OK, 5 1/2" Barrel, cartridge .45 Long Colt "CCI" shot shell test. At a measured from the muzzle to target 7' (That is seven Feet) the pattern was perfect 12" in diameter, perfect, no gaps, no holes, shot well spaced.

Same firearm, at 44' ( Fifteen yards) pattern was 41" with some (Gaps) holes 10"X12"

Conclusion: For a snake you would need to be about 4' to 8' (one yard to three yards maximum. For a perched bird 10' to maybe 15' (3 yards to 5 yards).

I would call them pretty much useless for survival.

I decided to waste one more cartridge: Fired from the Winchester 1892 Take-down in .45 Long Colt, with it's 16" barrel. At 33 feet (11 Yards) the pattern was 36" X 38" with some 8" and 10" Gaps. This was shot through two thickness of cardboard.

Final conclusion use a .410 or 28 Gauge shotgun & save $11.95 for a box of ten cartridges.

Just for kicks I decided to do the S&W model 17 with it's 8 3/8" barrel that I reamed out to .22 magnum, at a relative long range (55 Yards). It put 7 of the 14 shots fired into 1 1/8" Note: this was 55 Yards with iron sights, all 14 rounds were in 4 1/4" (including two flyers) at 55 yards. Now this is a survival meat getting piece of machinery.