Sawn-off Shotgun

Lore & Background

The Sawn-off Shotgun is a classic weapon of choice for those who need maximum firepower in a compact package. In the Max Payne universe, it is often associated with criminals, enforcers, and desperate individuals who operate in the shadows of New York City. Its sawed-off barrels make it concealable under a coat, yet its blast can tear through body armor at close distances. Powerful and compact, the weapon is especially suitable for use in small spaces, such as close-quarters combat in a military context. Military vehicle crews use short-barrelled combat shotguns as ancillary weapons. In urban combat zones, military entry teams often use entry shotguns when breaching and entering doorways.

In Their Own Story

The rain slicked the alley, reflecting the neon sign of the dive bar. Max pressed his back against the wet brick, the cold weight of the sawn-off heavy in his hand. Two shells. That's all he had. The door burst open, and a man with a submachine gun stepped out. Max didn't think. He just raised the twin barrels and pulled the trigger. The blast was deafening, the flash blinding. The man was gone, replaced by a red mist and the smell of cordite. Max broke the shotgun, the spent shells clattering on the asphalt. He reloaded. Two more shells. Two more chances.

Reader's Guide

The Sawn-off Shotgun is a close-quarters specialist. It fires both barrels at once, unleashing a tight, devastating cone of buckshot that can shred a single target or wipe a cluster of enemies off the map. Its purpose is simple: delete anything within breathing distance. But its range is pitiful—beyond a few meters you might as well be throwing gravel—and its two-round capacity means every missed shot is a potential death sentence. Compared to a standard shotgun, the short-barrelled shotgun has a shorter effective range, due to a lower muzzle velocity; however, its reduced length makes it easier to maneuver and conceal. Powerful and compact, the weapon is especially suitable for use in small spaces, such as close-quarters combat in a military context. Reserve it for guaranteed close encounters: corners, elevator doors, the moment after a dive roll lands you at an enemy's feet. Reloading is painfully slow—each shell slid in one by one—so never empty both barrels unless you're sure the room is clear. Pair it with a mid-range workhorse like the Colt Python or a submachine gun; let the shotgun handle the messy final act when enemies get too close for comfort. In Max Payne 2 and 3, the weapon behaves similarly, though its damage and spread may shift slightly. It often appears in the hands of thugs or as a pickup in cramped interiors. Mastering it demands patience and positioning, but the payoff is the most visceral, satisfying kill in the series—a thunderclap that ends a fight before the echo fades.

Did You Know?

• A short-barrelled shotgun is also called a scattergun, shorty, or boom stick.
• When shortened by cutting with a saw, these are colloquially termed sawn-off shotguns or sawed-off shotguns.
• In the 1930s, the United States, United Kingdom and Canada mandated that a permit be required to own these firearms.
• In the United States, under the National Firearms Act (NFA), it is illegal for a private citizen to possess a sawn-off modern smokeless powder shotgun with a barrel length shorter than 18 inches without a tax-paid registration.
• Historical military use of sawn-off shotguns includes use as a primary weapon for Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War.