Red Dead Redemption: Every Shotgun

Key takeaways

• Blunderbuss is incredibly powerful against undead in the Undead Nightmare DLC despite slow reload speed.
• Sawn off shotgun offers tremendous power but sacrifices accuracy and capacity.
• Semi-automatic shotgun, although powerful, requires practice due to low accuracy but high rate of fire.

Shotguns are one of the most popular forms of weaponry in the open world western Red Dead Redemptionknown for their ability to fire several shots in short succession. They are generally quick to reload, but do not hold large magazines.

There are five shotguns that players can acquire Red Read Redemptioneach with their own benefits, whether it's unlocking achievements or improving a player's combat abilities. Four of these are available in the main game, with clear favorites emerging among fans of the game for their reliability and reload speeds. This list focuses on the fire capacity of each gun and their use in combat scenarios.

5 Blunderbuss

A DLC exclusive item

• Effect: High-Very High
• Reload Speed: Low
• Range: Moderate
• Price: Low
• Capacity: 1

While the Blunderbuss is an excellent weapon for killing undead, it is limited to Undead Nightmare DLC and cannot be used in regular single player mode, so players of the base game will not be able to enjoy the benefits of this.

Blunderbuss can kill all undead in one shot, and can even kill multiple undead at the same time if they are close together. Even fired at humans, it has high power, making it a valuable weapon to have. That said, the slow reload speed means players should pay attention when shooting and plan their moves ahead of time.

4 Sawed off shotgun

Powerful but flawed

• Power: High
• Reload Speed: Moderate
• Range: Very low
• Price: High
• Capacity: 2

Most players wouldn't go out of their way to get the sawed off shotgun. It is extremely powerful, but at the expense of accuracy. Not to mention, with its small capacity, reloading can also become a problem. However, some players recommend using two at the same time, which eases the reloading problem and creates a very powerful set.

Players will first encounter this gun mid-game, where it can be collected from enemies killed.

3 Semi-automatic shotgun

Takes some getting used to

• Power: High
• Reload Speed: Medium
• Range: Low
• Price: High
• Capacity: 5

This is definitely not the most accurate weapon in the game, but it can be very powerful, especially at close range. With its ability to spray quickly, it can be perfect for intense combat scenarios, especially for those seeking multiple kills in one swipe. Fans of the game often recommend this gun for more experienced players, claiming that it takes some getting used to before mastering the perfect shooting style.

This gun can be purchased from the Gun Merchant, located on Escalera. The base price is $1000, but this can be halved with high honor, and further reduced to $250 if players wear the Savvy Merchant Outfit. At that price, the semi-automatic shotgun is definitely worth buying.

2 Double barreled shotgun

Perfect for moving targets

• Power: High
• Reload Speed: Medium
• Range: Short
• Price: Moderate
• Capacity: 2

This reliable gun is great for bounty hunting and subduing targets from a distance, but its small capacity means it's not the best for attempting multiple kills in quick succession.

In particular, the double-barreled shotgun is great for shooting at moving targets, giving players the ability to fire both bullets at the same time by simply double-clicking the trigger. Of course, this means they have to reload immediately, but with its moderate reload speed, this isn't too inconvenient.

Players can acquire this gun in a number of ways. They will get the gun after killing Spike Haggerty in the main game, Philip Ross in a side quest, or after rescuing the deputy at the Tesoro Azul hideout. It can also be purchased in Armadillo, with the starting price of $300 halving or quartz, depending on the player's fame or glory.

1 Pump-action shotgun

A reliable favorite

• Power: High
• Reload Speed: Medium
• Range: Short
• Price: Moderate
• Capacity: 6

Pump-action is a fan favorite for many reasons. Its power makes it a great defensive tool for beginners, but its average reload speed and range don't make it overwhelming either. Players have commented on the cinematic quality of using this gun, with an immersive sound effect.

The pump also has the largest ammo capacity of any Red Dead shotgun, with an impressive 6 bullets per round. Unfortunately, it's the last weapon that players will unlock in the game's single-player mode, but it's well worth acquiring for its superior qualities.

Most players will get this gun during the quest “And The Truth Will Set You Free” from Dutch's Gang. There is also a chance that players will get it if they kill Edgar Ross, with the option to reload if they don't get it on their first try.