I've got an old Ruger single six that has shot so many snakes with .22 shotshells the bore is leaded up enough to make it a smoothbore...Never a problem with killing them stone cold dead. Used to shoot them with a .22 rifle. If you point the barrel at them from 3-5 feet away they will look right up the bore and you can hit them in the head shooting from the hip every time. Problem is they tend to thrash around something fierce for awhile when shot in the head with a .22 solid or hollowpoint. Shot with the birdshot they barely quiver, which is why I prefer it for snakes.
