for a quick route back to my car. It was mid afternoon, and there was a steady of stream of cars and truck driving very slowly down the road. Finally a truck stopped, asked me if I wanted a ride, and I hoppped in the back with two kids. As their dad drove me back to my car, they explained they were looking for snakes, and showed me a sack in a trash can they swore held two big rattlers. Apparently that little valley was the favorite spot for the local round up.



"Really ?" Ya Really. Then the young lad that was bitten, and died in north central PA., 2 years ago, must have been bitten by trash.

It's where you put your hands, not where you walk, that gets you in trouble, and ya sure as hell don't have to be in deep woods. He reached into a stack of wood, to feed the fire at his camp. By the next day he was dead.

I am not in favor of killing any snakes, unless your life, or your dogs life is in danger.

Hunt Montana during early upland bird season and when the temp gets to 60 degrees, you will see more rattle snakes than you ever thought existed. Your in their house, and it's time for you to leave, if you have common sense.

Folks drive the roads in rattle snake country cuz that's where the snakes go to warm up. So they grab them there, or kill them and sell the rattles. There are no more rattle snake round ups in PA, thank goodness. So the snakes can live in peace.

Here in western NY, they are common in our area of deep rock & shale river, and stream. gorges. A stick, or wading staff has more than one purpose.
 
A machete with a back strap would be a lot more handy and easier to work with. Carrying a gun all day is a pain in the back, hips, and arse.
 
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