20 gauge shotgun shell

20 gauge shotgun shell is a type of ammunition manufactured by the Masterson company in Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
The 20-gauge shotgun is a smoothbore shotgun shell with a smaller caliber than 12 gauge (.615 as opposed to .729). It's generally excellent for beginner shooters or shooting small game, as it causes less tissue disruption. A slug can, however, be an effective weapon in close quarters and can take down even lumbering wasteland beasts if aimed properly. Masterson was one of the more common producers.

Characteristics
The 20 gauge is essentially an entry-level shotgun shell, useful in the early stages of the game, but quickly outseated by the venerable 12 gauge.

Weapons using this ammunition

 * Caravan shotgun
 * Lever-action shotgun
 * Single shotgun
 * Sturdy caravan shotgun

20 gauge, magnum
Magnum shells are standard buckshot shells fitted with a higher internal powder load, increasing velocity and stopping power. The downside is that they cause more damage to the firearm used due to the higher overall pressure, requiring more regular maintenance.


 * Crafting

20 gauge, slug
Slugs contain a large lead projectile promoting better accuracy and kinetic energy over a distance. Slugs enable a shotgun to engage targets at a further distance.


 * Crafting

20 gauge, 3/0 buck (GRA)
A sub-type added with the new add-on Gun Runners' Arsenal, these loads sacrifice quantity for quality, in other words there are fewer projectiles overall but they're heavier and pack a bigger punch.

20 gauge, 3/0 buck magnum (GRA)
A sub-type added with the new add-on Gun Runners' Arsenal, these magnum shells use the larger 3/0 shot size, but with a greater powder load resulting in higher velocity.


 * Crafting

20 gauge, pulse slug (GRA)
A sub-type added with the new add-on Gun Runners' Arsenal, these slugs cause more damage to power armor and robots, and the target gets an extra kick from an electromagnetic pulse triggered by the impact.

20 gauge (junk)
Junk rounds are makeshift bullets made from materials commonly found while scavenging, such as scrap metal and tin cans. Junk rounds are the only good as a last resort ammo as firing them causes extra wear on the firearm and all around do less damage.


 * Crafting

Locations

 * Regular and variants are occasionally sold by Cliff Briscoe.
 * Regular and variants sold by Chet.

Behind the scenes

 * 20 gauge shotgun shells are actually suppose to be yellow, but due to a texturing oversight, are the same red as 12 gauge shells.