Racking a pump action shotgun: Deterrent or Provoker?

[rambutan316]

Hi fellow Calgunners, I've got a question about using a shotgun for home defense. I recently purchased a Mossberg 500 as my primary defense weapon and am debating whether or not to keep a round in the chamber. Ideally, I would like to avoid having to shoot someone in a SHTF scenario, and I like the idea of scaring an intruder away with the sound of a shotgun racking. However, in the case of a particularly violent or psychotic criminal, can racking the shotgun instigate a violent response, such as the intruder shooting through the door? I would hate to endanger the lives of people around me and would like to avoid a gun battle if at all possible.

[TacticalThug]

Deterrent

[roc_my_tims]

For thw man who it provokes, he was coming in for you rather you came out or not.

[L84CABO]

The whole notion of the sound of a shotgun being racked, scaring away the crook is largely perpetuated by Hollywood. Maybe it will scare him away, maybe it won't. Maybe it will incite someone, maybe it won't. So decide for yourself what YOU are most comfortable with in terms of the storage condition of your shotgun.

And consider this...if the crook got close enough to you to hear the sound of your weapon being charged, you have failed. That weapon should be ready to go long before he gets that close.

That's just my opinion. YMMV. BTW, my Benelli is kept in "cruiser ready" condition (full magazine, live shell sitting on the carrier waiting for the action to be cycled, chamber empty).

[OutlawDon]

Read and apply what is useful.

http://www.rem870.com/2012/04/18/interview-with-chris-costa-part-1/

"And unfortunately especially in America men have a tendency to go up and buy their women 870 shotguns or 12 gauge shotgun or 20 gauge it doesn’t really matter. And they like: “oh, this is for home defense and if you rack it you’ll scare the intruder…” I’m not there to scare the intruder, I’m there to shoot the intruder. If you stepping in my house – you get smoked. So the thing about it is I don’t use a pump to scare somebody I use the pump to shoot somebody."

[afteractionreport]

I keep my m500 unloaded with tube full...i would have to rack it before i blast but if i have to rack it i will have to pull the trigger...i wont rack it if im not threatened...

[RamonSJC]

I'm going semi auto, self loading. Remington A5 as soon as I get some cash. It will be my primary under the bed ready to rock and roll home defense.

[mikenewgun87]

Detergent....laundry detergent. That soapy stuff will blind the intruders.

[dogcatcher]

Patrol ready.

[Mayor McRifle]

I think it's a deterrent.

[stphnman20]

Racking the shotgun means only one thing, putting a shell in the chamber. I don't care if it scares or provokes the intruder. He shouldn't be in my house in the first place.

[MrSam]

Personal preference. I kept my unloaded in fear of younger family members reaching the gun. Now it is kept in a safe, loaded and ready to go. As is the glock.

"Bang" will be more likely to scare an intruder, compared to the sound of a shotgun being racked.

[goose]

Joe Biden said just fire a couple of warning shots in the air.

[border.bandito]

And consider this...if the crook got close enough to you to hear the sound of your weapon being charged, you have failed. That weapon should be ready to go long before he gets that close.

this ^^ is about the best response i've seen yet to these "if i rack my shotty, will the perp poop his pants" threads.

sure, if anyone hears a shotty getting racked, they will think twice. what they choose to do after that 2nd second crosses their mind is a very very dangerous variable. one that i am not willing to stake my life on.
so with that being said, lots of things come into play when you have a gun at home for defensive purposes.
1- are there kids in the household?
2- do you have the firearm at hands reach? (remember, a shotty in a locked safe aint gonna do you any good)
3- are you proficient enough with said firearm to keep one in the chamber and not worry about an accidental discharge
4- etc, etc...

in my mind's eye, the fact that i have a firearm in my household (for defense purposes) tells me that i am absolutely prepared to use it, God forbid that moment ever occur.
so if that moment should ever happen, the last thing i plan on doing is racking the slide...then yelling down the hall; "did you hear that Mr. Perp?"...hhhmmm.....no response, i guess i can rack it again...maybe he will hear it this time.

[Ontos]

A Winchester Model 94 makes almost as much noise cycling the action...and yes, in one particular case, it did work.