Shotgun question?

Question

Is racking a pump shotgun really an effective way to encourage an intruder to leave, or does it just serve to give away your location and lose the element of surprise?

Answer 1

I'm guessing that you don't own a shotgun. This almost sounds like a war zone question. I suggest that you just call the Police, and forget about the element of surprise.

Answer 2

Either way it would scare me. If I heard a racking of a shotgun my next thought is that he/she is going to shoot at any second and I have no chance to run. The element of surprise could be upon you because you don't know what is lurking in your house. Or whom I should say. But since it's your house, you do have the advantage there. If you choose to make the sound, be sure you're behind a safe place so that you don't get hurt if the intruder has a gun themselves.

Answer 3

As a LEO I sometimes had to carry a shotgun in certain situations. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that the sound of a shotgun being racked will usually result in the bad guy stopping in his tracks and yelling, "I give up". That said, I strongly oppose homeowners using any type of firearms to 'frighten' intruders. Statistics show that that is the time when armed intruders (which most are not) shoot first.

Answer 4

Some years ago, I was doing a practice building search exercise while attending a police academy. Part way thru the search I heard the rack of a pump action and it sacred the hell out of me. How would it sound in an actual situation.

Answer 5

If I were a criminal, and I heard a shotgun being "racked" I would get the he!! out.

If you see interviews with criminals, you will find that many of them will say things like.

If a wallet has a chain, I do not bother trying to pickpocket. There are easier targets.
If there is a deadbolt on a house, I move on to easier targets, and
If there is a shotgun around the corner, and I know it, I AM GOING THE OTHER WAY!

Answer 6

You really don't know who is intruding so I say no to your ?.
It could be some strung out crack head who is not afraid of anything. I myself like the element of surprise. Turn off all lights and load quietly. They are on unfamiliar ground. You know your way around. You have the advantage so use it.

Answer 7

gas operated shotguns do no longer incredibly draw back below a operated by hand shotgun of the comparable weight. notwithstanding, gas operation has the consequences of spreading the draw back rigidity out over an prolonged volume of time. because of the fact of this the gas operated gun appears like it has much less draw back.

Answer 8

That is The one sound that you will hear in the dark that will guarantee a brown stain in your Fruit of the Looms.

But, remember...
If you want someone to leave, just showing them a weapon can't pass on the idea you want them to leave. You have to tell them. Racking the slide may make another person look for a weapon for themselves. You have to tell them what you want them to do.

Answer 9

Good question- I see this comment all the time, quoted as Holy Writ, and to me it's a Maybe:
Just do what you are trained to do, and worry about what stopped him/them afterwords.
Was it the sound ?
Was it the sight of the shotgun?
Was it the three rounds to his chest ?

Answer 10

Well it depends what kind of intruder you're trying to repel. A lone thief sneaking into your property in the middle of the night would probably be scared and run away, but if you're talking about repelling the Myanmar junta militia, I think you'd be giving away your location.