M90 Assault Shotgun

The M90 Assault Shotgun is a United Nations Space Command firearm. The M90 Shotgun is the resident UNSC close combat weapon, and packs extreme stopping power at close ranges. It is often wielded in urban conditions, where the close ranges are conducive to the shotgun's mode of operation. The shotgun also makes a perfect defensive weapon to fend off Covenant boarding parties inside starships.

The weapon's power lies in the great stopping power of a cloud of buckshot, which, while powerful in close-quarter combat, is useless at long ranges. However, it should be noted that highly experienced shotgun users can engage enemies at medium ranges with a shotgun.

Advantages
Since the shotgun fires 15 spreading pellets per shot, the combined force of each relatively weak pellet does a significant amount of damage. Its high damage potential (as much as a rocket in Halo 1 at close range) makes it effective against almost any Covenant unit (even the Hunter, if shot in its exposed back), but only if the player can get close enough to render the gun effective. The shotgun can also be used, though not necessarily effectively, against all manner of vehicles, and many players consider it the ideal weapon with which to destroy Banshees which happen to be within the shotgun's effective range. In addition, this weapon is extremely effective against all forms of Flood at short and medium ranges. The shotgun also reloads in a different manner than the rest of the weapons in Halo. Each round is put into the shotgun, one-by-one, so reloading all twelve shells at one time may take a while. However, the player may interrupt the reloading process at any time and fire with however many rounds are currently loaded into the weapon. Another popular way of firing the shotgun involves inserting a shell, firing, and then inserting another shell, etc. While this takes slightly longer, it has the advantage of always having eleven shells chambered. Apart from that it is devastating in close combat, stronger than an Energy Sword swipe, but slightly weaker than the Energy Sword lunge.

Disadvantages
This weapon is only effective at close range, although many skilled players are able to hit a target at a medium distance using this weapon. Ammunition for this weapon is also sometimes difficult to come by in single-player.

Influence
The mechanical design of the M90 shotgun is loosely based on the South African Neostead shotgun which features dual six-round top-loaded magazines. Its pump mechanism operates in a forward-back motion, due to its rear-load configuration (rather than normal back-forward motion). The weapon features two integral tube magazines with a total capacity of twelve rounds (6+6+1) and ambidextrous bottom ejecting shells. It is chambered for standard 12-Gauge 2.75-inch cartridges. The aesthetic design is a composite of multiple pump-action designs, most notably the mossberg 500.

Multiplayer Role
The shotgun's effectiveness in multiplayer games varies depending on the terrain; indoors and in tight spaces, the shotgun is invaluable (equal to the Energy Sword. Many players carry the shotgun and a weapon that is very effective at Semi-long, to Long ranges such as the sniper rifle or BR55 Battle Rifle, thus making for a more flexible arsenal. Continuous firing by using the magazine and loading one shell then firing does not affect the rate of fire significantly, prompting a few players to employ a tactic dubbed "shotgun sniping" as suppressive fire across medium-sized maps. On the Internet, many games are shotguns only, with most of these battles being set in the map Battle Creek (Level).

Appearances

 * The Shotgun appeared in Halo. The shotgun had blue sights on the tip and top of the weapon.
 * It also appeared in Halo 2. It was less powerful and had green sights on the tip and top of the weapon.
 * It is going to appear in Halo 3. The original blue sights will return, and it now has a longer range, but decreased magazine capacity compared to the Halo 2 version.

Ammo
The M90 Shotgun uses 8-gauge Magnum Buckshot shells. This type of shotgun shell is not even produced in modern combat shotguns, as 8-gauge shotguns were simply too cumbersome, among other reasons. The shells would also produce tremendous recoil, and would be painful for most shooters.

Character Compatibility

 * Spartans
 * Marines
 * Elites
 * Brutes
 * Jackals (have animation but not used)
 * Drones (have animation but not used)
 * Flood Combat Form (Human)
 * Flood Combat Form (Elite)