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To anyone reading the two quotes above ^^^^^^^
Birdshot and the "scary sound of a pump shotgun being racked" are NOT what most members of this board/forum advocate.
Stick with larger pellets that penetrate deeply enough to disrupt the vital organs. Birdshot is for birds, and slugs, #1, 0, 00, 000 buck are for people. (some people feel #4 is acceptable/good as well while others feel it doesn't reliably penetrate deep enough - not MY first choice, but I wouldn't volunteer to stand in front of it either)
The sound of a shotgun being racked will do little more than give your position away to the intruder/assailant. Doing so will give him/her time to think, a location/direction to shoot toward, and/or possibly a location/direction to rush. (though a single action firearm without the internal safety mechanisms most handguns have might be better stored condition 3/chamber empty - your preference)
(I have NOTHING to back this up, just stuff I'm admittedly pulling out of the air):
Most people don't rack their shotguns with their muzzle in the direction of the target, most people hold their shotguns in a diagonal position with the muzzle up and to one side slightly less than 90 degrees from the target.
Based on Tueller #s combined with the retention issues of a fully stocked shotgun w/ 18" barrel and the limited dimensions of most people's homes, the guy rushing has a pretty decent chance if he's even somewhat athletic; especially with the momentum he'll have crashing into you like a runner "freight training" a catcher covering home plate.
Birdshot and the "scary sound of a pump shotgun being racked" are NOT what most members of this board/forum advocate.
Stick with larger pellets that penetrate deeply enough to disrupt the vital organs. Birdshot is for birds, and slugs, #1, 0, 00, 000 buck are for people. (some people feel #4 is acceptable/good as well while others feel it doesn't reliably penetrate deep enough - not MY first choice, but I wouldn't volunteer to stand in front of it either)
The sound of a shotgun being racked will do little more than give your position away to the intruder/assailant. Doing so will give him/her time to think, a location/direction to shoot toward, and/or possibly a location/direction to rush. (though a single action firearm without the internal safety mechanisms most handguns have might be better stored condition 3/chamber empty - your preference)
(I have NOTHING to back this up, just stuff I'm admittedly pulling out of the air):
Most people don't rack their shotguns with their muzzle in the direction of the target, most people hold their shotguns in a diagonal position with the muzzle up and to one side slightly less than 90 degrees from the target.
Based on Tueller #s combined with the retention issues of a fully stocked shotgun w/ 18" barrel and the limited dimensions of most people's homes, the guy rushing has a pretty decent chance if he's even somewhat athletic; especially with the momentum he'll have crashing into you like a runner "freight training" a catcher covering home plate.
Someone will pop up shortly to seriously defend those two theories.
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