As I remember,
As a freshly minted (1982) FO on the Ansett Wombat L188, we carried a 45 in a sealed case with about 10 bullets whenever livestock was carried.
It was the FO duty to sign and get it from Freight Office. We had minimal training on loading and operating of such big black ****er, we never trained to fire it. We where told to shoot UP, never DOWN, controls and hydraulics under floor.
Just before departure to TAS late one night, got a call, FO to office to P U gun. Quick look at freight manifest, only a smalll cage of birds. WTF?
Run to the shed, tried to argue, with a smirk on their face the office staff said, son, rules are rules, if those birds go bersek, just shoot them.
What a great time we had in the Wombat Squadron
A great bunch of crew