It makes absolute sense, I'm not talking shooting, but actual gun handling. Those hallways are narrow, and he is way too close, and his rifle is down, and sometimes cross body. If the black dude wanted to, he could have grabbed it and used it as a fulcrum, pushed up on him and launched a counter, etc...... Many times, Blaha was running right out his front door doing this.
While he'd probably still screw up the distances, a pistol would allow you to angle your body more efficiently, and keep the gun low and tight. A simple flick of the wrist would have it up, and from there you can point shoot, etc.....
Again, much of this is complete misinformation and incorrect. Pistols suck in comparison to rifles. Pistols are okay at best for threat suppression. Rifles on the other hand are highly effective. As for close quarter combat, if a pistol is a superior platform, then why do SWAT, SEAL and pretty much all Military use rifles instead of pistols for close quarters? I'll give you a hint, their pistols are backup weapons. Again, pistols suck in comparison to rifles.
If I have my choice between a rifle or pistol for home defense, I will choose the rifle every time. If I have my choice between shotgun or rifle for home defense, I will choose the shotgun. I can't think of any situation that I would choose a pistol, except for concealed carry or backup weapon. Blabla's choice of the rifle is correct for home defense.
None of this has anything to do with Blabla's rifle handling skills. I agree, he sucks in that dept.