Are sidearms necessary?

[Josh95]

it really depends on your field, if your field is open woodland; I would say no, pistols are not necessary. However fields that are more CQB-centric, yes they're very effective. In fact I normally ditch my rifle and just use a pistol for CQB stuff.

A lot of airsoft comes down to the cool-ness factor, nothing is much cooler than a GBB pistol.

I also used to operate a GBBR (gas blow back rifle) with 4 magazines holding 30 rounds, equating to 120 overall (1/4 of an average hi-cap).

I always carried my pistol with 2 mags then, because i often completely ran out of ammo (or gas) and gas rifles are prone to malfunctions thus a pistol is mandatory in my opinion when running one.

When i come to think of it, most of my best airsoft moments are pistol related. Running to an objective with just my pistol and securing the win.

Alas like most things, its relational; but if you can you should!



-on a side note I'm selling a WE M9 if you're interested. B)

 

[Spectre77]

As someone who only really played CQB and had a reasonably short and very reliable primary, I found that I never used my handgun all that much, so I would hardly think them necessary. That said though, I don't begrudge having one since they can be really fun to play with. Sometimes I'de slap in the 50 round long mag and play with just that (often toward the end of the night when I was tired of carrying a 3.5kg assault rifle).

 

[Mr Monkey Nuts]

Airsoft is not necessary, but we still do it.

Pistols are great when you know how, and when to use them, there is a time and a place.

Its just another tool in the toolbox.

 

[n1ckh]

My particular site is woodland with a few vehicles, a heli & buildings so for me personally, its easier to switch to a side arm as I can have target aquasition easier but can still do the same with me rifle. A pistol makes your profile smaller than when carrying a rifle

I've been to sites where space was tight & a pistol was much easier to use

 

[Esoterick]

As others have said they are nice to have but not necessary.

However I love using pistols as they are great fun and I can't imagine not carrying one at all times. I find switching to a holstered pistol much faster than reloading my rifles in a pinch and i'm a big fan of quick release slings as it allows you to set your rifle down and rush people you are in a standoff against. This is especially true if you want to climb something or are going over difficult terrain like steep hills.

 

[Jambo88]

I've used mine a few times and got a couple hits. If your playing a fast game like capture the flag it's good to have something light you can run with. The last game I was at I only had my pistol for a senario with 1 30rnd mag left my main, ammo and webbing in the safe zone just for speed.

 

[shortman]

Depends on your game as most have said. If you love hpa and drum mags or aeg and high caps you dont need a pistol as you are a spray and pray player who doesnt reload or pay attention to your shots.

If you run mid or low caps and play cqb or sites with building clearence oppertunitys or a milsim player pistols can be very useful!

I have often left my rifle at a door way on the way into a building or by a wall as i go in through a window to clear with my pistol, i own one pistol and its as useful as my left arm, its not my primary arm but god damn is it handy now and then!!

 

[Happy]

I use my pistols regularly for CQB games and when I want a challenge at woodland sites. As sidearm though it rarely gets used unless I'm using my vsr and even then it rarely comes out to play.

 

[callumbagshaw]

2 pistols = a primary

 

[Sacarathe]

2 pistols = a primary

Two halves don't make a whole...

 

[Seany.exe]

I disagree, two pistols would be epic for CQB, it's just reloading them that would be troublesome

 

[Twice19]

I disagree, two pistols would be epic for CQB, it's just reloading them that would be troublesome

IMHO, one well used pistol always beats two. Skill beats Will, every time.

I knew a guy who loved his pistols and always played CQB dual-weilding. The problem being it's almost impossible to properly aim two guns at once.

He'd run in thinking he was John Woo, fire a dozen shots and miss most of them.

Id duck in, aim, Double tap and hit a majority of the time.

Sure he looked and felt awesome, but he was totally useless.

If he went to just one pistol, he was actually pretty good!

 

[callumbagshaw]

If you can't aim with two then don't use two, obviously.

 

[Sacarathe]

I disagree, two pistols would be epic for CQB, it's just reloading them that would be troublesome

If you can reload an AK with one arm, you can reload two sidearms - that said airsoft magazines are not as droppable as real ones.

 

[Lozart]

I disagree, two pistols would be epic for CQB, it's just reloading them that would be troublesome

Why? Unless you have single shot muzzle loading airsoft flintlocks, changing a mag on a pistol is no more difficult than changing mag on a rifle...

 

[Jay85]

A few sites I play have a rule, weapon hits disable your weapon! Therefore no sidearm = no defence

 

[Aengus]

A few sites I play have a rule, weapon hits disable your weapon! Therefore no sidearm = no defence

I have a knife for this reason ?

 

[callumbagshaw]

I have a knife for this reason

I keep saying I'm going to take a spoon for the lolz.

 

[Lozart]

I keep saying I'm going to take a spoon for the lolz.

There have been rubber chicken and big purple dildo kills at the Mall.

 

[Sacarathe]

A few sites I play have a rule, weapon hits disable your weapon! Therefore no sidearm = no defence

Heh, but that rule only applys if you do have a secondary. I bet they would not let unarmed players wander around.

By unarmed, I mean, carrying a gun, but not able to fire it, a weird distraction to the opposition, headless chickens.