Sawed-Off Shotgun (Fallout: New Vegas)

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

Characteristics
The sawed-off shotgun is a break action, 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.

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.

Furthermore, it is also considered an improved holdout weapon, and can be concealed and carried into weapon-free locations, so long as one's Sneak skill is 50 or higher.

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.

Variant

 * Big Boomer, a unique variant carried by Old Lady Gibson.
 * Special one used by Button man, which consumes magical companion ammo.

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.

Bugs
When in first person the weapon looks fine, but in third person, the barrels can be dettached from the grip.