diff --git a/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.cpp b/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.cpp
index 4d75d319dc..b0cb08bdfb 100644
--- a/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.cpp
+++ b/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.cpp
@@ -416,6 +416,19 @@ void CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::Equip(CBaseCombatCharacter* pOwner)
 
 bool CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::Reload( void )
 {
+	// an empty weapon reloads with its slide held back until the release, where the model has that reload
+	if (UsesClipsForAmmo1() && m_iClip1 <= 0 && SelectWeightedSequence(ACT_VM_RELOAD_EMPTY) != ACTIVITY_NOT_AVAILABLE)
+	{
+		if (!DefaultReload(GetMaxClip1(), GetMaxClip2(), ACT_VM_RELOAD_EMPTY))
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		// others see the reload, as for a reload with rounds left
+		ToHL2MPPlayer(GetOwner())->DoAnimationEvent(PLAYERANIMEVENT_RELOAD);
+		return true;
+	}
+
 	return BaseClass::Reload();
 
 #if(0)
@@ -498,6 +511,16 @@ bool CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::Deploy(void)
 		AddEffects(EF_BONEMERGE);
 		m_bTriggerReset = true;
 
+		// An empty weapon draws with its slide held back where the model has that draw,
+		// which carries no activity, so it is picked by name
+		static constexpr const char *VM_SEQ_DRAW_EMPTY = "drawempty";
+		const int iDrawEmpty = (UsesClipsForAmmo1() && m_iClip1 <= 0) ? LookupSequence(VM_SEQ_DRAW_EMPTY) : ACTIVITY_NOT_AVAILABLE;
+		if (iDrawEmpty != ACTIVITY_NOT_AVAILABLE)
+		{
+			SetSequence(iDrawEmpty);
+			SendViewModelAnim(iDrawEmpty);
+		}
+
 #ifdef DEBUG
 		CNEO_Player* pOwner = NULL;
 		if (GetOwner())
@@ -941,6 +964,22 @@ void CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::DryFire()
 	m_flNextPrimaryAttack = gpGlobals->curtime + GetFastestDryRefireTime(); // SequenceDuration();
 }
 
+// An empty weapon idles on its empty sequence where the model has one, such as a pistol with its slide held back
+bool CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::SendWeaponAnim(int iActivity)
+{
+	if (iActivity == ACT_VM_IDLE && UsesClipsForAmmo1() && m_iClip1 <= 0 && HasEmptyIdle())
+	{
+		iActivity = ACT_VM_IDLE_EMPTY;
+	}
+
+	return BaseClass::SendWeaponAnim(iActivity);
+}
+
+bool CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::HasEmptyIdle()
+{
+	return SelectWeightedSequence(ACT_VM_IDLE_EMPTY) != ACTIVITY_NOT_AVAILABLE;
+}
+
 void CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::PrimaryAttack(void)
 {
 	if (ShootingIsPrevented())
@@ -1019,8 +1058,6 @@ void CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::PrimaryAttack(void)
 #endif // GAME_DLL
 	}
 
-	SendWeaponAnim(GetPrimaryAttackActivity());
-	SetWeaponIdleTime(gpGlobals->curtime + 2.0);
 	if (IsSemiAuto())
 	{
 		m_bTriggerReset = false;
@@ -1064,6 +1101,22 @@ void CNEOBaseCombatWeapon::PrimaryAttack(void)
 		m_iPrimaryAmmoCount -= info.m_iShots;
 	}
 
+	// the last round's shot locks a pistol's slide back:
+	// the pistols' dry fire sequence is a shot's kick with the slide held back,
+	static constexpr NEO_WEP_BITS_UNDERLYING_TYPE NEO_WEP_SLIDE_LOCK = NEO_WEP_MILSO | NEO_WEP_TACHI;
+	if (UsesClipsForAmmo1() && m_iClip1 <= 0 && (GetNeoWepBits() & NEO_WEP_SLIDE_LOCK))
+	{
+		SendWeaponAnim(ACT_VM_DRYFIRE);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		SendWeaponAnim(GetPrimaryAttackActivity());
+	}
+
+	// and goes straight on to the empty idle when it ends
+	const bool bEmptyIdleNext = UsesClipsForAmmo1() && m_iClip1 <= 0 && HasEmptyIdle();
+	SetWeaponIdleTime(gpGlobals->curtime + (bEmptyIdleNext ? SequenceDuration() : 2.0));
+
 	info.m_flDistance = MAX_TRACE_LENGTH;
 	info.m_iAmmoType = m_iPrimaryAmmoType;
 	info.m_iTracerFreq = UsesTracers() ? 1 : 0;
diff --git a/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.h b/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.h
index b8a0afbefa..c3899d4ddc 100644
--- a/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.h
+++ b/src/game/shared/neo/weapons/weapon_neobasecombatweapon.h
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ class CNEOBaseCombatWeapon : public CBaseHL2MPCombatWeapon
 #endif
 
 	virtual void DryFire(void);
+	virtual bool SendWeaponAnim(int iActivity) override;
 
 	virtual Activity GetPrimaryAttackActivity(void) override;
 #ifdef CLIENT_DLL
@@ -292,6 +293,7 @@ class CNEOBaseCombatWeapon : public CBaseHL2MPCombatWeapon
 
 private:
 	CNEOBaseCombatWeapon(const CNEOBaseCombatWeapon &other);
+	bool HasEmptyIdle();
 
 };