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I was playing around with weapons load-outs for an Assualt Sargent and I looked at the Grav Pistol/Power Axe combination this came to mind for use against many targets.
The Grav Pistol is a Concussive Weapon, so any Target wound by it is now I1. This give you a chance to at least get a few swings off against a Multi-Wound model with a Power Axe

Thoughts

If you're sending tactical squads against multi-wound 2+ armor squads, you're not doing tactical squads in a reasonable and efficient way. And even if this goes off without a hitch, your T4 1 Wound Sergeant is now the only model in a 5-10 man squad that has an answer to the squad you threw him up against.

Best case scenario, you win the Challenge and then the rest of the squad of puny guys gets killed by the beastly squad you just charged into. Worst Case: they die like the puny squad it is. Either way, you're looking at a combat lost and a 47pt (14pt basic Tactical Marine Sergeant + 30pts of weapons) model being wasted.

Now, I thought about in a Challenge against a boss beasty in with basic squads, like an enemy Captain or Chaos Lord, but you're not going to get that Concussive buff then either. If it were the Squad that dropped to Initiative 1, that'd be something, but it's the model that takes a wound, and Look out Sir and basic squad placement any novice player learns quickly would mean that's unlikely.

My thoughts are definitely a pass, even though I love axes. They are much better suited in the same role as the 'hidden powerfist'. A model that can't get Challenged and just swings at the tail end of combat against a squad.

Note he said assault, not tactical.

Honestly, just as bad. A Vanguard Squad or Honor Guard Squad not-Sergeant with an axe is the only time I have run axes with decent results. My non-Blood Angel ASM have only done anything against either weak squads like Cultists or to break up a backfield shooter like Devestators. I'm more confident with my Blood Angels hitting at I5, but that isn't relevant here.

The concussive pistol and the axe do have some nice synergy. I like the concept of the pairing. I hate the price of the pistol. That sort of investment is to high for a 1W sarge. I also agree that if you need that kind of firepower to take down a target, you are just leading your squad into a meatginder. Assault marines should be zipping around the backfield, slapping soft targets around.

But if you are the kind of person to spend that much on your sergeants, go for it. It’s a good combo, just the wrong place for it IMHO.

I like my 1 W models cheap.

Maybe this is a good choice for a model or two in a Command or VV Squad?

 Anpu42 wrote:
Maybe this is a good choice for a model or two in a Command or VV Squad?

Do these models have more than one wound? If not, then no.

 Anpu42 wrote:
Maybe this is a good choice for a model or two in a Command or VV Squad?

They would be more likely to be tangling with things that require this level of gear. And will also have other guys in the squad who can take the challenge is issued.

Things like this showcase the difference between “effective” and “efficient”. Will it work and does it do what it says on the tin? Yup. Is it worth the points? Questionable, probably not.