Opossums and proper tactical flashlight use

[Cheapdiesel]

This is my first new thread so go easy on me. This morning about 1:33 am the birds in and around the barn sounded a danger alarm (We raise chickens, turkeys and ducks) I jumped out of bed and flipped on the spot lights to see what was going on and my wife stuck her head out of the window while I was looking for my glasses and said there was a coon or opossum or something out there trying to get into the barn. I told her to keep her eye on it while I found my glasses which was taking entirely too long and I was thinking if this was a home defense situation we would be in big trouble. So finally. I had on some pants, shoes, glasses and I grabbed my daily carry 9mm and my small flashlight (at least I could lay hand to the weapon and flashlight without looking) I walked out to the barn while my wife kept her eye on the critter until I located it. Turned out to be a big fat Opossum which started to run around the barn when I approached. I spotted it with the light and site shot the 9mm the round hit it in the back of the neck and removed the top of the head. It seemed be an instant kill. Then I noticed the pain in my left hand. I immediately knew that I had been hit in the heal of the hand by the slide of my weapon and thought now that was dumb. I have practiced Tactical flashlight use with my 9mm but, had never actually fired it when practicing. My advice is to make sure you keep your left hand low enough to stay out of the way of the slide. I don't think I broke any bones but, I was not so sure for awhile and it is still very painful. Oh yea that corbon jacketed hollow point really caused a lot of bleeding in that opossum. I have killed them (raccoons too) with shotguns and rifles and never had so much blood.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Yeah, but you didn't do it NAKED and BAREFOOT!
https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...ess/70760-thwarted_a_massacre_last_night.html


Good kill nonetheless. Two nights ago we came home to break up a party the cat (rodent patrol) was having with a possum. Last night I caught said possum in the live trap before he could get to the chickens.

No quarter on those filthy terrorists!

 

[Cru]

The good thing about this story is you know the things you could improve on for home defense, and other situations! (and nobody was hurt besides the possum.

 

[shibumiseeker]

The good thing about this story is you know the things you could improve on for home defense, and other situations! (and nobody was hurt besides the possum.

You can't really hurt possums. All you really can do is stop their vital functions.

 

[TopDog]

Since you may have need of a light and weapon again for a similar situation it might be a good idea to look into a weapons light. Like a Streamlight TLR-1 LED Weapon Light. They run about $100


Tactical Gun Mount Series - TLR-1 | Streamlight

 

[Cru]

You can't really hurt possums. All you really can do is stop their vital functions.

They seem like mean little buggers.

 

[chewylax8]

Good shooting! At least you figured out what you need to work on in a HD situation. Trying to find your glasses in the dark is not fun, especially when you're half asleep.

 

[schafe]

This is my first new thread so go easy on me. This morning about 1:33 am the birds in and around the barn sounded a danger alarm (We raise chickens, turkeys and ducks) I jumped out of bed and flipped on the spot lights to see what was going on and my wife stuck her head out of the window while I was looking for my glasses and said there was a coon or opossum or something out there trying to get into the barn. I told her to keep her eye on it while I found my glasses which was taking entirely too long and I was thinking if this was a home defense situation we would be in big trouble. So finally. I had on some pants, shoes, glasses and I grabbed my daily carry 9mm and my small flashlight (at least I could lay hand to the weapon and flashlight without looking) I walked out to the barn while my wife kept her eye on the critter until I located it. Turned out to be a big fat Opossum which started to run around the barn when I approached. I spotted it with the light and site shot the 9mm the round hit it in the back of the neck and removed the top of the head. It seemed be an instant kill. Then I noticed the pain in my left hand. I immediately knew that I had been hit in the heal of the hand by the slide of my weapon and thought now that was dumb. I have practiced Tactical flashlight use with my 9mm but, had never actually fired it when practicing. My advice is to make sure you keep your left hand low enough to stay out of the way of the slide. I don't think I broke any bones but, I was not so sure for awhile and it is still very painful. Oh yea that corbon jacketed hollow point really caused a lot of bleeding in that opossum. I have killed them (raccoons too) with shotguns and rifles and never had so much blood.

WOW! I'm glad I decided not to wear the Opossum costume trick or treating at your house last night. OH, thats right, I was in bed by 9:00 PM.........never mind.

 

[shibumiseeker]

WOW! I'm glad I decided not to wear the Opossum costume trick or treating at your house last night. OH, thats right, I was in bed by 9:00 PM.........never mind.

The moral of the story is that chicken owners take the defense of their flock seriously!


Officer, I swear I thought he was a possum!

 

[Cheapdiesel]

The moral of the story is that chicken owners take the defense of their flock seriously!


Officer, I swear I thought he was a possum!

LOL

 

[Cheapdiesel]

The good thing about this story is you know the things you could improve on for home defense, and other situations! (and nobody was hurt besides the possum.

Yea that was really the point for me to write this out so, I could improve things for a HD situation.

 

[Cru]

Yea that was really the point for me to write this out so, I could improve things for a HD situation.

Best thing you can do is practice, practice, practice.

I think my wife could get to our HD positions in her sleep. (which is good because she wakes up VERY slowly)

 

[patience0830]

next time

Best thing you can do is practice, practice, practice.

I think my wife could get to our HD positions in her sleep. (which is good because she wakes up VERY slowly)

Next time save the round. grab your running shoes and a hammer. Neater and cheaper. And you don't need pants!

 

[dak109]

I keep a pitch fork close. Stick them to the ground then go get the rimfire. If they are treed a 12gage workks wonders.

 

[kwatters]

Next time save the round. grab your running shoes and a hammer. Neater and cheaper. And you don't need pants!

I prefer the aluminum youth baseball bat. The ring doesn't wake the neighbors.

 

[cburnworth]

had one in the yard a few weeks back, kept the dog barking for about an hour when I finally went to investigate. saw it out the window, all I had was a 22 with a scope & the 40, needless to say he was gone by the time I got outside. I am not sure what the neighbors would have done with a 40 cal in the middle of the night. now I also have the 12 ga to shoot them with.

 

[Loopie159753]

It’s about 1:50 am and I just came in from killing a possum. I had set the bag of trash on the deck instead of taking it to the garbage can. I heard some noise outside and when I looked out the window I saw what I thought were three cats fighting. One “cat” went one way and the other two went the other way. I opened the door to see if they had already gotten into the trash and seen the butt of a possum sticking out of the trash bag. Now all I have is a .45 handgun so that was out of the question so my next option was a 1000fps pellet rifle gun. I shot it in the butt and it ran all the way into the bag. I went to get another pellet and when I came back I had to follow a trail of blood to a pile of scrap metal it was hiding under. I shined the flashlight under the pile and seen its eyes glowing but it just stared at me. I aimed right between the eyes and took it out. It twitched for awhile but its dead now. Now that I think about it while I’m typing I still didn’t take the trash bag to the can. Oh well I’ll do it in the morning.

 

[Cheapdiesel]

It’s about 1:50 am and I just came in from killing a possum. I had set the bag of trash on the deck instead of taking it to the garbage can. I heard some noise outside and when I looked out the window I saw what I thought were three cats fighting. One “cat” went one way and the other two went the other way. I opened the door to see if they had already gotten into the trash and seen the butt of a possum sticking out of the trash bag. Now all I have is a .45 handgun so that was out of the question so my next option was a 1000fps pellet rifle gun. I shot it in the butt and it ran all the way into the bag. I went to get another pellet and when I came back I had to follow a trail of blood to a pile of scrap metal it was hiding under. I shined the flashlight under the pile and seen its eyes glowing but it just stared at me. I aimed right between the eyes and took it out. It twitched for awhile but its dead now. Now that I think about it while I’m typing I still didn’t take the trash bag to the can. Oh well I’ll do it in the morning.

Nice work

 

[Hoosierdood]

You sure he is dead? Maybe he is just "playing possum".

As to the whole flashlight thing, try crossing your arms at the wrist. Rest your shooting wrist on top of your flashlight wrist. That way the slide wont hit your hand when you fire.

 

[Cheapdiesel]

You sure he is dead? Maybe he is just "playing possum".

As to the whole flashlight thing, try crossing your arms at the wrist. Rest your shooting wrist on top of your flashlight wrist. That way the slide wont hit your hand when you fire.

Now you tell me. I did it that way just had the wrong hand on top