Side arms

[GnySgt Hartman Sr DI 0]

OF is one of the nicest games I've seen in a minute. But where the hell is the damn pistoly? I know plenty of times I've unloaded, and I'm down to my last 3-4 commie killers. And I get whacked by some redhat I coulda killed with my .45. Maybe in an update they will think about us spray and pray boys

[Damage Inc 0]

They would be pretty useless because of the short range of pistols.

[IceFire 0]

Yeah, I noticed that.

Alot of units are trained to immediately switch to pistol when they run out of rifle ammo. They can then use the pistol to finish off any enemy units currently being engaged, and help them get to cover to reload their rifle.

[IceFire 0]

Useless?? I don't think so. Especially if you know how to use it.

Alot of units switch to pistol when they go to clear small confined areas, like airplanes, or small rooms.

I can think of loads of times when I was prone in some bushes, being really stealthy, when an enemy or two walk right past me. Well, I don't want to go and just blow them away with my big ol' M-16, I would rather have something small like a pistol that doesn't attract alot of attention.

[Ex-RoNiN 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ Mar. 06 2002,22:07)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Useless??  I don't think so.  Especially if you know how to use it.

Alot of units switch to pistol when they go to clear small confined areas, like airplanes, or small rooms.  

I can think of loads of times when I was prone in some bushes, being really stealthy, when an enemy or two walk right past me.  Well, I don't want to go and just blow them away with my big ol' M-16, I would rather have something small like a pistol that doesn't attract alot of attention.<span id='postcolor'>

Silenced MP-5

[Damage Inc 0]

Or a cool Bizon

[Thehamster 0]

Or you just wait for them to turn there back on you so you can lob a gren at them.

[Black Op 0]

good tactic thehamster

[cpl_BOB 0]

there will never be a side arm option unless BIS make new animations to allow a weapon to be held in just one hand.

so there you have it!,,

and of course it could be done now without, but it would look silly for a man to hold a handgun with 2 hands all the time

[Greadius 0]

I miss pistols as well... not that I think they'd be very useful in the practical sense, but I prefer smaller arms...

Plus there have been a few times I've unloaded my rifle and have needed a few more shots, or was in a bad time/place to reload.

[Antichrist 0]

Just grab a gun from nearby dead enemy

[IceFire 0]

Just grab a gun from a dead enemy??

That takes longer than reloading.

I mean, suppose you are in a fire fight with your MP-5 against some enemies, while in the fight, your clip gets empty, there's an enemy running right at you and you don't have time to reload.  Then you quickly whip out your pistol and put a few quick well placed shots into the enemy.  

There, no more immediate threat, now you can run to some cover and reload your MP-5 magazine.

I've seen videos of military units practicing this maneuver.  Since they have their rifle or MP-5 on a strap, they just drop their main arm (let it hang down) and quickly pull out their pistol to finish off an opponent.

The whole maneuver takes less than a second.

Generally they keep their pistol attached to a cord that attaches to their belt holster, so that they don't have to worry about dropping or losing it.

[Clahtrien 0]

Pistol will be almost totally useless in this game, I think the enemy starts firing at you about 100/200m away (I always get killed by someone using a AK74U at 400m over) and that's the same for your friendly units.

I thought most pistol are being held with two hands?

[Antichrist 0]

If u run out of bullets in the middle of the firefight u're screwed anyway

pistol will not help

[Greadius 0]

I just had a situation tonight when I came over a hill, and BAM! There were Commies all over. I killed 7! of them with one clip (I'm a bad aim so I'm proud ), I aimed for the 8th and...click, click...

The irony is he was just kneeling down, aiming, and I could picture myself pulling out a pistol and killing him as he shot me

[Guest]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IceFire @ Mar. 07 2002,00:57)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just grab a gun from a dead enemy??

That takes longer than reloading.

I mean, suppose you are in a fire fight with your MP-5 against some enemies, while in the fight, your clip gets empty, there's an enemy running right at you and you don't have time to reload.  Then you quickly whip out your pistol and put a few quick well placed shots into the enemy.  

There, no more immediate threat, now you can run to some cover and reload your MP-5 magazine.

I've seen videos of military units practicing this maneuver.  Since they have their rifle or MP-5 on a strap, they just drop their main arm (let it hang down) and quickly pull out their pistol to finish off an opponent.

The whole maneuver takes less than a second.

Generally they keep their pistol attached to a cord that attaches to their belt holster, so that they don't have to worry about dropping or losing it.<span id='postcolor'>

I go into Kung-fu mode

[GnySgt Hartman Sr DI 0]

Its funny that ppl say this game is so realistic, but how can not having a sidearm be real?

A few ppl gave great examples of when a pistol would be a great addition to the game. Sure would help you stay alive more. Useless? Doubtful! Main weapon in combat? Doubtful as well, but an added punch to your arsenal.

[madmike 0]

Well on realism Gny..bla..bla,

Most armies dont use pistols (dont know about US)

The only people that would use pistols in the British army are snipers and tank crew. The snipers would only use them if they were...well attacking a high ranking officer without support, but in a tipical infantry assult such as goose green in the falklands war they didnt have pistols.

Even the SAS and SBS didnt use them during the Gulf war, so it goes to show they are not realy need. There are far more useful things that could be added

[KingBeast 0]

The SAS in the Falklands carried Browning Hi-Power pistols, but i cant think of any cases in which they had to use them.

Normal infantry typically dont carry pistols. I dont know why but my strange mind thinks that the reason officers carry pistols originates from years gone by where they could use them to kill themselves rather than get captured?

Im probably way off the mark there though.

[Tovarish 0]

Normal infantry might not carry sidearms but other units do, for example SpetzNatz carried P-6 silenced handguns, especially when doing paradrops since the AK's had to be strapped back so they would not interfeere with the chute, and they did not want to be left defenceless at any point during the landing.

[shadow 6]

I really don't see the 'uselessnes' of a pistol.

Say you are a pilot who just ejected out of your A10. Now all you got is a [insert pistol-brand here]. What do you do?

I would hide. Use stealth. Kill a lone enemy soldier and grab his AK or whatever.

Me thinks adding a pistol would add to both realism and make a new type of challenge ...

Give me a H/K USP .45 tactical or H/K USP MK23 'SOCOM' or Beretta 92FS, or Tanfoglio 9mm Combat or a CZ 9 (I think) or a Glock 17 or a Colt 1911 .....

or all of the above

[Guest Scooby]

If you are at area where are enemy soldiers last thing you want to do is to start unneccessary killing which would only draw attention towards you. Second, soldiers mostly move with their fighting pair. Only short distances such as moving from tent to foxhole to replace other of guards is done alone.

[Major Fubar 0]

I have to throw my 2 cents worth:

I think pistols would definitely add to the game. True, most combat in OFP takes place over distances would be all but useless, but there are times when that's just not true. In buildings, sneaking up on an unwary soldier, surprising a soldier from a bush etc. I agree that normal troops shouldn't have them, but I see no reason why snipers, officers and vehicles crews shouldn't.

[Benze 0]

Remember the SAS takedown of the Iran Embassy? One of the terrorists was popped with a browning pistol.

[Blake 0]

Pistols are reasonably accurate only to 25+ meters and pretty useless in large open terrain. But maybe they could be added to coming OFP: Resistance upgrade, since the concept in it is to manage with very limited resources and fight guerilla-type warfare against Soviets. Kozlice will probably play a part, why not some old pistols confiscated from grandpa's attic like Walther P-38, Colt M1911 or revolvers? They're still better than sticks and stones

I also think pilots especially are pretty heavily armed currently, who the hell would carry and assault rifle + 4 mags and 6 grenades in already cramped cockpit AND then take them all out after being ejected??? Pistols for pilots NOT assault rifles (jet pilots at least).