I prefer them in PvE. The only time I prefer shotguns in PvE is when either A) I'm against yellow-bars with easy to hit heads B) I have a nice full-auto shotgun, tether a heavy baddie, and just unload at point-blank. Beyond that, I prefer fusion rifles in Pve; and sometimes snipers. ----------------- As for PvP... forget about it. I only have luck when I'm in a hunter with the high-rez / marked radar and hiding behind a corner when the guy is about to come around. I don't like using shotguns, and honestly only use my "secondary" when there's a bounty involved.