The Shadow drops the cartridge out, and lowers and cocks the hammer a few more times for Ichi's benefit. "Most people will be going into a fight with the safety already off, so it's the cocking of the hammer you should listen for. I always find the best policy is to try to wait until what I hope is the last second, and then drop. People aim for the chest or the head, as a rule, so if you can drop low enough when the gun goes off... I know you're fast." He aims the emptied gun at Ichi and cocks the hammer again, unsure if the sound will be different down the length of the barrel.