The sound of a pump action

[BC1]

I don't buy into this. Get an alarm, dog, motion lights, etc. you'll be awakened before anyone gets inside.Then lock yourself armed in the safe room (bedroom) and call 911. The objective is to NOT fight. I don't recommend walking around the house thinking that racking a shotgun is a deterrent. As defensive tactics, awareness and avoidance are the first line of defense.

 

[CharlieK]

Hey, Whitefeather, I like your handle. From the great Carlos Hathcock, I presume?

 

[DLeeHarley]

You know if the sound of racking in a shell causes them to tremble what do you think they'll do when they hear my 12ga go off? If I shoot like I'm capable of they won't have a chance to crap their pants. If I miss because of adrenaline or what ever I really think my message will have been conveyed.

 

[stingray2100]

hehe. Got to love it.

I hear this all the time at the begining of my dfensive classes.

My response is... if they lucky enough to be able to hear me rocking the pump on my shotgun, it is because I'm reloading...(yes you can miss with a shotgun, anyone that tells you that you can not miss with a shotgun has never used one).

for every foot of travel you have a 1" expansion on your pattern (00 buck has 9 pellets, do the math).

get a good reliable shotgun that is drop safe and with a safety (all modern shotguns, including the cheap ones have both features).

have your shotgun on a quick mount...it is that easy ( and safe).

 

[kelcarry]

I hear so many people say the keep thur shotgun mag loaded but not chamber loaded, and plan on the sound of their shotgun being racked to scare off an intruder.

What are your opinions on this?

I personally like my chamber loaded pistol for home defenses and don't think that many criminals who break into a occupied home would be scared of the sound of a shotgun.

I used to do what you first mentioned and then thought it over and found it to be patently ridiculous, in addition to letting the bad guys know I was in my bedroom. I decided that leaving one in the chamber is faster and more to the point and if someone dares to step into my locked bedroom, they will not necessarily know I am waiting with a big surprise that will require a new door jam and new carpet in my bedroom once I have greeted them with the utmost in hospitality.

 

[nodaywithout]

After seeing the most recent mythbusters showing the gun vs knife at 21 feet. which adds to my OP, Do you really think that if an intruder is already in your house you can rack the shotgun aim and fire before the BG gets to you?
In my house i have small hallways and small distances throughout the entire house. If someone is in my house my Pistol is my primary my shotgun is my back up. I hit the range as often as possible with a pistol, not so much with a shotgun.

 

[Caribou]

Single action revolvers I carry with an empty chamber under the hammer. Double action revolvers get all chambers filled. Pistols are carried with a round in the chamber. Shotguns are kept with an empty chamber. SA revolvers, shotguns, and any other gun that is not considered drop safe I choose to carry with an empty chamber. Fudo has a great compromise in keeping the chamber open.

Some criminals will turn tail and run at the first suggestion of resistance while others won't stop even after being shot. At least they won't stop immediately. Some will retreat after being shot or shot at. My goal is to keep my home and family safe. If my structure and alarm system does the trick, wonderful. If they get into the house and run when I chamber a round, fine. If I am forced to drop the hammer, so be it. Some criminals will be deterred by an outside light while others will only stop upon death.

While I have had one break in I have had a few guns hit the deck. Keeping my guns in a drop safe manner seems the most prudent to me.

 

[Firefighterchen]

After seeing the most recent mythbusters showing the gun vs knife at 21 feet. which adds to my OP, Do you really think that if an intruder is already in your house you can rack the shotgun aim and fire before the BG gets to you?
In my house i have small hallways and small distances throughout the entire house. If someone is in my house my Pistol is my primary my shotgun is my back up. I hit the range as often as possible with a pistol, not so much with a shotgun.

I think if the intruder is all ready inside your house, you won't have time. That's why its very important to have your firearms ready to go.

 

[fudo]

Single action revolvers I carry with an empty chamber under the hammer. Double action revolvers get all chambers filled. Pistols are carried with a round in the chamber. Shotguns are kept with an empty chamber. SA revolvers, shotguns, and any other gun that is not considered drop safe I choose to carry with an empty chamber. Fudo has a great compromise in keeping the chamber open.

Some criminals will turn tail and run at the first suggestion of resistance while others won't stop even after being shot. At least they won't stop immediately. Some will retreat after being shot or shot at. My goal is to keep my home and family safe. If my structure and alarm system does the trick, wonderful. If they get into the house and run when I chamber a round, fine. If I am forced to drop the hammer, so be it. Some criminals will be deterred by an outside light while others will only stop upon death.

While I have had one break in I have had a few guns hit the deck. Keeping my guns in a drop safe manner seems the most prudent to me.

My "like button" isn't working, but well said:agree:

 

[kelcarry]

I guess the concensus on this thread is that the title should have read "Hollywood myth exposed". End of comment.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I guess the concensus on this thread is that the title should have read "Hollywood myth exposed". End of comment.

Not necessarily true. You can google many stories of the sound of any firearm being actuated stopping a criminal. There are two problems with the way it's represented though, one is that people side with an absolute. Because its does not absolutely work 100% of the time, they don't do it. The other is there is no set example to base your judgement on. One person may be thinking, "The bad guy is standing right in front of me in the dark but he doesn't know it," and the other person may be thinking, "The bad guy is outside my door kicking because he can't open it," while a third person may be thinking, "He has my wife at knife point all ready." Three scenarios, three answer, no consensus.

I feel there is no consensus here. Some leave it loaded. Some leave it unloaded. Some will rack in hopes that the sound does work, but if not, they are ready to fire said weapon. Some leave it unloaded and plan to ride it home very quietly.

From the stories I have read searching, "Racking a shotgun sound," there are a lot of stories it working, and no stories of it giving away someone's position. So while it may not work 110% of the time, it does work. So a myth it is not.

 

[BC1]

After seeing the most recent mythbusters showing the gun vs knife at 21 feet. which adds to my OP, Do you really think that if an intruder is already in your house you can rack the shotgun aim and fire before the BG gets to you?
In my house i have small hallways and small distances throughout the entire house. If someone is in my house my Pistol is my primary my shotgun is my back up. I hit the range as often as possible with a pistol, not so much with a shotgun.

Quite true. It's very hard to swing a shotgun into play in tight spaces or when and intruder is bearing down fast. Handgun is more suited to close-quarters fighting.

 

[Deanimator]

If they're impressed by the sound of the action, they'll REALLY be impressed by the sound of a load of #4 buck in the face.

Q - What does the sound of a shotgun action being worked REALLY mean to a violent criminal?
A - That the inhabitant isn't prepared for the confrontation, and may not be as serious about what he's doing as the aggressor is.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Good point!
Now I have to type something to make up the 15 words...:lol:

 

[fudo]

Quite true. It's very hard to swing a shotgun into play in tight spaces or when and intruder is bearing down fast. Handgun is more suited to close-quarters fighting.

As most cops will tell you, clearing a house is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Many cops "die" in training, some more than once. If you think someone is in your house the safest way to go is hole up with your family, gun, and your cell phone and call 911.

 

[Firefighterchen]

If they're impressed by the sound of the action, they'll REALLY be impressed by the sound of a load of #4 buck in the face.

Q - What does the sound of a shotgun action being worked REALLY mean to a violent criminal?
A - That the inhabitant isn't prepared for the confrontation, and may not be as serious about what he's doing as the aggressor is.

I usually agree with what you have to say. But in this instance, you speak about criminals in a way that doesn't fit the majority of their fears.

 

[nodaywithout]

My firearm regardless of the type of firearm will be my last resort. If it comes down to using my firearm in my home as said last resort i will likely use one of my handguns.
911 is the best choice without a doubt, however we all know there is always a chance the difference between calling 911 first or squeezing off a few well placed rounds first could be a life or death decision on your part.

It always pays to have a plan of action, my wife will call 911 I will retrieve our child and grab my 1911. My pit bull will act as a deter-ant for any threat. If they make it past my dog and the cops have not shown up, if my family is still in imminent danger then my 1911 will be called to action.

 

[Aaron Coleman]

It's a universal sound.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

My firearm regardless of the type of firearm will be my last resort. If it comes down to using my firearm in my home as said last resort i will likely use one of my handguns.
911 is the best choice without a doubt, however we all know there is always a chance the difference between calling 911 first or squeezing off a few well placed rounds first could be a life or death decision on your part.

It always pays to have a plan of action, my wife will call 911 I will retrieve our child and grab my 1911. My pit bull will act as a deter-ant for any threat. If they make it past my dog and the cops have not shown up, if my family is still in imminent danger then my 1911 will be called to action.

The BG must be desperate to be able to continue on advancing despite all the commotions and movements and the dog, don't you think? Unless perhaps it is a home invasion or some authorities making a mistake entering your home. Come to think of it, if we have a child still living with us, as parents, we will have to both go to our child's room straight off while calling 911 and hubby makes sure we are all OK...thank you for making me think of possibilities.

 

[Deanimator]

As most cops will tell you, clearing a house is one of the most dangerous things you can do. Many cops "die" in training, some more than once. If you think someone is in your house the safest way to go is hole up with your family, gun, and your cell phone and call 911.

This can of course be taken to ridiculous extremes.

You should at least have a REASONABLE belief that somebody's in your house before you call the police.

In my home, there's no way for them to get in if I "hole myself up".

I'm not going to call the cops every time I hear a noise. One night about ten years ago, I heard a loud crash in my living room. Rather than hide under my bed and call the cops, I got a flashlight and my M1911 and went to see what it was. Turns out a shelf collapsed under the weight of a load of books, dumping them on the floor. Make enough calls to the police for that, and they're going to stop coming... of course I have no expectation that they'll come AT ALL. They have no legal duty to come in the first place.