Resident Evil 7 Shotgun location, how to turn the Broken Shotgun into the M21 Shotgun
Get one of the game's most valuable weapons.
Resident Evil 7's Shotgun is one of the more valuable weapons in the game, so it pays to get it as soon as you can.
First, you need to have explored some of the Processing Area and found the Scorpion Key. While you can press on to the Dissection Room, we recommend you back away and get the Shotgun first.
Later, you can then upgrade it for the improved M21 Shotgun, which holds less ammo but has superior damage.
If you're after help for parts of the game, consult our complete Resident Evil 7 walkthrough and guide.
On this page:
Shotgun location in Resident Evil 7
You'll first encounter the Shotgun to the south of the Main Hall, but as soon as you grab it, the door behind you will close.
The trick to this is swap it out with a similar item - the old Indiana Jones trick with a gold statue and a bag of sand - to trick the door into opening again. You can't do this the first time you encounter the Main Hall, but as soon as you get the Scorpion Key, you'll have what you need to get started.
How to get the Shotgun in Resident Evil 7
First, get the Scorpion Key from the Processing Area, then head upstairs of the Main Hall, and towards the Recreation Room on the west side of the Main House 1F. If you playing before you head to the Dissection Room, Jack should appear from the right. This time, you'll have little option but to fight him off.
By now your encounters with the creatures should have taught you a thing or two about combat, and the same rules apply here; aim for the head, guard with the left bumper when an attack is on the way, and keep your distance. After five or so rounds, he'll go down, albeit temporarily.
Head to the Recreation Room and you'll find a handful of useful items; the Broken Shotgun directly to the side as you come in, and if you open all the drawers and cupboards, some consumables (we found Handgun Ammo, Chem Fluid, Shotgun Shells) and two files, the 'Memo About Relief' and 'Doctor's Letter'.
Head back to the Main Hall now, but beware there's a good chance Jack will be back. We fought him off again, but in theory you could retreat to a safe room and he may linger up here, though he'll certainly follow you back into the Main Hall if you let him, so you'll have to go out of your way.
Want more help? Our Resident Evil 7 walkthrough provides step-by-step instructions on how to survive the main story, as well as finding the Shotgun, Grenade Launcher and the game's many Lockpicks and Treasure Photos. Meanwhile, our Antique Coins locations, Mr Everywhere statue locations and File locations lists will help you find every available collectible on Normal and Easy difficulties.
Whatever decision you make, you can replace the real Shotgun in the Main Hall with the Broken Shotgun you just picked up (make sure you have enough inventory space first), giving you some real firepower to help take on the Molded on the way to the Dissection Room.
How to get the improved M21 Shotgun in Resident Evil 7
Later in the game it's possible to repair the Broken Shotgun and turn it into the M21 Shotgun, which is a superior model with better damage output, albeit one with less ammo. All the same, it's well worth getting as soon as you can.
To do so, you need two items - a Repair Kit and the Model Shotgun. The Repair Kit is discovered in two places; in the Yard, find the hidden passage underneath the house between the two sets of stairs just in front of the Main House, or by completing the puzzle laid for you in the third Treasure Photo.
As for the Model Shotgun, this is found in the Kid's Room and Attic area as you're searching for the key cards. Once you have the Model Shotgun, you can use that to swap it with the Broken Shotgun you used earlier, then combine a Repair Kit with it to get the M21 Shotgun.