Is anyone really digging the smart pistol? It's my second go-to loadout after the shotgun. In a 1 versus 1 situation where the opponent has noticed a smart pistol user before lock-on begins occurring, that's usually a loss. But when you play sneaky as fuck? It's a powerhouse. It's best to get the drop on the enemy so I pair it with the unlock that accelerates the lock stages, use arc grenades, and go with radar pulse rather than cloak or stim.
It ends up being a complete riot sometimes. I've absolutely rocked in pilot hunter this way. The loadout is easily one of the most effective in CTF when a pilot is carrying the flag too.