The world of Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 is full of animals, NPCs and players to shoot at, up close or far away. No game set in the Wild West is complete without some flavor of boomstick, and Red Dead Redemption 2 has a good selection for players to choose from.
Any shotgun in a video game is likely to be a fun time, but some are more entertaining and useful than others. While some are more useful than having nothing at all, others are must-have weapons for players to have on hand.
5 Sawed-Off Shotgun
The Sawed-Off is held in the secondary/pistol slot on the player’s inventory, making this the only shotgun that can be duel-wielded in gameplay. Sawed-Off Shotguns can be found in the world or purchased for $85.00 ($111.00 in Red Dead Online).
The Sawed-Off Shotgun is quick to draw, but has an incredibly short range and a wide pellet spread, making it effective in indoor situations, but otherwise avoidable for almost any other combat scenario.
4 Double-Barreled Shotgun
The Double-Barreled is a full-sized shotgun, delivering two barrels of destruction onto any foe or wild animal that the player comes across. It’s available to be found in the single-player open world or purchased for $95.00 ($185.00 in Online). A variant that cannot be customized called the Rare Shotgun can be found by Arthur being wielded by a hermit north of Annesburg, or bought in Red Dead Online for $258.00.
In close quarters, the Double-Barreled does decent damage but quickly falls off due to its limited range and wide pellet spread. It also carries only two shots before reloading, which can prove burdensome if the player is forced to use it in a heated firefight. Another cosmetic variant, the Krampus shotgun, was added to Red Dead Online in their holiday 2021 update.
3 Pump-Action Shotgun
The Pump-Action, modeled off of the beloved Winchester 1897, carries 5 shotgun shells in a tubular magazine. It can be acquired for free anytime in the single-player campaign, located in the master bedroom of Chez Porter.
It can be purchased for $148.00 ($266.00 in Online), and can serve the player well in a number of situations, especially controlled situations like a heist or hunting, but can fall short in the event of an extended firefight against hordes of enemies or high-skill players.
2 Repeating Shotgun
The Repeating Shotgun is a lever-action shotgun that holds 6 shotgun shells and is familiar to movie aficionados as the weapon wielded by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The Repeating Shotgun can be purchased after the mission “Visiting Hours” for $185.00 ($434.00 in Online) and is all but a total upgrade of the Pump-Action Shotgun.
Holding 6 shots in an integrated tube magazine, the Repeating Shotgun has the highest ammo capacity in this category. Its range, pellet spread and fire rate are otherwise comparable to the Pump-Action Shotgun, meaning that players can comfortably carry one or the other without fear of missing out on a notable power boost.
1 Semi-Auto Shotgun
The Semi-Auto Shotgun is the ultimate problem solver for close-quarters situations. It carries 5 rounds with a fast fire rate, decent reload speed, and manageable recoil, making it sufficient for dealing with sustained firefights.
It can be found for free in the basement of the Watson’s Cabin, or purchased for $225.00 ($540.00 in Red Dead Online). The Semi-Auto is the shotgun that all players should aspire to get ahold of eventually, and will serve them well in most combat scenarios. From hordes of Pinkertons to massive bears or meddlesome players, the Semi-Auto can take care of whatever’s looking down its barrel.
