Racking a pump action shotgun: Deterrent or Provoker?

[retiredAFcop]

I have had several situations where I have had to "rack the slide" of a pump shotgun or a 1911 to chamber a round, and in all of them, it caught everyone's attention, and got everyone to shut up and start listening. I never had to go much beyond that point, because the suspects became compliant when faced with the obviously loaded gun at the ready, and we either de-escalated the situation and resolved the misunderstanding or put somebody into custody.

So if you are dealing with a "You need to know I mean business" situation, it's often a good thing.

Also, you do have to rack it to chamber the first round - and I'm not going to trust myself to be fumbling around in the dark, trying to pick up a loaded shotgun with a chambered round while at the same time trying to wake up and figure out whether there's a real threat, or if my cat/dog/kid/houseguest just knocked something over in the living room.

However, if your worry is ninja assassins, it will just give them warning, give away your position, and make you a target.

[perpetual otter]

LoL

Stupid thread...

[greensoup]

Its pretty easy. A majority of robbers don't want any confrontation at all, they'll run from an alarm, dog, gun, yelling.

Any robber that doesn't to run right away, probably isn't going to run. Shoot them.

[Dee_Dub]

i saw a female deputy rack a shotgun one hand. It didnt deter me, It turned me on.

[hambam105]

There is definitely a right and wrong response here:

Never Bluff with a Shotgun.

[Mayor McRifle]

There is definitely a right and wrong response here:

Never Bluff with a Shotgun.

Who's talking about bluffing?

[CYNICALifornia]

Slightly off topic, but it drives me crazy in movies when the Swat team shows up and as the enter the room and aim you hear a bunch of racking sounds.

[GW]

^^
Really, Its like the entire team suddenly remembered that they are going into a dangerous situation and should charge their weapons in sync.

[CYNICALifornia]

They must do it on purpose for the intimidation factor...

[Maddog5150]

I read a lot of nay sayers. I know from personal experience when I lived in a more questionable area that I racked a shotgun when someone was messing with the door and they ran off.

[johnthomas]

Last year, I heard my back gate open and close. It is on the side of the house with no light. I went out to the corner of the house and said, who is there then I racked the 870. I heard feet, finger on the trigger if someone was charging me. Then I heard the gate open and close again and heard them running down the street. For me, it worked as a deterrent.

[Thepug99]

I would walk around the house continuously racking the gun. That should scare someone. I also would not shoot 00 buck. 9 pellets = 9x the lawsuit.

[Mayor McRifle]

I also would not shoot 00 buck. 9 pellets = 9x the lawsuit.

FUD. Let me guess . . . Southern California?

[Thepug99]

You're right I'm from so cal

[ElDub1950]

I read a lot of nay sayers. I know from personal experience when I lived in a more questionable area that I racked a shotgun when someone was messing with the door and they ran off.

Not saying it won't work. Just saying that sneezing would have done the same thing and you would already have a round chambered if they kicked in your door while you were approaching it.