Bulldog - Call of Duty Ghosts Weapon Guide

Hello and welcome to the eighteenth episode of my Call of Duty Ghosts Weapon Guide.

In this episode: the Bulldog - a unique shotgun from Australian co Metal Storm, with electrically fired rounds superposed within interchangeable barrels.

Damage is high compared to other weapon classes, with the Bulldog easily capable of one shot kills at a close range - but of all the buckshot-dispensing options, the Bulldog is the one that offers the lowest per-shot lethality.

Mercifully, your potential rate of fire is the highest within the shotgun class: you'll be able to dispense 480 rounds per minute, saturating any foe with a multitude of pellets.

Hipfire performance is admirable, given the cone of fire: with shotguns you are generally better off firing first without the pause necessary to aim down your sights.

In close quarters combat, the first to fire is often the victor - and the shotguns lower demand for accuracy means you need only fire in your opponent's general direction.

Recoil is substantial, but seldom a factor - the weapon's kick is neutralised by pellet spread, and the fact that you should be close to your opponent before firing.

Aim time is quick, at 200 milliseconds - although hipfire is instant, and just as effective.

Your mobility is top-tier - as with the SMGs, shotguns can move about the map at 100 percent of the base speed.

Magazine capacity is limited, at just 6 rounds - or 9 with extended mags. This is a major downside, given the faster potential rate of fire: you can quickly deplete your entire supply, leaving you helpless in the face of angry opposition.

Reloads are done in one action, as you are in essence changing out the entire barrel, preloaded with shells: and taking 2.6 seconds, this is the fastest complete reload time within the shotgun class.

Building a class with the shotgun revolves around one thing: getting as close to your opposition as possible, and ensuring maximum lethality.

Mobility is a prime consideration - with stealth and resistivity also proving valuable.

For your attachments, Extended Mags is a very useful option for the Bulldog, as otherwise you will find yourself quickly depleting your ready supply with semi-automatic fire.

50 percent extra in the magazine gives you greater ability to tackle larger groups of enemies - or you can skip the reload entirely to remain ready for serial engagements.

Pair this with the Muzzle brake for the maximum range possible: a very sensible option on all of the shotguns, as range is the key area in which they lack.

While only a marginal boost to your reach, it can mean the difference between a kill and a merely injured opponent.

For your perks, a core mobility set is strongly recommended with all the shotguns: Ready up will improve your reactivity upon emerging from sprint; and Steady Aim will tighten up your hipfire, condensing your pellets fired into a more deadly cone.

This combination is near essential for any shotgun class, both improving reactivity and the odds of a one-shot kill when firing from the hip.

Add in Marathon for more rapid coverage of larger maps, helping to ensure you're always in the fight.

Don't just sprint to your death, however - take the road less travelled and stick to interior spaces with short twisty sightlines: here you'll find gunfights in your favour, and avoid death from afar.

Positioning is key with the shotguns - and it can be worthwhile to invest in stealth.

Off The Grid will keep you hidden from enemy Sat-Coms - and as such you'll find enemies are often less ready for your appearance, and you'll spend less time wandering directly into their sights.

Similarly useful is Dead Silence: without this perk your enemy may be alerted to your presence through your footfall: although not every opponent will have such a keen ear.

The Bulldog is a potent close-quarters weapon with a one-hit kill ability, and several additional rounds ready in reserve.

The buckshot spread of the shotguns means that as long as you're positioned correctly, you can dispense with accuracy and pepper your target with wild abandon instead.

If you're close, you'll enjoy consistent lethality - and will quickly earn the ire of any opponent foolish enough to engage you on your terms.

Therein lies the rub with the shotguns: if you're not close, you're dead.

With your pellets evaporating outside of a close range, you simply must avoid any contact with your enemy at any sort of distance.

This demands a very particular playstyle, predicated on crafty movement and stealth: and if you can't adjust, you will struggle to compete.

Still, up close there's no stopping the shotguns - with immense damage and a wide cone of fire, the odds are very much in your favour.

Off the leash, this shotgun is a menacing animal...

...with a bark equally fearsome as its bite.

Thank you very much for watching, and join me next time - when I'll be covering the M27-IAR.

Until then, farewell.