I have heard now so many times the advice that beginners should get a pump shotgun and use the pumping sound to scare burglars off. Who thought up that tripe? I most recently heard it at a hunter education class. Anyone who has taken beginners out shooting will notice that they tend to short stroke shotguns, that they prefer a lighter weapon than a shotgun most of the time, and that they do not like the seemingly ‘heavy’ recoil of even trap loads. When I take beginners out I have them try a pump shotgun, an AR15 and an AK47. Without fail they like the AR15.
Short stroking is a result of poor muscle memory developement. My agency had 7 OISs in the last 5 years involving our 870s and none of the officers complained about short strokes. We qualify twice a year, and do 1-2 tactical shotgun classes annually. Obviously, a beginner is going to shoot a semiauto better because it takes the human element out of the cycle of operation and they have not developed the gross motor muscle skill of cycling the pump.
There are a lot of benefits to the pump action shotgun that semiautos do not have. You can run any type of ammunition in a pump shotgun and it will function perfectly. With a semiauto you have to run the right power load, with the right shot load to have adequate charge and recoil. Gas semiautos also are more prone to malfuction in variable weather conditions. Reloads and malfunction clearing are about 2-3 times less complex in a pump action than a semiauto as well. Lastly, semiautos require much more maintenance than a pump.
A savvy gun person can reap the benefits of the semiauto, but for your average Joe who rarely takes the shotgun apart, doesn’t do much cleaning, buys Walmart special ammo, and just shoots for fun the pump is a more reliable system for them.
I know what you mean. When I instruct new non leo shooters I have them shoot the ar 15. They are usually intimididated by its looks but after they fire it they love it. No way in hell am I handing a 12 gauge to a novice. Don’t get me wrong though, I love my 870.
A beginner may notice the biggest improvement however all shooters shoot a semi auto faster. The only advantage to a pump gun is the ability to shoot weak ammo such as less lethal. Which is a consideration if you have to use that ammo.
Pat
Not having to aim a shotgun is probably worse. I hear that a lot where there is the misguided belief you point the shotgun in the general direction and it will get what you don’t aim at ><
Also knocking people off their feet.
I know Hollywood has something to do with certain shotgun BS but where charging the shotgun will scare away the intruders is a bit beyond me. Personally I want to have it chambered and ready long before they can distinguish that sound.
What a coincidence this thread is here!!!
I was at a cigar shop last night and heard ALL THREE of these things get said by an old guy in less than a minute. We’d got on the subject of hunting and he asked me if I had a shotgun for home defense. I responded I do but I have my Glock 19 on my nightstand and that would probably be faster.
So he said something along the lines of "You can’t beat a shotgun because -
- when they hear you rack it they’ll run
- and if they don’t just shoot it down a hallway
- and you’ll blow them out of their boots."
I know he was trying to be cool and/or bestow some wisdom upon me, so I just nodded an said “Yup, shotguns are sweet huh.”
Exactly. If it isn’t already chambered, I’d want it done quietly. Deter them from burglarizing you before they enter your home. Once they enter, you’re no longer in deterrence mode.
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Here’s an idea, let’s sell motion detectors that when they are activated play the sound of an 870 getting racked!!!
That should keep our yards and homes prowler free.
I would not be surprised if Sportsman Guide or CTD have these for sale in their next catalog. 
But maybe it’s just me…
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Genius!!!
I have an app for my HTC, that plays sound of pump action when you shake phone…
There are enough reports of the sound of a gun being racked(I don’t think it’s unique to shotguns,) sending invaders/thieves running off that it would be silly to ignore it. It’s probably the most controversial thing I’ve ever said on this site, but enough with the chest thumping already. It’s happened, and it will most likely happen again.
The same is true for lasers, there are enough reports from Iraq of putting a visible laser or two on a windshield causing the cars to stop much more efficiently that I don’t think it can be ignored.
Perhaps the disconnect is that people are advocating that the sound is all you’ll need? That there’s no need to train to actually send lead out the front of it into a body? If that’s the case then it’s certainly hogwash. But since the whole point is to end the encounter without being injured, why dismiss a proven(albeit far from 100% effective) deterrent?
I think that’s exactly the objection. .22lr has killed many a people. Shooting somebody in the thigh has made people collapse and give up instantly. Racking a shotgun can make a burglar run away.
But there’s a difference between what could happen and what is responsible to expect and train for.
Although I see that it probably does occur I am not sure if it can be proven as 100% fact. So many other variables are going on that could cause someone to bolt such as presence of the person, person with the gun, person with any weapon, etc that it could be a coincidence as well as alternatively shouting “stop I have a gun” or chambering a different weapon. Also could have some negative behavior caused by it such as an increased chance of fight instead of flight (person gets more desperate so lashes out at the person where an alternate strategy might increase flight or surrender) not to mention the possibility of being more compromised in terms of ability to fend off an attack if racking a shotgun is done.
With the possible negative results going against a fairly low advantage I don’t think its a good reason to base ones defensive plans around.
Laser comparison I see being a tad off since mostly you don’t compromise yourself with using a laser, its pretty much the best way of letting someone know “your on them”, and so on although they do both have that intimidation principle.
Course the main reason why that thought is frowned upon so much is the implication that that is good enough.
Exactly.
I know of cases where the bad guy was shot and he then fought harder and meaner.
Best to be ready for the worst case type of guy than count on bullshit to carry the day.
“I know of cases where the bad guy was shot and he then fought harder and meaner.” This is why you shoot to stop, not to injure. I have actually heard applicants during an oral interview for a Leo position state that they would shoot a bad guy in the leg, or shoot the gun out of their hand. Too much tv I guess.
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You’ve got to be kidding me? That’s amazing.
The idea that the sound of a racking shotgun will scare BG’s away is pretty laughable. I’m not saying it hasn’t happened, but I sure as hell wouldn’t depend on it. Why announce to you’re intruder what you’re armed with? Seems like you’re giving them an upper hand by tipping yours in my mind.
Why not just keep a baseball bat and when someone breaks in just hit it on the door jamb and yell “I’ll hit you real hard with my bat!”?
I’d prefer the element of surprise remain in my favor, but that’s just me?
Bad advice to beginners is a common thing and I’m not surprised that you’re sick of it. Let’s face it, if you’re not a hunter or a LEO, there are more people who are into guns because they think they’re cool than people who are trying to be professionals (or at least of the more professional mindset).
So since most people are into being cool rather than being professional, and most people are generally uninformed; it makes sense to me that nonsense gets perpetuated for so long. Just like so many people say things like rack the shotgun to scare them away, or a .45 will knock someone back, etc etc.
Most new shooters and gun owners are going to ask the people they know who are more knowledgeable about firearms for advice, but alot of those people probably don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s hard to be informed and educated on everything, and most people aren’t educated on much at all.
So if you’re into guns because they’re cool, and you want to be looked at as cool by other gun owners - then wouldn’t it make sense to say and do things that will get you towards that goal? Things that make you feel like a badass with a firearm?
Shoot the gun out of their hand!
Rack the shotgun and scare 'em away!
A .45 will knock someone down if you hit them in the hand!
The Judge is amazing best home defense gun ever!
AK’s never jam they’re the best rifle ever!
What are some other pieces of bad advice new gun owners tend to get told/believe/think?
I’ve heard this so many times it’s insane… almost as insane as the people that actually believe this shit. It’s been my experience that the people that harbor this mindset have no fucking clue about guns or how to use them especially when it counts. They may own guns but they haven’t shoot them in a decade or two.
I’ll never “rack” my SG to stop an intruder. I’m not going to tell the BG what exactly it is that I’m armed with and I’m not giving my position away. The only way a bad guy will here my SG in action is if I miss with the first shot.
shotgun myths and internet advice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJkX9GEdU0w
For years some of us have just affectionately called the Shotgun forum the “special ed” forum.
That will never change.