Quick answer
The M500 is a recorded Support-track pump shotgun using 12-gauge ammunition. A September 13 post-launch Support guide confirms the Support 10 gate and describes buckshot and slug choices, while its $1,200 price and permanent access payment remain versioned vendor records.
Recorded purchase and unlock
| Category | Shotgun |
|---|---|
| Recorded deployment price | $1,200 in-game cash |
| Access | Support 10 · $50,000 |
| Ammunition | 12 gauge |
| Evidence scope | Versioned item record · current-client recheck needed |
| Data build | Late Beta / launch research |
| Reviewed | 2026-09-16 |
| Recorded action | Pump-action shotgun |
| Recorded weight | 3.5 kg |
| Recorded inventory size | 6 × 2 |
| Current community check | A September 13 Support guide confirms the Support 10 gate and buckshot / slug choices |
The documented unlock is Support 10 with a $50,000 one-time payment, followed by the repeat deployment price. The current Support class video independently places the M500 at Support 10, which is stronger evidence for the level than for the older price fields.
Ammunition choices
The same current community guide shows buckshot and slug ammunition for Support shotguns. Buckshot is the close-range option; slugs trade the spread pattern for a single projectile and demand more deliberate aim. Exact damage, armor interaction and useful range are not published here because no current official table was located.
Buy ammunition through the M500's current vendor path and confirm the loading system before deployment. A 12-gauge label alone does not prove that every shell record behaves the same.
Battlefield role
The M500 belongs in short sightlines, building entries and defensive corners where a pump cycle is manageable. It is less forgiving when several enemies appear in the open or the fight moves across a long road.
Support progression can also come from building, repairing and anti-vehicle work. Do not force a shotgun into a route where the team needs a hammer, launcher or sustained machine-gun coverage.
Compare another option
The MP43 is the earlier double-barrel record with a lower deployment price and fewer follow-up shots. The M249 SAW and PKM cover the machine-gun side of the Support track.
Use loadouts to include shells, storage and medical support, and check building when the Support task is construction rather than entry fighting.
Data version and sources
The Support 10 gate and ammunition choices are corroborated by a guide published after Early Access launch. The image, price, fee, weight and size remain versioned community records reviewed on September 16, 2026. Current vendor and weapon prompts supersede them when they conflict.
Read every value with its version.
Official changes use first-party announcements. Item fields without a current official table remain labeled as dated gameplay records until they can be checked in the public client.