OK, Here is my unusual story.

[mgood]

I, for one, still have plenty to learn and it's alot better to ask all these questions and answere them now than in the middle of the night with our hearts pounding and weapons in hand.

That's the beauty of talking out things that happened to someone else, or just playing "what if" games. We can discuss it and trade ideas with other people who've had some of the same questions.
Having some sort of plan, any plan, just having at some point asked yourself "what would I do if . . . " puts you way ahead of the people who never consider such things.

In defensive driving classes, people are taught to look ahead. "That guy probably sees me and won't pull out in front of me. But what do I do if he does pull out?" Same thing. You're in line at the store and you ask yourself, "what would I do if someone pulled a gun right NOW? Where's cover? Where's the exit? What's a good defensible location? Do I try to intervene or just try to get out?" Asking yourself those questions, I think, will go a long way to being more prepared if something does happen someday.

So here I can not only think "what would I do?" But I can ask other people "what would you do?" Their input might give me insight into something I haven't considered.

[Lonestarm]

Excellent reply, Excaliber.

"my adrenaline high and my finger on the trigger" is a bad place to be without having identified your target, backstop, and a decision to shoot made.

Even in a known dangerous situation like clearing a home with a burglar known to be inside, your finger should not be on the trigger beforehand.

Also, Iike Excaliber, "no intent to offend" but just of offer food for thought.

[NcongruNt]

30lb possum + 44 mag = big cloud of greasy pink and gray stuff.

A 30 lb. possum would also= New world record by a comfortable margin.

Hard to imagine a 30 pounder scaling anything, let alone a gate.

Having never held one, I'd probably make the assumption that they are considerably heavier than they are. Around here, they get to be a little larger than cats when full-grown. Comparing them by size and girth alone, I'd see how someone could come to the conclusion that a big 'possum could be 30 pounds. I did a little research, and came across an article about a behemoth in North Carolina... which turns out to be only 9 pounds:



http://www.mountainx.com/guides/pets/012308possum

Judging from the photo, I'd have easily taken it for 30 pounds before my research.

And, to keep this on topic, I appreciate Excaliber's comments about forethought regarding investigating strange noises in the middle of the night.

As an apartment-dweller, I have considerably less area to cover and any strange noises will either be investigated through a window (if outside) or (if inside) with pistol or shotgun in hand, held at the side, and of course finger off the trigger. I do have small very noisy alarms at every window (which are, of course, locked), which would signal an intrusion attempt there. The front (and only) door is steel (hollow, though a decent gauge) and has a lock that is only operated from the inside in addition to the regular bolt, and is always locked when I am home. Any attempt at entry there would make a whole lot of noise.

Backstop is a considerable concern where I live, and I have made myself aware which walls are backed with brick and which are not. Fortunately, the floors on the lower (where I am) and upper levels are concrete, which would make something a backstop were an upwards shot required in a defensive situation. This is one of the reasons I incorporate firing from kneeling and crouching positions into my range sessions. Though it is unlikely that I would have a choice in the direction I am shooting were I to find myself in a home invasion situation, I believe it is good to have options already considered and available beforehand.

Hats off to everyone who has contributed to this discussion.