We have a video going through the different shotguns for Battlefield 4, and rating which one is the best. As always, the video is here, and a summary is found below.
The QBS-09 is the default shotgun in the game. It holds six rounds, and these have to be fed from a tube instead of coming from a magazine to boot. However, since it is a semiauto, you can throw shots out relatively quickly sans cocking mechanism. Of course, other semiauto shotguns easily outclass it.
The 870 MCS is an 8 round pump action shotgun. You will have to pump a round in each time you fire one by one, making it more of a precision than an all out melee weapon. Since it is pump action, you get a damage boost compared to using a semiauto. This is a good one for players with marksman reflexes.
The M1014 is an 8 round, tube fed semiauto. Again, this one does not have the cocking mechanism you have to deal with, but also does less damage. Even though you have to tube feed bullets, with 8 rounds you can do OK.
The HAWK 12G has six rounds per magazine, giving you a pump action and quick reload. Magazine size means you can only have six rounds at a time. Overall, this gun combines the best of having a magazine and pump action, but with the drawback of less bullets.
The SAIGA 12K is a nine bullet magazine semiauto. For less damage per bullet, you get significantly more bullets at one time, with quick reload action to boot. As a consequence, this is actually one of the most damaging pistols available.
The SPAS 12 is a nine round pump action gun that reloads so fast it’s almost like a semiauto.
The UTS 15 is a pump action shotgun with 2 tube magazines, giving you as much as 15 rounds at one time. Reloading is very slow, but once you’re done, you are so far ahead in terms of bullets it’s scary.
The DBV 12 is the last shotgun to unlock. You get 11 shots on a semiauto, added to the decent damage output it does on its own.
The most recommended shotguns are the SPAS 12, for the extra damage, the GTS 15, for the high number of rounds, and the DBV 12, for the seriously high damage output.