Weapons help

[tonyyyy]

Hello there, I'm not necessary new to the game but over the years the game changed a lot and with the changes to the research and the Lootcatcher's I really like the game.
I have two questions:
- what is the best weapon? still the rifle? i heard SMG is pretty bad and the shotgun, is not ideal for this type of game, i don't really like it.
- how to get some yellow/legendary or how are called weapon parts? i know that are white, blue, purple and i presume that are still legendary ones right?
- a quick question, the stats for weapons, high number bigger better right? I think Handling is the only one that we need to be lower right?

[CrazyMom]

I finished all the levels of research and am on gate 12. I use the rifle for long shots (for the small blockades along the track, also use a hunter rifle from a distance) and a high damage shotgun for going in.
For the main battles at the gates I have 3 to 4 weapons in my inventory: long shot rifles and one with toxicity, for regular soldiers closer up shotgun with a good damage stat and now core damage as well, and for the red armoured 'super soldiers' my highest damage shotgun.
Having several firearms and alternating between them prevents early seizing up of them.
I also save the file in-between and go back to repair if need be or for more armour plates, ammunition and water.
So far I have not built any firearms but have a lot of parts. My toxic rifle is toxic because of a green mag, the other parts are all blue and i reserve it for these big battles because it still outperforms other rifles having purple parts.
Best way to get early blue or purple firearms parts are the lottery machines and I save before using 3 tokens and re-load the save if only regular scavenge stuff shows up, now in later game legendary ones show up as well.
Maybe this might not be your play-style but I was utterly disgusted by the crazy numbers and amount of blanket firing by the soldiers and wanted to get early better stats for my firearms.
Another way other than the drops by dead soldiers are the witches chests, again you can do the save and re-load for better parts.
I go by the actual damage stat and fine print description of each part once you have the firearm on the armourer bench not the overall sum lump number at the top.
This takes up a lot of the game time but tweaking for better stats and fine print is the way to go short of building your own, where I do not have any information to give.
I sincerely hope this helps you at least a little bit .