With the message that I posted about the stranded kayakers and the tube incident at the damn, I am reminded about an article I read about an imporvised "line throwing gun" in some sort of book.
The idea was to use a shotgun, a broom handle a bit longer than the barrel and a shotgun shell cut down to eliminate the projectile.
The story was that by taping a light line to the broom handle that projected from the barrel, the shotgun could be used to project the broom handle into the air with some degree of accuracy, carrying the light line behind it.

I have always wondered if it would work and if so, how safe it might be.
Anyone have any experience with something like this?