Guide
Rust Pump Shotgun: Damage, Range & Shell Types
Up to 280 point-blank but useless past ~10 m — the Pump Shotgun is Rust's close-quarters king. Stats, falloff and shell types.
Key takeaways
- Up to 280 head point-blank, pump action, 6 shells
- Effective range ~10 m — damage falls off fast
- Chambers buckshot, slugs and incendiary
- Hold tight angles; slow pump cycle
The Pump Shotgun is the definitive close-range answer — nothing in Rust deletes a target inside a doorway faster.
Stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Fire mode | Pump action |
| Head damage | up to 280 |
| Chest damage | up to 210 |
| Arms / legs damage | 80 / 80 |
| Recoil | High |
| Effective range | ~10 m |
| Magazine | 6 · 12 Gauge (buckshot / slug / incendiary) |
| Craft | Yes (120 s) · 2 mod slots |
Reading the damage
Those 280 / 210 numbers assume a full buckshot pellet spread landing — and shotgun damage falls off hard with distance and spread, so the ~10 m effective range is the real story. Point-blank it's a one-shot; a few metres out it's a coin flip. It also chambers slugs (tighter, longer range) and incendiary shells.
How to use it
- Ambush and hold tight angles — corners, doorways, tunnels.
- Swap to slugs when you need a little reach.
- The pump cycle is slow: make the first shell count, or have a backup ready.
Bottom line
A pure close-quarters weapon. In the right spot it's unbeatable; caught in the open, it's nearly useless. Play strictly inside the 10 m envelope.
Stats from the Rust Wiki.