Rat-shot

Rat-shot (or snake shot) is very small lead shot cartridge (typically #12 – 1.3 mm (0.05")) for use in rifled firearms as opposed to more traditional smoothbores such as shotguns. Such a cartridge with a shot load is often called a shot shell. The most common cartridges loaded with rat-shot are the .22 Long Rifle or pistol or revolver cartridges. Using rat-shot cartridges allows one to convert a handgun or rifle into a small shotgun suitable for short-range use.

Shot shell cartridges known to be available for hand guns include: .22, .38, 9mm, .40 Smith & Wesson, .44 Special, .45 ACP and .45 Colt. The smaller shot typical of .22s is sometimes called "dust shot".