

The combat shotgun is definitely a step above the double-barreled shotgun, in no small part due to its magazine which holds more than just two shells of ammunition. Its popularity proved enduring, as working units were salvaged after the Great War and pressed into use by wastelanders of all stripes, including merchant guards, adventurers, raiders, slavers, Gunners, and Talon Company mercs.

Despite that, the resulting rifle was as cheap, effective, and popular as the combat shotgun. Everything else was left in place, including the original magazine well with the drum mount. To capitalize on this, the military introduced the combat rifle: A combat shotgun rechambered for rifle rounds and without the heat shroud protecting the barrel. These include various optics, ranging from simple iron sight rings, through reflex sights, to night vision and recon scopes, bayonets and compensators, as well as adjustable, pistol-grip tactical stocks from lightweight alloys. Its widespread use led to the development of a large variety of modifications, allowing for in-depth customization.

Though early models used a combination drum-and-tube magazine (when placed in the magazine well, the drum would fill the tube with shells), standardized, mass-produced versions used a more conventional magazine placement with a variety of magazine types available. Although it might have seemed antiquated, the combination of firepower, ruggedness, and low price tag resulted in widespread adoption by the United States military. the Citykiller, it uses wood and stamped metal sheets that greatly reduce manufacturing costs, while its design maximizes durability without sacrificing the firepower provided by standard 12 gauge shotgun shells. Instead of lightweight metal alloys used in eg. The combat shotgun was a weapon born out of necessity in a world ravaged by war and resource shortages.
