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The Semi-Auto Shotgun is the best all-round choice for Red Dead Redemption 2’s story mode if you value quick follow-up shots and a useful balance of range and accuracy. The Repeating Shotgun is a strong alternative for players who prioritize damage and reload performance. This ranking weighs close-range usefulness and reliability first, then firing speed and reload, with range and when each weapon becomes available as additional factors. It is a criteria-based guide, not a claim that one shotgun is best for every player.
How the ranking works
Shotguns are close-combat weapons: their shots lose effectiveness at greater distances, so handling and follow-up shots matter most when enemies are near. The ratings below come from GameWith’s guide, last updated December 30, 2019. They use a 0–4 scale, with default ratings shown in damage, range, rate of fire and reload order. These are guide ratings, not independently measured performance or real-world firearm statistics.
The order below is an editorial judgment based on those ratings and the cited guides’ descriptions. The ratings are relatively close together, so small differences should not be treated as proof of a major in-game advantage. RDR2.org’s story-mode guide favors the Semi-Auto for its firing speed and range and accuracy within its comparison; its rare-weapons guide identifies the Repeating as its damage-focused shotgun pick. Those different recommendations reflect different priorities, not a settled universal winner.
Every RDR2 shotgun, ranked
| Rank | Shotgun | Damage | Range | Rate of fire | Reload | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semi-Auto Shotgun | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 | All-round use and quick follow-up shots |
| 2 | Repeating Shotgun | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.9 | Damage-focused play and the highest reload rating in the table |
| 3 | Sawed-Off Shotgun | 2.8 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 | Dual-wielding and a sidearm slot |
| 4 | Pump-Action Shotgun | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | Reliable short-range shootouts |
| 5 | Double-Barreled Shotgun | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | A straightforward two-shot option |
| 6 | Rare Shotgun | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | A collectible variant with a distinctive wrap |
Ratings are GameWith’s default values; its page distinguishes these from potential maximum ratings after customization and maxed affinity. The ratings above are not a claim of tested weapon performance. GameWith’s weapon-stat list
#1 Best Overall
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1. Semi-Auto Shotgun: best all-rounder
The Semi-Auto earns the top spot for players who want a versatile story-mode shotgun rather than a specialist. Its rate-of-fire and reload ratings are both 2.3 and 2.6 respectively, and RDR2.org’s story-mode guide highlights its firing speed and range and accuracy relative to the alternatives. It is not the top damage pick in that source material, but its mix of handling priorities makes it the most practical default recommendation.
2. Repeating Shotgun: best damage-focused alternative
The Repeating has a 2.5 damage rating and a 2.9 reload rating, the highest reload value in GameWith’s default-rating table. RDR2.org’s rare-weapons guide names it as its shotgun choice for damage. Put it first instead if your priority is the harder-hitting option described by that guide, rather than the Semi-Auto’s all-round role.
3. Sawed-Off Shotgun: best sidearm niche
The Sawed-Off has the highest damage rating in the table at 2.8, alongside a 1.3 range rating. Its special advantage is flexibility: RDR2.org says it can be dual-wielded with another revolver or pistol. Choose it when you want a shotgun in a sidearm role, not as a substitute for a longer-range weapon.
Rank #2
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4. Pump-Action Shotgun: reliable close-range choice
The Pump-Action’s ratings are fairly even, and RDR2.org describes it as reliable in short-range shootouts while noting its low range. It is a solid choice when encounters bring enemies close, but its guide rating does not give it a clear edge over the top-ranked options.
5. Double-Barreled Shotgun: two shots, then manage the reload
The Double-Barreled rates 2.5 for damage and 2.5 for rate of fire, but 2.0 for reload. Its defining practical constraint is its two-shot format, so you will need to account for the reload rather than expect a sustained string of shots. The ratings do not make it a clear upgrade over the more versatile choices above.
6. Rare Shotgun: collectible, not a stat upgrade
The Rare Shotgun is worth finding for its distinctive appearance, but not as a performance upgrade. RDR2.org says its stats match the regular shotgun and that it has a special wrap. Its GameWith ratings differ slightly from the listed Double-Barreled values, so treat those guide numbers as reference ratings rather than evidence that the Rare Shotgun is a stronger variant.
Rank #3
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Where to get each shotgun in story mode
These acquisition routes are from RDR2.org’s weapon-location guide. “After” a mission means the weapon becomes available through the listed route once that story milestone is reached; it does not mean the weapon is necessarily awarded in the mission itself.
| Shotgun | Story-mode route |
|---|---|
| Double-Barreled | Buy from gunsmiths after “Paying a Social Call” in Chapter 2. |
| Sawed-Off | One is obtained during “The Aftermath of Genesis”; an additional one can be bought from gunsmiths from Chapter 2 onward. |
| Pump-Action | Buy from gunsmiths after “Pouring Forth Oil” in Chapter 2. Special or Ultimate Edition pre-order bonus access is a separate exception, described below. |
| Semi-Auto | Buy from gunsmiths after “A Fine Night in Debauchery” in Chapter 4. |
| Repeating | Buy from gunsmiths after “Visiting Hours” in Chapter 6. |
| Rare Shotgun | Take it from the Hermit at a cabin. The cited guides describe the Hermit’s location differently, so consult a map for the exact spot. |
RDR2.org’s weapon-location guide provides the mission and gunsmith availability details. Its rare-weapons guide describes the Rare Shotgun as a unique weapon with the regular shotgun’s stats and a special wrap.
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Rockstar Games Customer Support says Special or Ultimate Edition pre-order bonus weapons can be picked up free from any Gunsmith after Chapter 1 is completed in Story Mode. This is an edition-specific bonus, not the standard story progression route. The support article was updated September 7, 2023. Rockstar Support: accessing the pre-order bonus weapons
Which shotgun should you use?
- Pick the Semi-Auto if you want the strongest all-round story-mode recommendation and value quick follow-up shots.
- Pick the Repeating if you favor the damage-focused option identified by RDR2.org or want the highest reload rating in GameWith’s table.
- Pick the Sawed-Off if you want to dual-wield a shotgun with a revolver or pistol.
- Pick the Rare Shotgun for its collectible appearance, not for improved stats.
The cited rankings address story mode. They do not establish a current Red Dead Online balance ranking, so this order should not be applied to Online as if it were the same comparison.
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