Big Boomer

The Big Boomer is a unique weapon in Fallout: New Vegas.

Characteristics
The Big Boomer is a sawed-off shotgun with the same break action, 12 gauge that fires both shells at a time, delivering 14 pellets at a time instead of the typical 7 of other shotguns.

As compared to the standard sawed-off, the Big Boomer has a much darker color scheme with heavier rusting, and the words "Big Boomer" stenciled onto the grip in faded white paint. It excels over its default counterpart when it comes to sheer damage, delivering 20 more points of total possible damage. In addition, Big Boomer also has a slightly tighter spread, lower AP cost, and fires slightly faster. The only major drawback is that the common sawed-off shotgun is classified as a holdout weapon, whereas the Big Boomer is not.

Durability
Big Boomer can fire a total of about 395 times, or 790 standard rounds, the equivalent of 395 reloads, from full condition before breaking. This is exactly the same amount as its common variant.

Variants

 * Sawed-off shotgun, a common variant found throughout the Mojave Wasteland.

Location
The Big Boomer is carried by Old Lady Gibson, who resides in the Gibson scrap yard. The weapon can be obtained by pickpocketing Old Lady Gibson's ammo and leaving her house. After waiting several in game hours, re-enter the house and she will have the weapon in her inventory.

Pickpocket The Big Boomer from her inventory. A high Sneak skill is required (it can be difficult to be hidden).

Behind the scenes
Within the games files exists an unused texture for the Big Boomer. It uses the Fallout 3 model and only differs from that in the color of the wood and the words Big Boomer written down the side of the handgrip.

Bugs

 * When in first person view, the weapon looks fine, but when in third person view, the grip of the gun can be detached from the two barrels.
 * In unpatched versions, it can be bought from Mick at Mick & Ralph's.
 * Big Boomer does not contribute to the "I've Got Shotgun" damage challenge.
 * Occasionally after you kill Old Lady Gibson she will not have the Big Boomer in her inventory.