Re: My experience with shotguns and recommendations

...also, fun fact, in most of cases M97 Hunter statistically is a better choice than Model 10-A Hunter. On nerfs, they will not really happen for a simple reason - this weapon class actually is balanced in its own way. Are shotguns a viable choice within 15-20m? Yup (althoguh you generally should avoid fights past ~10m). Past that range they become borderline useless though. Notice how you will almost never see shotguns on maps like Sinai Desert, St Quentin Scar or Rupture (and their presence is limited to small bits of many other CQ maps). That's because they simply don't have the range for most of possible fights. That's how they're balanced.