Rust Pump Shotgun
Five-shell tube-fed shotgun. The standard mid-game shotgun for room clearing and base defence.
Fast facts
| Tier | T1 workbench |
|---|---|
| Ammo | 12 Gauge Buckshot / Slug / Incendiary |
| Magazine | 5 shells |
| Reload | Per-shell loading (~0.5s each) |
| Damage | ~140 buckshot at point blank (community-consensus) |
| Range | Short (~10-20m effective) |
| Recoil | Manageable, slightly less than Waterpipe |
| Acquisition | Craft at T1 workbench. Default-known blueprint. |
The Pump Shotgun is the gold-standard mid-tier shotgun — 5 shells in a tube, reload one at a time which means you can top up between fights without dumping the magazine. The most common 'I have a primary' shotgun on Rust servers. Reliable, cheap, room-clearing potential.
Pro tips
- Top up between fights — reload one shell at a time, no need to dump remaining shells.
- 5 shells is plenty for most engagements — base-defence loadout standard.
- Pair with SAR or AK secondary — shotgun primary, rifle secondary for distance.
- Slugs for outdoor PvP, Buckshot for indoor/raid breach.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pump Shotgun the best T1 shotgun?
Yes — 5-shell capacity vs Double Barrel's 2 makes it the practical choice. Double Barrel still has its place for cheap-disposable raid kits, but Pump is the everyday shotgun.
How fast does the Pump Shotgun reload?
Per-shell loading at ~0.5s per shell. Full reload from empty takes ~3 seconds. The advantage is you can reload partial — top up 1-2 shells between fights without stopping.
Pump Shotgun vs Spas-12?
Spas-12 is T2, semi-auto, faster fire rate. Pump is T1, manual pump action, cheaper. Spas-12 wins on raw stats; Pump wins on accessibility.