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The sawed-off shotgun is a weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background[]

This section is transcluded from shotgun. To change it, please edit the transcluded page.

A shotgun, also called a "scattergun," is a firearm designed to shoot a multitude of lead or steel balls of varying sizes, greatly increasing the weapon's hit potential. This makes it very effective at hunting game.[Non-game 1] However, the accuracy and power found at close range starts to diminish as the target gets farther away. Shotguns designed for the military's use are often called "combat shotguns."

Characteristics[]

Sawed-off shotgun FNV blown up

Sawed-off shotgun expanded

A break-action, double-barreled 12 gauge shotgun with most of the original barrel and stock removed to make it smaller and more easily concealed at the expense of range. Pulling the trigger fires both barrels at once, unleashing 14 pellets instead of the typical 7. While its damage-per-second is low, it inflicts incredible burst damage at close range. It inflicts more damage per shot than any other non-unique shotgun. The sawed-off shotgun is one of the most powerful non-unique conventional firearms in the game. It is also considered an improved holdout weapon.

However, its incredible damage is offset by the fact that it has an extremely wide shot spread, the highest in the game. In addition, because it fires both barrels at once, it wears out fast, eats up more ammo than other shotguns, and must be reloaded after each shot, leaving the player vulnerable between shootings (even with its fast reload speed). The division of damage between separate projectiles will also decrease its effectiveness against armored targets, as the damage will be reduced per pellet. Thus, the sawed-off shotgun is best utilized as a "finishing" weapon against soft targets rather than a primary weapon: used either in cramped quarters such as tunnels and caves, or taken out to quickly finish off a charging enemy before they get too close. Utilizing the Shotgun Surgeon perk or appropriate ammo types does mitigate its inherently low damage per projectile against armored targets.

Durability[]

The sawed-off shotgun can fire a total of about 395 times, or 790 standard rounds, the equivalent of 395 reloads, from full condition before breaking. This amount is exactly the same as its unique variant.

Ammunition typeDurability
ShotsReloads
Standard, 4/0 buck, slug, coinshot, bean bag, flechette, Dragon's Breath & pulse slug395395
Magnum & 4/0 buck Magnum343343

Variant[]

Comparison[]

Legend 
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (melee or unarmed)Attacks in V.A.T.S.- Attacks in V.A.T.S.
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)- Weapon name (gun, energy or explosive)Action point cost- Action point cost
Damage per attack (damage per projectile)- Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per action point- Damage per action point
Damage per second- Damage per secondWeapon spread- Weapon spread
Area of effect damage- Area of effect damageMagazine capacity (shots per reload)- Magazine capacity (shots per reload)
Effect damage & duration- Effect damage & durationDurability (number of attacks before breaking)- Durability (number of attacks before breaking)
Bonus effects- Bonus effectsWeight- Weight
Attacks per second- Attacks per secondValue in caps- Value in caps
Critical chance % multiplier- Critical chance % multiplierValue to weight ratio- Value to weight ratio
Critical damage- Critical damageSkill required- Skill required
Critical effect damage & duration- Critical effect damage & durationStrength required- Strength required
With all mods attached- With all mods attached
Weapon name (current weapon is highlighted)Damage per attack (damage per projectile)Damage per secondAttacks per secondCritical Chance % multiplierCritical damageAction Point costDamage per action pointWeapon spreadMagazine capacity (shots per reload)Durability (number of attacks before breaking)WeightValue in capsValue to weight ratioSkill requiredStrength required
Sawed-off shotgun 100
(7.1x14)
234.42.34x17372.74.02(1)39541950487.5504
Big Boomer 120
(8.6x14)
309.42.58x19353.43.52(1)39542500625504

Locations[]

  • HELIOS One - One can sometimes be found (50% chance) in a toolbox in the pool table room.
  • Atomic Wrangler Casino - There is a gun case in the back room behind the bar. Two sawed-off shotguns can be found, as well as some shells.
  • Jessup carries a sawed-off shotgun.
  • Gun Runners - Can be purchased from the Vendortron.
  • Sawed-off shotguns are carried by the bartenders at The Tops and Gomorrah casinos.
  • One can be received from Heck Gunderson during the quest Beyond the Beef. Right after contact with Chauncey, head back to Heck and tell him that his son was kidnapped and is being held in the hotel.
  • Samuel Cooke carries a sawed-off shotgun.
  • Should the player character help Cachino kill Big Sal and Nero during How Little We Know, he will hand the player character a sawed-off and 30 12 gauge Magnum shells when Nero's office is entered.
  • Sloan - In the worker barracks, in an Easy-locked cabinet. Must be stolen.
  • Ralph of Mick & Ralph's carries a nearly 100% condition sawed-off shotgun.
  • Mick at Mick & Ralph's sells sawed-off shotguns, once the player character passes a Speech check of 30 to gain access to his secret stash.
  • Randomly carried by Fiends.

Notes[]

The sawed-off shotgun received a texture change from Fallout 3, changing the dark gunmetal and cherry wood to a nickel finish and plain wooden furniture, and the only legacy gun to receive such a texture change. The screw placement on the shotgun's receiver has also been changed as a result of the retexture.

Bugs[]

PCPC Playstation 3Playstation 3Playstation 3 Xbox 360Xbox 360 When in first person, the weapon looks fine, but in third person, the barrels can be detached from the grip.[verified]

Sounds[]

SingleShotVB

Gallery[]

References[]

Non-game

  1. Fallout: The Roleplaying Game Rulebook p. 98: "Before the Great War, double-barrel shotguns were mainly used for hunting and home defense, and this has changed little. They are break-action and come in an either a side-by-side or over-and-under barrel configuration. Simple to make and maintain, these shotguns are seen frequently in the Commonwealth and the rest of the wasteland."
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