Should you ever load snake shot for home defense?
Former CIA officer and firearms instructor Jason Hanson says the answer is simple.
“Never in a million years.”
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Hanson walks through exactly what snake shot is, shows how it behaves on target, and then explains why he thinks it’s a terrible idea for protecting your home and family.
And after hearing his reasoning, it’s hard to argue.
What Snake Shot Is Designed To Do
Hanson starts by explaining what snake shot actually is.
It’s a handgun round filled with tiny pellets, almost like mini birdshot.
He tells viewers it’s meant for “snakes, rodents, rats,” not for human attackers.
In his test, Hanson uses .38 Special snake shot loaded into a Smith & Wesson 642 Airweight snub-nose revolver.
He notes that snake shot is sold in multiple calibers.
But the basic concept is the same.
A light payload of tiny pellets that spreads quickly and loses energy fast. For pests at very close range, that design makes sense. For a violent criminal in your hallway, Hanson argues, it’s a different story.
Hanson’s Snake Test: Close Range Vs. A Little Distance
To make his point visual, Hanson sets up what might be the funniest part of the video.
He brings out several rubber toy snakes and jokingly labels one “the anaconda killer python snake.”
The humor is intentional.
But the test itself is serious.
Hanson stretches one rubber snake out on a backing target and steps back to roughly 2–3 yards.
He loads five rounds of snake shot into his snubby revolver, dons eye and ear protection, and takes a carefully aimed shot.
After firing, he walks up to the target and shows the pattern.
There are lots of tiny hits, and the plastic wad clearly punched through.
On a thin rubber toy, that’s probably enough to “kill” the fake snake.
Hanson circles the visible pattern with a pen so viewers can see how wide the spread already is from just a few yards away.
Then he ups the distance.
When Distance Grows, Performance Falls Apart
Next, Hanson backs up to about 5 yards, roughly 15 feet, and fires another round of snake shot.
This distance is still well within what many people might imagine as “inside the house.”
But the pattern tells a very different story.
On camera, Hanson points out that the pellet spread is now all over the place. You can see hits up high on the paper and scattered around the snake.
He admits he can’t even clearly tell how many pellets actually struck the rubber target itself.
His takeaway is simple. Snake shot is intended for very close-range pest control.
Once you start moving back even a little, the pattern opens so quickly that reliable hits and meaningful energy on a small target become questionable.
If it’s already this inconsistent on a rubber snake at 15 feet, Hanson suggests, imagine trying to stop a moving, determined attacker at similar distances.
That’s a sobering comparison.
Snake Shot Vs. Human Threats
After he’s satisfied that the toy snakes have taken enough punishment, Hanson shifts to the real point of the video.
Should anyone use snake shot for home defense?
“Never in a million years,” he says.
He explains why.
Snake shot is a cluster of tiny pellets meant for small animals, not people. Those pellets shed energy very quickly and don’t penetrate deeply. Hanson reminds viewers that if someone is breaking into your home, they’re a serious threat.
They may intend to kill you, assault you, or harm your family. In that kind of situation, you don’t want weak, shallow-penetrating ammo. You need something that will reliably reach vital organs and stop the threat.
His argument isn’t about being “more lethal” for its own sake.
It’s about matching the tool to the threat.
A cartridge built for snakes and rats simply isn’t engineered to deal with a violent, possibly armed human.
And using it as if it is can create a dangerous illusion of safety.
What Hanson Uses For His Own Home Defense
To drive the point home, Hanson tells viewers what he actually keeps ready for defense.
He says that most of his home defense guns are 9mm, loaded with quality defensive ammunition.
He mentions using Speer Gold Dot 9mm in his current setup.
He also notes that he owns 1911 pistols in .45 ACP and AR-15 rifles chambered in .223/5.56. Those are the platforms he would reach for if someone broke into his house at night.
Hanson describes his plan in simple terms.
He would open his rapid-access safe, grab a proper defensive handgun or rifle, and “go deal with the threat.”
What he wouldn’t do is rely on snake shot. In his view, that’s not just a sub-optimal choice. It’s an outright bad one.
Where Snake Shot Actually Makes Sense
Despite his strong warning, Hanson isn’t saying snake shot has no place at all.
He’s very clear about the one niche where it shines.
“If you live in an area with a bunch of little varmints and rodents, have some snake shot,” he says.
For farmers, ranchers, hikers, or rural homeowners who need to dispatch a snake on the porch or a rat in the barn at close range, snake shot can be handy.
The pattern at a couple of yards can make it easier to hit a small, wriggling target. And the limited penetration helps keep damage localized.
But Hanson stresses that this specific use case – tiny animals, at very close range – does not translate to human self-defense.
His rule is simple.
Snake shot is for snakes.
Not for people.
Not for night-time home break-ins.
Not for any kind of carry or personal protection role.
The Problem With “Soft” Or Gimmicky Defense Ideas
There’s also an unspoken issue in Hanson’s video that’s worth calling out.
A lot of people are tempted by ammo like snake shot because it sounds “safer.”
They imagine fewer over-penetration risks. Less damage to walls.
Maybe even less legal trouble afterward. But physics doesn’t care about intentions.
If a load doesn’t penetrate enough, it might wound a violent attacker without stopping them.
That can leave you in the worst-case situation.
You’ve fired a gun in self-defense, but the threat is still standing and still dangerous. Hanson’s background as a CIA officer and security professional gives his warning extra weight.
He’s not just a guy making noise on the internet. He’s someone who has spent years thinking about real-world violence and what actually stops it.
From that perspective, snake shot becomes more than a quirky niche round.
It becomes an unnecessary risk.
A Simple Rule For Serious Situations
By the end of his video, Hanson’s message is crystal clear.
Snake shot is a tool with a narrow purpose. Use it for snakes, rats, and other small pests when you need to. But don’t blur the line between pest control and self-defense.
For protecting your home and your family, he argues, rely on proven defensive calibers, quality hollow-point ammunition, solid training, and a clear plan.
Not a gimmick round that starts to fall apart the moment you step a few yards back.
It’s tempting to look for clever shortcuts in the self-defense world.
Less recoil.
Less penetration.
Less responsibility.
Hanson’s breakdown is a reminder that in real life, there are no shortcuts. If the stakes are life and death, you want tools that are actually up to the job – no matter how cool or harmless the alternatives might sound on paper.
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The article Former CIA officer breaks down why the snake shot is a risky home defense choice first appeared on Survival World.
Ed spent his childhood in the backwoods of Maine, where harsh winters taught him the value of survival skills. With a background in bushcraft and off-grid living, Ed has honed his expertise in fire-making, hunting, and wild foraging. He writes from personal experience, sharing practical tips and hands-on techniques to thrive in any outdoor environment. Whether it’s primitive camping or full-scale survival, Ed’s advice is grounded in real-life challenges.
