Is There Any Possible Situation Where a Pistol is Superior to a Long Gun or SMG

Gunnut17 · August 28, 2012, 04:48 PM

Hi, me again, let me just say in advance, I am aware getting tactic ideas from a video game is ridiculous, but this poses an interesting question.

Now, in the 2010 video game, Splinter Cell: Conviction(An awesome title, I might add.), the main character is almost always using a pistol, instead of the submachine gun, shotgun, or assault/battle rifle that is often hanging on his back. And it made me wonder why someone would use a semi-automatic, low capacity pistol(Such as a USP45 or Desert Eagle.), over a high capacity, select-fire, accessory compatible, often easier to shoot, longer ranged rifle, SMG or shotgun(SCAR-H, MP7A1, Benneli M3 Super 90). Is there any situation where a pistol with a suppressor is better?

Mods, feel free to move this as necessary.

Thanks!

mete · August 28, 2012, 04:59 PM

Massad Ayoob gave an actual case he experienced . Going down a very steep slope he had to hold onto branches with one hand while he shot at the perp IIRC.
Give it some thought and you'll realize that there may be many such cases .

Woody55 · August 28, 2012, 05:25 PM

When moving through wreckage - like a badly bombed building - a pistol for at least the guy on point is not a bad idea. Like the post above, there are times when you need a hand to help you move. There are people behind you with heavier weapons.

Also, while not in video games and probably not much of a concern to you, when you go into someone's home or office and are - at least in principle - supposed to be friends, a holstered pistol makes a better impression than an assault rifle slung at the low ready.

WV_gunner · August 28, 2012, 06:25 PM

Try to walk around downtown carrying a Draco pistol or a short shotgun, I'm sure quite a few 911 calls will be made. A regular pistol might get you some weird looks, but at least you won't be hassled by the police.
Another situation, a weapon shooting rifle rounds at close range isnt going to be very effective.
Only situation I can think of wanting something other than a regular pistol is maybe home defense, but only shooting weak shotgun loads or if it's rifle use handgun rounds. But even then, a handgun still has some benefits.
Why use a lower capacity handgun instead of a higher capacity one? Maybe balance, or the feel of the gun. It's just what some people prefer.

I think the perfect close range rifle would be the Thompson or something similar to it. Short, higher capacity, and a big yet slow bullet.

Creeper · August 28, 2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

the main character is almost always using a pistol

Correct me if I'm wrong on this but...
He's a mostly indoors, close up and personal, information thief, assassin, escape artist... right?
And he wears a "stealth suit" where he can be nearly invisible... yes?
He can also effectively stab, throat cut and karate chop someone too... correct?

So why carry all that clanky, weighty hardware and ammo if he doesn't have to?

I always laugh when a protagonist is allowed to carry a pistol, SMG, assault rifle and sniper rifle... plus hundreds of rounds for all. And 3 kinds of grenades, and really nice binoculars, and 5 first aid kits.

C

Dwight55 · August 28, 2012, 06:42 PM

Best example: tunnel rats in Viet Nam, . . . used .22 auto pistol in at least some cases.

Personally, . . . would much rather have my 1911 for CQB if we are talking bad breath distance or shortly ouside of that.

Handgun is sooooooooo much easier to maneuver and protect.

YMMV, . . . but even in the service, . . . I preferred a handgun when I could get away with it.

May God bless,
Dwight

SatCong · August 28, 2012, 07:02 PM

Gunfight in a phone booth!

Mike

TXAZ · August 28, 2012, 07:07 PM

Any close quarter combat.

Gunnut17 · August 28, 2012, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Gunfight in a phone booth!

What are you talking about?

Anyway, I do see everyone's points, whenever I play Splinter Cell: Double Agent(less awesome title.), I almost always use the pistol, it's quieter than the 5.56mm rounds in the rifle, and can be used while holding a hostage or from a pipe, while maintaining near identical accuracy to the rifle. Though I do prefer hand-to-hand kills.

BarryLee · August 28, 2012, 07:10 PM

In your house or car.

Catfishman · August 28, 2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Handgun is sooooooooo much easier to maneuver and protect.

Yes and I think the protect part is often overlooked. The shotgun is supposed to be the best home defense weapon, but I have read many stories that included two men wrestling over a shotgun or rifle.

orionengnr · August 28, 2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Is There Any Possible Situation Where a Pistol is Superior to a Long Gun or SMG?

Yes, and many of us are faced with that situation every day.
It is called "concealed carrying"... it is not possible to conceal a rifle or a shotgun (okay, nothing is impossible...but it is highly impractical).

Carrying a handgun every day, everywhere legal to do so...that is the situation where a pistol is superior.

Even if it were the only one...it's a biggie. It allows me to go armed, every day, with no-one the wiser.

Nanuk · August 28, 2012, 07:21 PM

A lot of that depends on your tactics, training and the situation you are faced with. It is always nice to have the option. A holstered pistol is usually faster into action than a slung long gun. A pistol can be easily controlled with one hand, and thus allows the use of the other hand for other tasks.

I do not carry low cap handguns anymore for anything but hunting or a BUG.

kraigwy · August 28, 2012, 07:36 PM

Situation where a pistol is better then a long gun???

Based on my experience I can think of a few. In SE Asia we had to crawl through tunnels built to be used by littel fellows. There wasn't room for a rifle, you crawled through on your belly with a flash light in one and in a 1911s1 in the other. Bearly room to use the pistol, it would have been impossible for a rifle.

In LE, be did our own building searches, most of the time alone. Every time I tried to take a shotgun it ended up being in the way, you have too many other things to do with your free hand.

I carried a Model 28, I found that if it was in range of a shot gun, I'm well within in range of my revolver. If I'm out of the range of the shot gun, I 'm still in range with my revolver.

Sure there are plenty of times where the rifle is better, but any time I had to actually use my pistol/revolver, I never felt under gunned.

Onward Allusion · August 28, 2012, 07:39 PM

Close quarters - i.e. inside a house with lots of hallways and turns.

Dragline45 · August 28, 2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Correct me if I'm wrong on this but...
He's a mostly indoors, close up and personal, information thief, assassin, escape artist... right?
And he wears a "stealth suit" where he can be nearly invisible... yes?
He can also effectively stab, throat cut and karate chop someone too... correct?

So why carry all that clanky, weighty hardware and ammo if he doesn't have to?

Love the splinter cell game series, and your pretty much spot on. In the Splinter Cell series Sam Fisher is a SIGINT ninja, ill go through most levels without firing a single shot.

Man do I sound like a nerd but I am not ashamed to say I still love video games.

Creeper · August 28, 2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragline45

Love the splinter cell game series

I've been going through colon cancer, so I haven't gotten out much in the past year or so.
My wife (bless her evil little heart), recently bought me an Xbox 360 'cause my computer is getting long in the tooth and I have issues with the newer games.

I have the first few Splinter Cells for PC... and this thread reminded me how great Splinter Cell is. The best part is now I'm gonna' go to Game Stop and buy all the Splinter Cell games... used for about $30.

What better thing to do for a Creeper... than creep around, right?

C

Strafer Gott · August 28, 2012, 08:26 PM

With a 6" Highway patrolman and some full house loads in hand, you will out range most shotguns with ease. Problem lies with most scenarios where a handgun applies, you are well within 12 gauge effective range. Barrier penetration is probably another avenue for advantage. Take cover, then demonstrate the difference between cover and concealment. All of this works much better in a gaming environment. No reset in a gun fight. I still dig the model 28, though. I just don't know about being able to beat a seal with an MP5.

Stevie-Ray · August 28, 2012, 09:50 PM

My present abode does not lend itself to using long guns, and a pistol is much preferred. It is rather small, on 3 levels, and pardon the expression, full of crap, and my EDC suffices perfectly. My new house is larger, all on one level, and rather sprawling, endearing to me use of the long gun. I have both shotgun and carbine, am proficient with both, so it's just a matter of which I'll prefer when I move. And I won't have the clutter in the new place, I promise.

jimbob86 · August 28, 2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Gunfight in a phone booth!

What are you talking about?

Dunno ...mehbe he's waiting in the phone booth ..... gonna ambush me when I jump in there to change into my Superman get-up!

Deaf Smith · August 28, 2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Is There Any Possible Situation Where a Pistol is Superior to a Long Gun or SMG

Lots of situations. Any place you can't carry or swing a long gun or subgun.

Try using a subgun on a guy in the back seat of your car while you drive. Try to use a longer gun while ridding the DART (or even carry one.) Try getting that long gun while eating at a diner. Oh heck man, unless you can drag that long gun around with you all day (legally) you will see the handgun has it's place cause it's the only one you can conceal.

Deaf

R1145 · August 29, 2012, 12:31 AM

You use a pistol because that's what you carry all day. In a fight, you use it to fight to your long gun, but it would be superior in very close quarters, or in a possible gun retention scenario. Likewise, you can use a pistol one-handed, and have the use of your other hand, whereas a long gun is essentially a two-handed weapon (though a sling can help at times).

For power, accuracy, etc., the long gun is better, but the handgun may be adequate.

mete · August 29, 2012, 01:37 AM

Gunfight in a phone booth ? The most bizarre radio talk show incident -a caller was phoning from a booth and was mugged , twice , by two different mugers !

The victim had no gun[NYC] so just gave up his money.
A very potentially dangerous place is an elevator.You can't run and a gun, knife ,or even fists can easily be used against you.

SPEMack618 · August 29, 2012, 11:29 PM

There is no way in heck that I could use a shotgun properly in my apt. So pistol it is for HD.

interlock · August 30, 2012, 01:08 AM

All these kids don't know what a phone booth is, but my generation knows it's what Bill and Ted traveled through time in. PARTY ON, DUDES!

August 28, 2012, 04:48 PM	#1
Gunnut17 Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 392	Is There Any Possible Situation Where a Pistol is Superior to a Long Gun or SMG Hi, me again, let me just say in advance, I am aware getting tactic ideas from a video game is ridiculous, but this poses an interesting question. Now, in the 2010 video game, Splinter Cell: Conviction(An awesome title, I might add.), the main character is almost always using a pistol, instead of the submachine gun, shotgun, or assault/battle rifle that is often hanging on his back. And it made me wonder why someone would use a semi-automatic, low capacity pistol(Such as a USP45 or Desert Eagle.), over a high capacity, select-fire, accessory compatible, often easier to shoot, longer ranged rifle, SMG or shotgun(SCAR-H, MP7A1, Benneli M3 Super 90). Is there any situation where a pistol with a suppressor is better? Mods, feel free to move this as necessary. Thanks! __________________ ________(====()_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-, I_iiiii__/'''''''''[{]''''''''{_)_)_)_)_)_}======== "\|Pistol calibers\| all suck, so pick the one you shoot best."

August 28, 2012, 04:59 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 4,940	Massad Ayoob gave an actual case he experienced . Going down a very steep slope he had to hold onto branches with one hand while he shot at the perp IIRC. Give it some thought and you'll realize that there may be many such cases . __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

August 28, 2012, 06:42 PM	#6
Dwight55 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 2,470	Best example: tunnel rats in Viet Nam, . . . used .22 auto pistol in at least some cases. Personally, . . . would much rather have my 1911 for CQB if we are talking bad breath distance or shortly ouside of that. Handgun is sooooooooo much easier to maneuver and protect. YMMV, . . . but even in the service, . . . I preferred a handgun when I could get away with it. May God bless, Dwight __________________ www.dwightsgunleather.com If you can breathe, . . . thank God! If you can read, . . . thank a teacher! If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a Veteran!

August 28, 2012, 07:07 PM	#8
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: TEXAS! Posts: 779	Any close quarter combat. __________________ !أنا لست إرهابي

August 28, 2012, 07:10 PM	#10
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 2,108	In your house or car. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

August 28, 2012, 05:25 PM	#3
Woody55 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2012 Location: East Texas Posts: 407	When moving through wreckage - like a badly bombed building - a pistol for at least the guy on point is not a bad idea. Like the post above, there are times when you need a hand to help you move. There are people behind you with heavier weapons. Also, while not in video games and probably not much of a concern to you, when you go into someone's home or office and are - at least in principle - supposed to be friends, a holstered pistol makes a better impression than an assault rifle slung at the low ready.

August 28, 2012, 06:25 PM	#4
WV_gunner Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Location: WV Posts: 444	Try to walk around downtown carrying a Draco pistol or a short shotgun, I'm sure quite a few 911 calls will be made. A regular pistol might get you some weird looks, but at least you won't be hassled by the police. Another situation, a weapon shooting rifle rounds at close range isnt going to be very effective. Only situation I can think of wanting something other than a regular pistol is maybe home defense, but only shooting weak shotgun loads or if it's rifle use handgun rounds. But even then, a handgun still has some benefits. Why use a lower capacity handgun instead of a higher capacity one? Maybe balance, or the feel of the gun. It's just what some people prefer. I think the perfect close range rifle would be the Thompson or something similar to it. Short, higher capacity, and a big yet slow bullet.

August 28, 2012, 07:02 PM	#7
SatCong Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Location: Twangtown Posts: 175	Gunfight in a phone booth! Mike

August 28, 2012, 07:21 PM	#13
Nanuk Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2005 Location: Where the deer and the antelope roam. Posts: 1,431	A lot of that depends on your tactics, training and the situation you are faced with. It is always nice to have the option. A holstered pistol is usually faster into action than a slung long gun. A pistol can be easily controlled with one hand, and thus allows the use of the other hand for other tasks. I do not carry low cap handguns anymore for anything but hunting or a BUG. __________________ My rifle and pistol are tools, I am the weapon.

August 28, 2012, 07:36 PM	#14
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8,618	Situation where a pistol is better then a long gun??? Based on my experience I can think of a few. In SE Asia we had to crawl through tunnels built to be used by littel fellows. There wasn't room for a rifle, you crawled through on your belly with a flash light in one and in a 1911s1 in the other. Bearly room to use the pistol, it would have been impossible for a rifle. In LE, be did our own building searches, most of the time alone. Every time I tried to take a shotgun it ended up being in the way, you have too many other things to do with your free hand. I carried a Model 28, I found that if it was in range of a shot gun, I'm well within in range of my revolver. If I'm out of the range of the shot gun, I 'm still in range with my revolver. Sure there are plenty of times where the rifle is better, but any time I had to actually use my pistol/revolver, I never felt under gunned. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Oct '78 Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

August 28, 2012, 07:39 PM	#15
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,482	Close quarters - i.e. inside a house with lots of hallways and turns. __________________ "With great power, there must also come great responsibility." - Stan Lee "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

August 28, 2012, 08:26 PM	#18
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 880	If onlies don't count! With a 6" Highway patrolman and some full house loads in hand, you will out range most shotguns with ease. Problem lies with most scenarios where a handgun applies, you are well within 12 gauge effective range. Barrier penetration is probably another avenue for advantage. Take cover, then demonstrate the difference between cover and concealment. All of this works much better in a gaming environment. No reset in a gun fight. I still dig the model 28, though. I just don't know about being able to beat a seal with an MP5.

August 28, 2012, 09:50 PM	#19
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Downriver area and the shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,206	My present abode does not lend itself to using long guns, and a pistol is much preferred. It is rather small, on 3 levels, and pardon the expression, full of crap, and my EDC suffices perfectly. My new house is larger, all on one level, and rather sprawling, endearing to me use of the long gun. I have both shotgun and carbine, am proficient with both, so it's just a matter of which I'll prefer when I move. And I won't have the clutter in the new place, I promise. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

August 29, 2012, 12:31 AM	#22
R1145 Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 336	Everything is a trade-off You use a pistol because that's what you carry all day. In a fight, you use it to fight to your long gun, but it would be superior in very close quarters, or in a possible gun retention scenario. Likewise, you can use a pistol one-handed, and have the use of your other hand, whereas a long gun is essentially a two-handed weapon (though a sling can help at times). For power, accuracy, etc., the long gun is better, but the handgun may be adequate.

August 29, 2012, 01:37 AM	#23
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 4,940	Gunfight in a phone booth ? The most bizarre radio talk show incident -a caller was phoning from a booth and was mugged , twice , by two different mugers ! The victim had no gun[NYC] so just gave up his money. A very potentially dangerous place is an elevator.You can't run and a gun, knife ,or even fists can easily be used against you. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

August 29, 2012, 11:29 PM	#24
SPEMack618 Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2010 Location: Boy Scout Camp Posts: 1,260	There is no way in heck that I could use a shotgun properly in my apt. So pistol it is for HD. __________________ "Growing up as both a Southern and the son of a child of the '50s, I was imprinted with several things that have long stuck with me. The F-86 Saber Jet was the finest fighter ever flown, the National League is always superior, and Leslie Coffelt was the finest revovler shooter since Mr. Ed."

August 30, 2012, 01:08 AM	#25
interlock Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2012 Posts: 253	All these kids don't know what a phone booth is, but my generation knows it's what Bill and Ted traveled through time in. PARTY ON, DUDES!