Snake shot

The .45-70 "forager" round, which contained a thin wooden bullet filled with birdshot, was intended for hunting small game to supplement the soldiers' rations.

[3][4] This round in effect made the .45-70 rifle into a small gauge shotgun, capable of killing rabbits, ducks, and other similar game animals.

CCI's rimfire and a few of the centerfire snake-shot cartridges use a hollow plastic capsule which holds the shot, and is often shaped like a bullet to aid in feeding.

They are short range weapons that can do little harm at distances greater than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft), and are quiet when fired with snake shot, compared to standard ammunition.

The guns are especially effective inside barns and sheds, because the snake shot will not injure livestock with a ricochet, or shoot holes into the roof or walls of a structure.