12 gauge shotgun shell ( Fallout : New Vegas ) The 12 gauge shotgun shell is a type of ammunition in " " originally manufactured by Purebore before the Great War . Characteristics . The Purebore Buckslayer Sure Shot 12 gauge shotgun shell is a large bore shotshell available in various buckshot loads and slugs . A specialized beanbag shell also exists for pacifist players , as well as coin shot shells . The add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " introduces 5 new varieties : 4 / 0 buckshot , 4 / 0 buckshot magnum , flechette , pulse slugs and fire damage dealing dragon ' s breath shells . Production . Standard buckshot , magnum buckshot , 4 / 0 magnum buckshot , coinshot and slug 12 gauge shotshell can be crafted at a reloading bench . A single shell requires the following ingredients : Breakdown . Breaking down a standard 12 gauge shotgun shell yields : Variants . 12 gauge , bean bag . Bean bag rounds are less - than - lethal shotgun ammunition commonly used by law enforcement to quell riot situations . Bean bags inflict and stun a target momentarily . For soft targets , bean bag rounds can still drain their health and kill them with multiple shots . 12 gauge , coin shot . Coin shot is an improvised buckshot - like round using Legion Denarii as the projectiles . The end result is an ammunition identical in damage to a magnum buckshot round , but one which has a chance of leaving coins in targets it damages , as well as an extra " pellet " as shown by the damage indicator when using this type of ammunition . In V . A . T . S . Denarius can be seen leaving the barrel of the weapon in certain shots . Coin shot is regarded as a better ammunition for trading , due to its dramatically increased value . 12 gauge , magnum . Magnum shells are standard buckshot shells with a higher powder load , increasing velocity , stopping power and - 2 DT reduction . The downside is greater wear to a firearm due to the higher overall pressure , resulting in more regular maintenance . 12 gauge , slug . Slugs use only a single large , solid projectile unlike shot , meaning weapon spread is traded for greater range and accuracy . These rounds also function as an armor - piercing round , as one powerful shot will deal more damage through a high DT than multiple weaker rounds . 12 gauge , 4 / 0 buck . A sub - type added with the new add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " , this shot sacrifices quantity for quality , with fewer , larger projectiles that pack a bigger punch . 12 gauge , 4 / 0 buck magnum hand load . A sub - type added with the new add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " , these magnum shells use the larger 4 / 0 shot size , but with a greater powder load resulting in higher velocity , thus more firepower , at the cost of increased weapon wear due to the higher pressure generated . 12 gauge , dragon ' s breath . A sub - type added with the new add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " , these zirconium - based pyrotechnic shells function as a short - ranged flamethrower , having an incendiary effect on targets for 5 seconds ; hence the name " dragon ' s breath " . 12 gauge , flechette . A sub - type added with the new add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " , these shells have had their traditional shot replaced with tiny metal darts that are great for armor penetration , but are not quite as damaging . Flechette rounds also greatly decrease muzzle flash , allowing for more accurate aiming . 12 gauge , pulse slug . A sub - type added with the new add - on " Gun Runners ' Arsenal " , these slugs cause more damage to robots and enemies wearing power armor , and the target gets an extra kick from an electromagnetic pulse triggered by the impact .