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14[[quoteright:306:[[ComicBook/SecretWars2015 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cec1b7ef40dba713cb2810d3a102acf1.jpg]]]]
15[[caption-width-right:306:[[ComicBook/ThePunisher Something fun, I bet.]]]]
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17->''"Now doesn't that just torque your jaws? I love that. You know like in the movies, just as the good guy is about to kill the bad guy, he cocks his gun. Now why didn't he have it cocked? Because that sound is '''scary'''. It's cool, isn't it?"''
18-->-- '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiI91igl180 The Caller]]''', ''Film/PhoneBooth''
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20%% One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
21
22CHK-CHK
23
24AKA: The international sound of "You in a whole heap of trouble, son."
25
26The dramatic gun [[HehHehYouSaidX cock]] is employed when a character is up to some interrogation work while holding a gun to someone's head. The subject of the investigation is invited to divulge some critical information. The subject refuses or spouts an insult.
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28Here comes the dramatic gun cock. The interrogator pulls back the hammer of the revolver or pistol, or racks the slide if the pistol has no hammer, [[ImpliedDeathThreat then resumes pointing the gun to the subject's head]]. Usually, this is enough to thoroughly spook the subject into full disclosure. A pump-action shotgun may also be used for this purpose, sometimes with a OneHandedShotgunPump, albeit it's overall not as popular as doing it with a handgun -- even more rare is racking the bolt of a fully automatic weapon. A bolt-action rifle may have a character dramatically work the bolt. Sci-fi settings with [[RayGun guns that don't use bullets]] may substitute a charging capacitor's whine, or use a cocking sound [[RuleOfDrama anyways]].
29
30In other situations, the dramatic gun cock serves to announce a character's presence, or (especially when taking place off-camera) to indicate that the tables have turned in some way. This is a ClickHello, and often occurs in conjunction with a MyNameIsInigoMontoya moment.
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32The sound effect is often added in by sound editors after filming. This can be especially noticeable when the character onscreen is using a gun that cannot be manually cocked. Examples include the Luger and the Glock.
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34The dramatic gun cock may be accompanied by a PistolWhipping. Subtrope of KineticClicking. Can sometimes lead to GunsDoNotWorkThatWay when a (semi-)automatic gun that has already been shown to be actioned recently is cycled again for emphasis, without a round being ejected. Also compare with NoisyGuns which includes many more mechanical noises from guns too, for no reason. Compare HighAltitudeInterrogation, which also relies on getting information through death threats. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Has nothing to do with]] a particularly dramatic PhallicWeapon, but it can overlap.
35----
36!!Examples:
37[[foldercontrol]]
38
39[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
40* ''Anime/TheBigO'': Used by a hostage-taker in the premiere, to get across exactly ''how'' imperative it is that Roger Smith hand the phone over to the hostage's father. It works.
41* ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'': FieryRedhead cyborg Petra pointedly cocks her submachine gun when someone makes a snide comment about her handler Sandro, [[MoreThanMindControl whom she is infatuated with]]. Afterwards Sandro warns her against doing this simply because she is angry.
42* Taken to the extreme in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', where the mere fact of raising a gun makes an audible, intimidating sound.
43* ''Manga/OutlawStar'': Gene does this to Harry once.
44* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': It becomes the trademark sound for Yoko as her rifle has a crazy electronic whine when she cocks it after firing off either an impossible shot, or a hail of blue bolts of death.
45[[/folder]]
46
47[[folder:Comic Books]]
48* Lampshaded in Creator/KevinSmith's ''ComicBook/TheGreenHornet'':
49-->'''Green Hornet''': I mean, I like drama as much as the next guy, obviously, but who the hell points an ''un''-cocked gun at somebody?
50* In ''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}: Year One'', Nightwing stops a group of carjackers, one of whom decides to be cool and dramatically cock his shotgun. Nightwing then mercilessly lampshades this by asking if the crook had seen that on TV, pointing out that he's just ejected a perfectly good round. He then basically leaps on the guy's shoulders, grabs the guy's hand, and forces him to continuously cycle the gun until it's completely empty. There's a reason they call him the Boy Wonder.
51* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', Frankie gives a nice little demonstration of this trope as he's gunning down Cassidy. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield_rifle The Lee-Enfield Mk.III]], as Frankie so joyfully explains, is a favorite piece of his not only because it's very reliable and powerful, but also because the sound of the bolt action doing its thing [[OhCrap puts the fear of God in ya real quick]]:
52--->"Click clack... clack click."
53* ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'': Frank Castle crashes a Villainous End of the World party.
54--> ''Gentlemen, they say that when you die, you can't take it with you. Which begs the question: Exactly what am I gonna do with all these bullets?'' '''[CLAC]'''
55* In ''ComicBook/SecretWarriors'', ComicBook/NickFury has just told his men that they are going after their former comrades-in-arms. Dum Dum objects: 'But Nick, what will you feel when you shoot a friend!?' Fury answers with cocking his gun and a single word: "Recoil."
56* ''ComicBook/SWORD2009'': The conflict between dramatic necessity and the practicalities of technology is beautifully lampshaded.
57-->'''Abigail Brand:''' Okay. This is a ludicrously high-tech gun so it doesn't have anything which makes a handily intimidating noise. So imagine a ''"cllllick!"'' at this point.
58[[/folder]]
59
60[[folder:Fan Works]]
61* ''Fanfic/AllAssortedAnimorphsAUs'':
62** In "What if Elfangor and Loren raised Tobias?", Elfangor loads a gun and points it at Ax because he thinks he's put Tobias in harm's way.
63** In "What if they saved Jake's family?", Tom's Yeerk pulls a Dracon beam out of his pocket when Jake reveals that he knows about the Yeerks, but Marco (in gorilla morph) takes it off him and threatens to shoot Tom if his parents don't get in the car right now. Later, Eva points a gun at Naomi to force her to [[ImpostorExposingTest drink the oatmeal]].
64* ''FanFic/FourDeadlySecrets'': In her duel with India, Ruby chambers a round once she stops playing with him, and her opponent barely has time to recognize her scythe is also a gun before he’s out cold.
65* ''Fanfic/TheGoodHunter'': Natsume, unprepared for the Hunter's assault, flees from his abode. It looks like she has lost him, but then...
66-->''Click.''[[note]]A gun cock is heard, revealing the Hunter to be right behind her, pointing a pistol at the back of her head.[[/note]]
67* ''FanFic/MegamiNoHanabira'': Mai's demon [[Literature/ArsGoetia Barbatos]] is a demonic huntsman with a bolt-action rifle, and chambers a round with a [[PsychoticSmirk smirk]] when Mai asks if he's ready to fight.
68* In ''Fanfic/{{Mutant}}'', The shotgun click gets an entire line to itself.
69[[/folder]]
70
71[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
72* ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'': To fend off the Forty Thieves as they ambush Aladdin and Jasmine's wedding, Genie demonstrates the trope with ''an elephant''!
73-->'''Genie''': FREEZE, SANDBAGS! ''[cocks elephant's trunk like a gun]'' Don't make me use the other end!\
74''[Wind blows out of the trunk, blasting several thieves away. The elephant's trunk deflates. Genie sheepishly puts the elephant down].''
75* This happens to Batman in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'' when Bullock and his SWAT team corner him on a roof.
76* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'', when Kronk's [[GoodAngelBadAngel Shoulder Devil]] does this with his ''trident''.
77* {{Parodied|Trope}} in the climax of ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKingIISimbasPride''; Timon and Pumbaa end up cornered by a group of Outsiders, and Pumbaa crouches in fear with his back facing them. This gives Timon an idea, cocking Pumbaa's tail like a pistol and pointing it at the Outsiders.
78-->'''Timon:''' Don't anyone move! This thing's [[{{Fartillery}} loaded!]] I'll let you have it!\
79''[The Outsiders scream and run away in fright]''
80* ''Anime/Metropolis2001'' has Atlas do this while he's responding to Pero's final question [[spoiler:before he kills him and begins his revolution]].
81* ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'': Variation -- the lever-action rifle in question is fired correctly, but both the camera and character pause considerably when chambering a new round.
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
85* Invoked in ''Film/ThirteenTzameti'' (and the American remake ''13''). Players in a DeadlyGame of RussianRoulette stand in a circle with their guns pointed at the man in front of them. They cock the gun on command, then fire on another signal.
86* The finale of ''Film/AmericanGangster'' has Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) do this ''every single time'' he runs into someone. This works out to racking a shotgun with 4+1 capacity seven times.
87* In ''Film/TheAvengers2012'', the trailer's EstablishingCharacterMoment for Hawkeye (he also has a cameo in ''Film/{{Thor}}''), where he ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOrNdBpGMv8 cocks his bow]]''.
88* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' has Rocket Raccoon arming his RayGun one-handed after released by Giant-Man's hand.
89* ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'': Happens twice as Marty faces the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Biff Tannen]] of [[BadFuture 1985-A]]:
90** First, [[JustBetweenYouAndMe after Biff tells Marty about how he got the]] [[TimelineAlteringMacGuffin Gray's Sports Almanac]] from the old Biff of 2015:
91-->'''Biff:''' He told me one more thing: He said, "Someday, a kid or crazy wide-eyed scientist might show up asking about that book. And if that ever happens..."
92-->(''Biff pulls out a pistol and cocks it, making Marty nervous'')
93** Afterwards, as Biff pursues Marty onto the roof of his casino/hotel:
94-->'''Marty:''' What about the police, Biff? They're gonna match up the bullet to that gun.
95-->'''Biff:''' [[IOwnThisTown Kid, I own the police!]] Besides, they couldn't match up the bullet that killed your old man.
96-->'''Marty:''' [[YouMonster You son of a-]]
97-->(''[[CurseCutShort Biff cocks his pistol]]'')
98* In ''Film/BillyMadison'', Eric does this while aiming his revolver at Billy.
99* In ''Film/BlackHawkDown'', one of the Rangers is shot and killed while manning the [[{{BFG}} Ma Deuce]] on the Humvee's roof. A Delta operator takes his place and racks the machine gun's charging handle before he opens fire.[[note]]A [[ShownTheirWork standard procedure on that weapon]], to ensure that the weapon is not jammed before he tries to use it.[[/note]]
100* ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'': Around 100 rifles, assault rifles, and other firearms are pointed at the brothers in the climactic scene, and we get to hear a lot of them being cocked. [[note]]Interestingly, [[spoiler:the first click-click is the brothers getting handcuffed. Were the officers and soldiers going to shoot them while in custody?]][[/note]]
101* Used in both ''Film/TheBoondockSaints'' films: the [=McManus=] brothers hold their pistols to the back of their victim's head, and recite their family prayer before firing, such that the prayer ends like this: "''In nomine patris, et filii''..." CLICK "...''et spiritus sancti.''" BLAM.
102* In ''Film/TheBourneIdentity'', one of the CIA mooks who fights with Jason Bourne in the stairwell has a dubbed Dramatic Gun Cock not once but twice, having no bearing on what he's actually doing with the rifle at the time. The first time, he has just finished ejecting the magazine and the sound is played shortly before he inserts the replacement. The second time, he is raising the rifle as Bourne approaches [[spoiler:falling through the air while using the mook's team member as a human shield and crash pillow]]. At no point on camera do his hands touch the weapon's cocking mechanism.
103* ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' has a rare post-slug use of this trope when Col. Phillips interrupts a HYDRA goon's attempt at their catchphrase:
104-->'''HYDRA goon:''' CUT OFF ONE HEAD, TWO MORE SHALL--''[Phillips shoots him]''
105-->'''Phillips:''' ''[pumps shotgun]'' [[ShutUpHannibal Let's go find two more!]]
106* ''Film/{{Cliffhanger}}'': The ''clack-clack'' seems to happen every time the villains brandish their assault weapons at Stallone and company.
107* ''Film/CodeOfSilence'': In this Creator/ChuckNorris action thriller, two thugs try to rob a bar. Only when they hear a chorus of gun cocks do they realize it's a bar where off-duty cops hang out.
108* Happens in ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' when Selina Kyle is meeting Stryver in the bar.
109-->'''Selina Kyle:''' You don't count so good, huh?\
110'''Philip Stryver:''' I count fine. ''[The thug standing next to Selina cocks his pistol and trains it at her head]'' In fact, I'm counting to ten, right now.
111* Two of the guards in the opening scene of ''Film/DeathRidesAHorse'' dramatically cock their lever-action Winchesters before they go out to investigate the noises: although all this would do is eject an unfired shell from the rifle.
112* Done briefly in ''Film/{{District 9}}'', as one of Koobus' mercenaries is pointing out that [[spoiler:they were ordered not to use live ammunition in bringing Wikus down after Koobus himself announces that's exactly what they're going to do]]. And how does our good Colonel respond? While staring blankly and apathetically at his visibly concerned subordinate, no less, with the pistol being held off-camera at the time. He was actually in the process of loading his pistol as the merc spoke, so it's a matter of timing, and on that note it's hardly noticeable.
113* In the 1980 film adaptation of ''Literature/TheDogsOfWar'', one of the mercenaries is smuggling automatic weapons across the border sealed up in oil drums. To add tension to the BorderCrossing, he racks back the slide on a pistol when the customs officers appear to be taking too close an interest in the drums. This is despite the fact that the whole point of sealing them in drums was so customs couldn't find any weapons if the van was searched, [[RuleOfDrama so why have an illegal pistol in the first place?]]
114* In Tony Scott's ''Film/{{Domino|2005}}'', a dramatic conversation between Ed and Choco results in Choco cocking his revolver not once, but TWICE, despite the tension level never dropping to a point where the gun is ever, well, un-cocked. Some revolvers have an intermediate hammer position between fully down and fully cocked (hence "going off half-cocked"); it could be that Choco's revolver is one of those, or it could just be dramatic license.
115* ''[[ComicBook/DylanDog Dylan Dog: Dead of Night]]'': Played with ClickHello and deconstructed. For Dylan's introduction, an angry husband puts a gun in his face and cocks the hammer...while Dylan is asleep. Waking up, Dylan comments that he cocked it too early, stating that the gun itself ought to be scary enough, and to save cocking for later to escalate the tension.
116-->'''Dylan:''' What are you gonna do now? Shake it at me?\
117'''Gunman:''' ''[screams and shakes the gun]''\
118'''Dylan:''' ''[unimpressed]'' See? Not as effective.
119* When Laurence Fishburne's character in ''Film/EventHorizon'' acquires a revolver-style bolt gun, he produces not one, but four extremely satisfying gun cocking sounds: He inserts the drum, spins it, snaps the back of the gun shut and then cocks it with a sound more appropriate for a small cannon.
120* Also parodied in ''Film/EvilDead2'', where Ash cocks a type of gun that can't be cocked.
121* In ''Film/AFistfulOfDynamite'' John Mallory issues one of these [[spoiler:before blowing away his former friend-turned-informant Sean Nolan]] with a shotgun.
122* ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'': Done with EnergyWeapons in the climax. Having reached the BigBad, the team [[TeamPowerWalk confidently stride up to her seat of power]] and go through their proton packs' startup-sequence slowly and methodically, which includes ''two'' versions of the gun cock: the simultaneous, distinctive whine of the particle throwers as they're powered on, and the mechanical extension of the wands at their business end.
123-->'''Peter:''' Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown!
124* ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'': During the raid on the pit, Duke has the Baroness and Storm Shadow at gunpoint. When the Baroness approaches him, he thumbs back the hammer on his 1911, which means, up to that point, it was incapable of firing.
125* Averted in the Michael Mann movie ''Film/{{Heat}}'', where the detectives pull back the slide just enough to verify there's a round in the chamber, a technique known as a Press Check, intended to confirm that a weapon is fully ready to fire.
126* When ''Film/TheHebrewHammer'' enters the Kwanzaa Liberation Front's headquarters, the entire KLF points and cocks their guns at him. It takes several seconds.
127* Joe Dawson does it in ''Film/HighlanderTheSource'' before opening fire on The Guardian. Rather silly example in the regard that he is using a pump-action shotgun, and ejects an unspent shell.
128* Done a bunch of times by the hobo in ''Film/HoboWithAShotgun''.
129* Exaggerated to hilarious results in ''Film/HotFuzz'', where the townsfolk are all shown to be carrying full automatic weapons which make a cocking sound whenever moved, shaken, or aimed, sometimes multiple times in the same scene. One shotgun cock is filmed from ''seven'' different angles (which flash across the screen in less than two seconds).
130** During the charge towards the supermarket, there is, shall we say, an inordinate amount of guns cocking (at least 11 times), with no one actually doing anything that would cock the gun. Played for laughs, but only if you're paying attention.
131* ''Film/IronMan''
132** In ''Film/IronMan2'' when Iron Man charges up his one-use laser weapon, the emitters make a sound reminiscent of a shotgun cocking.
133** In ''Film/IronMan3'' a bystander stands behind the Extremis-powered woman fighting Tony Stark and proceeds to give away his position by pumping his shotgun, resulting in her turning around and grabbing it before he can shoot. She then immediately pumps it ''once more'' before firing at Stark. She at least has a better excuse than the bystander: She's ex-military. Military personnel are trained to check their weapons before using it in combat. She loses points on account that it's a shotgun, but it can be chalked down as a reflex from training.
134* ''Film/JackieBrown''
135** Invoked when Ordell Robbie wants a criminal associate to [[PunkInTheTrunk pop up from his trunk]] and rack the slide on a shotgun as an ImpliedDeathThreat during an arms deal in case they plan to rip him off.
136** Ordell is in a dark room standing uncomfortably close to the title character, when he hears the sound of a pistol being cocked.
137--->'''Ordell:''' Is that what I think it is?
138--->'''Jackie:''' What do you think it is?
139--->'''Ordell:''' I think it's a [[FreudianThreat gun pressed up against my dick]].
140--->'''Jackie:''' You thought right. Now take your hands off from around my throat, nigga.
141* ''Film/JamesBond''
142** A variation in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. When Tracy takes Bond's Walther PPK out of its holster and points it at Bond, she flicks off the safety catch with a loud click.
143** ''Film/LiveAndLetDie''. After exposing Rose Carver as TheMole, Bond pulls back the slide of his PPK next to her face as an ImpliedDeathThreat if she doesn't start talking.
144** Bond gets one of these in ''Film/GoldenEye'' after fighting off Xenia. '*click* Take me to Janus.' Possible since this was in a bathhouse or bathroom, where one may not always carry a ready to fire a pistol. This most likely (InUniverse) was done for emphasis by Bond, since the Walther PPK is a double-action semi-automatic, meaning that if a round is in the chamber, it is ready to fire just by pulling the trigger. The only reason to cock it is to ensure an accurate first shot and/or to intimidate the target, both justifiable reasons.
145** ''Film/DieAnotherDay'': Bond is interrogating Gustav Graves with his Walther P99. Miranda Frost walks up and draws her own Walther P99, which, despite being a hammerless pistol-like Glocks are, makes the hammer-cocking sound.
146* In ''Film/LethalWeapon3'' the Dramatic Gun Cock is used for interrogation. One of the good guys wants to know where a submachine gun is coming from, and to extract this information from a baddie he proceeds to cock said submachine gun and point it at his head. In the same movie, later on, the two main characters are about to start shooting up the baddies' main hideout. They get their weapons, ready themselves... only to hear a Dramatic Gun Cock from behind them. They start to raise their hands, but it turns out it's another good guy (well--good girl, anyway) who's come to help them and is just [[IJustShotMarvinInTheFace scaring them for fun.]]
147* In ''Film/LolaRennt'', it's dramatically releasing the safety (and thus technically [[NotWithTheSafetyOnYouWont another trope]], but used more in this way) that signifies that the titular heroine means SeriousBusiness. ''Twice''.
148* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in ''Film/TheLoneRanger'', since they're all using [[RevolversAreJustBetter single-action revolvers]].
149* ''Film/TheLongestDay'': A rare example of one of these ''after'' the action: an American paratrooper fumbles around in the dark. He hears something rustling in the bushes, and uses a clicking device provided to [=GIs=] to identify friend from foe in the dark. He clicks once, then hears two clicks in return, indicating the reply of a friendly soldier. So then he stands up outside of cover - and gets shot in the gut. Cue a German soldier walking into the frame, working the action on a Mauser rifle: click clack, click clack...[[note]]As usual you have to wonder why he was wandering around the battlefield with an unloaded gun in the first place.[[/note]]
150* ''Film/TheMask'': The Mask responds to the bad guy's show of force... with his own -- at least 28 weapons [[HyperspaceArsenal pulled from behind his back]].
151* ''Franchise/TheMatrix'': This trope appears in all three films in the series:
152** In [[Film/TheMatrix the original film]], there's a moment of incompetence from the [=SWAT=] team when our heroes fall into the basement - the [=SWAT=] team runs into position and simultaneously cock their guns before opening fire. Seconds later, the SWAT team turns on their laser sights ''after'' Apoc throws a smoke grenade. Oddly however, when the first SWAT member realizes that the heroes are in the wetwall and summarily unloads a magazine into it, he does ''not'' do a dramatic gun cock.
153** ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' has Morpheus doing this for emphasis before the freeway chase starts.
154-->'''Trinity''': You always told me to stay off the freeway.\
155'''Morpheus''': Yes, that's true.\
156'''Trinity''': You said it was suicide.\
157'''Morpheus''': Then let us hope... ''loads magazine'' ...that I was wrong. ''cocks pistol''
158** ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'' features one during the MexicanStandoff in Club Hel.
159-->'''The Merovingian''': Are you really willing to die for this man?\
160'''Trinity:''' ''*cocks pistol*'' Believe it.
161* ''Film/MenInBlack'' has Edgar replying to the Bug who asked him to put down his shotgun with "You can have my gun *chk chk* when you pry it from my cold dead fingers." The response is "Your proposal is acceptable" and [[DoNotTauntCthulhu a painful death for Edgar.]] Elsewhere, at the climax, Jay and Kay carry pump-action weapons. The script even notes, "[Kay] pumps the gun for emphasis."
162* In the final scene of ''Film/NaturalBornKillers'', a shotgun is pumped multiple times without ejecting a shell.
163* Used in ''Film/PhoneBooth'' with the twist of the gun (a sniper rifle) being a good deal away from the protagonist and the sound being delivered by telephone. He then goes on to [[DiscussedTrope discuss this trope]], its apparent flaw, and its psychological justification. He also perpetrates the mistake of cocking his gun twice without firing a round in between (presumably ejecting a live round). Considering the intent was to [[spoiler:scare the protagonist straight]], ejecting a live round is entirely justifiable.
164* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'': When Elizabeth threatens Cutler Beckett, she makes a point of pulling the hammer back on her pistol so that he'll know she means business. ''TWICE''. And it's a ''flintlock''. The first film, toward the beginning, had Jack Sparrow cock his gun while threatening Will in the smithy. The badass effect was mitigated by his frustrated "''Please'' move!" and then soundly destroyed when the smith conked him over the head from behind.
165* ''Film/{{Predator}}''. Blain does this after letting [[ICallHerVera "Ol' Painless"]] out of the bag, by cranking the [[GatlingGood multi-barrels]] left and right (this is pure RuleOfCool—in reality, doing this would most likely fire off any rounds that were already chambered).
166* ''Film/PulpFiction'' features a dramatic shotgun cock once [[spoiler:Butch breaks Marsellus out of the Mason-Dixon pawn shop]], immediately before [[spoiler:the latter unloads on his rapist with the ultimate GroinAttack]].
167--> '''Marsellus''': ''CHACK-CHACK'' Step aside, Butch.
168* Plenty of straight examples in ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'', but subverted when [[spoiler:the Lady is working herself up to shoot Herod under the dinner table with a derringer. She cocks her own gun, only to freeze when she hears an answering click. It turns out to be Herod clicking a silver matchbox lid to freak her out.]]
169* The very last shot of ''Film/AQuietPlace'' is Evelyn doing this with a shotgun, as a BringIt moment regarding the aliens about to enter their house.
170* In ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', just before Indy enters the temple at the beginning, one of his "partners" (Barranca) pulls a gun. The sound of him cocking the revolver tips Indy off that he's about to get shot in the back. Cue the bullwhip...
171* In ''Film/RedHill'', Jimmy likes to announce his presence to his victims by pumping the side on his SawedOffShotgun. This usually cues an OhCrap moment as they realize that their time on earth is numbered in minutes, if not seconds.
172* During the opening battle in ''Film/RedTails'', a waist gunner on a B-17 is shown racking the charging handle on his machine gun at one point. It serves more to show the grim determination of the bomber crews than it does to precede any badassery, given how [[PointDefenseless ineffective their defense proves to be]].
173* In ''Film/TheRevenant'', Fitzgerald does this to [[spoiler:Bridger]] after grabbing the gun [[spoiler:Bridger was threatening him with]]. Justified in that, as Fitzgerald points out, [[spoiler:Bridger]] hadn't properly readied the weapon in the first place.
174* ''Film/TheRock'':
175-->'''Mason''': Your ''best''? Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen!\
176'''Stan''': Carla was the prom queen...\
177'''Mason''': ''Really?''\
178'''Stan''' ''[cock]'' Really.
179* In ''Film/ScaryMovie3'' one of the characters dramatically cocks...a shovel. A shell falls out.
180* ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows''. After making Sherlock Holmes toss aside his revolver, [[TheDragon Sebastian Moran]] invites him to take an automatic C96 Mauser pistol and even insert an (anachronistic -- they used stripper clips at the time) box magazine. Holmes notes that the latter does make loading easier, but you'd still need to retract the bolt--[[QuickDraw Moran has his pistol cocked and aimed at Sherlock's head in an instant.]]
181-->'''Moran:''' Easier done than said.
182* Backfires on Buffalo Bill in ''Film/SilenceOfTheLambs''. When he's in the completely pitch black room with his night-vision goggles, Agent Starling has no idea where he is, until he cocks his gun, at which point, she immediately aims and shoots him. Shoulda cocked it ahead of time, or simply pulled the trigger.
183** The novel explains this -- Buffalo Bill is a SerialKiller who does this with other women he's kidnapped. Cocking the gun draws out the anticipation of the kill. Of course, he's never stalked an armed woman before...
184* ''Film/SilentNightDeadlyNightPart2'' Ricky is threatened by a cop who cocks his revolver and says "Yeah, I know how to use this!" he then kills him and steals it.
185* First subverted in ''{{Film/Snatch}}'', where one of the robbers of a betting parlor wastes rounds in the gun doing so. And he doesn't even get to use it and has it stolen from him. And even worse, it's the only real gun they had.
186** Later the trope is played straight, when Tommy saves Turkish from a vicious beating (or worse) by pulling a gun on the attacking thugs. When the leader tries to [[YouWouldntShootMe talk him down]], Tommy cocks the hammer to show he's serious. Justified as [[spoiler:it's a bluff, the gun is either damaged/defective and doesn't work.]]
187* In ''Film/{{Sneakers}}'', during Martin's escape near the end, one thug carries a shotgun which he grabs and pumps as soon as he gets it. But he never fires a round, and yet when he finally finds Martin, he pumps the shotgun at him again. Normally this wouldn't be very obvious if you weren't paying attention, but in this case, you can hear the loud CLUNK of the unfired shell hitting the floor.
188* In ''Film/{{Stagecoach}}'', John Wayne pulls this off with a ''lever-action rifle''.
189* Used by Gordie in ''Film/StandByMe'' when defending himself against Ace and his switchblade knife. It would be justified example because the 1911A1 pistol he's using is single action and would need to manually cocked, except that Gordie already fired off a warning shot, so the hammer would've already been cocked back.
190* ''Film/{{Stargate}}'': A fairly JustForFun/{{egregious}} example comes from the movie. During the scene where the commando team is investigating the temple, they cock their guns absolutely every time they hear a noise. Considering this is maybe a ten man team and there are maybe twenty gun-cocks per startling noise, this may be the result of a trigger-happy foley artist.
191* ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection'': Done to badass effect by Data: "Saddle up," (gun cock with a phaser rifle) "lock and load."
192* A brief cocking (or at least readying) of a Klingon disruptor is seen in ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'', as eight or so of the last remaining crew of the Bird of Prey are sent to take over the USS Enterprise.
193* The ''Franchise/StarWars'' version is the dramatic lightsaber activation. It's seen mostly, but not exclusively, with Darth Vader. Often, Vader will be standing stock-still and completely silent--save for the sound of his respirator--and with his face mask hiding his expression, an air of extreme calm. The only indication that he's about to ruin someone's day being the activation of his lightsaber.
194* ''Film/StrikingDistance'': A cop has just infiltrated a hijacked boat. Upon attacking one of the criminals, he asks how many other men are there. When the man refuses to answer, the cop says, "let me rephrase that," then cocks the shotgun he's holding. Needless to say, the guy talks very quickly after that.
195* In ''Film/StrippedtoKill'', Heineman breaks into Roxanne's apartment and is searching the locked closet when he hears the sound of a shotgun slide being pumped him. He turns around and finds Derek pointing a shotgun at him.
196* In ''Film/SuddenImpact'' there's one of these in what seems like every scene/in which Film/DirtyHarry brandishes his gun.
197* The ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' franchise:
198** ''Film/TheTerminator'':
199*** Reese does one after [[SawedOffShotGun sawing off the stock and barrel of his shotgun]]. He pumps the shotgun three times: Once when he cuts the barrel off, once when he wakes up from his dream, and once in Tech Noir before he starts blasting. It would seem that he pointlessly ejected two good shells, or he was walking around with it empty and was, ahem, pumping it for fun. Or he had the chamber empty for safety reasons. A good precaution if you have nightmares that make you rack the action of your shotgun.
200*** In Tech Noir, right before he attempts to shoot Sarah Connor, the Terminator cocks the pistol. (Since his .45 is a "single-action automatic", meaning the hammer must be cocked in order to fire, this is justified.)
201** ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'':
202*** Sarah Connor does this several times in succession, blasting the T-1000 with a Remington 870 shotgun and interjecting each shot with a forceful, one-armed pump (her other arm was too injured to do it normally).
203*** The T-800 itself dramatically flip-cocks his shotgun, a lever-action Winchester Model 1887. Doing so with a factory production gun would result in broken fingers, as the handguard is too narrow--the shotgun in question was custom-altered for the movie, much like the shotgun from ''Series/TheRifleman''. He does this because it's [[RuleOfCool cool]], and to fire one-handed on the bike.
204* A somewhat downplayed example in ''Film/WeWereSoldiers''. A group of North Vietnamese soldiers sneaking through the woods don't realize they are right on top of the American troops they are trying to find until one of the Americans thumbs his rifle from "Safe" to "[[MoreDakka Auto]]" with two barely audible clicks. One NVA trooper [[OhCrap recognizes that sound]], but it's already too late.
205%%* Both villainous and heroic versions appear in ''Film/WhiteHouseDown''.
206* In the ''Film/WildWildWest'' movie, when West realizes that the President is not who he appears to be, he points a gun to his head:
207-->'''West''': Who are you, mister?\
208'''Gordon''': ''[in Grant's voice]'' What do you mean, who am I? I am the President of the United States.\
209'''West''': Wrong answer. ''[shoots ceiling, points the gun back at Gordon]'' Who are you?\
210'''Gordon''': I am the President of the -- ''[click; in normal voice]'' I'm Artemus Gordon.
211* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'':
212** ''Film/XMen1'': Taken to the extreme by Magneto when, after yanking all the cops' guns out of their hands and pointing them at their owners' heads, he cocks every one at once. His younger self repeats this action in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', but with the firearms of the Secret Service agents who are assigned to protect President Nixon and his cabinet.
213** ''Film/XMenFirstClass'': This occurs when Erik Lehnsherr asks Charles Xavier to shoot him in the head during their training session.
214** ''Film/Deadpool2016'': Ajax and Angel Dust enter Weasel's bar and attempt to rough him up for information on Wade. Cue roughly ''thirty seconds'' of gun-cocking as ''every single person in the bar'' draws on them. [[KnowWhenToFoldEm Ajax promptly withdraws.]]
215[[/folder]]
216
217[[folder:Literature]]
218* ''Literature/SixteenThirtyTwo'': The first time Scottish soldiers confront future Americans with modern-day shotguns, they see them cock their guns dramatically. Though the Scots are unfamiliar with such weapons and the cocking motion, they immediately realize that these menacing-looking guns are now primed and ready to fire.
219* Discussed in the Literature/JackReacher novel ''The Affair,'' when Reacher, sneaking up on someone, does this to hopefully avoid a gunfight. He mentally compares the advantage (hopefully avoiding violence) with the disadvantage (if it does come to a shoot out, he'll have ejected a perfectly good shell he might end up needing).
220* In ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheVoiceOfTheCastle'', it's mentioned that the guns issued to the troops of Baron Wulfenbach have been deliberately designed to make this sound as intimidating as possible.
221* Played with in Creator/RudyardKipling's "The Ballad of East and West," when Mohammed Khan warns the Colonel's son that in Kamal's territory, "ye may hear a breech-bolt snick where never a man is seen." The Colonel's son then proves how badass he is by riding onward despite hearing unseen rifles cocked ''three times.'' This proves not to be a HarbingerOfAsskicking, because Kamal chivalrously refrains from signaling his men to shoot.
222* In ''[[Literature/TheExpanse Caliban's War]]'', Prax tries performing a dramatic gun cock in the middle of a tense standoff because that's what heroes in action films always do -- and inadvertently turns the MexicanStandoff into a BlastOut.
223* A character in Creator/TimPowers' ''Literature/ExpirationDate'' is taught to rack a pistol every time she draws it, partly to ensure that there's a round chambered and partly for exploiting this trope. Every time she does this, she ejects a round onto the floor and has to retrieve it after the situation defuses.
224* Lampshaded in ''Literature/ForgingHephaestus'', where a robber [[MuggingTheMonster tries to theater Ivan]] by pulling back the hammer on his gun. Ivan wonders about the pointless gesture, as the weapon is automatic. He then reasons it's probably supposed to be dramatic. Not that he feels threatened in any way, being a RetiredBadass. The only reason he doesn't kill them all on the spot is because it's his day job and he'd rather like to keep it.
225* Backfires on the antagonist in Patricia Cornwell's ''Hornet's Nest'', when he [[spoiler:cocks his AR-15 twice, jamming the bolt open and preventing it from firing. This mistake costs him his life.]]
226* In ''The Curious Case of Sid Finch'', the title character (a skilled human parrot, among other talents) tries to scare a burglar by imitating the sound of a taxicab. He later wishes he had thought to make the sound of a rifle bolt being drawn back.
227* Parodied in ''Literature/TheLastContinent'', when Ponder Stibbons rolls up his sleeves at a dramatically appropriate moment, which is explicitly described as the magical equivalent of checking the action on a pump-barrel shotgun.
228* Backfires pretty badly on the protagonist of Creator/RichardKMorgan's ''Market Forces''. Holding some thugs at bay with a shotgun, he pumps it in attempt to intimidate them... and the gun, having been previously damaged, conspicuously fails to chamber another round, thus rendering him visibly defenseless.
229* Invoked and explored by Creator/TerryPratchett in ''Literature/{{Nation}}'', in which the dramatic cocking of a gun is referred to as "the two-pound noise." As the ship's cook explained "Because when a man hears that in the dark, he loses two pounds of... [[BringMyBrownPants weight]], quickly.
230* In ''Literature/TheRoad'' by [[NoNameGiven The father]] invokes this when [[spoiler:a bandit/bloocult holds his son hostage.]] It's specifically stated he knows he doesn't need to, as his revolver is double action, but he tries to use it for intimidation.
231* ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' gives us the description of Colonel Moran assembling and loading his [[{{BFG}} massive air gun]], which gives off several sharp clicking and grinding noises in the process. For added drama, there was near pitch darkness in the room, so Watson could only see him in very general details.
232* Lampshaded in one of the ''Track'' novels by Jerry Ahern (a gun writer and action-adventure novelist). Track's ActionGirlfriend takes out her pistol, and Track thinks to himself that in the movies she'd pull back the slide dramatically. Of course she doesn't do this as a round is already chambered.
233[[/folder]]
234
235[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
236* Jack Bauer did this on ''Series/TwentyFour''; as Lauren Proctor was getting ready to exit the room, Jack cocked his gun and told her he was more dangerous than he seemed because he'd killed two people since midnight last night.
237* In the ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' episode [[Recap/AgentsOfSHIELDS2E1Shadows "Shadows"]], Dum Dum Dugan gives a Dramatic Gun Cock with his shotgun while intimidating a bunch of HYDRA goons.
238* Every time someone draws a weapon or points it at someone in ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'' there's a "power-up" sound, presumably the energy weapon equivalent of a gun cock. However, this doesn't seem to be the result of any action on the part of the person holding the gun.
239* ''Series/{{Angel}}''
240** In "[[Recap/AngelS04E14Release Release]]", when Angelus is about to shoot Faith point-blank with a shotgun, he delivers his little speech, then dramatically pumps the shotgun. Then he does it again. And again. Only once all of the shells have been ejected does Faith kick it away and resume fisticuffs. This is done effectively, and correctly, earlier in the episode when Wesley and Faith are interrogating demons in a BadGuyBar. Faith is roughing up one demon who notices another demon sneaking up on Wesley... only for Wes to shoot the second demon in the face with a shotgun. [[OffhandBackhand Without Looking.]]
241--->'''Wesley:''' Strom demon. Face should grow back. ''[cocks the shotgun]'' Eventually.\
242'''Faith:''' Think yours will?
243** Also done with those pistol crossbows the Fang Gang carry, though it's not quite clear what they're supposed to be cocking.
244* Human [=PPGs=] in ''Series/BabylonFive'' have a very distinctive capacitor charging whine when powering up. Hearing it usually means that some ass is about to be kicked. And much like in other examples, just about anything you do with a PPG makes it do its version of this. In one episode, you hear the sound repeatedly just from Garibaldi removing and re-inserting the cap (as, according to WordOfGod, he's seriously considering shooting himself).
245** That's the sound [=PPGs=] make on the show when the cap is inserted or removed. On at least one occasion, the sound effect is used to clue the audience in on the fact that [[TheCaptain Sheridan]] just [[ItWorksBetterWithBullets unloaded his PPG]] before handing it to a hostile character.
246* Brennan on ''Series/{{Bones}}'' once weaponized a gun cock, without an actual gun. A suspect was holding Booth at gunpoint and she came up behind him, a gun cock noise sounded, and she gave a speech about the type of gun it belonged to, which made the suspect stand down. When Booth asked her where she got the gun (she's rather infamously not allowed to have one in the field), she eagerly shows him the sound-effects app she was using. She told him she'd debated a shotgun, but felt that would have been overkill.
247* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''
248** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E5Homecoming Homecoming]]", Buffy cocks a pump-action rifle for dramatic effect repeatedly. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome This bites her in the ass when she quickly runs out of ammo]]. It also makes sense, given that she's almost certainly never used a gun before.
249** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS7E20Touched Touched]]", there's a Dramatic Gun Cock sound when a homeowner brandishes a shotgun at Buffy. It's a hammerless double-barreled type that [[NoisyGuns should not produce such a sound]].
250* Seems like Fiona does this with a shotgun every other week on ''Series/BurnNotice''. Jesse also does it, thumbing back the hammer on his pistol before [[spoiler:not shooting Fiona in the face]] in "Blind Spot".
251* ''Series/{{Chuck}}''
252** [[Creator/AdamBaldwin John Casey]] is fond of cocking guns for emphasis.
253** In "[[Recap/ChuckS4E02ChuckVsTheSuitcase Chuck Vs The Suitcase]]", Chuck and Sarah sneak into the apartment of the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Sofia]] while she's {{shower|Scene}}ing and they assume they have the chance to search the apartment while she's busy. But soon after Sarah leaves Chuck alone in her room, he hears the sound of a gun coking behind him and finds that she not only noticed him but she also [[CantBatheWithoutAWeapon showers with a gun]]. When he turns to face her he also finds [[ShamelessFanserviceGirl she doesn't care much for modesty either]] as [[FullFrontalAssault she's still naked and dripping wet]]. Awkward Chuck actually finds her nudity more concerning than her gun as he finds it difficult to IgnoreTheFanservice and begs her to PleasePutSomeClothesOn.
254-->'''Sofia:''' Who do you work for, and how did you find me?\
255'''Chuck:''' ''[nervously]'' I would love to get into this. Is it at all possible for you to cover yourself with maybe a [[ModestyTowel towel]]?
256** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by Alexei Volkoff in "Chuck Versus the Leftovers", he admits it's useless, but loves the sound.
257--> '''Volkoff:''' I didn't really need to do that. I just love the sound.
258* On ''Series/ColdCase'', SerialKiller George Marks is holding Lily hostage. As Scotty threatens to tear him apart should he harm her, George raises his gun to the receiver and cocks it, as "A gentle reminder to mind your manners".
259* ''Series/CSIMiami'' did this twice.
260** A whole subplot was built out of this when someone pointed a gun at the back of Calleigh Duquesne's head and cocked it. She spent the rest of the episode listening to gun-cocks until she was able to successfully identify the type of weapon pointed at her.
261** When Horatio Caine had an enemy literally under his foot, he cocked his gun while pointing it at his face and said "your move."
262* On ''Series/{{CSINY}}'', Mac was on the receiving end. A rich guy tazed him, kidnapped him, blindfolded him and drove him to a bad part of town before doing it. He then drove off and left Mac. Naturally, Mac doesn't intimidate that easily.
263* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
264** New-Who is ''severely'' overloaded with this trope. [[NoisyGuns Pretty much every time anybody points a gun at anything, there is a dramatic gun cock]]. If they turn and point at something else, there's another one. It would seem that firearms in the Whoniverse not only have to be manually cocked, but the slightest motion will cause them to uncock without firing and force them to be cocked again. Exceptions are ''sometimes'' made for {{ray gun}}s and other non-standard firearms... although the number of energy weapons that have to be pumped like shotguns is really quite remarkable.
265** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E12TheStolenEarth "The Stolen Earth"]]/[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd "Journey's End"]]: The {{BFG}}s being wielded by certain characters are pump-action, with the pumps being used for extra emphasis at times.
266--->''"Do you like my gun?"''
267** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime "The End of Time"]]: During a standoff, the Doctor acts particularly indecisive and [[IJustShotMarvinInTheFace remarkably careless]] when deciding who to shoot... and seemingly re-cocks the gun every time he aims it at someone else. While he DoesntLikeGuns and might not know how they work, it's a revolver so that shouldn't even be possible.
268*** It gets worse. If you look close, you can see the way he's holding the gun he has the trigger pulled ''all the way''.
269** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E13TheBigBang "The Big Bang"]]: River's nonchalant and very feminine way of setting her ray gun to, presumably, the "terminate with extreme prejudice" setting is an unusual but quite chilling variant of this trope.
270** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E8LetsKillHitler "Let's Kill Hitler"]]: Rory does this. ''Against'' [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]].
271--->''[pointing a revolver at Adolf's face]'' Sit down, ''[cocks gun]'' shut up.
272** Done by Riddell in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E2DinosaursOnASpaceship Dinosaurs on a Spaceship]]" as he and Amy prepare to face down the titular dinosaurs. Done later by Nefertiti as she emerges from his tent (presumably post-coitally) for no real reason.
273* ''Series/{{Firefly}}'':
274** Jayne seems to speak almost entirely in dramatic gun cocks.
275** Mal also seems fond of doing it at times, either to make a point (such as in the "BigDamnHeroes" scene in "[[Recap/FireflyE05Safe Safe]]") or as a way of saying "Cut the bullshit" if someone is trying to con him. It's particularly noticeable in his interactions with Saffron.
276** Played for laughs when Wash cocks a tiny pistol rather dramatically in "[[Recap/FireflyE10WarStories War Stories]]".
277** "[[Recap/FireflyE07Jaynestown Jaynestown]]": take notice of the sound when "Stitch" Hessian points his shotgun at Mal's face. Seeing as Stitch doesn't pump the action (he's holding the shotgun one-handed) and that model doesn't have an exposed hammer, what exactly is creating the cocking sound?
278** Many of the weapons in Firefly have, in place of a dramatic gun cock, a dramatic electrical whine (regardless of if the weapon appears to be purely conventionally mechanical or not.)
279** In "[[Recap/FireflyE12TheMessage The Message]]", Jayne [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this by racking a shotgun to get a hostage taker to turn towards him, allowing Mal a clean shot without having to ShootTheHostage. It is notable that he is actually holding two guns at the time and only cocks the second.
280** The interrogation aspect is inverted in ''Film/Serenity2005'', where Mal is trying to talk down River in AxCrazy mode as she has a pistol pointed at his face.
281--->'''Mal:''' I've staked my crew's life on the theory that you're a person, actual and whole, and if I'm wrong, [[KillMeNowOrForeverStayYourHand you'd best shoot me now]]-- ''*click* or'' [[DidntSeeThatComing we could talk more...]]
282* Blatantly overused in ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', where you know someone is going to cock their gun only after pointing it at someone for ten seconds. The only exception is Noah Bennet.
283* Averted by Guerrero on ''Series/HumanTarget'', who [[spoiler:shoots a client in the back without any warning at all after selling him info about Chance's first case]]. Made up for in spades in one scene of another episode, where the entire roomful of armed and unfriendly men cock and re-cock their weapons at every awkward pause in the conversation.
284* Detectives in the ''Franchise/LawAndOrder'' franchise have been carrying Glock pistols and cocking them since the original series' 1995-96 season. As noted above, these pistols have no external hammer, making the Dramatic Gun Cock impossible. The early-season detectives - Greevey, Cerreta, Briscoe, Logan - carried revolvers and occasionally cocked them as well.
285** In one case the move was actually realistic: Detective Logan was "questioning" a suspect in the murder of his partner, and threatened the man by holding his revolver to the suspect's head and then cocking it manually. TruthInTelevision: the specific revolver in question, the S&W Model 36, has an external hammer and can be cocked manually, and that ''click-click'' right in your ear is as terrifying a sound as exists in this world. It's not at all surprising that the suspect talked. (It's also not at all surprising that the suspect's confession was thrown out of court.)
286* Locke uses the gun cock to get Ben to reveal information in the ''Series/{{Lost}}'' episode "Confirmed Dead". Kate uses it in "Not in Portland" to get Aldo to tell her Karl's whereabouts.
287* One storyline on ''Series/MiamiVice'' has Crockett suffering partial amnesia. He forgets he's really a cop and falls into his undercover persona of a facilitator of drug deals. While in this state he shoots his partner Tubbs, [[DisneyDeath apparently killing him.]] Of course Tubbs turns out to have been wearing a BulletproofVest. After that Crockett's [[AmnesiacDissonance memory begins to return]]. Guilt-ridden, he makes his way to the police station. He walks into the squadroom and stops. His fellow officers, believing him to have turned rogue, draw and cock their weapons in succession. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK.
288* Characters on ''Series/MoneyHeist'' do this a lot, both protagonists and antagonists alike.
289* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Reese's BatmanGambit has failed. He takes a pump-action shotgun from a bag labeled "[[TimeForPlanB Plan B]]".
290-->'''Reese:''' When I give the signal, [[CutTheJuice cut the power]]. ''[pumps the action]'' That's the signal.
291* ''Series/{{Phoenix}}''. In "A Dogs Life", the Major Crime squad are deploying in a service (gas) station prior to a police raid.
292-->'''Cyclist:''' What's going on?
293-->'''TheSquadette:''' I don't know, but I'd get lost if I were you. ''(sound of multiple shotguns being pumped--cyclist flees)''
294* ''Series/TheProfessionals'': Despite various references to their automatic pistols being carried with "one up the spout", that doesn't stop our heroes racking back the slide in a suitably dramatic manner after drawing them.
295* The television adaptations of the ''Series/{{Sharpe}}'' books are a bit prone to this. Made even worse by their use of flintlock muskets, pistols and rifles; generally these make only a pronounced "click" when pulled back to half-cock (safe position from which the pan may be primed), followed by another when pulled to full-cock. Trying to get a flintlock to make the characteristic set of three closely-spaced, sharp clicks the series uses is... not easy.
296* ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'':
297** "[[Recap/SherlockS01E03TheGreatGame The Great Game]]" pulls one off, beautifully.
298-->[[spoiler:'''Moriarty:''']] No one ever gets to me. And no one ever will.\
299'''Sherlock:''' ''[click]'' I did.
300** Shan also does it to [[spoiler:John Watson]] in "[[Recap/SherlockS01E02TheBlindBanker The Blind Banker]]", and it definitely works as a scare tactic.
301* Used before half the commercial breaks in ''Series/SonsOfGuns'' when a member of the crew test fires a recently built or repaired gun.
302* While not a firearm, ''Series/StargateSG1'''s version of this trope would be the staff weapon's distinctive "Bzzzt" sound when it is armed, as well as showing arcs of energy along the tip of the weapon. The Goa'uld and their Jaffa love doing this to prisoners before executing them.
303** As with the staff weapons, the 'TEEE-UNG' sound of a zat being activated definitely qualifies.
304** And of course, the 'FWOOOAAAEEE' sound of Ronon's gun powering up in ''Series/StargateAtlantis''. And, to a lesser extent, Teyla cocking her P90 upon realizing she can't buy more time when she was being forced to execute Sheppard by a not-quite-herself Weir.
305* In the original-series ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E17APieceOfTheAction A Piece of the Action]]", a gangster lets Kirk and Spock know they're being covered by cocking his weapon. Spock suggests they lower their weapons because he "just heard the sound of..." which Kirk finishes "...the sound of a machine gun bolt being pulled back."
306* Inverted in ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'', where John has to quietly and carefully pump a shotgun while Cromartie is walking around his house. The not-so-dramatic noise nearly reveals to Cromartie where John is hiding.
307** Another time, Cameron is seen simply ''moving'' a Glock in a threatening manner, and you hear a loud "click". Note that she never moves her thumb, and even if she did, Glocks are guns which have neither a hammer (striker-fired) nor even a manual safety (the trigger is a "safe-action" design that makes a traditional safety redundant), meaning there is nothing to cock, short of using your other hand to pull the slide back and chamber a new round, thereby either wasting a bullet, or showing that the gun was completely harmless before.
308* Kelso does this with a golf club in an episode of ''Series/That70sShow'' before screaming "Burn!"
309* On ''Series/TopGear'''s Polar Special, James May cocks his shotgun for the camera as he keeps watch while Jeremy Clarkson is enthroned on a portable toilet affixed to their truck's back bumper. Clarkson immediately calls out: "James, are you showing off, or are you actually looking for bears over there? Because I can't run."
310* From ''Series/WhatItsLikeBeingAlone'':
311-->''"What happened to my booze? Did I black out and join AA?" ''[cocks gun]'' "Better unjoin it."''
312[[/folder]]
313
314[[folder:Music]]
315* "Shotgun" by Music/LimpBizkit, as the title indicates, repeatedly uses a sample of a shotgun being pumped, then fired. In the lyrics, Fred Durst says that "you need to run" and that "everybody jumps" at the sound of the shotgun.
316* The song "My Gun" by Music/ToveLo has this as part of the song.
317* Music/TheMegas: "[=GeminEye=]" ends its PrivateEyeMonologue bridge with the sound of a gun being cocked and fired.
318[[/folder]]
319
320[[folder:Pinball]]
321* The playfield for the "X-ile Zone" table in ''VideoGame/ObsessionPinball'' shows the unnamed heroine dramatically holding a large-barrel grenade launcher upright.
322[[/folder]]
323
324[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
325* Often accompanies the themes of Wrestling/{{Konnan}}, Wrestling/NewJack, [[Wrestling/NelsonErazo Homicide]], Nanae Takahashi, The Briscoes, Wrestling/BlackRose, Wrestling/IvelisseVelez and Wrestling/BulletClub, for a sample.
326[[/folder]]
327
328[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
329* In the ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRolePlayingGame'', the type of repeating crossbow used in the swashbuckling seaports of the Brown Islands is stated to make a sinister “kerr-chunk” noise when operated -- apparently its most important feature.
330* Spending a shot to do this with a shotgun (the "KA-CHINK!" rule) in ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' gets you an extra damage point on your next attack with it. Bonus points for requiring that the player must audibly imitate the sound to get the bonus.
331* DeconstructedTrope in ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': if a round is already chambered in your gun, it's now on the ground, leaving you one round short for any fight that would ensue. {{Reconstruction}}, as it might give you a +1 bonus to Intimidation against poorly disciplined foes, which may prevent a fight altogether.
332* ''TabletopGame/{{Spycraft}}'' gives pump-action shotgun owners a bonus on their Intimidate skill at the start of combat. Guess where it comes from.
333* ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' actually gives you Intimidation bonuses for cocking a pump-action shotgun. Not so for any other type of gun, however, as they aren't nearly scary enough.
334** The 20th Anniversary Edition of ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'' even includes a Rote that allows you to draw on the resonance of a cocked gun (or a drawn sword) and channel it into attacking more targets with.
335[[/folder]]
336
337[[folder:Video Games]]
338* With the new [[GunsAkimbo Dual Pistols]] powerset in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', you cock your guns whenever you draw them, or switch ammo.
339* Every time you switch guns in ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'', your character automatically cocks the gun as soon as you equip it. Exceptions are the sniper rifles in earlier games, and the Desert Eagle in ''Global Offensive''. This is a gameplay mechanic: you're vulnerable while your character cocks the gun, and as a result, you should think twice before trying to sidestep your main gun's movement speed penalty by running around with the knife and switching to your gun as soon as you see someone.
340* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'': The Commissar's Execute ability (which kills a squad member to increase firing speed and instantly restore morale to it and surrounding squads) is heralded by a loud metallic clank before the actual gunshot.
341* ''Franchise/{{Doom}}'':
342** The beginning of ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' famously times its heavy metal music to end with the Doom Slayer pumping his combat shotgun.
343** In ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'', the Doom Slayer tends to pump his shotgun in placement of a verbal threat. When confronted by Hell Priests who lambast him for getting in their way, he simply turns to face them and pumps his shotty, which is enough to scare them away.
344* In ''VideoGame/DungeonFighterOnline'', the Gunner character class cocks his gun every 5 seconds when in town. There are usually at least ten of them.
345* In ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 7'', Guo Huai cocks his [[{{BFG}} hand cannon]] before he is about to kill Xiahou Ba.
346* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
347** Miranda Keyes gets [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YUyLyfGWcc a great one]] in ''VideoGame/Halo3'':
348--->'''Soldier:''' Ma'am, squad leaders are requesting a rally point. Where should they go?\
349'''Keyes:''' ''*ka-click*'' To war.
350** Averted in ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' and subsequent games. Only the first time you draw your weapon, be it a pistol, an assault rifle, or anything in between, does your character cock it. Every subsequent time, or until you drop the weapon and pick it up again, you'll simply heft it to its ready position; the most action you'll take is flipping the safety off if necessary.
351** The [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter M90 Close Assault Weapon System]] is usually nicknamed the Universal Translator. Why?
352--->''"I believe that the sound of racking the pump of a shotgun is universally recognized as 'kiss your ass goodbye'."''
353* In gameplay, switching to the pistol[[GunsAkimbo (s)]] in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' causes the character to pull back the hammer(s). In the sequel, switching to ''any'' non-scoped firearm causes the character to pull back the slide or charging handle on the weapon in question.
354* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' uses this in its opening cutscene:
355-->'''Coach:''' Barricade your homes... Avoid all contact with infected individuals... Wait for official instructions... ''[laughs]'' Wait, my ass.\
356'''Eilis:''' Kill all sons-of-bitches. ''[racks shotgun]'' That's my 'ficial instructions.
357* Parodied in ''VideoGame/LegoTheLordOfTheRings'' where Gimli cocks his ''axe'', which causes a shotgun cocking sound effect to play.
358* You can cock your gun in battle in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' whenever you want (to elaborate, the character actually smacks a button on the side or bottom of the gun to eject a heat sink). This also happens frequently in cutscenes.
359** In-universe, most of the weapons Shepard's crew carries are carried in a collapsed state (presumably to make carrying four different weapons considerably less of a pain in the ass then it would otherwise be). Whenever a weapon is brought out, it automatically telescopes to its full length with an appropriate sound effect.
360* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'':
361** In ''VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne'', right before [[spoiler:Vlad kills Alfred Woden, and he and Max both fall through the floor]], Max finds a Desert Eagle and cocks it, even though it was being used moments ago.
362** ''VideoGame/MaxPayne3'' gets worse. Not only does cutscene Max often rack the slides of guns he was firing moments before, but the animation is the same if he is holding a revolver... which doesn't work that way.
363* At the end of the introductory highway stage in ''VideoGame/MegaManX'', the sound of Zero's blaster charging up replaces the click.
364* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
365** This is a game mechanic in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid''. Using the Run-And-Shoot technique, Snake will hold his gun ready to fire while moving around (it's very useful during the battle with Ocelot, amongst other times). However, if he turns around 180 degrees, he does a cinematic-style dramatic gun cock, causing him to stop in his tracks a little (preventing it from being a total GameBreaker).
366** Overplayed in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty''. In an attempt to find the location of the C4 bombs along the complex, Raiden interrogates Fat Man. As Fat Man pushes a remote, Raiden cocks his gun and demands an explanation. He does this at least twice more.
367** Both justified and subverted in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'':
368*** The first time Major Ocelot racks the slide on his pistol during the Virtuous Mission (before he kills a KGB team), no bullet comes out of the ejector port which gives the idea that Ocelot doesn't chamber a bullet until he's going to shoot someone (presumably so he can avoid shooting himself while [[GunTwirling spinning it for a full minute]]).
369*** When he's about to shoot Naked Snake, Ocelot reloads and tries to rack the slide before he fires, an uncommon Middle Eastern technique used to ensure there is an unjammed bullet in the chamber. Since he is obviously trying it for the first time, the gun stovepipes on him. Snake later chastises him for trying a technique he had only heard about and never tried before in the middle of a fight.
370** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', whenever Snake (or any other player) reloads a non-pistol gun, he uses the technique demonstrated by Ocelot in ''[=MGS3=]'', above, when he ejects the unspent round.
371* ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'':
372** In the final prologue mission in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty4ModernWarfare'', Khaled Al-Asad gets quite a badass one right before executing the Arabic president Al-Fulani on national TV.
373--->'''Al-Asad:''' ''[in Arabic, towards camera]'' This is how it begins. ''*ka-click, BLAM*''
374** In ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2 Modern Warfare 2]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare3 3]]'', switching to a weapon's under-barrel shotgun attachment is always preceded with pumping it, even if it already has a shell loaded (or, hilariously, if it's empty). Only the player doing so can hear it, though. Likewise, picking up a new weapon for the first time results in your character pulling the handle or whatever back; switching back afterwards just brings it up normally. [[spoiler:Also done by General Shepherd at you during a period of ControllableHelplessness at the end of the second game.]]
375* In ''VideoGame/{{Oddworld}}'', Sligs are armed with shotgun looking devices that fire full-auto from BottomlessMagazines. That said, they have an animation which is three quick gun-cocks -- thus, it appears that the ''only'' reason they have the bottom part of their weapon is so it can make cocking noises.
376* ''VideoGame/ProjectZomboid'' will [[UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay punish]] this trope if you opt for "Hardcore" reloading. One key ejects or inserts a magazine, while another works the action. Working the action while a round is already chambered will eject unspent rounds to the floor. Better not [[DamnYouMuscleMemory forget]] that you're using a semi-automatic pistol and not a pump shotgun.
377* Averted in ''VideoGame/{{Receiver}}'', as you have a different button for every part of your gun, including cocking the hammer and the slide. Pulling the slide with a bullet in the chamber makes your precious ammo fall to the ground.
378* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'':
379** Even though the Chicago Typewriter in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' has a {{Bottomless Magazine|s}} and infinite ammo, you can still reload and dramatically cock it for no purpose beyond evoking this trope for RuleOfCool.
380** Leon Kennedy does this in the first chapter of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'', while holding his custom handgun on his zombified friend. In an interesting bit of Showing Their Work, Leon's handgun doesn't actually have a hammer, but the [=VP70Z=] (one of the guns it's modeled on) has a notoriously stiff trigger pull, and Leon is actually setting the trigger (his finger can be seen tensing) as the last step he needs to take before firing.
381--->''[Helena backs away from her zombified boss slowly, shaking her head in disbelief]''\
382'''Leon:''' ''[pointing his handgun at Adam, visibly horrified]'' Stay where you are. ''[his finger tenses on the trigger, producing an audible click]''\
383''[Adam lunges at Helena]''\
384'''Leon:''' ADAM!
385* The title screen clip for ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog''. And then the introductory {{cutscene}} has Shadow [[GunsDoNotWorkThatWay cocking a submachine gun like it's a shotgun]]. Even stranger, there are no shotgun-type weapons in the game at all.
386* There's a moment in ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves'' when Bently does this, the problem? [[GunsDoNotWorkThatWay He does it to an]] AutomaticCrossbow.
387* From the ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' video "Meet the Spy", the Soldier dramatically cocks his shotgun, while claiming that the BLU Spy was the RED Spy all along. Notably, he cocks the gun ''after'' shooting the Spy, meaning he doesn't waste a round, and is also ready with his next shot, which is rare enough in fiction that it's actually ''worth mentioning''.
388** Incidentally, the only time this trope is played straight in-game is with the Pyro, who pumps its shotgun every time you pull it out (other classes with the same weapon simply ready it). This gets a bit absurd if you combine the Reserve Shooter and Degreaser, which makes it so Pyro can put away his flamethrower, pull out his shotgun, pump it, and ready it in less than ''0.2 seconds''.
389* In the beginning of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles'', this is present in Alicia's introductory scene, where she thought Welkin (who was on his way to help his sister, Isara, move to the capital, and stopped to sketch a trio of fish) to be an imperial spy.
390-->'''Alicia''': Freeze. Put your hands in the air. Slowly.
391* In ''VideoGame/{{Wynncraft}}'', [[OptionalBoss Rymek Luke]] gives one to the player before they face him, [[FantasyGunControl the only character in the game who wields a conventional firearm]].
392[[/folder]]
393
394[[folder:Visual Novels]]
395* The protagonist of ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' goes into his diner one morning, and notices footsteps inside. He investigates, following the footsteps into the back alley. Mortelli then announces his presence by cocking his gun, which is pointed at his chest.
396[[/folder]]
397
398[[folder:Webcomics]]
399* In the first "Armadeaddon" strip from ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'', Frank the game store clerk does one just before marching out into the zombie horde.
400-->'''Frank:''' It's been a long time, [[ICallItVera Mabel]]. ''*ka-clik*'' [[https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/08/09/armadeaddon-dark-genesis What do you say we go dancin'.]]
401* ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'': '''[[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001731 DING.]]'''
402* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': Can also happen with EnergyWeapons, such as Sergeant Schlock's Plasgun and its Ommminous Hummmm. "[[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-03-15 I like the soothing sounds I get out of this one.]]"
403-->'''Enireth Comm Tech''': [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-04-17 What is that noise]]?\
404'''Schlock''': Damage, looking to take out a loan against some collateral.
405** At one point Schlock discovers that the manufacturer has phased out his preferred model for a new one that eliminates the lengthy charging time; [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-09-01 he rejects it]].
406* In a MexicanStandoff in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', everyone's guns makes a "CHAKAT!" noise when they point them at each other, [[JustifiedTrope because]] the guns have a "MexicanStandoff" setting. As the standoff gets increasingly absurd, one character's axes and another character's ''[[GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger fingers]]'' make the same sound for no apparent reason.
407[[/folder]]
408
409[[folder:Web Animation]]
410* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': In volume 8, [[spoiler:when Ironwood prepares to nuke Mantle to get the protagonists to cooperate, Marrow is disgusted with it and with his fellow Ace Ops’ complacency. He gives them a harsh [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech “The Reason You Suck” Speech]] and begins to storm out—but freezes when he hears Ironwood cock his gun behind him. Luckily, Winter saves him.]]
411* ''WebAnimation/TeamNeighborhood'': PlayedForLaughs in "Pool Fools". When the BLU team tries to intimidate their Engineer into building a swimming pool, the BLU Scout pumps a shotgun concealed inside a [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Rainbow Dash]] body pillow.
412* Taking it up a notch is [[https://twitter.com/luigi_yagami/status/1635392223025205249?s=46&t=1aIJqQzws3ZIBObm19hoRg this small animation on Twitter]] where our badass ActionGirl is racking the gun slide[[NowThatsUsingYourTeeth …with her teeth.]]
413[[/folder]]
414
415[[folder:Web Original]]
416* ''{{Website/Cracked}}'': Deconstructed [[http://www.cracked.com/article_18576_5-ridiculous-gun-myths-everyone-believes-thanks-to-movies_p2.html here]].
417** That page links back here.
418* WebVideo/FilthyFrank uses this as the basis for a Rap's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdyT0t1fqg0 beat.]] Needless to say, it's kinda catchy and very NSFW.
419* In the ''WebVideo/ForgottenWeapons'' video on the Semmerling [=LM4=], Ian opens by dramatically cocking the gun by jerking it forwards and backwards in what is arguably the closest pistol equivalent of a classic inertial OneHandedShotgunPump. Ian goes on to explain the features of the pistol and that this is possible because the [=LM4=] is not actually a self-loading pistol, but rather is only manually cycled and the slide is only held in place by a detent until it is locked by pressure on the trigger[[note]]While the dramatic one-handed cocking action is possible, the intended manner of cocking the gun involves an unorthodox grip that makes the slide serration on the top easily accessible with the user's off-hand thumb and using that to rack the slide forwards and then backwards[[/note]]. However, as a result the space savings of not including a semi-automatic action of any sort, it is the smallest repeating .45 ACP pistol even 40 years after it was produced.
420* Justified in ''Literature/VoidDogs'', with Cicada's [[BigFreakingGun GSMR]]. The gun fires self-propelled rocket rounds so there's no reason for it to cock, but it has a button that makes ominous, attention-grabbing noises so she can do this and ClickHello.
421[[/folder]]
422
423[[folder:Western Animation]]
424* Happens several times in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. In "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE46AlmostGotIm Almost Got 'Im]]", Batman [[spoiler:disguised as Killer Croc]] signals the ambush and a bar full of police officers all cock their guns and point them at the villains. What follows is a ten-second-long pan shot of officers cocking everything from automatics and revolvers to shotguns and Thompson [=SMGs=].
425* After Bill, the pathetic neighbor on ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'', fails to kill himself, Dale, Hank, and Boomhaur start a suicide watch. Dale's turn involves him sitting on a chair with a shotgun watching Bill all day.
426-->'''Bill:''' But I have to tinkle.\
427'''Dale:''' Not on my watch. ''(cocks shotgun)''
428* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck in "Aqua Duck" as he forces the mouse to give back his gold nugget with his revolver.
429* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
430** Parodied in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS15E5TheFatAndTheFurriest The Fat and the Furriest]]": a hunter says something dramatic, and pumps his shotgun, visibly expelling a shell. Cletus the Yokel tries to copy him, and then he and the hunter start bickering about whether his comment added anything, and they ''keep'' expelling shells at the end of each sentence!
431** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS6E15HomieTheClown Homie the Clown]]", while threatening Homer and Krusty with a revolver, a Mob boss cocks his gun, scaring Homer. After some patter, he cocks the gun again, eliciting the exact same response. In the DVDCommentary, the writers mention that they thought it was hilarious that a gun gets more frightening the more often you cock it.
432** Upon learning the book to end a zombie curse is in the library, Homer swing-cocks a shotgun in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS4E5TreehouseOfHorrorIII Treehouse of Horror III]]".
433--->'''Homer:''' To the book-depository!
434** Taken to ridiculous extremes in Marge's story from "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS15E11MargicalHistoryTour Margical History Tour]]", about the Lewis and Clark expedition. When Sacagawea's party runs across a band of hostile natives, the explorers' weapons all cock their guns dramatically...after which the natives cock their ''bows and arrows'' with the same soundbyte.
435* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': parodied several times in "[[Recap/SouthParkS7E6LilCrimeStoppers Lil' Crime Stoppers]]" when the boys are playing Cop games. Stan makes a dramatic line and to double the drama pumps his shotgun... of course they don't actually have shotguns so Stan just pumps his imaginary one and makes the "Ch-ch" sound himself. And then there's the time Stan cocks a ''real'' gun...
436* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': When Patrick catches Spongebob stealing his secret box, thinking he's a clam burglar.
437-->"Hand over the goods, Secret Box Bandit! And prepare for the most unpleasant [[ChildishPillowFight pillow fight]] of your life! (cocks his '''pillow''')
438* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' parodies this in "The Devil's Grip". When surprised by rustling while camping out, Gary picks up a roughly gun-shaped branch as a bluff. Sgt. Hatred is not impressed, and proceeds to enlist Gary's help in rescuing Dr. Venture.
439-->'''Gary:''' Yeah, I'm in. Let's bring him home. ''Chk-chk''.\
440'''Sgt. Hatred:''' Did you just cock your stick?\
441'''Gary:''' Yeah, whatever, I just -- so what.
442[[/folder]]
443
444[[folder:Real Life]]
445* Almost all military units, the world over, keep a round chambered at all times while in the field. The only exception are peace-keeping forces, because the sight and sound of an entire squad cocking their weapons is usually enough to scare any would-be troublemakers back into line without the force having to resort to violence. Double-action handguns give you the best of both worlds. The Beretta 92FS handgun - the weapon/sidearm of choice for Creator/JohnWoo and the US military -- is usually carried with a round chambered but the hammer down, and you can either do this trope with the hammer or just pull the trigger; the gun will work fine either way without wasting a bullet.
446* The Mauser C96 pistol came with a detachable wooden stock that doubled as the carrying case. However the gun was meant to be transported unloaded with the hammer uncocked and the safety disengaged, and wouldn't fit in the stock holster with hammer cocked. This wasn't so much a problem when the C96 was used as its intended role as civilian handgun but became a liability when hundreds of thousands of them were used in combat. So instead the users would uncock the hammer after loading the weapon so it would fit in the stock holster. The C96 then needed to be cocked after it was drawn before it could fire. Given the C96's reputation as a HandCannon, you can bet this act was dramatic.
447* As the [[https://www.reddit.com/r/idiotswithguns Idiots with Guns]] [[Website/{{Reddit}} Subreddit]] shows, many, ''many'' people who have more money than sense and a pistol to spare have wrecked something in their house because they decided to rack their gun (thus chambering a round) to look 'cool', then accidentally pull the trigger (Because [[ArtisticLicenseGunSafety why keep your finger outside the trigger guard when you can have it on the trigger at all times?]]), shooting a bullet through an unfortunate object, wall or ceiling in the vicinity.
448* One officer at least claimed to do this in a real manhunt. He was wielding a shotgun that was already primed to fire, but the suspect was hiding somewhere. The officer worked the slide (and ejected a round) to persuade the suspect to give up.
449* [[http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?172056-Asking-an-Officer-quot-What-Happened-quot&p=2908418&viewfull=1#post2908418 A police officer did this]] when a driver refused to turn his car around while approaching a bridge with a suicidal individual.
450* Deputy Bud Staple [[http://www.justice.gov/marshals/history/miss/04.htm credited]] the sound of a newly-arrived Army unit's simultaneous loading of their M1 carbines with intimidating the mob trying to keep [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Meredith James Meredith]] from registering at Ole Miss.
451* One reason the [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter pump-action shotgun]] is often seen as an attractive choice for home defense is the loud and instantly recognizable sound of the pump action at work, potentially scaring away home intruders before you have to confront them.
452* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_M82 M82 Barrett]] is an absolute ''beast'' of a gun that fires a 50 caliber round, designed to be used against lightly armored positions and vehicles (and occasionally people with...[[ChunkySalsaRule fun]] results). Anyone who has heard it cock can verify that the loud, clanking sound of chambering the first round is certainly dramatic, and ''very'' intimidating.
453[[/folder]]

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