It really just comes down to how hard your willing to try to be better than an Auto rifle user, or atleast that how it works for me. I get the greatest level of satisfaction scoring above anyone else in a crucible game where as I'm using a hand cannon and their all using Auto Rifles although I have noticed a pick up in Pulse Rifles lately. Ultimately no one can deny the Auto Rifle is the dominant pvp weapon choice next to a Shotgun or Fusion rifle. (I was once an AR user but I'm permanently abandoning that weapon in pvp now)