Like i said already here: https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=151988&find=unread
(Yes there is already a discussion about SG)

Before the cloak we didn't have enough experience with shotguns from so close. And the main opinion was if he comes close enough with the SG he earned the kill. Now with the cloak its much easier to get close with the SG.

After talking today with some scouts in my squad i learned that there is no big deference in damage between the militia and the prototype shotgun. You need 3 shots for a heavy with each one of them. The only difference is the target has more health left between the shots. Smart scouts are running the basic one its the best balance between price/damage/CPU/PG.

Nerfing the shotgun is a must but on a smart way so its not useless.

Ideas

1. Reduce the ROF and increase it by tier.

2. Make the basic Magazine to have one shell and increase the shells by tier.

The basic idea behind that is that the tier of the shotgun has to play a role like an all the other weapons.

a. Shotguns don't have a sharpshooter skill, what are you talking about? Plus, sharpshooter decreases dispersion, it has no effect on optimal range. At 10m shotguns do about 50% damage, and even less once you account for the fact that not all the pellets will hit at that range.

b. I gun down shotgun scouts at close range regularly with a magsec or a scrambler pistol, from 10-15m away because the shotgun tickles at that range. Get better. Bunny hopping makes them easier to hit because they can't change their trajectory or speed for a solid second.

c. What point did I avoid? I addressed your reasoning for the nerf through comparison to another weapon. The "pandemic" of a single scout killing a whole squad isn't a problem for most people- all you need is a little communication or situational awareness and the scouts melt like butter. If you mean the comparison to the breach shotgun, that gun is nearly universally considered UP. This clip size nerf is unwarranted. Get used to the fact that weapons other than rifles are viable now.

As I already said in that same thread: Reducing the rate of fire? Yea... any increase in ROF will result in death for the scout, and the death of the shotgun. It's slow enough as it is. One shell is a terrible idea. The breach is good, but if you miss one shot, you'll have to switch to your sidearm, which alerts those with ears and a brain to know where it's coming from. People really need to develop an awareness... OP this, OP that, just learn to play the game people...

You are missing the point here i am talking about to change the lower tier SG and let the prototype as they are now. It is not fair that a militia SG can do the same work as a prototype SG and all the other weapons need to be played on higher tier to have better results.