I use the needler as well. I got mine as a quest reward as I was nearing the end of chapter 1. Not sure if it was a main quest or planet quest though. Then again, it could be a similar pattern and different name.

I made my other gun with armstech. It looks like some clown gun, but it hits like a Mack truck. believe it or not, it is about 25% longer than that needler, which is massive to begin with.