Racking a pump action shotgun: Deterrent or Provoker?

[ruchik]

It doesn't matter if it's a deterrent or provoker. The only time an intruder should be hearing you racking it is if you've stored it cruiser safe, or if you're pumping out the empty. Your intent should be to stop the threat. What happens when an intruder hears you racking it is not up to you anyhow.

[hermosabeach]

Racking the action under stress can induce a short stroke malfunction.



If you have kids, they might run

If you have hardened kids or hardened adults, they might just come shopping for your gun.



Take some good 4-5 day shotgun classes.

Learn as much as you can

[Nick Adams]

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...

I agree with this. As far as short stroking, with that kind of adrenaline I'd be more worried about breaking the thing in two, I'd be racking it so hard. Short stroking usually happens when one is tentative. Slam it back, slam it forward.

[Get3CoffinsReady]

I like the deterrent of firing a round of buckshot into the bad guys chest more than I like the sound of an action.

[Bert Gamble]

If the racking of a shotgun does not scare the carp out of anyone in your house without permission, you know you have to drop them because they are planning some serious damage to you.

Any bad guy who is just looking for a quick score will either drop to the ground and beg for his life, or run like a jack rabbit outta there.

[Napalm Bulldog]

I say deterrent, I dont care who you are the sound of a shotgun being racked gets your attention. Kinda like a rattle snake rattle!

[Subotai]

Running outside with my shotgun worked well.

[davidb]

if i were a psychopatch intent on murder, i believe the sound of a shotgun being racked would tell me a) you are armed, and b) which general direction you're in

hope and pray that the psychopath has some fear of death or a belief that he is outgunned

[GW]

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.

I guess you must live in a great big house.I guarantee that you could hear my shotgun being racked in any room of my modest tract home. Probably even the garage.
There's no need to charge/rack that shotgun until the bad guy has alerted you in some way that he is in the house. If he's in my back yard, making enough ruckus to wake me up then I still rack that gun and hit the ******* with the floodlights.
I am of the opinion that racking the shotgun says "I am awake, I am armed and I am ready. Get out now, while you still can."
If the bad guy splits-- Great I win.
If it provokes him to charge then its a damn good thing I racked/loaded that shotgun, isn't it?

[CK_32]

Stupid IMO.


That's as useful as yelling I'm calling 911 or banging knives/bats on the ground saying I have a knife/bat.

[GW]

Stupid IMO.


That's as useful as yelling I'm calling 911 or banging knives/bats on the ground saying I have a knife/bat.

So are you saying stay quiet and lurk in ambush for the BG? Or are you saying keep the shotgun locked and loaded all the time?

What is your solution to the bad guy in your home problem?

[philobeddoe]

So are you saying stay quiet and lurk in ambush for the BG? Or are you saying keep the shotgun locked and loaded all the time?

What is your solution to the bad guy in your home problem?

If he hasn't bled out from the dog bites and still presents a mortal threat, my solution would be to shoot him.

[mossy]

both. it will scare most, but the ones it dose not scare already knew they were coming to kill you.

[Snoopy47]

[RR.44]

It would deter a smart crook, it wouldn't deter a stupid crook, you can't fix stupid