Shotguns

Overview

Shotguns are smoothbore weapons that typically fire buckshot, but can usually fire slugs and even dart shells. In the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, all shotguns are cheap to buy, inexpensive to upgrade, and use a good complement of ammunition types.

Bore and Gauge

All of the shotguns in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series have a 12-Gauge [18.5-mm (0.729-inch)] bore. The Bore measurement is the diameter of the weapon's barrel. The Gauge measurement is how many balls of the bore's diameter can be made from one pound of lead. A gauge of 12 means that twelve 18.5-mm (0.729") lead balls can be made per pound of lead.

Shot Size

To prevent potential confusion, the shell's Shot Size measurement is different: it is based on a number or letter code (varying per system) assigned to a packet of shot of a diameter that is smaller than the bore. For instance, American #00 ("Double Aught") Buckshot is 8.38-mm (0.33") in diameter and there are eight #00 Buckshot per 12 Gauge shell. Dust Shot (also called Varmint or Corbie shot) is made of particles of lead shot and is used to kill rats, mice and crows or hunt game rodents like Prairie Dogs at close range. Birdshot is small-diameter lead or steel shot for hunting small game like quail or rabbits. Waterfowl shot is medium-diameter steel shot used for hunting large game birds like geese and ducks. Buckshot (named for a "buck" - a term for an adult male deer) is large diameter lead shot used for hunting large game animals like deer, boar or bears.

Standard Verse Magnum

The shotguns in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series are rated to take both Standard [70-mm (2.75-inch)] and Magnum [76-mm (3-inch)] length shells. Magnum shells either have a larger powder charge or contain a heavier amount of shot than a Standard shell. The buckshot shells are Standard length and the Slug and Dart shells are Magnum length.

Ammo

Buckshot

File:12x70 Buckshot.jpg

Shotguns loaded with buckshot shells are the ultimate close quarter combat weapons. They are able to kill a moderately armored human opponent with a single shot at close range and send them flying backwards. Virtually every opponent in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series (human or mutant) can be defeated at close range with a barrage of buckshot shells. Due to the fact that buckshot expands rapidly after exiting the barrel of the shotgun, the weapon is virtually useless against distant enemies.

Slug

File:12x76 Slug.jpg

Slug shells are shaped like a long blunt-nosed bullet, rather than a ball, making for greater accuracy, range, and penetration. Slug shells are heavier since they are made of solid lead rather than a packet of loose shot. This ammo is good for mid-range shots against single targets. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, they get better penetration and range, replacing the Dart shell.

Dart

Dart shells contain a flechette [French > "Little Arrow"], an arrow-like lead projectile with a sharp armor-piercing metal penetrator and finned tail. The projectile is contained in a sabot [French > "Shoe"] - a protective casing that falls away in pre-sectioned pieces after the round leaves the barrel. The sabot serves to protect the flechette from damage while also increases the muzzle velocity. This round is more stable and accurate in flight and can go farther than a slug. They are good for long-range shots against unarmored or lightly-armored targets, or mid-range shots against moderately-armored targets. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Dart shells are rare, found only in caches or obtained as rewards from completing missions. In S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, this ammo is common and available for purchase. However, Dart shells are not available in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of the shotgun include: slow rate of fire, short effective range without appropriate upgrades, small magazine capacities, and long reload times. With the exception of the Eliminator, these weapons cannot be equipped with a scope, so medium and long-range slug or dart shots must be made with iron sights.

List of Shotguns

• TOZ-66 Sawn-off Shotgun - Side-by-Side Double-Barreled Hammer-lock shotgun with a crude pistol-grip stock and cut-down barrel.

• TOZ-34 Hunting Shotgun - Over/Under Double-Barreled Box-lock shotgun with a full-length barrel and shoulder stock.
  • If the player upgrades the TOZ-34 with the Tier 3: Threaded Barrel upgrade, it can fire slug and dart shells with greater accuracy. However, the rifled barrel means it can no longer fire shot shells.

• Chaser-13 Pump-Action Shotgun - Shotgun with a tubular magazine and repeating action.
  • The Combat Chaser is a unique version of the Chaser 13. The barrel contains a fragment of a Gravi artifact, increasing its muzzle velocity and damage. This rare item is carried by Father Diodor in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and can be found in the Secret stash of the Lucky One.
  • The Predator is a unique version of the Chaser 13 with an enhanced muzzle attachment that causes increased damage (perhaps because it is made out of a Gravi artifact, like the Combat Chaser). It is given as a reward by Trapper for killing a Chimera in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

• SPSA-14 - Semi-automatic shotgun with a tubular magazine.
  • The Threaded SPSA14 is a unique rifled-barrel version owned by the violent, demented Bandit Poker in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. This one can fire slugs and darts with greater accuracy.
  • The Carabiner is a rare full-auto variant sold by Nimble in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

• Eliminator - Double-Action shotgun with an integral high-capacity revolving drum magazine.