OK guys; lets get real here. There is a reason that the term "cruiser ready" exists. It exists because the people who use shotguns for a living know the possibilities of a chambered SG round. Most shotguns today have a safety that locks the trigger, and the trigger only. It does not lock the firing pin or hammer. Thus the same problem that existed with many handguns of yesteryear(and some today), that of firing when dropped or shocked in some manner existed. The same problem exists with most all shotguns of today, and probably the future.
The only time I feel it is safe to carry a SG with the chamber loaded is when ready to fire, as in weapon in hand(s) and one is in danger. Like in Iraq, I suspect that the troopers carrying SGs around on patrol are chamber loaded, safety on. Makes sense to me. However when they are back in a cantonment area, their shotguns like their rifles are chamber empty.
I am not trying to tell anyone how to keep their SD weapons, but just the act of picking up a chamber loaded shotgun can present the possibility of knocking the weapon around, add in the tension and unpredictibility of a pending confrontation by someone who dosen't do it every day, and the potential for a AD goes way up. And an AD with a shotgun is very bad medicine indeed.
As for the "ker chunk" potential, well I have never observed it to have much effect on someone dumb enough to put themselves on the business end of a HD scenario. They are not home invaders because they are smart(or sober), you know. As for giving away your position, that may be a consideration in a real tactical situation(sneaking up on BG at night in the bush), but in a HD scenario I think that too much is made of the "tacticalness" of that situation. Remember you are DEFENDING which almost by definition means a static holding situation while the police are arriving. I am not saying that you should retreat from a BG in your home, but after almost a half century of carrying weapons professionally, I am not sure I want to be doing any room clearing by myself, even if I know the terrain like the back of my hand. A nice static defensive posture will insure you survive the confrontation, AND the legal aftermath.
Exceptions? There are always exceptions. I keep my Winchester 97 chamber loaded and hammer down, as with hammered doubles. Hammerless doubles are kept chamber empty with 2 rounds rubberbanded to the barrel just ahead of the receiver, and a butt cuff with 5-6 more.
