help with magnum/handgun

[Vahagn500]

I need help with these 2 weapons. I can't find a single situation where I would use my pistol instead of the lancer or the shotgun. What exactly is the advantage of this weapon? Every time I have seen someone attempt to use this weapon, they died a horrible death without doing much damage.

At first I thought the magnum would be ideal for quick headshots because it would finish them off quickly but apparently this isn't the case. Getting a headshot with the magnum doesn't finish off the enemy fast at all because they just end up dodging the bullets since the magnum shoots pretty slow.

Either way, tips and situations on when to use the pistol are welcome. Thanks

[gloomlord]

I need help with these 2 weapons. I can't find a single situation where I would use my pistol instead of the lancer or the shotgun. What exactly is the advantage of this weapon? Every time I have seen someone attempt to use this weapon, they died a horrible death without doing much damage.

At first I thought the magnum would be ideal for quick headshots because it would finish them off quickly but apparently this isn't the case. Getting a headshot with the magnum doesn't finish off the enemy fast at all because they just end up dodging the bullets since the magnum shoots pretty slow.

Either way, tips and situations on when to use the pistol are welcome. Thanks

Like most things, the use of these weapons is specific to certain situations. I'm sure there are times when the use of the pistol would prove a good strategic choice, for example if your primary weapons included a sniper rifle and a shotgun you would probably find that the pistol would be your best short to medium range option (assuming you don't want to whip out the shotty and get point blank with it).

A more amusing use for the pistol I've found is that when my friends and I are repeatedly stomping the same team over and over in a player match we sometimes use pistols only just to level the playing field. This won't happen as often as more and more people get better at the game, but when playing against first timers it gives them more of a chance to practice and gives our team a little practice using our often dusty and overlooked pistols.

[IcebergSlim3000]

The people that Ive seen the use those weapons somewhat effectively tend to rush for a melee first then finish them off with a couple shots. Im seeing more people do this since the melee is so strong all they have to do is connect one hit then fire off a couple rounds.

You cant really use those guns the same way you would use a rifle. I think you sort have to change the way you play to be successful with them.

[madmax]

the starting pistol is an awesome weapon, can be used more effectivly than a lancer in some situations. You have to keep the crosshair on the head though, this will give an almost immediate headshot depending on how fast you fire the gun. A whole clip to the chest will take a player down, half a clip to the face will blow their head off.

[Urza]

Pistol's good for when they're too far for shotgun and you just ran out of lancer ammo or dropped your lancer for something else.

[SeanDoe]

snub pistol owns, i switch to it almost every match if i dont get a power weapon.

2 melees to DBNO someone

[FPS JL]

I love using the pistol, getting a headshot kill with it is soooo satisfying.

It's a bit more difficult to use, but it's a very deadly weapon in the right hands.

[Mark02V]

When to use the pistol...
I use the pistol most of the time when I'm in gridlock and meet the opposing team up the Longshot stairs. Aim for the head and a couple of shot will bring them down. Switch up to the shotgun run and you see his teamate trying to revive him where you have a perfect shot for the head. Then switch back to the pistol for the beautiful execution kill. That's how I've been using it.

[Iduno]

I use it when its just me and another opponent taking potshots at eachother and taking cover over a distance (as long as the other person doesn't have a longshot)

[Traubking]

For most people, I think the pistol is best used for exactly what its intended purpose is...as a backup weapon. If for example you drop your lancer for a longshot or boomshot, then the pistol becomes your weapon of choice for medium ranged combat. This is particularly true if you are being rushed, and don't think that you are going to be a huge hero like half of the people I've played with that think they are still playing Halo 2 and are going to get a "no-scope" with the longshot at med/close range.

In other circumstances, I've pulled the pistol out after depleting lancer ammo in a fierce firefight and didn't pay attention to the active reload. Rather than sitting around for a half an hour waiting for the gun to reload, it is MUCH quick to pull out the pistol (either one) and begin firing away with it, and then getting some cover to reload the lancer. This is also a good idea if the enemy is now in close range, trying to shotgun you or chainsaw you, as the effective distance with the pistol is greater than the chainsaw or shotgun. (well, maybe not the chainsaw that has about a 20' pulling distance...)

[Hitzel]

The starting pistol is a powerfull close range weapon, and a usefull mid-range back-up weapon.

The magnum only does more damage to headshots from range, up close all you need is 2 body shots. A 2nd headshot will take your opponent out permenantly, but you can always just fire a 3rd body shot on a stationary target if you kill with a body shot.

[monkeyspanker]

The starting pistol is a powerfull close range weapon, and a usefull mid-range back-up weapon.

the pistol is great for dealing with chainy campers lurking behind corners just run around corner quickly tapping RT & your shots will easily stop the lancer revving & lower when pistol is about emty pressB & melee for a easy DBNO. ps take a slightly wide aprotch to get a good angle & start shooting as soon as you see him must blind fire to keep good manuvrability practice it you'l see

[Wraith]

My friends love the pistol because it fires only a little slower than the Lancer at max speed, and is more powerful than the Lancer. It usually takes about a clip and 1 bullet to kill someone.

The magnum, however, is much more powerful, but there's about half a second delay between shots due to the massive recoil. However, 1 headshot can down or even kill someone.

It doesn't really matter to me, as I rarely use the pistols.

[OK Millen]

I believe it takes 5 shots to the head for a headshot, and 7 to the body for a down.

[Anakaris]

I've been using the snub pistol a lot recently, especially against people who like to use the gnasher shotgun. Roll towards them either to the left or right; never roll straight at them. Make a quick melee swipe then circle to their side to avoid any return shots and another pistol whip will down them.

Great for stopping Lancers from winding up for chainsaw attack.

I even like firing it. When firing at someone peeking around cover, zoom in and aim for the bottom part of their head. As you empty the clip the reticle will drift higher but most shots will be headshots.

[Anarchosyn]

My group of friends pretty much uses the pistol as the primary, and the shotgun as the secondary.

The pistol is amazingly destructive, and can beat even the hammerburst in a standoff. If your timing is right you can consistently beat chainsaws as well. Against the shotgun it's effective at medium range if you're fast and have good aim, but is a risky proposition up close.

It takes 6 body shots to down with the default pistol. 2 melee hits to down. 1 melee hit and 1 shot will also down (load up a local splitscreen game and test this on your system against a dummy account). The melee is faster than the sniper's, but not as powerful as the torque bow (I always loose those, anyhow).

When I see somebody take out their pistol, I consider that a commentary on their experience and skill. If you're new, it's useless (not a slam on the OP). Often times I've taken down whole teams of kids (4v1) using just the pistol and stealth.

The other pistol (magnum?) is crap. Well, that or I haven't figured out how to use it yet. It's too infrequent on maps to be of much use practicing anyhow.

ps: The reason my loose group of friends (the majority of which met only through GoW) favor the pistol isn't due to some childish clan identification. Most of us felt the pistol was a worthless piece of crap before meeting an amazing player named digigram. That guy's skill with the pistol single handedly changed our perceptions.

My friends love the pistol because it fires only a little slower than the Lancer at max speed, and is more powerful than the Lancer. It usually takes about a clip and 1 bullet to kill someone.
.

Not to slam you at all, but it takes FAR less than a clip to kill somebody with the pistol. 6-7 shots (a clip holds 48, if memory serves). What you said is merely a commentary on the aiming skills of whomever you referenced.

Again, however, don't take my word for it - load up a local game with a dummy account and test it out.

ps: To the OP, inspite of my glowing praise for the pistol, it's not the end all be all weapon. It sucks at long range and you really need to have skill to deal with shotgunners at close range.

For the last week, or so, I've been using pistols as my primary but this has been more to grow skill with it (and it deal with people catching me off guard, it's best for that imho). Against sombody skilled with any other type of weapon, I've been known to go down quick. It's risky.. but I've pulled out (in a 5 round match) around 14 kills and 13 downs using only it.

[Urza]

I found that the pistol is great for shooting at legs and hips when an opponent is stuck to a wall and waiting just at the corner. You can get those really right shots and if you're fast enough can down him before he even realizes he needs to move.

[Dunlap]

I always switch to my Pistol at the beginning of most matches and soon after usually drop my Lancer for something more powerful. The Lancer seems more of an aggravation than an actual threat 1 on 1 at medium-long range. Used correctly, the Pistol has just enough stopping power to take an enemy down before they can escape, while the Lancer usually just makes your target leave, heal, and return.

I love the twitch fire functionality, but I hope turbo controllers to ruin Gears in the future...