One in the chamber for your shotgun?

[DieselSmoke]

Yeap, one in the chamber and it's under the bed. Cheap 88 and it's the only one out of the safe.

[03trubluGT]

There are benefits to each.

One in the chamber does offer the element of surprise, however the sound of the slide is a great deterrant.

I keep one in the chamber, but it's in the safe.

[Jeremycg777]

One in the chamber. You break in my house your done.

[forbes]

At my house in Waco I kept an 870 under my bed with one in the chamber. I felt good about the +1 capacity, albeit my primary line of defense was my 125 lbs dog that really, really hates black people.

that is why my dog sleeps in the house at night... anyone breaking in is gonna know i already got woke up by her.

[Moose242]

At my house in Waco I kept an 870 under my bed with one in the chamber. I felt good about the +1 capacity, albeit my primary line of defense was my 125 lbs dog that really, really hates black people.

[Denny]

EVERYTHING I have that I rely on for response purposes remains chambered.

[CJ]

I'm not sure about the majority on the board, but I keep a locked and loaded 870 right near my bed. I'm curious what everyone's thought is on keeping one in the chamber. I've considered this two ways. One is to leave it out of the chamber, if someone were to break in the sound of racking the slide would be a deterrent. However, it also presents a liability because they know you're a) awake, b) aware, and c) armed. So, my personal preference is to keep one in the chamber, so I maintain the element of surprise. Thoughts?