Thread: Fun with the Shotgun... Shotology 101

I think I have been playing long enough to maybe give my team some advice on the one thing I know. The 8 pump chump M3 shotgun.

All distances are virtual measurements, of course.

Basic information: M3 is a 8 round shotgun. After each blast, it takes just under a second or so to put another shell into the chamber. Each shell consists of 8 non-armor or wall/box piercing pellets. The pellets spray are random, but have similar diameter of spread (at 25 yards, the top pellet will almost always be about a yard apart from the bottom pellet.) The farther the range, the greater the spread. Common sense, but very important to know, because this where the shotgun weakness lies. Also, at 25 yards, each pellet will do around 15-25 dmg depending on the hitbox of the target you hit and whether or not the target has armor. My average hitbox, according to psychostats my hitbox is: 13% head, 24% chest, 15% stomach. Add em up; 52% (4 pellets) are in crucial areas. If the target has no armor, their dead in 1 shot at any distances less than 25 yards. If the target has full armor, you'll kill them in 1-2 clean shots.

1) Shoot first and ask questions later...

2) When using the shotgun, it is important that YOU pick the battle zone and not your enemy. I'll use dust2 as an example.

Rushing A as T: Most rushes at A will consist a rush at long A and short A. Distantly, long A has it's name for a reason. It's a long rush to A site. Don't go A unless no other option is possible. The shotgun, being close range weapon, is a lot more useful for clearing out mid or short A. Now if you have to go long A with your team, don't go all rambo with your shotgun. If you have to go long A, well, that brings up my next pointer.

3) Use your team and let your team use you...

Back to dust2. If you have to rush long A because of the call. The shotgun is very good through the double doors and clearing pit, but the hallway the shotgun is virtually useless. Let your team, the carbiners and snipers, get in their position. Get out of their way; don't mess up their strafe, don't take good cover points, etc... if anything, watch their back at double doors. USE YOUR TEAM BY GETTING OUT OF THEIR WAY! Now, how can your team use your shotgun? Well, a shotgun has alot of advantages at rushing B. It's ability to give the shooter mobility and rather accurate shots at close range makes the shotgun a great entryman at B. If your spawn does not give you the chance to be the entryman at B, you have the option to guard B stairs and tunnels. I'm rather vicious at doing this; almost accomplishing my tasks most the time. And of course, you may always go in as the middleman and there is nothing wrong with that.

4) FLASH, FLASH, FLASH...

Get good at it, a blind person at close range, for example paper room (office), is a free kill without receiving any damage to yourself.

5) SMOKE, SMOKE, SMOKE...

There is no better way to close distances on long range targets then smoke. But beware, don't be selfish when using them. If it's gonna hurt the team more than help, don't do it. If that's the case, lay low, let your team do their job, and wait for your opportunity. Also, if you know where the enemy is and you have deployed your smoke, flash while in the smoke then run out. Even if the enemy is not completely blind, it will almost always buy you that split second needed to react.

6) Strafe and jump

THE NUMBER 1 GREATEST ADVANTAGE OF THE SHOTGUN IS ITS MOBILITY. Never crouch to shoot, unless in strange situations (and there are some). Move, strafe between walls and shoot while exposed, then cover while the shell is being pumped, the expose and shoot, retract to cover, so on and so forth. Be careful using walls; enemies will pick up on you strafing back and forth and will just unload at the area you are going to pop up. Basically, you'll run into their bullets. Easily countered if you be patient and let them unload, then counter attack! Even with out a wall, strafe back and forth. In an open area, with good range for your shotgun, you have about 3 shots MAXIMUM to kill your enemy. In most conditions however, 1 v 1 with an enemy, in good range conditions, I will prove worthy most the time. Even jump if you think it will buy you one more shot.

That being said, if you're using a rifle and fall into the range of a shotgun in open area, 1 v 1, don't crouch to shoot. It makes you about the easiest thing to kill in the game. Chances are, if it's Magus or me, your gonna die, but if you strafe, your improve your chances greatly.

7) Deagle

The deagle is not your savior to the shotguns range problem, but it will help. Especially in those situations when enemies are covered behind a box or whatever. Also, good for picking off unsuspecting victims that are out of range for the shotgun.

8.) Reloading

Note that when reloading each shell put into the shotgun makes noise that is very distinctive. Also, unlike a rifle, the shotgun takes some time to reload 8 shells. Beware, smart players will use this against you to locate you without you even seeing them. Prefiring rifles are hard to counter. Another thing, if you're caught with an empty shotgun, you're not reloading enough. One last thing, the shotgun may fire at any point of reloading.

The end

Thought I'd post this because I was bored. But, the shotgun is a very cheap gun ($1700) which is $800 dollars less than the AK and near $1000 less than the carbine. I spend $4350 to fully equip myself (armor w/ helmet, shotgun, deagle, nade, 2 fb, smoke). Not a bad gun to use early in the game while some enemies might not be fully armored.

Sincerely,
The 12 Gauge Mage

good stuff vulcan

Good point Adretheon... I've edited my post.

sometime i will post the mp5 logics

great post...been ive seen in a while

Originally Posted by JeffZilla

sometime i will post the mp5 logics

great post...been ive seen in a while

Killa Zilla, please do. I know that every maps have certain advantages to using everying gun... including the mp5.

I would if I knew how to. Little help?