Hi Mom. I shot a cottonmouth in my pond today. I didn't use a lever action .357 magnum. I used a Remington 12 gauge shotgun. Not a good idea to shoot snakes with a rifle unless you're right on top of 'em. I wouldn't want a ricochet to accidentally hit one of my neighbor's cattle. Especially considering that the only rifle I own is an old Spanish carbine (click) that shoots a 9mm pistol round. It probably wouldn't kill a cow, just piss it off.