[quote name='Hex']It's probably my fault for being a 'nub', but Gears isn't fun to play when you get into a close-range shotgun duel with some kid, and he takes about seven shotgun shots to the legs or chest, then he manages to put you down in two. =/[/QUOTE]
You got to come packing that active and use corners and anything else around you to make sure that they get damage while you don't. Remember that your gun is in your right hand so you want to shoot around a wall where pretty much only thing sticking out is your gun.
Also if you put seven shots in him, chances are if there was any break in the fighting his health started to recover.
The best way to be successful in gears if you are new is to play defensively. Try and make sure there is distance between yourself and others and make sure that you won't be flanked or double teamed. Also negate the other team from picking up the power weapons by covering them. Those are probably the two best peices of advice I can give you.