I've been playing through the game as a gunslinger, and here's the gear I've been working towards (right now I'm at 4* and close to getting 5*):
Armour: Shadowsun set
I know that chaos is pretty much the objective best armour in the game but I don't actually care so I use class armour instead.
Shield: Swiftstrike buckler
Because, you know, guns.
I might go for a crest of Almire eventually but for now I'm just going to make an Aegis as my 5* shield
Weapons:
Elemental: Arcana
I can't be bothered to learn to play alchemers properly, plus I've never actually used the elemental blasters before.
Piercing: Gilded Griffin
As someone with awful internet connection I appreciate being able to safely spam shots and still dodge at the same time.
Shadow: Grim Repeater
Because blitz is great and all but basically everyone uses it, and like I said I can't be bothered to learn how to use alchemers :P
Opinions on what I'm going for? If there's something that you think I should be using instead say so, but please don't say "dude use chaos" because I refuse to use it.
Plus if GH ever actually listens to anyone chaos will get nerfed so yeah
For a defensive shield, my favourite is omega shell hands down. As for your armor set I suggest that you get the perfect mask of seerus to pair with your shadowsun slicker for the status resistances and the CTR is gonna be handy when you're using autoguns or magnuses or you can use a black kat hood (if you find a cowl or a mask too expensive) also i don't think chaos is gonna get nerfed anytime soon, i suguest that you get the cloak to pair with the perfect mask of seerus. Your weapons; the arcana is my favourite gun in both PvE and PvP, the guilded griffin is kinda decent I think but I've swole my finger before because I spammed too much obsidian carbine (I'm not even kidding, that thing is dangerous) and with pierce-weak monsters dodging all the time I think you're gonna have a hard time, grim repeater is good and all till you face a crowd of slimes/gremlins spamming you with ranged attacks from every direction while you're rooted in place using it. Decent loadout but can be improved. Try using alchemers (double switch one of the elemental ones with the arcana and kill any elemental weak thing you see in under 7 seconds) I prefer nova driver for the extra damage, magnuses are also so awesome, I suggest that you craft an iron slug to use anywhere as you don't seem to have a normal damage gun, its charge does around the damage of a brandish charge (against a monster family weak to it) or more if aimed properly, useful for interrupting turrets and stun-locking dodgy monsters.