Bird shot is for birds, dear lady. Even at close range that stuff won’t penetrate a stiff leather jacket. Get rid of it.
L
Oh, but it does such a fine job on the face and eyes. I keep a birdshot [well, a #4 goose load] in my bear insurance shotgun for just that very reason. But it's not the first one up the spout.
Should Mr. Bruin, or other pests up on their two hind legs be far enough out that the shot load is ineffective, no great loss, crank away and let fly again. But if the first one didn't do the job, it's nice to be able to slap him around a bit in a way he won't like.