The Pump-Action Shotgun is one of the best late-game weapons in Alan Wake 2, but unlocking it requires solving a small cipher puzzle inside the Bright Falls Sheriff’s Station.

You can only obtain this weapon during Return 6: Scratch while playing as Saga Anderson. The puzzle itself is fairly simple once you understand how the letter-to-number system works, but the game does not explain it very clearly at first.

The reward is absolutely worth the effort. The Pump-Action Shotgun deals significantly more damage than the sawed-off version and comes with stronger upgrades and improved ammo capacity.

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How To Access The Armory

Before you can unlock the shotgun display case, you need to obtain the Sheriff’s Station Keys.

Enter the Sheriff’s Station during Return 6: Scratch and locate Agent Estevez hiding inside the nearby file room close to the entrance.

After helping defeat the nearby Taken, she rewards you with the keys needed to access locked sections of the station.

Once you have the keys, head down the corridor near the Cell Block and unlock Sheriff Tim Breaker’s Office.

Inside the office, you will find the locked display case containing the Pump-Action Shotgun.

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How The Puzzle Works

Behind the main desk, you will find:

• several books
• a note explaining the cipher system
• the clue needed for the shotgun code

The note explains that letters correspond to repeating numbers:

• A = 1
• B = 2
• C = 3
• I = 9
• J = 0
• K = 1

The sequence repeats throughout the alphabet.

The puzzle wants you to focus on the authors of the UFO books sitting on the desk.

The correct authors are:

• Quincey
• Batston
• Westmore

Take the first letter of each author’s last name and convert them using the cipher:

• Q = 7
• B = 2
• W = 3

This gives you the final shotgun code:

723

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Step-By-Step Solution

Get The Sheriff’s Station Keys

Progress through Return 6: Scratch until meeting Agent Estevez inside the station.

Defeat the nearby Taken enemies to receive the keys.

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Unlock Sheriff Breaker’s Office

Use the keys on the locked office near the Cell Block corridor.

Inside you will find the shotgun display case and puzzle clue.

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Solve The Author Puzzle

Inspect the books and cipher note behind the desk.

Use the UFO authors:

• Quincey
• Batston
• Westmore

Convert their initials using the repeating number system.

The final code is:

723

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Unlock The Display Case

Enter 723 into the wall-mounted keypad beside the display case.

You will receive the Pump-Action Shotgun.

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Important Tips

The Pump-Action Shotgun Is A Huge Upgrade

The Pump-Action Shotgun hits much harder than the sawed-off version and carries more ammunition. It is especially useful during the tougher late-game combat encounters.

You May Need Inventory Space

The weapon is much larger than the standard shotgun. If your inventory is already crowded, you may want to visit a nearby Break Room and reorganize your gear first.

Do Not Ignore The FBC Notes

The office also contains additional FBC Research Notes tied to the Cult of the Tree investigation. Worth reading if you enjoy Remedy’s connected universe lore.

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Rewards

Unlocking the Sheriff Station armory rewards you with:

• Pump-Action Shotgun
• higher shotgun damage
• increased ammo capacity
• new weapon upgrades
• additional FBC lore documents

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Related Trophy

Trophy Guide