I rarely OC, but recently became a convert and recommitted to ALWAYS carry EVERY step I take (except for the absolutes of going into a police station, courtroom or otherwise restricted area).
A month or so ago, I was hunting over in central Montana and needed to range a shot on a prarie dog out across a pasture. I took a few steps out there when my son commented that I should take a handgun in case I walked up on a dog or rabbit that I could take with it at close range. I returned and picked up a 9 and a spare mag then walked out for him to lase me with the rangefinder.
Now I will freely admit that I'm a southern boy, more used to conditions over that way rather than out here. As I strolled along, watching where I put my feet to avoid holes it dawned on me that this weird sort of rattling sound was one I had heard in movies dozens of times (Thank you, Hollywood! Who says movies and TV rot your mind?). When I tuned in and froze, I immediately put my hand on my 9 and began scanning for the threat. At about 11 o'clock, 9 to 10 feet away was your basic rattler, coiled and ready to strike. I thought for a moment about retreating and freely concede I could have backed off. Then again, we were on the rancher's land to get rid of varmints and snakes like this one were definitely a nuisance. Also, I was in a field full of prarie dogs and their holes, not a place to break a leg while backing away and watching a pissed-off snake.
As the adrenaline hit me, I stepped back and went into a firing stance (modified Weaver). Then the fun began.
Guys, when the adrenaline hits, a firetruck could drive up next to you and you can not hear it. Sighting on a spitting, weaving , brownish, black and tan snake against a backdrop of brown and green scrub is a b****. I started firing and realized that it was going to be a lot more difficult than in the movies. (Here you go, have fun but please be gentle with me.)
18 shots and one engaged, non-retention reload later, it was flopping around with its head partially severed from its body. Later survey revealed 4 apparent hits. Dust was flying everywhere (kicked up by the shots) and I backed almost a full pace away during the reload. We took 8 full-size rattles off him and measured him at 42" length and roughly 7 and a half in circumfrence.
What I learned. NEVER take a step without a gun on my belt. Always carry an extra mag (or six). Shoot until the threat is eliminated. When the action starts you will go into auto response mode and it is extremely difficult to register anything outside the threat field (although I dimly heard the others in my party shouting when they saw the snake through binoculars - I did register that they were coming up from my left rear quarter). Stay cool and assess your situation and limitations as well as you can. Note: I have/had no idea what the striking distance of a coiled 42" rattler is or how fast they can move when they are motivated and attacking so I did what I seemed like the best tactical response. Backing off a bit more before engaging would have had me backing up in a field of prarie dog holes with an angry poisonous snake in front of me.
Anyway. This was my first live fire, adrenaline pumping situation and, say what you will, I survived without injury. I think I stopped short of panic fire and at one point I was thinking that the dirt flying was obscuring my aim but also probably wasn't helping the snake either.
Oh, the 9 I had picked up was my first carry piece, a Sigma 9VE that I had handed to my son for his gear bag as we left the lodge that day. My .40 was in my gear bag on my shooting bench. The gun was perfect and the reload went like clockwork. Training and practice were critical to my comfort, stance and reload.
In the future, one of my buddies suggested we spend some range time shooting at a water hose with spraying water in the 10 to 18 foot zone.
Okay, have at it.
"Cowboy" Ed
