The AR is a hit-scan weapon which fires 750 rounds per minute as long as you hold the trigger down. Fighting with it is as easy as pointing it in an enemy's direction and letting them walk in front of it, boom dead. If they get frisky, do lots of hopping, all you have to do is swipe your hit scan laser pointer (ahem, AR) over them a few times, and boom, dead.

It isn't OP, it is designed with easy button for those without skill to play the game. No bullet time, no need to lead the shots, large clip size, no overheat, long distance and high power. just swipe it over the enemy a few times, ???, profit.

It may not have any draw-backs, and have great fitting stats, but it isn't over powered at all. It is simply easy mode. You can use it in all situations, you can actually hit things above you with it, (unlike explosive weapons), you can fire the entire clip without over heating, (unlike laser weaponry and heavy machine guns), you can ads with it for very accurate long range shots, it's great in a squad( just have the whole squad swiping their hit-scan weapon over the enemy a few times, ???, profit).

As easy mode as it gets.

To use a shotgun in DUST right now is asking to go clinically insane.
They've sucked since the Beta. I think Shotguns should have no penalty for stacking damage mods.