Guns in general may be more effective as symbols than when actually
detonated.

I saw a fully trained Marine holding a cocked .45 colt Hollywood stunt gun at
chest level on a stunt man (a USMC Reservist) hands by his side, a single
action (meaning the gun had to have the hammer pulled back by hand in order to
be fired) stunt gun on either hip, draw, cock and fire each gun twice before
the Marine at the ready and waiting to pull the trigger could pull even once.

As long as the intruder sees the gun and believes that it will
injure them it is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned.

not worth its weight in lead, to a man who knows that most people can't fire
even once in a fraction of a second.

be careful guy.