Riot Shotgun

A pump-action shotgun with a shortened barrel for close-quarters handling, almost always loaded with less-lethal rounds - beanbag or rubber slug - rather than buckshot, since it is generally carried as a way to put down a target hard and fast without a fatal outcome. The wide spread at short range makes precise aim less critical than with a rifle, which suits its role as a doorway or close-range stopping weapon.

Its report is loud and unmistakable, which cuts both ways - it ends a confrontation fast, but it also announces the wielder's position to everyone in earshot, making it a poor fit for anyone relying on stealth as a first approach.