The Double Barrel Shotgun is the gun that ends more early-wipe fights in Rust than almost anything else. It only needs a Workbench Level 1, costs a handful of metal fragments and two pipes, and a clean point-blank blast of buckshot does up to 210 damage. That is enough to delete a player in cloth or hide gear before they can turn around.
The catch is right there in the name: two barrels, two shells. Miss both and you are stuck in a 5.5 second reload while the other player shoots back. That is why the double barrel shotgun in Rust is either the scariest gun in a doorway or dead weight in an open field. It depends on where you take the fight.
This double barrel shotgun Rust guide covers the full stats, how pellet damage actually works, every shell type, how to craft, research or buy one, a straight comparison against the Waterpipe and Pump, which attachments are worth it, and the habits that make both shells count. Every number is checked against the Facepunch wiki, RustClash and RustHelp item data.
- What Is the DB
- Stats
- Damage & Kills
- Ammo Types
- How to Get It
- DB vs Pump vs Waterpipe
- Attachments
- When to Use It
- Repair & Recycle
- Pro Tips
- FAQ
What Is the Double Barrel Shotgun in Rust?
The Double Barrel Shotgun (short name shotgun.double) is a break-action 12 gauge shotgun. Facepunch describes it as a shotgun “with two barrels allowing two shots to be fired in quick succession.” Players almost always call it the DB, so if you have searched for the “Rust DB”, this is the gun. It is one of the first real guns you can make in a wipe and sits in the close-range tier of Rust’s weapon roster, next to the Waterpipe and Pump shotguns.
What makes the DB special is the burst. It fires its two shells at 120 RPM, which is far faster than the Waterpipe (13 RPM) or the Pump (55 RPM). So when you pull the trigger twice, both blasts land almost at the same moment. Up close that is 420 potential damage in half a second, more than enough for anyone short of full metal armour.
It is also cheap. You need no gunpowder to build it, the blueprint is on the first tier of the tech tree, and the materials come straight out of your first few recycler runs. That makes the DB the standard answer to the “what do I craft first?” question at Workbench 1, along with the Revolver.
Double Barrel Shotgun Rust Stats
Here are the full, verified stats for the Double Barrel Shotgun. These are vanilla values. Modded servers can change damage, loot tables and craft costs.
| Stat | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon type | Break-action shotgun | Close range |
| Damage (buckshot) | 210 | 14 pellets x 15 if every pellet hits |
| Damage (slug) | 80 | 2x headshot for 160 |
| Rate of fire | 120 RPM | Fastest of the cheap shotguns |
| Capacity | 2 shells | One per barrel |
| Reload time | 5.5 seconds | Reloads both barrels |
| Draw time | 1.75 seconds | Slow to swap to |
| Aim cone | 0.5° | Buckshot pellets spread 12.5° |
| Velocity | 225 m/s | Buckshot and slug, 100 m/s for handmade |
| Ammo | 12 Gauge | Buckshot, Slug, Incendiary, Handmade Shell |
| Crafting | Workbench Level 1 | 175 Metal Fragments + 2 Metal Pipes |
| Research / tech tree | 60 scrap / 60 scrap | About 405 scrap for the full tree path |
| Item ID / short name | -765183617 / shotgun.double | Stack size 1 |
The stat that defines the DB is the 120 RPM fire rate with only 2 shells. You get an enormous burst up front and then a long, dangerous reload. Every good DB habit comes from that one fact: get close, fire both, then get out of sight before you reload.
How Much Damage Does the DB Do?
A buckshot shell fires 14 pellets that do 15 damage each, for a maximum of 210 damage per shell. That 210 is a ceiling, not a guarantee. Pellets spread out in a 12.5° cone and lose damage with distance, so the further away your target is, the fewer pellets hit and the less each one does.
- Point blank (under ~5m): nearly every pellet lands. One shell kills a player in cloth, hide or wood gear, and two shells at point blank will kill most players in road sign armour.
- Close range (5-10m): you need roughly 7 of 14 pellets (105 damage) to kill an unarmoured 100 HP player, which a good shot still delivers. Against armour, plan on both shells.
- Beyond ~15m: buckshot falls apart. Switch to slugs or a different gun.
Armour reduces all of this, and heavy armour like metal facemask plus a chest plate can soak a surprising amount. That is why the DB is at its best early in a wipe and in tight spaces where you control the distance.
Double Barrel Ammo Types
The DB fires any 12 gauge shell, the same ammo as the Waterpipe, Pump, Eoka and the deployable Shotgun Trap. Which shell you load changes how far the gun is useful.
| Ammo | Damage | Velocity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Gauge Buckshot Best | 210 (14 x 15) | 225 m/s | Your default PvP shell. |
| Handmade Shell | 180 (20 x 9) | 100 m/s | Cheap early-wipe ammo, point blank only. |
| 12 Gauge Incendiary Shell | 150 | 100 m/s | Setting fires and burning wooden doors. |
| 12 Gauge Slug | 80 (160 headshot) | 225 m/s | Accurate mid-range pokes. |
How to Get the Double Barrel Shotgun in Rust
The DB is one of the easiest real guns to get, and there are five ways to do it. Most players research or tech-tree it on day one and then craft as many as they need.
| Method | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Craft Main way | 175 Metal Fragments + 2 Metal Pipes | Workbench Level 1, once you know the blueprint |
| Research | 60 scrap | Put a DB in a Research Table (the gun is used up) |
| Tech tree | 60 scrap node | Workbench 1 tree, about 405 scrap for the full path to it |
| Buy | 250 scrap | Weapons vendor at Outpost |
| Loot | ~6.5% / 5% / <1% | Elite crates / heavy scientists / normal crates |
The two ingredients are easy to find. Metal Fragments come from smelting metal ore or recycling components, and Metal Pipes drop from barrels and crates along roads and at monuments. Two pipes and one furnace load of metal ore is all it takes.
Double Barrel vs Pump vs Waterpipe
“DB vs Pump” is one of the most searched shotgun questions in Rust. All three shotguns do the same 210 damage with buckshot. The difference is how fast they shoot, how many shells they hold and what they cost.
| Stat | Double Barrel | Waterpipe | Pump Shotgun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckshot damage | 210 | 210 | 210 |
| Fire rate | 120 RPM | 13 RPM | 55 RPM |
| Capacity | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Reload | 5.5 sec | 4.5 sec | 5.5 sec |
| Workbench | Level 1 | Level 1 | Level 2 |
| Research cost | 60 scrap | 30 scrap | 60 scrap |
- DB vs Waterpipe. Both are Workbench 1 guns, but the Waterpipe has one shell and a slow 13 RPM. Miss once and you are done. The DB gives you a second shot straight away, which makes it the safer buy if you have the metal.
- DB vs Pump. The Pump holds 8 shells, so it wins long fights and multi-person pushes like raids and airdrops. The DB is cheaper, needs only Workbench 1 and has a much faster two-shell burst, so it wins most 1v1 corner fights.
- vs the SMGs and rifles. A Thompson or MP5A4 can keep shooting past 15m where the DB cannot. Once your group reaches Workbench 2 and 3, the DB becomes a door-holding sidearm rather than your main gun.
Best Double Barrel Attachments
The DB cannot take muzzle attachments or an extended magazine. It can take sights, a laser and a flashlight. Here is what each one does, based on the in-game modifier values.
- Holosight. Cuts aim cone by 20% and gives a clean sight picture. It is the best all-round pick, especially if you run slugs.
- Weapon Lasersight. Cuts aim cone by 20%, hip-fire aim cone by 50% and aim sway by 90%. Great if you hip-fire around corners.
- Weapon Flashlight. Useful in dark bases and tunnels, but the beam shows everyone where you are.
- Simple Handmade Sight. A basic early-wipe sight when you have nothing else.
- 8x and Variable Zoom Scopes – skip them. They fit, but they add 50% recoil and zoom you in on a gun built for 5 metres.
When to Use the Double Barrel
The DB is a specialist. Use it where you control the distance, and swap to something else when you do not.
- Holding doorways and corners. Anyone who walks through a door into a pre-aimed DB is in serious trouble. This is why the DB is the classic “door camping” gun.
- Base and raid defence. Hold a hatch, stairwell or TC room as raiders climb up. You fight at the range where the DB is strongest.
- Early-wipe roaming. In the first hours, most players are in cloth, hide or wood armour, and the DB one-taps all of them.
- Close-range monuments. Tight corridors like Military Tunnels and small monuments favour burst damage.
- Not in open ground. Against a SAR or AK at 50m, the DB has nothing to answer with. Always carry a ranged option.
Can You Repair or Recycle the Double Barrel?
Yes, you can repair the DB at a Repair Bench for up to 35 Metal Fragments and 1 High Quality Metal. As with every repair in Rust, each repair lowers the gun’s maximum condition by 20%, and you need to know the blueprint. Because a new one only costs 175 frags and 2 pipes, most players simply craft a fresh DB.
You can also recycle it. Depending on the recycler, a DB returns roughly 70-131 Metal Fragments and a chance at a Metal Pipe. The powered green recycler returns 105 frags, while the Safe Zone recycler at Outpost or Bandit Camp returns the least. It is a handy way to turn spare DBs into metal for something better.
Double Barrel Shotgun Rust Pro Tips
- Fire both barrels back to back. At 120 RPM the second shell follows almost instantly. Aim both at the upper chest.
- Get close before you shoot. Buckshot spreads 12.5°, so every metre closer means more of the 14 pellets land.
- Reload behind cover, every time. A 5.5 second reload in the open is how DB players die. Break line of sight first.
- Carry a slug stack. Slugs turn the DB into an 80 damage, 160 headshot poke gun for 20-40m.
- Pair it with a ranged weapon. A bow, revolver, SAR or bolt covers everything past 15m.
- Research it early. 60 scrap at a Research Table gives you a gun you can rebuild after every death for the whole wipe.
Rushing a DB on wipe day? Know exactly when the next wipe hits. The monthly force wipe resets every map, base and blueprint on official servers. Check the live countdown so you can plan your first Workbench 1 rush.
See the Force Wipe CountdownDouble Barrel Shotgun Rust FAQ
How much damage does the Double Barrel Shotgun do in Rust?
With 12 gauge buckshot, each shell fires 14 pellets at 15 damage each for up to 210 damage if every pellet hits. A slug does 80 damage, or 160 on a headshot. Handmade shells do up to 180 and incendiary shells 150. Pellets spread and lose damage with distance, so real damage drops off quickly past 10 metres.
How do you craft the Double Barrel Shotgun in Rust?
Once you know the blueprint, you craft the Double Barrel Shotgun at a Workbench Level 1 for 175 Metal Fragments and 2 Metal Pipes. You learn the blueprint by researching a DB for 60 scrap at a Research Table, or by unlocking it in the Workbench 1 tech tree.
What workbench do you need for the Double Barrel?
Workbench Level 1. That makes the DB one of the earliest real guns you can craft in a wipe, alongside the Revolver and Waterpipe Shotgun.
How much scrap is the Double Barrel Shotgun?
Researching it costs 60 scrap. The tech tree node also costs 60 scrap, or about 405 scrap for the full path from the start of the Workbench 1 tree. Buying a ready-made DB at the Outpost weapons vendor costs 250 scrap.
Is the DB better than the Pump Shotgun in Rust?
For 1v1 close-range fights, often yes. Both do 210 buckshot damage, but the DB fires its two shells at 120 RPM compared with the Pump’s 55 RPM, and it only needs Workbench 1. The Pump holds 8 shells, so it is better for longer fights and fighting several players at once.
What ammo does the Double Barrel Shotgun use?
It uses any 12 gauge ammo: 12 Gauge Buckshot, 12 Gauge Slug, 12 Gauge Incendiary Shell and Handmade Shells. Buckshot is the best all-round choice, and slugs are best for mid-range shots.
How many shots does the DB take to kill?
At point blank, one buckshot shell kills a player in cloth, hide or wood gear, and you only need about 7 of the 14 pellets to kill an unarmoured 100 HP player. Against heavier armour, plan on firing both barrels. Past 15 metres the pellets spread too much to rely on.
What are the best attachments for the Double Barrel?
The Holosight is the best all-round attachment because it cuts aim cone by 20%. The Weapon Lasersight is great for hip fire, cutting hip aim cone by 50% and aim sway by 90%. Skip scopes, because they add 50% recoil. The DB cannot use muzzle attachments or an extended magazine.
Does the Double Barrel blueprint get wiped?
On official servers, the monthly force wipe resets the map and all blueprints, so you have to research or tech-tree the DB again. Weekly or bi-weekly map wipes on community servers may keep blueprints, depending on the server’s wipe schedule.
Sources and Further Reading
- Official item data, ammo damage, crafting and recycling: Facepunch Wiki, Double Barrel Shotgun
- Fire rate, reload, capacity, damage per shell and mods: RustClash Wiki, Double Barrel Shotgun
- Research and tech tree cost, Outpost price and loot chances: RustHelp, Double Barrel Shotgun
- Buckshot pellet count: RustClash Wiki, 12 Gauge Buckshot
- Pump Shotgun stats for comparison: RustClash Wiki, Pump Shotgun
- Every gun in the game: whenisforcewiperust.com, Rust Weapons Guide
- Where to buy it: whenisforcewiperust.com, Outpost Guide
- The game itself: Facepunch Studios