Scattergun Vs. Pistol

Lately, I have noticed that more and more people are using pistols in close combats when playing as scouts.  Now, just a little math for you, the pistol does 20 damage in close range, while the scattergun does 100, if not more, in close range.

Now, I'm pretty certain that the scattergun fires about a round a second.  I'm also pretty certain that the pistol fires 5 rounds per second (if you do it manually).

This means that the scattergun does around 100 dps, while the pistol does around 100 dps.  So then, what is the difference?

My guess is, if you are taking out a lone person, use your pistol, because you can get the person's gun to refill your ammo, as the pistol only has a total of 48 shots.  But, if it is a crowded place, there wont be much time to do it.

What are your thoughts?

Scatter is better for the hit and run the scout relies on often times

Actually, I think the scattergun shoots about 2 rounds a second.

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depends on how fast you click. i think the maximum is about the speed of the sniper's SMG.

just use your scattergun in close range and your pistol from farther away.
with the pistol, if you miss even one of those 5 shots your dps goes down 20%

and if you're looking at it in the same sense, the pistol only has 12 shots = around 240 damage a clip at close range if you hit every shot.
while the scattergun does 600 per clip without having to reload/switch weapons

just keep to your scattergun and switch to your pistol when you:
are at medium-long range
out of scattergun ammo and you know your target is low on health

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Scattergun, not pistol. If you have a script the pistol actually fires faster then the smg. The scattergun actually fires about 1.6 shots a second if I remeber correctly. In reality, if your aiming your shots its gonna be a little slower. The problem with the pistol at point blank is that yes, it does 21 damage a hit, but alerts your foe after only I shot. The scattergun takes out on average 93 health (range is 80-105) in one shot. Then you can run. Also, its hard as hell to shoot the pistol in close range if your targets dodging. Plus, while the scattergun is fantastic for pointblank the pistol is better at long range so you should save your clip for spamming down people at medium range after scattering them. Valve did a pretty good job of defining their roles and imo the most effecient way to use them is as valve designed.

The scattergun works better for medium range,  and the pistol should be used for long range. They're two different guns you know! No real way to VS them.

I usually run in with the scatter gun, then run off and spam-til-death the survivors with the pistol.

A bit off topic, but how many of you guys have been hit by flares when pistoling pyros? I thought those things were really difficult to aim, but everytime I get out of the range of the flamer and start pistol spaming I catch a flare in the face; dodging doesn't seem to make a difference! Anyone else have this, or am I just unlucky?!

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You are just unlucky. People usually either regard the flare as a nifty tool, or a piece of crap. If someone is using the flare usually means they like it and spent time learning it. Also, they flare isn't that difficult to aim, the syringegun is harder IMO. Then again, you can spam syringes but flares take a while to reload.

back on topic, I usually only use the pistol as a sidearm. Not because it is weak or anything, but because the scout only carries about 36 rounds for the pistol. I usually bat someone after I run out of scattergun rounds.