I have decided to go for a small guns character after I decided that I could do more actual DPS with them than my minigun due to the horrible accuracy of the minigun causing most bullets to miss at anything short of point blank range.

What I am wondering about is what are some of the best guns for open combat (not sneak and snipe) for a few different situations.

Situation 1: What are the best small guns for dealing with hordes of feral ghouls?

Situation 2: What are the best small guns for storming a mutant camp or fort?

Situation 3: What are the best small guns for clearing out raider camps?

Situation 4: What are the best small guns for clearing out bunches of Talon Company mercs?

Situation 5 What are the best small guns for fighting Enclave

I ask about these three as they can be quite different experiences.

Feral Ghouls are often numerous, and like to run fast and are all melee except for reavers.

Super mutants have a lot of health but are also much larger targets (Maybe higher spread but higher DPS weapons are best?)

Raiders vary between melee and ranged, but I think are more likely to use melee than talon company. They also are lighter armored and usually have crappier weapons

Talon Mercs have better armor and weapons usually, and from my experience are usually ranged combatants.

Enclave tend to have thick armor and powerful weapons

I know that there isn't necessarily an absolutely best weapon for everyone, hence I asked for the best weapons (plural).

Terrible Shotgun, use the Combat Shotgun until you find it. Don't need anything else except spares as the thing degrades rather quickly.