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I'm currenlty playing a sneaky sniper. I'm level 27 and have been experimenting around what kind of weapon loadout I should use.

Currently my "main" weapon is a sniper rifle (of some sort) for long distance and a rifle for medium to close encounters. For RP-value I've also used pistols, primarily when fighting indoors. So basically, I have three types of weapons: sniper, assault rifle and a pistol. RP aside, it just seems rather redundant to have a pistol even for very close battles when my current rifle (All American) seems doing the job just fine for those moments when a sniper rifle isn't really viable.

So basically: Is there really any point in having both a pistol and a rifle for closer fighting?

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    pistols use a lot less AP typically in VATS mode
    – l I
    Apr 18, 2013 at 15:31
  • Well, I think All American uses pretty few AP's as well.
    – Sandokan
    Apr 18, 2013 at 15:34

3 Answers 3

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Pistol? Rifle? Why not both! That Gun is my sidearm of choice, and it fires a rifle round, which means your ammo can be shared between your pistol and your rifle. It does very good damage even into the mid- and late-game.

However, one advantage to multiple weapon types is fully using your available ammunition. You'll come across many different types of ammo, and sometimes you might be low on 5.56. Having a backup weapon that fires something else might be good in these cases.

Another thing to consider is if you want a sidearm that has a silencer. I like Sleepytyme for this, which is a SMG that fires 10mm rounds. It does decent damage and the silencer means I can stay sneaky even in close quarters. There are pistol-type options available with a silencer if you're hell-bent on using a pistol.

Rifles are also not holdout weapons, which means you can't take them into casinos and other "weapon restricted" areas. Many 1-handed weapons (including Sleepytyme, but not That Gun) are holdout weapons, though.

If you're happy with the All American, and none of these concerns apply to you, then I don't really see any other need to carry another close-quarters weapon.

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  • sleepytyme is by far my favorite gun for close up situations. Nice AP cost in VATS, silence, great damage, and abundant ammo
    – l I
    Apr 18, 2013 at 15:32
  • The only thing I feel is that when everything goes haywire, an autofiring weapon seem better when the enemy is in your face.
    – Sandokan
    Apr 18, 2013 at 15:34
  • @Sandokan, Sleepytyme is good for this, although That Gun will wreck face so fast you won't really have to worry about most enemies, tbh. (Your mileage may vary, depending on difficulty, etc). When I draw it and go into VATS, it's a safe assumption that whatever I'm shooting at is probably going to be dead by the time I'm done.
    – agent86
    Apr 18, 2013 at 15:35
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I personally have as many different guns as I can hold, while remaining a safe distance under my max-weight as possible. The variety of ammunition, which is weightless, means that should I run out of ammo, I can just switch guns.

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  • Unless of course, you're playing on Hardcore mode, in which case, carrying all that spare ammo is kind of a drag, man.
    – LessPop_MoreFizz
    Jun 8, 2013 at 2:12
  • @LessPop_MoreFizz This is, admittedly, true.
    – Selonianth
    Jun 8, 2013 at 6:02
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Typically, real-life military snipers use both. We have our sniper rife for long-distance targets, and our emergency sidearm in case we're surprised in our "nest." When moving into position, keep a handgun or shotgun equipped in case you're surprised by something around a corner.

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  • Actually it depends. For the "stereotypical" sniper it may very well be so. But many ordinary infantry rifle squads have a sniper with them, a dedicated marksman. He is really just a soldier who has recieved sniper training. He is most often armed with a sniper rifle and a regular assault rifle.
    – Sandokan
    Oct 5, 2013 at 9:17

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