 From a standard rifle these can produce effective patterns only to a distance of about , but in a smoothbore shotgun (or garden gun) that can extend as far as .Snake shot is generally used for shooting at snakes, rodents, birds, and other pests at very close ranges.Used as foraging ammunition by hikers, backpackers and campers, snake shot is ideally suited for use in derringers and revolvers (especially "kit guns"), chambered for .22 Long Rifle, .38 Special or .357 Magnum.