[burrhead]

Here in the Chihuahuan desert we have our share of rattlers also and what I've found works best for snake control is a hoe if around the house and avoidence eveywhere else. That said, you can make your own shot shells. Take a sacrificial case and sharpen the mouth edge with a chamfer tool and use the case to punch out rounds of LIGHT cardboard, such as cereal box material. Load a light powder charge, cover with the cardboard, scoop some #9 shot in the case, then top off with a gas check crimped in the case mouth. You'll have to experiment with the powder charge and shot weight but this is a low pressure round; just use some common sense.