I can't seem to find any use for pistols. My original idea was to use them as sidearms for snipers, but I've never got to any situation where it seemed necessary to use them (not even after 4 alien base assaults - but that's mainly because the aliens all camp in the command room so you can easily shoot them with precision rifles and rocket launchers - my favourite backup weapon for my snipers ). On the other hand, the sole reason I used laser/plasma pistols in the original game was the need to research them first combined with their superiority over basic rifles.
Do you manufacture higher tier pistols? Do you have any use for them or ideas where to use them? They all look so cool and it's shame that you have no reason to ever use them.