I always accept the job from Burke to blow up Megaton. Then rat him out to the Sheriff. Burke kills the sheriff while I don’t intervene. I kill Burke, and I get a good early Chinese Assault Rifle and duster and hat.

I’m the Sheriff now, bitches…

You can then disarm the bomb and claim the house by talking to the dead sheriff’s son.

(I tried to then mes and get his son into a slave collar, but he was immune, which was a pity)