[Todd Hogue]

"Just the sound of racking the action will scare most intruders away". I am sure you have heard that statement before. I posted this on my blog. What do you guys think. Comments?

Does this scenario sound familiar? You’re standing in a gun shop or sporting goods store and you notice a clerk hand a pump action shotgun to someone and declare “just the sound of racking the action will scare most intruders away”. I often wonder how that comment affects the thought process of the hesitant gun owner. My term “hesitant gun owner” is defined as a person that doesn’t have a background in firearms and is shopping for their first self-defense weapon. The hesitant gun owner typically doesn’t have much if any experience with firearms. Maybe crime has skyrocketed in their neighborhood or they know someone who has been assaulted or robbed. Something has caused them to visit this gun shop today and they assume the guy behind the counter knows what he is talking about. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t! While this statement can be a cliché used by the well trained and decisive gun-owner, it can be a stumbling block for the uninformed. It could even get them killed.

Most honest well adjusted citizens don’t want to harm another human being. They just want to be left alone and be able to pursue life, liberty and happiness. So how can this statement cause the hesitant gun owner to get killed? What if they decide not to load their shotgun and just use the “deterrent” of racking the slide to scare away the violent criminal offender? What if that doesn’t work? The odds are it won’t work. With our current revolving door justice system our criminals have become very experienced. The repeat offenders walking the streets today have been pepper sprayed, hit with an expandable baton, tased and some have been shot. Do you really think the sound of racking a shotgun can be relied upon to scare off someone who is threatening you? Is this a helpful thought to put into the mind of the uninformed? The answer is a definite NO!

Gun shop owners should encourage the “hesitant gun owner” to obtain some training from a local or regional trainer. If that is out of the question due to the cost of tuition then frequent practice should be the next suggestion. Buying a shotgun and placing it in the closet is not an effective way to protect life and limb. In order to stay familiar with the shotgun a quarterly trip to the range would be my suggestion. Almost everyone can afford a six or seven dollar box of shells for practice every 3 months.

Next time we will shed some light on the often heard gun shop statement “you don’t even need to aim a shotgun, just point and shoot”. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth…

Todd
http://gun-guy.blogspot.com/

[wtf0ver]

The sound of a shotgun racking is very intimidating. It's unmistakeable and might change the mind of your run of the mill smash and grab type burglars. The hardened criminals maybe not. if you don't have it loaded and if you're just relying on the sound of it racking to deter a burglar you're sadly mistaken.

[Jon_R]

Originally Posted by wtf0ver

The sound of a shotgun racking is very intimidating. It's unmistakeable and might change the mind of your run of the mill smash and grab type burglars. The hardened criminals maybe not. if you don't have it loaded and if you're just relying on the sound of it racking to deter a burglar you're sadly mistaken.

It will likely force the bad guy to a decision point. Fight or flee. No telling what that particular bad guy will choose.

If the racking of your shotgun is followed by the sound of the racking of his shotgun you will really wish you had practiced more because you are getting ready to experience some drama.

[PeaceKeeper]

The sound of a pump shotgun is extremely effective, that is when it is proceeded immediately by a large muzzle flash and loud boom.

[gruntmedik]

Originally Posted by Jon_R

...If the racking of your shotgun is followed by the sound of the racking of his shotgun you will really wish you had practiced more because you are getting ready to experience some drama.

That's sig line material right there.

[dorkweed]

Originally Posted by wtf0ver

The sound of a shotgun racking is very intimidating. It's unmistakeable and might change the mind of your run of the mill smash and grab type burglars. The hardened criminals maybe not. if you don't have it loaded and if you're just relying on the sound of it racking to deter a burglar you're sadly mistaken.

I'm not proud to admit this; but here goes. Last week I went pheasant hunting with a couple friends. One of brought along a Remington 870.................unbeknownst to me. When the time came and we were preparing to enter the field, he racked the action on his 870 to chamber a round, and I honesty pooped myself. Not just a little nugget either..............big time load. Never before have I heard such a terrifying and intimidating sound.

That's said joking of course!!!! Yeah, if you're trying to be "SilentMan" and burglarize a house, and hear that sound.............yeah, the old sphincter might tighten up instantly or it might open fully!!

[mixflip]

Home defense shotguns are meant for shooting people...not scaring people.

[bug]

Originally Posted by mixflip

Home defense shotguns are meant for shooting people...not scaring people.

There will be no better responses than this
+1

[B Coyote]

Originally Posted by mixflip

Home defense shotguns are meant for shooting people...not scaring people.

An excellent paraphrase of Travis Haley from Magpul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XCv0X6SqUg

bc

[AggiePhil]

You beat me to it. "I don't use a pump to scare somebody. I use a pump to shoot somebody."

[PrO...]

Unfortunate for any criminal caught trying to rob/harm my family and me...

I have a semi-auto!

[Uncle T-bone]

I only want the bad person in front of my shotgun to see a bright flash and hear a loud boom and then maybe, just maybe hear me rack it...

[ssgrock3]

Originally Posted by Uncle T-bone

I only want the bad person in front of my shotgun to see a bright flash and hear a loud boom and then maybe, just maybe hear me rack it...

anything less than this gives away your position. Good post above.

[aippi]

Many guys on these blogs think of HD as the final scene in "Scareface". They watch to many movies.

Most every time if someone breaks into your home it is because they think no body is there. When they realize that someone is, they get out of there because the messed up.

Yes, there are occupied home invasions that you hear about on the news and you hear about them because they are so rare. And yes, a single woman living alone is at a greater risk for this. However, most of these occupied invasion involve drugs or large amounts of cash. This just does not affect most all of us and thinking a group of armed thugs are coming to your house is unrealistic.

If you hear a sound and think someone is out there, call out " I am Armed and on the phone with the police" then rack that pump. If someone was there you will hear a door slam or window break as they dive out it.

Thinking you can just sneak up on someone and shoot them for being in your home is wrong headed. There are ways for a person to end up there and not be intending you harm. If you are that afraid to live alone then move back in with your parents so they can protect you.

[vafish]

Originally Posted by aippi

Many guys on these blogs think of HD as the final scene in "Scareface". They watch to many movies.

Most every time if someone breaks into your home it is because they think no body is there. When they realize that someone is, they get out of there because the messed up.

Yes, there are occupied home invasions that you hear about on the news and you hear about them because they are so rare. And yes, a single woman living alone is at a greater risk for this. However, most of these occupied invasion involve drugs or large amounts of cash. This just does not affect most all of us and thinking a group of armed thugs are coming to your house is unrealistic.

If you hear a sound and think someone is out there, call out " I am Armed and on the phone with the police" then rack that pump. If someone was there you will hear a door slam or window break as they dive out it.

Thinking you can just sneak up on someone and shoot them for being in your home is wrong headed. There are ways for a person to end up there and not be intending you harm. If you are that afraid to live alone then move back in with your parents so they can protect you.

I agree with Aippi mostly, No rational person is going to stay in a home if they know there is a armed homeowner with a shotgun.

But, in my case I got a couple of barking dogs. If their noise hasn't persuaded an intruder to leave, then I'm not going to bother racking the shotgun. Besides that, racking the shotgun would eject the shell in the chamber.

[ADK_40GLKr]

Originally Posted by vafish

Besides that, racking the shotgun would eject the shell in the chamber.

I agree - I wouldn't want to waste any advantage I have with a load of buck already in the chamber.

[Bucky89]

Originally Posted by aippi

Many guys on these blogs think of HD as the final scene in "Scareface". They watch to many movies.

Most every time if someone breaks into your home it is because they think no body is there. When they realize that someone is, they get out of there because the messed up.

Yes, there are occupied home invasions that you hear about on the news and you hear about them because they are so rare. And yes, a single woman living alone is at a greater risk for this. However, most of these occupied invasion involve drugs or large amounts of cash. This just does not affect most all of us and thinking a group of armed thugs are coming to your house is unrealistic.

If you hear a sound and think someone is out there, call out " I am Armed and on the phone with the police" then rack that pump. If someone was there you will hear a door slam or window break as they dive out it.

Thinking you can just sneak up on someone and shoot them for being in your home is wrong headed. There are ways for a person to end up there and not be intending you harm. If you are that afraid to live alone then move back in with your parents so they can protect you.

Europe has more "hot" burglaries than the US by a substantial margin. I remember reading an article about it and they attributed it to gun ownership.

"Hot" referring to the owner being in the structure at the time

[GoBow]

You don't have any guarantee that the BG will even hear you rack the slide. Most folks (and animals too) unconsciously turn off their hearing if they are moving. They'll hear their own footfalls and whatever noise they make; but they won't hear other sounds unless those sounds are really loud. You could strike up a brass band and they still might not hear it. They're too preoccupied with the sounds they're making.

[JBnTX]

I think it's just one more of those highly overrated gun myths.

It just assumes too much, and that's dangerous in a HD situation.

[southernshooter]

Don't want to do the slide rack thing. Dump one round onto the ground and give my position away.

[Glockdude1]

No matter where you come from, everyone understands 12 ga pump......

[aippi]

Gobow - just post proves you have never heard an 870 racked with authority in the dead of night. There is no sound like it, nothing. Most anyone knows that sound nothing says get the F out of here like that sound.

[AggiePhil]

Deleted. It's Christmas.

[SarcoBlaster]

Originally Posted by AggiePhil

Remind me never to take a class from AI&P Tactical (though I've never heard of them prior to today). Mindset problems.

[1faSStchevy]

Only the second guy will hear my Mossberg "rack the action"