Poll: Rack the shotgun?

"Rack The Slide"?

  • I have never "Racked the slide" in the presence of bad guys, don't know if it works.

    Votes: 176 85.4%

  • I "Racked the slide" and the bad guys attacked me.

    Votes: 3 1.5%

  • I "racked the slide" and the bad guys didn't seem to notice.

    Votes: 5 2.4%

  • I "racked the slide" and the bad guys talked "Smack" as they casualy left.

    Votes: 4 1.9%

  • I "racked the slide", and the bad guys surrendered.

    Votes: 5 2.4%

  • I "racked the slide", and the bad guys ran away.

    Votes: 13 6.3%

  • I "Racked the slide", and the bad guys actually soiled their pants.

    Votes: 7 3.4%
  • Total voters
    206
  • Poll closed .
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I'm a retired cop and done it hundreds of times over the years. At 0230 hours, in a dark alley, it worked every time for me. Burglars really didn't like hearing it and usually gave up as soon as sighted. On Felony Car Stops, it makes a big difference. There's nothing quite like the sound of an 870 being racked when it's really quiet, especially when you've snuck up on them and they don't know you're there. Sometimes I miss the thrill of the hunt, but realize I'm now too old to keep up.

Been there, done that, didn't even get a gold watch...........

Fred
 
I keep my shotgun in "cruiser ready" condition - action open on an empty chamber, safety on - so I would pretty much have to rack the slide to get it ready to fire.

That being said, I would not use the "rack the slide" thing to try to intimidate anyone - it could possibly not work out quite the way you intend it to.
 
One time on guard duty I had a Marine leaving the area with a package that was required to be signed for by a Major in my presence. I asked him to stop and he told me to F... off a..h..... On guard duty we carried our shotguns with a fully loaded magazine of buck and and empty chamber. After racking the slide my name went from a..h... to sir. :what:
 
I don't keep a round chambered, but it's mainly because of my house situation with small children. When the 870 is cocked, the slide won't rack unless you know to press the lock on the trigger guard. It's the compromise that fits my situation.

I will say, there's a big difference between racking the slide hoping to affect guys outside your house, and doing it when there is a guy creeping through your house hoping to John M. Browning that he hears absolutely nothing as he robs you. The thing to remember is it may well cause panic and attack instead of fleeing. Assume nothing.
 
You missed the option of "I wont rack the shotgun in the presence of bad guys because it prevents the SG from being immediatly usable, and gives my position away."

If the sound of a shotgun being racked was sufficient for self defense we could just sell sound bites of racking shotguns.

The BG will either run away or he will attack, there is no guarantee and no way to predict which will happen.
 
If there is an intruder in my home, I am not interested in having a conversation with him (a la "Deuling Gun Mechanisms" of slide vs hammer), I want my gun to go BOOM the moment I need it to. He's in my house, all questions have been answered and choices have been made. Slide racking may work wonders, but we're past "orange" at that point.
 
Originally posted by shadowalker:
If the sound of a shotgun being racked was sufficient for self defense we could just sell sound bites of racking shotguns.
Click to expand...

That might not be a bad idea, and there's sort of a precedent; they were selling soundtracks of large barking dogs years ago.

Also, if it's an HD situation and you have a surround-sound system, it negates the previously cited "now he knows where you are" factor.

:D
 
Was TP'ing a house in my younger days, home owner caught us, came out racking a shotgun.... We Ran, Fast.
 
Not first party of course (thank God)
BG's attempting to enter, father grabs old faithful, herds us into back room.
BG's gain entry few min's later, father racks, takes aim on swift moving targets that were in panic mode and seeking egress.

He racked it because he kept the chamber empty for safety.

It makes perfect sense to me.
Rack as you bring it up on target, if they hear it and run, great, if not, there is a bead on the threat...as desired.

Problem contained.
 
I rack it as it comes out of the safe. My Gague stays safety off, full tube, empty chamber in the safe. To me, I'm not losing any really meaningful time by cycling the forearm as I shoulder the weapon. Any additional benefit I get from the sound is fine, but that's not why I keep it that way. I do it for safety, speed, and to maybe help thrust me into an aggressive mindset - plus I think the gross motor skill required to cycle the pump is a little more reliable than the fine motor skill required to flip off the safety. Just my thinking.

Either event the Gague is not in the bedroom, but a 1911 is in the nightstand. THAT one stays empty chamber for safety - I do things in my sleep from time to time that I'm not aware of. Again, I doubt the split second it would take me to cycle the slide would make a meaningful difference in a HD situation.

Either they've got the drop on you, or you've got the drop on them. I doubt cycling the action would really have a significant effect either way. Everything in life is a balance of interests and risks. Pick as best you can.
 
No personal experience, but imho racking the slide would work wonders the 90+% of the time the goblin is trying to loot your place and really isn't looking for a confrontation. It is the other 10% that I worry about. If someone is armed racking the slide is just going to let them know your location, which could be dangerous.
 
jpatterson said:
I tested this theory out a couple weekends ago.

I was lying down on the couch watching tv late into the night and someone comes up and tries yanking my front door open for about 15 seconds then stops. I know all my roommates are inside the house and we aren't expecting anyone at 4am, so I grab my gun (870) and check the front door.

I open it enough to be able to clearly see two sketchy looking guys outside my apartment talking about 15 feet away from my door facing the opposite direction. I opened the door all the way and without stepping out of my actual apartment I rack the slide and load one into the tube. No response whatsoever. After maybe 10 seconds they turned around and looked at me, saw my gun and then walked away pretty quick. If their intentions were worse/hadn't seen my gun it would have been a bad night. My point: DO NOT COUNT ON THIS! While it may work for some people who register the slide being racked, SOME PEOPLE STILL WON'T! Don't take the chance! I am 100% positive these two heard it, but I don't think their brains registered the sound as a threat. That was the first and the last time I will EVER rack the slide as a defensive measure.

These two might have been high as kites/whatever the case, but I will never take a chance with that. I suggest you don't either.
Click to expand...

I'm not understanding the logic. You didn't have a negative experience with racking the slide. For these particular guys and for whatever reason (maybe on drugs, maybe deaf), the sound had NO effect. However, you are now vehemently opposed to racking the slide. The story, as you relayed it, doesn't make sense.
 
Several years ago, while living in an apartment, I heard noises outside the door. A rattle and a thump on the door and some muted talking. I grabbed a 12ga, loaded 4 or 5 shells, moved to the door and racked the slide. I very carefully opened the door and looked out through the crack.

There stood a very ashen faced, frozen to the spot rookie police officer with an expanding wet spot on his pants. He was part of a raid on a next-door neighbor.

I didn't vote in this poll.
 
Shenanigans!!!

Several years ago, while living in an apartment, I heard noises outside the door. A rattle and a thump on the door and some muted talking. I grabbed a 12ga, loaded 4 or 5 shells, moved to the door and racked the slide. I very carefully opened the door and looked out through the crack.

There stood a very ashen faced, frozen to the spot rookie police officer with an expanding wet spot on his pants. He was part of a raid on a next-door neighbor.

I didn't vote in this poll.
Click to expand...

I call shenanigans on this one RIGHT HERE.
 
I have never "racked the slide" in anger. The only time I would rack it would be to ready the shotgun or reload after firing. If the bad guy's got a weapon and coming at you the first and last thing he should hear is you pulling the trigger, not fooling around with the gun.

There is simply no reason to 'rack' a gun other than to load it. If the bad guy happens to hear that and leave because of it, all the better. I'm never gonna go out of my way to let him know where I am and what exactly I have in my hands, I may shout "get the hell out now or die", but thats it.
 
They will have to hear me rack it, because I keep an empty chamber for safety, but that chamber will only become loaded when I'm ready to fire.

Basically, I am not going to count on the sound as a deterrent.


Would be interested more in "Which pump produced the best 'slide racking' sound?" thread/poll.
 
Actually, I use a semiauto for my HD. There might be a small 'click' as I work the safety...

Beyond that, why advertise your presence?
 
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