I like the .410 idea 

I rung a 12 ga. one day when we kids and got back 
to the cabin after hunting in the wet snow.
Tony was taking his boots off his frozen feet sitting on the fireplace 
hearth about 30 feet away.
 I drew down on  him and said, "Here's for sticking the knife in my foot".
(Mumbly Peg) the night before. I aimed into the fire place and squeezed the trigger. Everyone freaked and Tony went rolling around the floor screaming 
in pain. I thought I must have left some pellets in the shell and they ricocheted ? 
It was the wad that hit him in his frozen foot. 

We stayed friends. Good thing, he could kick my butt.