Is it necessary to own a different firearm for each species of game that you may need to dispatch? Of course not. That’s way over the top and excessive.
But who really collects guns out of necessity anyway? Guns are awesome and more guns is better than less guns. Enough said…
So, we need to address the fundamentals first. Let’s consider the definition of a good “snake shooter.” A snake shooter needs to extremely easy to carry, effective at close range, and very safe.
Chances are that you will be operating this firearm in a moment of intense excitement. Thus, safety is a primary concern.
Compactness
By necessity, a snake shooter needs to be compact, which pretty much rules out long guns. A snake shooter won’t be of any use if you leave it back at camp.
Sure, a shotgun will tear a snake in two. A 357 will certainly do the trick. However, if it’s too large to carry with you at all times, then it’s not a good snake shooter.
Effectiveness
In the heat of the moment, a snake is a much smaller target than you are capable of accurately hitting (even if it’s the biggest rattler you’ve ever seen). That means that a spread pattern is ideal.
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You don’t want to empty a revolver just to kill a snake… and find out you missed with all 6 rounds.
Safety
Because a good snake shooter should be extremely packable and portable, it’s also essential that it has safety features built-in.
This is a gun that may be carried in a place that’s fairly accessible (backpacks, pockets, or holster), not in a case. Thus, revolvers and single action firearms score bonus points.