The CCI Pest Control Shotshell 3738 is purpose-built for one of the most common problems encountered by ranchers, farmers, outdoorsmen, trappers, and property owners: small pests at very close range. Instead of a traditional bullet, this specialized load contains a payload of #9 shot that turns a .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver into an effective short-range pest-control tool.

Snakes, rodents, and similar nuisance animals are often encountered at distances measured in feet rather than yards. Under those conditions, a traditional handgun bullet may offer more precision than necessary while increasing concerns about ricochets and overpenetration. The CCI Pest Control Shotshell takes a different approach by launching a pattern of fine shot that increases the probability of connecting with small moving targets.

CCI designed these loads specifically for close-range pest control. The cartridge utilizes a shot-filled capsule that breaks apart after leaving the barrel, creating a useful pattern that is highly effective on snakes and other small pests encountered around barns, workshops, hunting camps, feed storage areas, stock tanks, and fence lines. CCI lists this load with #9 shot and a muzzle velocity of approximately 1,050 feet per second.

For many revolver owners, this is one of those products that simply makes sense to keep on hand. A .357 Magnum revolver riding in a truck, tractor, ATV, or saddlebag is already a common sight throughout rural America. Loading a cylinder with pest-control shotshells gives that same firearm a specialized capability for dealing with nuisance animals when the situation calls for it.

Popular Pairings:
The CCI 3738 is an excellent companion for .357 Magnum revolvers, .38 Special revolvers, and many trail guns carried around farms, ranches, hunting properties, and camps. Many users keep shotshells available specifically for pest control while carrying conventional ammunition separately for defensive or field use.

Why Revolver Shotshells Continue to Survive:
There are countless handgun loads available today, yet revolver shotshells continue to occupy a unique niche because they solve a real-world problem. Whether encountered around a barn, a fishing dock, a deer camp, or a fence row, snakes and small pests often require a different solution than a traditional handgun bullet was designed to provide.

The .38 Special and .357 Magnum versions are especially popular because revolvers handle shotshell ammunition exceptionally well. For generations, these loads have earned a reputation as practical tools rather than novelty ammunition, making them a staple among property owners and outdoorsmen who spend time where nuisance animals are part of everyday life.

Shop related ammunition categories at Huckleberry Arms:
357 Magnum Ammunition | 38 Special Ammunition | CCI Ammunition | Ammunition