What's the place for pistols,smgs and shotguns?

[UGGA DUGGA]

I'm seeing more and more pistol/smg/shotgun stuff appear at vendors when we already had access to rifle stuff at lvl 1 vendors and in the starting areas. What is the intended use for these weapons or are they just collectibles? I've only once tried the vz61 once i was able to mount sight for it and took it to ban pa. yes it works, but why would anyone take it over a ak/m4?
Would've loved if these categories of weapons made more sense, but i don't really see the point for them. Anyone have any suggestions on how i could use these weapons in a meaningful way that i won't set myself up for failure?

[Leatherneck1203]

I'm with you on this. I haven't even touched the mp5. Assault rifles are the best option pretty much all the time. When I go to ybl, sometimes i use the shotgun.

[Tom Horn]

Find shotguns very disappointing in terms of 'knock down' so only used MP5 (with hollow point ammo) in the bunker (YBL) for cqb......excellent.....despite some derision from my team mates I like it very much.

[SchimmelCultuur]

Like in real life, different tools for different trades. I'm quite happy with the MP5 in YBL & have a pair of fully kitted out ones for that alone but i would not take it into Forth Narith. I suppose it depends on if you are planning to revisit those place after your missions are done. If i feel like some CQB i will go to YBL and bring my MP5.

[♥ Beepy ♥]

MP5's and shotguns are solid for anyone not wearing military plates in any sort of CQC-to-MID firefights. The shotguns can 1-hit ppl if you nail them center mass, but again anything outside of short ranges (even with slugs) it can get dicey if you're running by yourself. I've been a "breacher" several times for my squad and it has been quite enjoyable. I just wish that the Dev's would add a semi-auto Mossberg or something of the like to make them a bit more level when going up against every NPC seemingly running fullauto 24/7. Because there are times which I want to two-tap someone because the first shot didn't hit vitals or their vest ate most of the projectiles. And the pump firerate is painfully slow. ALSO, let us at least dual-load instead of sitting there like you're at a skeet shoot and have all day to gas back up.

As for sidearms, they've saved my butt more than once this wipe. I won't run them as a primary, but for a "SHTF my mags are dry" situation where a NPC rolls up on you from around a corner, they're quite handy. Just run the best ammo you can find for them.

Side Note: tracer rounds for the MP5 are excellent for running around Nam Thav, Ban Pa and Hunters. Not just for the visuals, but it helps direct-fire for your squad.

[Agent X ™]

Shotguns are when you are almost broke and need to get back on that zero to hero grind. The longer barrel and sight make it a 1 shot killing machine in the starter town. I feel like this game needs a vendor rework or a price rework for gunny. He should sell the MP5 at lvl 1 also for like 250 bucks as a starter item.

[UGGA DUGGA]

Originally posted by SchimmelCultuur:

Like in real life, different tools for different trades. I'm quite happy with the MP5 in YBL & have a pair of fully kitted out ones for that alone but i would not take it into Forth Narith. I suppose it depends on if you are planning to revisit those place after your missions are done. If i feel like some CQB i will go to YBL and bring my MP5.

I get where you are comming from, but an ak74u would have more stopping power for the same length. Glad you are enjoying it tho!

IMO early game would probably be pretty cool if it can balanced to encourage/allow the smg/shotguns to work without grinding for special ammo.

[SchimmelCultuur]

Originally posted by UGGA DUGGA:

Originally posted by SchimmelCultuur:

Like in real life, different tools for different trades. I'm quite happy with the MP5 in YBL & have a pair of fully kitted out ones for that alone but i would not take it into Forth Narith. I suppose it depends on if you are planning to revisit those place after your missions are done. If i feel like some CQB i will go to YBL and bring my MP5.

I get where you are comming from, but an ak74u would have more stopping power for the same length. Glad you are enjoying it tho!

IMO early game would probably be pretty cool if it can balanced to encourage/allow the smg/shotguns to work without grinding for special ammo.

Somehow i have a special place for the MP5 (haha) so i irrationally favor it over the AK-74u.

[Keyboard Cowboy]

So the MP5 is not worth using?
That sucks to hear, seems like MFG need to re-tweak stats for all weapons as there doesn't seem any real reason to use anything but the M4/MK18.

[Fleetwood]

Originally posted by Keyboard Cowboy:

So the MP5 is not worth using?
That sucks to hear, seems like MFG need to re-tweak stats for all weapons as there doesn't seem any real reason to use anything but the M4/MK18.

A 10.5" or 14" M4 is better than the MP5 in every conceivable way. And it can hold 61 rounds of M855A1.

[♥ Beepy ♥]

Originally posted by Keyboard Cowboy:

So the MP5 is not worth using?
That sucks to hear, seems like MFG need to re-tweak stats for all weapons as there doesn't seem any real reason to use anything but the M4/MK18.

It's worth using, just don't take it into Tiger, Midnight or Narith.

[Zourin]

MP5 with hollow point rounds can take out tier 2 enemies, but only if you full auto. You will, however, burn through ammo very quickly. It's better suppressed in night ops when you can close the engagement ranges and put a few single-fire rounds into heads with more certainty. AP P+ ammo in pistol rounds are a trap, as it doesn't actually penetrate armor very well and has a fairly low ability to hit vital organs like HP rounds can when hitting between the plate and helmet. MP5's are easy to scavenge in starter towns and other UN crate locations as well, so you should never have to actually buy one.

Shotguns, particularly with AP slugs or FC 00 Buck can really cause a lot of damage to tier 1 and tier 2 enemies, but it will usually lose out at point blank range to any NPC with a full auto weapon like an AKS. Aim for the head rather than center of mass when you can. if you can't take the time to hit heart or head with AP, the spread of 00 buck can often score kills by hitting the face. Shotguns are a cheap corpse-run weapon, but can scale up in bad-assery with some extra kit and surprisingly hold their own in most places with good ammo selection.

Pistols are a point-blank weapon of last resort. You have to hit head, and you have to be able to take the time to aim for the head. They are absolutely the best when you and your enemy both have to reload, since you can swap to your side arm and push with impunity since they don't carry sidearms. This is a rare, but not unheard of situation I've encountered several times. Pistols can usually take out a lone patrol and let you steal their weapon and body armor, but only if you can get close. The horrid MOA and recoil on pistols makes accuracy at any distance longer than fisticuffs impossible.

When you are talking about tier 3 areas like MN, TB, or MS, you want to use AP or HP rounds on a rifle (do not sleep on HP rounds if you are better at hitting between their plate and helmet). You HAVE to engage at medium to long ranges with reliable precision or you get a lot more trouble than you bargained for in these areas or you will have a bad day with precision full auto AK-15 armor piercing mag dumps into your corpse. If you have to engage in CQC with a guy in army kit, prefer grenades. Their front armor is great and they'll always be facing you, but they have no armor in their rear.

[Jesus_Guy]

Pistols, shotguns, and SMGs have no purpose outside really specialized roles. Which is why making a game based on realism is hard to balance. 9mm just doesn't pen LV III or higher armor, even the AP ammo isnt that AP. You cant make a 9mm cartridge have the same performance as intermediate cartridge.

But in videogame world. We want these weapons to have a purpose. So as the game is right now, i only use SMGs and shotguns in the starting town, for funzies.

[Butcher of Blaviken]

Originally posted by Jesus_Guy:

Pistols, shotguns, and SMGs have no purpose outside really specialized roles. Which is why making a game based on realism is hard to balance. 9mm just doesn't pen LV III or higher armor, even the AP ammo isnt that AP. You cant make a 9mm cartridge have the same performance as intermediate cartridge.

But in videogame world. We want these weapons to have a purpose. So as the game is right now, i only use SMGs and shotguns in the starting town, for funzies.

They have a purpose in areas where nobody is wearing plates they don't have to be usable everywhere

[Dredd]

only use pistols on runs to get my gear back

MP5 i like a lot since the ammo +P can break any helmet so it's a quick 1-3 burst and they are dead for CQB. I can hug corners real well without weapon in ready down. The only thing i'd like is to run full kit in it with it being <25 or <30 Kg in overall weight

[Warmech]

I think running around the high tier areas with a kitted MP5 at night would be a more valid strategy if enemies had ammo to salvage. Maybe if the enemies that usually carry the 74U had an MP5 loaded with libra snail instead, it would entice more people to use it.