Dear fishonabike:Forgive another anecdote. My brother owned a beautiful octagonal
barreled pump .22 cal rifle. One day a neighbor we detested came and asked my brother
to loan it to him, because he had a skunk in his basement.To my surprise, my brother
immediately consented, and brought it out loaded with twenty two long rifle hollow points
and safety on. The guy came back fifteen minutes later with potent musteline perfume.
He said:" I don't understand it. I hit him right between the eyes, and he just turned around
and sprayed me. But I got him with the second shot. "
After he left, I noticed my brother was grinning, and asked him for explanation.
"Feathershot in the chamber"

(Feathershot were like miniature shotgunshells, with tiny pellets that could be used
to shoot rats indoors with no ricochet)