What I have come to understand about pistols

[Anonymoose]

Think a lot of us forget that it’s not only males that are on the forum.

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Pretty sure some airsofters are only vaguely aware that girls exist.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

I think a lot of this argument hinges on use case.

For a lot of airsofters, a handgun is the thing you have strapped onto you in-game so you look tacticool that maybe gets a few prospecting shots fired when you've run out of ammo and can't be bothered trudging back to the safe zone to reload.

Maybe you channel your inner gaz and try quick-drawing instead of reloading a couple of times before learning that airsoft aint call of duty.

For that task you don't need peak reliability, and as much as I'm a big accuracy freak it's not exactly hard for most pistols accuracy to outmatch their wielders skill, at least for the 3 shots a day average demanded of them.

 

[Punisher3990]

I think a lot of this argument hinges on use case.

For a lot of airsofters, a handgun is the thing you have strapped onto you in-game so you look tacticool that maybe gets a few prospecting shots fired when you've run out of ammo and can't be bothered trudging back to the safe zone to reload.

Maybe you channel your inner gaz and try quick-drawing instead of reloading a couple of times before learning that airsoft aint call of duty.

For that task you don't need peak reliability, and as much as I'm a big accuracy freak it's not exactly hard for most pistols accuracy to outmatch their wielders skill, at least for the 3 shots a day average demanded of them.

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100% this.

Needs actual use in a game - I use my MK23; thing is a primary in its own right and shoots as good as any of my AEG and probs out performs my DMR. Low-tacticool and less fun shooting, plasticky but damn it shoots good, heavily upgraded for performance. 100% my go-to for woodland games or if im sniping for the silence.

Anything else: I am going for looks or features like Full auto or burst or something snazzy just to have fun with. Dual wield Deagles, M93Rs, Dual g18s with extended mags and full auto etc. Typically if im going to a CQB site itll be something like this. The flashier the better but i tend to avoid upgrades and run stock.

 

[Cannonfodder]

Same here. I carry a WE P99 with 3 spare mags but even in CQB I rarely go through a whole magazine all day.

it's not exactly hard for most pistols accuracy to outmatch their wielders skill,

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This. I've always said the biggest factor when it comes to shooting accurately is the flesh coloured squishy bit. Mind you I also think that far too many people believe their guns are more accurate than they actually are

 

[Tank423]

Same here. I carry a WE P99 with 3 spare mags but even in CQB I rarely go through a whole magazine all day.

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How do you find using the P99 in game? I had one and sold it before getting a chance to use it other than plinking and would quite like another.

 

[Archer]

Still running my WA single & double stackers - they seem to keep on going.

All upgraded & have metal slides.

Have a small amount of spares to keep them alive.

They just work

 

[Cannonfodder]

How do you find using the P99 in game? I had one and sold it before getting a chance to use it other than plinking and would quite like another.

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It's a little underpowered and range isn't great but I've found it reliable and haven't had any problems as I only really use pistols at short range anyway. Are there better pistols out there? Certainly but it suits my needs

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

I think I've used a pistol about twice in all the years that I've done airsoft. TM 1911 holds gas fine and performs as well as I need it to.

I use a spring shotgun that I bought for a tenner more than I use a pistol.

 

[TheFull9]

If you mostly play outdoors, you can even skip the phase of hitting that realisation that the 'ew plastic I want real metal' pistol (it's melted chinese cutlery) and go right to the end-game phase of not bothering with one at all.

Yes it's just a game do what you like for the fun of it.

 

[Anonymoose]

If you mostly play outdoors, you can even skip the phase of hitting that realisation that the 'ew plastic I want real metal' pistol (it's melted chinese cutlery) and go right to the end-game phase of not bothering with one at all.

Yes it's just a game do what you like for the fun of it.

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I see what you're saying, but Glock 18 go brrrrrrrrrrrt.



I love using pistols, so much fun.

 

[Punisher3990]

They seem to give more satisfaction when you gets hits with them too lol

 

[Adolf Hamster]

They seem to give more satisfaction when you gets hits with them too lol

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I'd argue the crappier the pistol the funnier getting a hit with it is.

Like a ct25, tagging someone with a cocktail gun that unironically sounds like popping a champagne cork is hilarious.

 

[Lyndication]

It's funny cos I play outdoors almost exclusively but I still use my pistol a lot. At least for MED purposes.

Every now and then someone tries to run a sniper with no sidearm here, then has an embarrassing moment where they get snuck up on and can't do anything about it.

I love my company 1911 and FNX at the moment.

 

[TheFull9]

Well yeah, your primary having an MED is obviously a totally separate circumstance to the 95%+ of players in any given game that are at 1.1J or under.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

I have achieved some of more memorable game play with a pistol. I have been known to use a Kar98 or Lee Enfield with no MED, but - given the limitations of a bolt action when things get frantic, I carry a pistol too. Quite frequently the rifle will be left propped up against a tree and a lone pistol charge attempted. Very occasionally it's successful!

 

[Impulse]

As has been said, when you have an MED a pistol is very handy. So anyone carrying a 2.32J bolt action sniper rifle, DMR, or even an LMG I can see a pistol being handy. As a sniper/DMR addict, I use my pistol a hell of a lot, but I can see it being handy for an LMG user as well to allow them to enter buildings (as usually LMGs are full auto only and buildings can be quite point blank)

For the regular 1.1J users that make up most of the hobby, I actually tend to advise them towards the mk23 over a GBB pistol, and for snipers I tend to advise GBBs over the mk23, which amuses me because it's the polar opposite of a lot of online sniper advice.

Why do I do that? It's not just to be a contrarian, but the mk23 gives the 1.1J user something they don't already have. Silence. With a 1.1J gun with midcaps, you don't need a pistol for actual fighting, but a mk23 gives you a stealth option so if you manage to sneak around the enemy team, you can take people out without alerting everyone with your AEG or GBB noises. Less important for 1.1J suppressed HPA users; they just flat out don't need pistols (they just need mental help )

And I find GBBs way more useful for sniping because if someone's up close they're probably going to roughly locate you anyway, even if you're using a mk23 if they're an experienced player. A GBB gives you a chance to take everyone out in a quick and violent ambush, where the mk23 really struggles as soon as there are multiple targets, or the need to punch through foliage with multiple shots.

Basically, it's about filling in the gaps of your primary. A GBB pistol does nothing that your 1.1J AEG or GBB rifle can do (maybe unless it's a long boi like an m14 or a 1.1J bolt action), and a mk23 does nothing that your suped up Tac41 can't do, beyond being allowed to shoot under 30m (so then why the obsession that a lot of snipers have with chucking .48s in them to brag about being able to hit 70m. If I see a target at 70m, I'm just using my rifle!)

I love pistols, but outside of niche uses they aren't practical and there's a reason a lot of real-steel thinking is "pistols are fine and dandy for concealed carry, but for a battle setup why aren't you just carrying more rifle mags instead?"