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I'm playing a 500 pts game against my friends new (kaiju) nids this weekend, and Im gonna borrow his space marines and try them out.

Are shotguns any good (5 man scout squad) or should I go for snipers?

Neither, I'd take scouts with Boltguns and a HB. Shotguns are lack lustre and sniper rifles are similar in terms of performance, though they CAN be useful against monstrous creatures. But why take sniper rifles when you can take Sternguard with special ammunition and wound them on a 2+?

Of course if he doesn't have those models: shotguns if he has lots of little guys, sniper rifles if he has a Carnifex or something similar.

The two function very differently, as well. Do you want to bash nid faces in close combat after filling them with solid slugs? Shotguns. Do you want to sit back and pick them off with long range fire? Snipers. Bolters would be best imo, as you get the AP bonus lost on the shotguns along with some extra range.

But, if there are only the two to choose from, follow Book's advice.

Between what you asked OP, Snipers. They wound on a set number s are good against MCs, and have AP6 so at least if need be you can penetrate a Hormagaunt's armour. The Shotgun is a close assault weapon but with only 2 attacks on the charge with it, at WS3 and AP-, you are going to lose that fight especially if they are a choppy unit like Hormagaunts. The Bolter is better as you want that Stand Back and Shoot tactic tmit can provide with extra range.

But again, Snipers and HB work much better particularly VS Monstrous Creatures due to the set wounding, rending and Prescision shot to pick out Primes and particularly wounded Carnifexes, and the HB wouldn't penetrate 3+ saves anyway, so the fact you have a 2+ Poisoned Blast is a godsend against Nids, particularly MCs.

Might just run bolters or snipers & a hb. He has an pacific rim inspired army so I can probably expect MCs

Snipers are goodagainst high Toughness.

You should definitely run the guns that make you get close to the short-range army rather than the ones that ignore the high toughness of Monstrous Creatures.

Can't tell if sarcasm

But as 500 pts? Snipers probably, he shouldnt have that many MC's, so you could probably concentrate the scout fire on it.

I think bolters would have worked pretty well. Though he did have hive guard that could shoot without LoS and ignored cover:/

Snipers of course. They're the best thing a SM has against MCs.

 sing your life wrote:
Snipers of course. They're the best thing a SM has against MCs.

Sternguard.

 Deadshot wrote:

 sing your life wrote:
Snipers of course. They're the best thing a SM has against MCs.

Sternguard.

DA don't get sternguard .

Personally, I'd say snipers. Kickass against MCs and I find at higher points levels they perform better than other loadouts.