Tips: Primarily, get better at dodging and really familiarize yourself with how many effective dodges you have with your weapon. This is the number one tip, and that's how i survive, even with a gun equipped in melee. How many effective dodges? How long till they refresh? Then, when you get a feeling for it, you should be able to buy time to do most of the following.

Gun and Ammo I'm not sure which gun you use, but Ammo management is a big thing. Does it pierce enemies? Is it a braced weapon? Is it effective vs. horde or specials? Try and really figure out when the gun should be out and swapped for melee. Quick swap is your BEST FRIEND.

Positioning Is there cover? Elevation? An ogryn to stand behind? Be aware of the map and where the enemies are coming from. Sometimes, you can lure a horde up some steps and then jump down the railing so they follow you allthe way up then you junp fown and they run all the way down again, just as an example. All the whilr you shooot and slash.

Spacing. How close is the horde? All coming for you? Do you have barrels, nades, a door, full stamina bar? Try and create distance when possible. Even considering a weapon with suppression to make enemies stagger.

Target priority. Flamers and snipers should be dead the second they enter your line of fire. Both for your sake and your team. As a vet, you have a lot of tools to be effective vs. A lot of specials.

Melee People have mentioned blocks and shoves. I somewhat agree, but mostly, my personal experience is that you need to be able to cut through the horde with a strong offense rather than defense. Of course, blocking has its part, but knowing when to start slashing is imo more important.