I have shot many snakes with a .45 auto (Glock full size), it works great and I feel better than the other shot shells for the .38/.357 or the 9mm. The .45 shot shells function great when going to shot shell to shot shell in the magazine and also function going to shot shell to ball ammo in the magazine and pattern great for snake distance shots. From about 3 yards away they will blow their heads off. I would not use shotshells that have the blue plastic "bulb". I have seen the blue bulb type shot shells either not function or break while the slide was functioning and then you have a big mess and jam. In snake country I carry a round of bird shot down the tube and a mag full of ball. If I run into a snake I have the first round of bird shot, If I run into anything else I either fire the first round of bird shot just to get rid of it and then I have ball ammo behind it or I just rack the slide back and have a mag of ball and ball in the tube.
