Learn how to craft and use the Auto Shotgun
Nothing is quite as awesome for blowing apart zombies in 7 Days to Die as a shotgun. Except, perhaps, for an Auto Shotgun. This monstrous lead-spitter is capable of ripping apart zombies, doors, and practically anything else stupid enough to stand in its way.
This guide will walk you through crafting an Auto Shotgun in 7 Days to Die and offer advice on how to utilize it best.
How to craft an Auto Shotgun in 7 Days to Die
The Auto Shotgun is a marvelous piece of wasteland engineering, so you’ll need high-end materials and the proper skills to craft it. You’ll need to reach the final tier in the Shotguns crafting skill and have a Workbench before you can successfully assemble this weapon. The amount of crafting materials required will depend on the quality of the shotgun being constructed:
| Material | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shotgun Parts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Forged Steel | 30 | 60 | 90 | 120 | 150 |
| Duct Tape | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Scrap Polymers | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Spring | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Shotguns Crafting Skill | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
- Shotgun Parts can be found by scrapping non-Pipe Shotguns, searching weapon chests and gun safes, or may be purchased from traders.
- Forged Steel can be crafted at a Forge or salvaged from advanced devices like vending machines and street lamps.
- Duct Tape can be crafted by combining Glue and Cloth Fragments or found in parts containers.
- Scrap Polymers may be obtained by salvaging appliances and plastic objects or scavenged.
- Springs can be found in vehicle parts crates or salvaged from machinery and vehicles.
- The Shotguns crafting skill can only be improved by finding and reading issues of the Shotgun Weekly skill magazine.
Auto Shotgun Overview
Base Stats
Auto Shotgun Stats by Quality
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magazine Size | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Rounds / Minute | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Max Durability | 146 | 218 | 299 | 391 | 504 | 408 |
| Mod Slots | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Ammo
The Auto Shotgun is, unsurprisingly, chambered in shotgun rounds, of which there are 3 kinds: Shotgun Shells, Shotgun Armor Piercing (AP) Slugs, and Shotgun Breaching Slugs. Shotgun ammunition functions very differently than bullets, and a shotgun’s performance may vary dramatically based on its quality and the type of ammunition chambered.
Shotgun Shell Ammo
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage Per Pellet | 20.2 | 21.2 | 22.4 | 22.7 | 23.9 | 25 |
| Number of Pellets | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Effective Range | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Crafting Shotgun Shells will require a workbench and the following materials:
Shotgun AP Slug Ammo
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage Per Pellet | 112.5 | 118.6 | 124.8 | 126.6 | 133.3 | 139.4 |
| Number of Pellets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Effective Range | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Target Armor | -50% | -50% | -50% | -50% | -50% | -50% |
| Target Penetration | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Crafting Shotgun AP Slugs will require a workbench, and the player has read the Shotgun Messiah Vol. 4 perk book, as well as the following materials:
- 2 Bullet Tips
- 5 Gunpowder
- 1 Scrap Polymer
Shotgun Breaching Slug
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage / Pellet | 106.5 | 112.3 | 118.1 | 119.9 | 126.1 | 132 |
| Number of Pellets | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Effective Range | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Door/Wood Damage | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
Crafting Shotgun Breaching Slugs will require a workbench, and the player has read the Shotgun Messiah Vol. 2 perk book, as well as the following materials:
- 3 Forged Steel
- 2 Clay Soil
- 4 Gunpowder
- 1 Scrap Polymer
Mods
The Auto Shotgun accepts the following mods. Note that only one mod of any category may be attached at a time except accessory mods.
- Barrel: Barrel Extender, Silencer, Shotgun Choke, Shotgun Duckbill, Sawed-off Shotgun
- Sights: Reflex
- Accessory: Fore Grip, Cripple ‘Em
- Tech: The Hunter, Rad Remover
- Trigger Group: Semi, Burst, Full-Auto
- Rail: Laser Sight, Weapon Flashlight
- Magazine: Magazine Extender, Drum Magazine
- Stock: Retracting Stock
Tips and tricks for using the Auto Shotgun
As a member of the Shotgun weapon class, the Auto Shotgun scales in power with the player’s Strength attribute and the Boomstick perk.
Shotgun Shells are best used for close-quarters combat and crowd control. The damaging pellet spread can injure multiple enemies at once or deal serious stacking damage to a single target. Armor-piercing slugs are best used for mid-range combat and for breaking through armor. These slugs can also pierce an enemy and kill additional targets behind them. Breaching slugs are best used for breaking down doors or barricades and are a poor choice for combat.
Maximizing the close-combat abilities of this weapon will require some particular skills and modifications. Namely, focus on applying mods that increase handling and reduce recoil, such as the laser sight, foregrip, and retracting stock.
Though it is possible to hold down the trigger of this weapon for sustained fire, its low rate of fire and wild recoil make this a less-effective choice. The Auto Shotgun is still much faster than other shotguns, but it’s better to fire off single shots in rapid succession than to rely on the weapon’s full auto capabilities.
The Auto Shotgun’s maneuverability and incredible damage make it devastating in close combat and ideal for indoor fighting. The low accuracy and minimal effective range make this weapon almost useless at mid-to-long range. These weaknesses may be addressed by adding a barrel extender and shotgun choke mod.
For players looking to maximize damage on a single target, we recommend attaching a shotgun choke to minimize spread. A duckbill or sawed-off shotgun modification paired with a magazine upgrade are great choices for those looking to deal with crowds.
Shotguns excel at stunning and crippling targets with limb shots. Adding the Cripple Em’ mod can boost the effectiveness of these disabling capabilities.
Final thoughts on the Auto Shotgun
A serious upgrade from previous shotguns, we’re grateful to The Fun Pimps for adding this weapon, as it’s one of our favorites to use. If you’re looking for the ideal close-combat gun and a Breacher’s dream weapon, the Auto Shotgun is where your search ends.
Looking for some more pointers to help you survive Navezgane? Check out our 10 Tips for Getting Started or our in-depth Beginner’s Guide.
