Or just buff primary weapons in general. Make Messenger-type pulse rifles a 2-burst, make Red Death-type pulse rifles kill in 1 headshot burst and two body shot bursts. Get rid of the stupid bloom on hand cannons, buff the Unflinching perk and buff Grim Citizen-type auto rifles to kill in 6-7 headshots.
random buffs and nerfs are the dang problem. Scale the damage closer and farther. At premium shotty range, EVERY weapon should be a 1 shot/burst kill and I don't mean head shot. 1 shot, period. It's just your choice at that point. Do you like to use a shotty? IF you're fine with the risk/reward factor at that point, please proceed.
The broken mechanic is the risk/reward factor is completely skewed towards the shotty. In real ballastics, it doesn't happen that way.
A weapon doesn't do less or more damage to someone or an item of choice in real life. There are enough special weapon options, grenades, melees and Supers that can counter any shotgunner. Scaling the damage is an idiotic idea, period.
Your ballastic knowledge is obviously zero. Saying that weapons don't do more damage at close range in real life is just stupidity on a scale that's hard to measure. You're being blocked and muted for being that dumb. There is obviously not a chance that you have the mental capacity to contribute to the conversation.