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Hi, quick clarification. I have seen in multiple batreps that while engaged in combat, units with a 'pistol' are allowed to fire on 6 at the unit they are fighting. And in other batreps I see they do not. Please clarify to me if this is allowed or not. Thanks!

Per the rule book it reads:

A model can fire a pistol even if there are enemy units within 1" of its own unit, but it must target the closest enemy unit. In such circumstances, the model can shoot its pistol even if other friendly units are within 1" of the same enemy unit.

So does this rule mean, you are allowed to fire at full BS while in combat, or while disengaged but within an inch of an enemy unit. Also is this a substitute to you swinging at the enemy in assault phase.

 Echo0455 wrote:
Hi, quick clarification. I have seen in multiple batreps that while engaged in combat, units with a 'pistol' are allowed to fire on 6 at the unit they are fighting. And in other batreps I see they do not. Please clarify to me if this is allowed or not. Thanks!

No idea where they're getting the hitting on 6s from, but if you pretend that the rules work the way they are "meant" to (see my sig), then units within 1" of an enemy can fire pistols at units they are within 1" of, at full Ballistic Skill.

The reason you're seeing batreps where they don't fire their pistols in combat is because it's generally worthless to do so, it just wastes time.

 BaconCatBug wrote:

 Echo0455 wrote:
Hi, quick clarification. I have seen in multiple batreps that while engaged in combat, units with a 'pistol' are allowed to fire on 6 at the unit they are fighting. And in other batreps I see they do not. Please clarify to me if this is allowed or not. Thanks!

No idea where they're getting the hitting on 6s from, but if you pretend that the rules work the way they are "meant" to (see my sig), then units within 1" of an enemy can fire pistols at units they are within 1" of, at full Ballistic Skill.

The reason you're seeing batreps where they don't fire their pistols in combat is because it's generally worthless to do so, it just wastes time.

Great thanks

 Echo0455 wrote:
Also is this a substitute to you swinging at the enemy in assault phase.

To answer this question, it's not a subsitute, it has nothing to do with the Fight Phase. You shoot them in your own shooting phase like any other weapons. Another reason why (at least basic ones like bolt or las) pistols are close to useless now, because instead of giving you two extra attacks per battle round (as they did in previous editions where they could grant +1 attack), it's only 1.