Racking a pump action shotgun: Deterrent or Provoker?

[Bert Gamble]

I was once told (At Gunsite) that storing a shotgun fully loaded can cause corrosion due to dissimiliar metals, and that you should keep it "Cruiser Ready", meaning that you need to rack it.

[cnj]

Don't overthink this. There are far too many variables in a real life situation to make any assessments while sitting behind a keyboard. That said, my OPINION is that the sound of racking the slide will produce one of two results. 1-The intruder will be scared off (best possible outcome). 2-He is still going to try to kill you, but he now knows he will have a real fight on his hands.

[purer00r]

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[toby]

The racking of a slide would only frighten one that knows the sound, most crooks are too lame to know what it is, crack heads. IMO.

[paintballergb]

Store your shotgun in the way that is most comfortable to you and forget about the sound, though I would think it would be more of a deterrent. I store my all my weapons loaded with empty chambers. That's just how I feel most comfortable. My Malinois that insists on sleeping between me and my wife will buy me the half second I need to rack a round.

[-hanko]

I was once told (At Gunsite) that storing a shotgun fully loaded can cause corrosion due to dissimiliar metals, and that you should keep it "Cruiser Ready", meaning that you need to rack it.

So, you'll see galvanic corrosion if the shell is in contact with the steel bolt, but you won't see it with the shell in contact with the magazine tube.

Lack of logical thinking, coupled with zero knowledge of galvanic corrosion, maybe?

[hermosabeach]

Drunk

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

So the drunk or stoned person walking into your home versus the neighbors home where they are staying...



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Seriously - how many people practice malfunction drill with a shotgun?
If you short stroke the action, and you now need the gun to be running, how do you clear it??!


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[003]

The sound of a shotgun racking as a deterrent is as noted above “Hollywood nonsense”. This myth has been going around for a very long time. Much like the M-1 rifle clip ejection sound being used by an enemy soldier to know when to attack. Pure urban legend with no basis in fact or real world experience.

[bruss01]

I keep mine "cruiser ready" by the bed.

Racking a shell into the chamber is not a "warning" so much as a statement of intention. Yes, I will shoot, it's on your own head if you force a confrontation. I would also call out a verbal notice that the cops have been called. I'm expecting the invader to be so high or deranged he ignores those calls to self preservation and makes me actually shoot him. I just want it on the 911 recording that he had ample opportunity to save his bacon before the lead started flying. If he happens to be sane or sober enough to take that opportunity to leave then great, he just saved me a huge amount of cash for legal fees or civil suit and cleaning up one hell of a mess.

I tend to wake up groggy and disoriented, especially if deep asleep. I like having an extra half second and one major motor function between me and a chambered shotgun. As I said cruiser ready... tube full, chamber empty, safety off... grab, rack, bang.

[TacticalThug]

I'm sorry, this isn't a Hollywood myth. I live in the hood, and have had so much experience with criminals. 98 percent of the time the sight or sound of a gun is enough, no need to murder anyone.

[epilepticninja]

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?

Here we go again. And hell yeah, you come into my house, I'm going to do whatever it takes to stay alive including ambushing your ***. Where in the rule book does it say I have to announce myself?? CK, you are going to get the same response that GW gave from a bunch of people here. I've had the same argument with others about this same subject. I say let them do it their way. And if their way was really the best answer, then LE and .mil would clear buildings by walking thru racking pump shotguns back and forth.

[Psykoasn]

How I see it and what others have said

If it just some low life crook after your stuff, any type of noise will scare them away

If its someone bent on harming you or your own, it will iust let them know you have a shotgun, and they will most likely pull out there own weapon

[OutlawDon]

It is neither a deterrent nor provoker. To think you have any damn idea what the state of mind the assailant/s are is pure illusion. The sound of racking the shotgun is just a small effect of getting the gun ready for action. You might as well add a lion's roar and the wail of some crying babies if you think and hope that they will hear you and be scared off.

And of course you'd want your family and you to stay quiet. Why the hell would you announce your position? Would they tell you theirs and their plan of action to rob rape steal from you?

And what's your plan if the sound is not a deterrent and they still keep coming at you? Now what is your backup plan??

Get your mindset out of Hollywood please.

[-hanko]

The only things approaching...

...the derp of a Rack-the-Shotgun-or-Not thread might be a bear thread, or maybe a Which-Oil-Should-I-Use? thread.

Thanks for the entertainment.

[Mayor McRifle]

I'm sorry, this isn't a Hollywood myth. I live in the hood, and have had so much experience with criminals. 98 percent of the time the sight or sound of a gun is enough, no need to murder anyone.

I suppose it wouldn't work for a psychotic killer or someone in a drug-induced stupor hellbent on murdering you, but for typical unarmed burglars (especially juveniles), it would definitely have a deterrent effect. I don't see what the problem is, anyway. Practice racking your shotgun at the range. Set it down on the bench, and learn to rack it as you bring it up to firing position, as you would do when getting ready to fire at home. Or practice at home with snap caps. Rack, lift, disengage safety, and aim all in one fluid motion. If the intruder keeps coming at you or a member of your family, you're ready to go in about a second or so. It takes a lot less time than it does to retrieve a shotgun from under your bed, in your closet, or in a safe. I keep mine propped up against the wall right next to my bed post.