And now, because I get way too obsessed over the gear in this game and I feel like I should just have something to reference next time instead of reading through all the books to find the perfect gun, here is an analysis of every firearm in Shadowrun 5th Edition.
ASSAULT RIFLES
Ares Alpha
Core
The golden boy of the assault rifle category. Other guns are more accurate, others have deeper magazines, others even have some of that lovely integral recoil compensation, but no other gun has everything. The Alpha is the workhorse of any automatics-focused gunslinger, one that you can buy and run with out of the box without necessarily needing to spend time and money on customization. It’s already got a smartgun system, it’s already got an underslung grenade launcher, it can do everything from semi- to full-auto, it’s got plenty of bullets in the mag, it’s got inherent recoil comp that you can stack further recoil comp on top of if you’ve got the cash to spare for gas venting and stock modifications…you just can’t get better than this. Grade fucking A weapon, from everyone’s favorite weapons corp.
While the gun itself is beautiful, there are two minor issues to keep in mind when owning one as a shadowrunner. First off, it’s the most expensive assault rifle, as befitting its status as a top-shelf Ares weapon. Second, and this is a problem shared with many other rifles, it’s illegal as fuck, and difficult to hide. If you’re using an Alpha make sure you’ve got good security where you’re keeping it, because the local gangers are going to know that you won’t be able to report the theft of your very expensive weapon to the police. Those concerns aside, the Alpha is what we’re going to be comparing every other weapon of its class to, because if you think you’re going to see enough heavy combat to require an assault rifle then you’re going to need a damn good reason to risk your life with anything less than the best. And make no mistake, the Alpha is the best.
AK-97
Core
Durable as fuck baseline rifle, and a damn fine selection if you just want something to throw lead when you pull the trigger. If your local gangers are on top of their game, then they’ve probably got a couple crates of these for when they need to get serious with someone, and every local militia in the world uses them as the tools of the revolution. That common nature means they’re less likely to get traced back to you after a run, which might be something to consider. Strap a smartlink to the top, add a foregrip and a shock pad, and you’ve got something almost as good as a factory-model Alpha for less than half the cost. It is also–rarely for an assault rifle–restricted rather than forbidden, so as long as you have the right (fake) license you won’t get arrested just for owning one. In short, I consider this to be the go-to gun for people who need a big plan B piece but don’t see combat as a full-time job. The Alpha is still better in many ways, but the AK-97 will get the job done.
AK-98
Run & Gun
Same line as the AK-97, except for those people who need a little more excitement in their lives. In addition to having an underslung grenade launcher, the 98 model is right back to being illegal even with a license, so you lose some of that protection from legal scrutiny that an AK usually buys you. The grenade launcher is also wildly inaccurate, but that won’t matter as much if you get a smartlink, or if you load it with gas grenades instead of more permanent solutions. Drop in some pepper punch grenades and load up with stick-n-shock or gel rounds, and you’ve got a nice little riot control weapon.
If you want a grenade launcher that badly, though, just get an Alpha already.
Colt M23
Core
The M23 is cheap, and you get what you pay for. That’s about all that can be said for it. A decently-sized magazine and ready availability are the only things that might commend it to your average runner, that and the cost. I would not recommend using this on anything other than drones unless you go and mod it heavily–add in some gas venting and a smartgun system, and the M23 begins to resemble an actual firearm. Even then, though, the AK-97 is a much better option on the cheaper market.
If your local gangbangers are less well-off, but you still live in a seriously dangerous area where they need to be heavily armed or get trampled under, expect to see some of these around the neighborhood. Be careful around them. A shitty gun in inexperienced hands can still kill you if they send enough bullets your way.
FN HAR
Core
The HAR is, essentially, the upscale corporate counterpart to the AK-97. This gun is more often faced by shadowrunners than used, as it’s a perennial favorite of security response teams. The included gas venting and laser sight make it easy to use without being expensive, which is exactly what the corps want for their expendable goon squads. If you want to use one of these yourself you’ll be able to refill your ammo supply from fallen sec troopers, or blend in as one if you have the right uniform. Just remember to ditch any spare magazines you pick up from dropped security weapons before you leave the facility–they’ve probably got RFID tags in ‘em. This gun can work for you for the same reason it works for corpsec: it’s decently cheap and easy to handle, while still hitting almost as hard as an Alpha.
Yamaha Raiden
Core
Now, here’s a gun that can give the Alpha a run for its money. It’s got less inherent recoil compensation and can’t fire semi-auto, but better accuracy and a whopping sixty-round magazine. This is the weapon of choice for the burstfire maverick, someone who has the skill to make use of that excellent accuracy. Be sure to mod some recoil compensation into it, but if you do that it’s hard to find better than this gun. The Raiden’s only real problem is that it’s just as illegal as the Alpha, and rarer–you won’t be starting with this beauty.
Nissan Optimum II
Run & Gun
This is an older model, and it shows. The Optimum II has got the same accuracy as the Alpha and the same built-in smartlink, but hits in a lower weight class and carries less ammo in the mag. The included shock pad on the stock is a nice touch, but those cost a pittance to buy yourself and you can throw one on the Alpha for the same effect. The one interesting feature the Optimum brings to the table is the underbarrel shotgun, which is useful if you’re one of those types who likes to be able to switch between different ammo types at the drop of a hat–load the shotgun with gel rounds and the rifle clip with APDS and you’ve got a nice multipurpose tool. That said, the high price and rarity of this piece mean you’re probably better off picking up something that can give you more bang for your buck, unless you need to impersonate an Imperial Japanese Marine for some reason.
HK XM30
Run & Gun
For the asshole who can’t make up his mind, we bring you this fine German masterpiece in indecision. The XM30 assault rifle can also be turned into three other guns, two of which–the LMG and sniper variants–use different skills than the base gun (Heavy Weapons and Longarms, specifically). Accuracy is decent across the board, if somewhat weak for a sniper rifle, and damage is universally low, which plays to operators with higher weapons skill–which kind of sucks for you, considering you need to have multiple firearms skills in order to use the different configurations. The ability to fit either an underbarrel grenade launcher or shotgun to any of the different builds is a nice touch, and might possibly redeem this weapon for someone looking for something they can customize precisely to their specifications, but otherwise you’ll probably want to pass on this one. H&K have made a weapon that you have to have a lot of different skills to use, and which underperforms in almost every one of its intended roles. On the plus side, you only have to install customizations once, which makes logistics easier if you want to develop a collection of different weapons for different roles. Also, if viewed strictly as a submachine gun, the carbine variant might actually be worth the money if you can argue that it has the same concealability as the SMG class. It’s got higher damage and armor penetration than any of the pure submachine guns, though the magazine size isn’t anything to write home about. Keep this hidden under a longcoat and you’ve got a nice surprise for when you need to go loud.
Ares HVAR
Run & Gun
For when you need to make people keep their fucking heads down. Ares’ High Velocity Assault Rifle has a combination of high inherent recoil reduction and a sizable magazine meant to encourage operators to flip the fire selector to rock-and-roll and never let it up. And you’re going to need that full-auto ability on this one, because the HVAR also has the lowest damage of the assault rifle class. That, and the lack of ability to take barrel modifications, puts the HVAR in a definite niche category, with better options available for almost every purpose. If all you want is two full turns of suppressive fire, look no further; for a reliable means of making the opposition drop in a more permanent way, keep moving.
That said, the HVAR is a very nice weapon for people for whom combat is a side job. Your decker or rigger who still wants to be effective in combat, though perhaps not as effective as a dedicated street sam. What Ares’ high-velocity toy lacks in weight it makes up for in its ability to throw absolute piles of lead downrange, and for someone who isn’t likely going to be strong enough to handle heavy recoil without help from gun mods the HVAR’s extensive built-in compensation is a godsend. Those full-auto bursts make up for the lack of skill in the average HVAR user, keeping them competitive in a firefight.
Shiawase Arms Monsoon
Gun H(e)aven 3
This is a weird one. Technically speaking, it’s got a staggeringly-large capacity of one-hundred-twenty rounds at its disposal, but those are split between six different barrels instead of one clip, which makes reloading a pain in the ass. Its penetration is weak for a rifle, and it can’t burstfire–semi-auto or full-on full-auto only, which limits you to extremes. For all that it’s pretty cheap for what that nuyen gets you, and it’s certainly not flat-out bad. Just strange. Use suppressive fire liberally and remember to aim between long bursts, and it’ll work out fine.
Also, as this fine gentleman on Reddit pointed out, you can keep different ammo types in each barrel. With six barrels of twenty rounds each, that’s quite a spread you could get going there. I’d suggest half APDS and half stick-n-shock, but with that many barrels you could also get some of the more conditional ammo types as well–a barrel each of AV rounds and flechettes would be great additions.
Colt Inception
Gun H(e)aven 3
For the discerning marksman. The Inception has excellent accuracy made better with a built-in laser sight, less armor penetration than you might wish but some built-in recoil comp and a halfway decent magazine size. It’s also legal to own, which for a weapon of this caliber is unexpected. The lack of full-auto makes this more of a DMR than a full assault rifle, but it’s not bad at all in that role, if that’s what you’re looking for. The lack of automatic fire makes it less versatile than the competition, but it’s a respectable tool for someone with the high skills needed to take advantage of its accuracy.
Krupp Arms Kriegfaust
Gun H(e)aven 3
This thing is trying to be a marksman rifle, and not doing it quite as well as the Inception. While it does have higher accuracy and a nice scope, it also carries fewer bullets (in a drum instead of a box magazine, for some fucking reason) and hits for less damage. The ad copy claims that it uses reinforced materials and high-caliber bullets, but the stats do not back that claim up. It’s relatively cheap, but still more expensive than some guns that, except for that beautifully high accuracy, are much better. For the same price you could buy yourself an AK and some mods, and save yourself a whole lot of pain later on when someone you’re trying to put down gets back up again.
SBd-44
Gun H(e)aven 3
Don’t make me laugh.
Also, don’t buy this gun. The fact that it’s cheaper than most pistols should be warning enough, but just in case you decide to commit suicide by walking into a fight with this, know the accuracy is garbage, as is the magazine and penetration. Absolutely no attempt has been made to make this damn piece usable by compensating for recoil, and while the damage is decent you’re not going to be putting enough rounds on target for that to matter. This might be good mounted on a cheap suicide drone–slap it on a Crawler and you’ve got a 7000-nuyen creep capable of autofire, which ain’t a bad price for a combat bot–but under no circumstances should you put one in metahuman hands, unless those hands belong to someone you really don’t like.
Ultimax Rain Forest Carbine
Gun H(e)aven 3
Despite being called a carbine, the Ultimax RFC is basically a short-range, extremely cheap sniper rifle. This beauty comes with exceptional accuracy, a very nice scope, high-caliber damage and armor penetration and a respectable clip size for a semi-automatic weapon. If it weren’t semi-auto only, I’d be advising everyone to get this thing. If you’re skilled enough that losing the ability to burst-fire doesn’t matter to you, then by all means buy this gun, because anything that gets hit by it is fucking paste.
EDIT: It has been pointed out to me that the stats for the RF Carbine in Gun H(e)aven 3 are changed in the errata for Shadowrun Missions. Normally I consider Missions-specific errata to be optional rather than required, but the stats listed there for the Carbine make a hell of a lot more sense than the ones in the book, turning it from an extremely powerful rifle to a weapon that, while still hitting hard and shooting reasonably straight, isn’t quite the giant looming over its fellows that it used to be. If you’re using the Missions stats (and you probably should), pick up a Carbine if you want a burst-fire rifle that you can still legally own. If you aren’t concerned with the law, though, get an Alpha instead–it’s better, and also cheaper.
SUBMACHINE GUNS
Colt Cobra TZ-120
Core
The Cobra plays the FN HAR’s role in the submachine gun class, being the perfect combination of easy to handle and cheap that corps love for their security services. Colt’s flagship SMG isn’t especially stellar in any specific category, but it’s got all the functionality you really need right out of the box. Pick up a Cobra if you don’t want to have to mod your gun, but still want a good piece.
FN P93 Praetor
Core
This baby is the king of the SMG class, or at least king of the ones you can start the game with. It’s illegal to own, since it was designed for use specifically by Interpol agents, a detail which will likely make you easier to track down if you’re using it. If you’re careful about covering your tracks, however, the Praetor has got good accuracy, decent damage and inherent recoil compensation that can be boosted with a few judicious mod choices. If you’re picking up one of these, take the time to mod it, and treat it well, because this is a very nice gun. Its only downside is that it doesn’t come with an integrated smartgun system, instead packing a built-in flashlight, which is an odd choice for an otherwise very advanced weapon.
HK 227
Core
A smart and respectable choice, if a little low on ammo for a weapon capable of full-auto fire. It doesn’t have the best stats, being one of the lower-damage SMGs and with only average accuracy, but it does come with a smartgun system and a sound suppressor, which helps keep it competitive. Definitely a professional choice, if not a stellar one.
Ingram Smartgun X
Core
The Smartgun X is for all your spray and pray needs. This weapon can’t go below burst-fire, and the magazine isn’t particularly deep, so don’t carry it into an extended firefight, but for most everyday uses the integral smartlink, suppressor and recoil comp make it an easily-handled and effective weapon. It’s not the most accurate gun in the world without the aid of the smartlink, so be careful of hackers.
SCK Model 100
Core
A decent, professional weapon with good stats all around, but nothing particularly special. Solid accuracy, nice damage and a bit of recoil comp with the stock, with the standard small SMG magazine made less onerous by the fact that it can’t do full-auto fire. That same lack makes the Model 100 more for highly-skilled professionals than someone just wants to be able to contribute in a firefight.
Uzi IV
Core
This old-school submachine gun’s only real virtue is its cheapness. Damage is low, accuracy is low (if helped by the included laser sight), and it can only do burst-fire. Frankly, I can’t see a reason for someone to get this gun. Someone looking for a cheap automatic would be better served by a machine pistol.
Ares Executioner
Run & Gun
This would be a professional, solid choice for an SMG even if it couldn’t turn into a briefcase at the touch of a button. The folding stock and suppressor mean it’s quiet and easy to handle, and while the damage, accuracy and magazine aren’t really anything special they’re certainly good enough for work against people who aren’t expecting you to be armed, which is sort of the point. If you have the money to spare for this admittedly expensive toy, and you often work in corporate environments where you need to sneak in a gun, this is something you might want to pick up and keep in your back pocket. You probably won’t ever need it, but if you do you’ll be damn glad to have it.
HK Urban Combat
Run & Gun
Remember when I said that the Praetor was the king of the SMG class? That’s only because you can’t get the Urban Combat at character generation without taking a Restricted Gear quality. This piece is slick as fuck, with the highest accuracy of the SMG class, some fat heavy hitters in a deeper than usual magazine, and hydraulic recoil comp. And, best of all, this thing doesn’t pop on MAD scanners at all, so if you have a nice coat to hide it under–a Mortimer of London overcoat, perhaps, or a simple lined coat–you can bring this baby right the fuck through security. The downside to this lovely feature is that it can’t take any further modifications, which means your average runner isn’t likely to make much use of the full-auto feature. Also, it costs almost as much as an Alpha assault rifle. But if you can afford it–and if you can find one–this is the most useful tool you’ll find in the submachine gun category.
Krime Spree
Gun H(e)aven 3
I’m honestly not sure who, exactly, this gun is meant for. It’s marketed to metahuman shooters such as orcs and trolls, and frankly in my mind offering such a shitty weapon to that particular market makes Krime seem kind of racist. Its one virtue is the inherent recoil compensation, and the fact that it costs very little of your precious nuyen–but much like with the Uzi IV, if you’re looking for a cheap automatic you’d be better served by a machine pistol than this rust collector.
Ares Sigma-3
Gun H(e)aven 3
Ares is, for the most part, my favorite weapons manufacturer. If you see their name on something then you can be guaranteed that it will be, if not top of its class, then at least very close. The Sigma-3 is a small exception to that rule. It’s not bad, mind you, just confusing. It’s an SMG that’s trying to be an assault rifle, which I guess isn’t that surprising coming from Ares, with a drum magazine that I can’t help but feel would just make the damn thing harder to hide, thus negating the main reason to get a submachine gun instead of a rifle. It does hit respectably hard, for what it’s worth, and that drum mag certainly won’t run empty on you, and it does have a lot of fancy features out of the box including a powered slide mount to make it easier to modify to your own tastes, but I can’t shake the feeling that if you want what the Sigma-3 is trying to offer you should just buy yourself a Kalashnikov.
This is a weapon that seems good, that I really want to be good, but I just can’t figure out a role for.
Cavalier Arms Gladius
Gun H(e)aven 3
Much like the Krime Spree, this is a cheapass SMG with shit accuracy but an inexplicable point of inherent recoil comp. Unlike the Krime Spree, the Gladius has a laser sight to help compensate for the shittyness of the weapon, can be toggled to burst-fire, and has a collapsible stock to help deal with the recoil. It’s a better weapon than the Spree that is also cheaper than Krime’s weirdly racist model, so if you just want something that will put bullets down range without actually hitting a damn thing, I guess you could do worse. Ain’t that a glowing recommendation.
Seriously though, if you’re considering this thing, just buy a Steyr TMP or Black Scorpion machine pistol instead.
MACHINE PISTOLS
Ares Crusader II
Core
The Crusader II would be the first and only choice I would recommend to your attention if it weren’t so expensive. For your money you do get a very fine weapon, make no mistake, with high accuracy boosted by an internal smartgun system, gas venting to deal with recoil, and a hilariously large magazine size for a weapon that can’t go full-auto; but unless you make heinous mistakes that by all rights should end in your death, you shouldn’t ever need to fire forty rounds from a fucking machine pistol, and there are options that are flat-out better if you take the time to mod them. Still, if you’re willing to spend the money and don’t want to have to customize your piece, the Crusader does handle very well out of the box, and will serve as an excellent hidden gun for all those times you can’t carry your Alpha around with you.
Ceska Black Scorpion
Core
This gun is cheap, and that’s about all I can say. It’s basically a light pistol that can burst-fire and has a stock. If that’s what you’re looking for, by all means, get yourself a Scorpion. At least you won’t have broken the bank on it. Just don’t rely on it for anything more dangerous than threatening gangers with.
Steyer TMP
Core
The cheapest full-auto weapon that will fit in one hand. Not that you’ll ever want to use that full-auto capability without adding some way of compensating for recoil, but still. If you want an emergency backup piece, there are worse options–at the very least you can use it for suppressive fire while everyone else breaks for the door.
PPSK-4 Collapsible Machine Pistol
Run & Gun
If you can get it, this is the machine pistol you want to have. The whole point of this class of weapons is to have something concealable that’s a little heavier than a pistol, and boy does this one deliver on that promise. It is mad expensive, but worth every red nuyen. It folds up into a little box that has better concealability than a holdout pistol with much better accuracy, burst-fire and a wonderfully deep magazine. When you finally have the money to start upgrading from your starter kit, a PPSK-4 should be at the top of your spy toys shopping list.
Onotari Arms Equalizer
Run & Gun
An otherwise perfectly serviceable machine pistol with a magazine capacity that, at first glance, looks like either a typo or a bad joke. It’s got higher damage than most, making it not bad for a quick spray-and-pray, but for the same price you can get something that won’t run empty the first time you pull the trigger. Your call on whether or not the damage is worth shooting your load in the first round of the fight.
Ultimax 70
Run & Gun
Better than the Equalizer, but only barely, and holy shit people, who thought that a full-auto weapon with a fifteen round magazine was a good idea? Goddamn. Like the Equalizer, the Ultimax 70 can’t flip over to semi-auto, so you’ve got at best five pulls of the trigger before you run dry. If that’s not a problem for you–and if you use this as a backup or emergency piece, I guess it shouldn’t be–it does have nice accuracy and handling.
Fianchetti Military 100
Gun H(e)aven 3
Like the Equalizer and Ultimax 70, the Military 100 is a full-auto-capable weapon with a very low ammo capacity. It’s high enough to be useful, though, and it does have a semi-auto mode that the other two lack, so of the three it’s the one that I would be most comfortable recommending. If you really need to have a full-auto machine pistol, I’d seriously consider getting a basic TMP instead of this, unless you feel that you need a cooler-looking pistol. The Military 100 is basically the gun from Robocop, so at least you’ll look intimidating with it.
Cavalier Evanator
Gun H(e)aven 3
A Military 100 without the semi-auto option or smartlink, for seventy-five nuyen less. It does have recoil compensation, and a decent enough accuracy with the built-in laser sight, so I don’t feel all that bad recommending it, and it’s a clear sight better than either the Equalizer or Ultimax 70. If you expect to do serious work with your machine pistol, there are certainly worse options, though I’d like to make it clear that this is by no means the best or even second best one. The magazine size remains low, but that shouldn’t matter if you stick to three-round bursts, and it’s nice to have the option for suppressive fire (even if that would take the entire magazine). If you really want this gun, by all means, use it, but otherwise a Military 100 does everything it does just a little bit better, with the minor exception of recoil compensation.
Remington Suppressor
Gun H(e)aven 3
This is my favorite of the machine pistols, despite the tiny magazine size. The fact that you can’t use full-auto on this thing makes the fifteen-round mag not matter as much, and I feel the high accuracy, built in suppressor and high-caliber rounds more than make up for it in any case. With a little recoil modification and an attached smartlink, this gun is the best packet of concealable automatic firepower that money can buy.
HOLDOUT PISTOLS
Fichetti Tiffani Needler
Core
The most expensive holdout pistol, the Needler isn’t a bad choice by any means, especially if you want something that will match a disguise–a Needler found in the pocket or purse of an executive raises less eyebrows than a different weapon might. This thing can only fire flechettes, which makes it less than useful against hard targets, but if you’re down to a holdout pistol in the face of armored opposition you’re fucked anyway, so it’s hard to argue that the Needler’s lack of penetration would make much of a difference either way. Its main problem is the cost, which is really fucking high for the dinky little pocket-shotgun that it is.
Streetline Special
Core
If you don’t want to spend the cash on a Needler, the Special is likely what you’ll be carrying in that ankle holster of yours. This gun is harder to detect on MAD scanners, making it more likely to get through security with you, and the six-round magazine is the largest of any holdout pistol. It’s hella cheap, too. This is my personal favorite option in the holdout category. No frills gutter-trash junk, but it’ll come as a surprise and that’s what counts.
Walther Palm Pistol
Core
The one-shot wonder. This tiny over-under derringer only holds two bullets, which can both be fired at once if you so choose. It packs a bigger punch than other holdouts, but you’d best be damn sure that you drop whatever you’re firing it at on the first try. Or buy more than one. They’re not quite as cheap as the Streetline Special, but the Palm Pistol ain’t about to break the bank.
Fichetti Tiffani Self-Defender 2075
Run & Gun
This is for when you need a gun that will blend in with the fashionable crowd, but you can’t afford a Needler. It looks pretty, but so far as shooting goes you’d be better off throwing rocks.
Colt New Model Revolver
Gun H(e)aven 3
Very accurate, especially for a holdout, and more bullets than usual for this category, but unfortunately that comes with a smaller caliber of round. In the hands of someone highly skilled enough to take advantage of its accuracy the New Model Revolver could be a beautiful surprise. If you get this, you’ll probably want to ignore it’s normal ammo in favor of capsule rounds filled with toxins. DMSO mixed with narcoject is the usual favorite, but pepper punch will do in a pinch, and is actually cheaper than normal bullets to boot.
LIGHT PISTOLS
Ares Light Fire 75
Core
This is a covert ops tool, and a damn fine one. The integrated silencer is better than the stock models you can get for other guns, the clip size is good, accuracy is high (though that tends to be the case for light pistols), and it comes with a smartlink. The only real downsides to this gun are the price and the illegality–otherwise, I’d be suggesting everyone who can use pistols buy one. If you’ve got the money and feel like you might need to assassinate someone, the Light Fire is a damn fine option.
Ares Light Fire 70
Core
A Light Fire 75 without the smartlink, and slightly more accuracy for some reason. You can still get the improved Light Fire silencer for this piece, though it costs extra, so you might want to consider this if you don’t care about the tech bonuses from the smartlink and want something that you can legally own.
Beretta 201T
Core
A solid option with a large magazine size and a burst-fire mode. If you’re willing to spend a little more money there are better options available, but this certainly isn’t a bad one, especially if you have worries about ammo capacity. It’s one of those guns where you’re probably not going to need extra magazines, so that’s one less thing to worry about carrying around.
Colt America L36
Core
This is the average handgun. Accurate enough, hits harder than the Light Fire and 201T, and a small magazine that doesn’t matter as much because it’s only got a semi-auto mode. It’s also remarkably common, so if you want a weapon you can throw into the ocean after a murder, or one that won’t be commented on by the cops, this is what you want. It’s almost worth picking one up to wear openly so that people don’t look a little deeper and see that you’re packing something heavier as well.
Fichetti Security 600
Core
This is a security weapon, with the usual laser sight and folding stock meant to make it easier for poorly-trained guards to handle. It also has a magnificently deep magazine, sporting thirty rounds in a semi-auto weapon that will never burn through it all in one firefight. It’s also one of the more expensive options, but lets get real for a moment–these are light pistol prices we’re talking about. You can afford it. If you want something that will be effective right out of the box without customization, and which you won’t ever have to reload in the middle of a fight, the Security 600 is your baby. Stick it in a pocket and forget about having to carry spare magazines.
Taurus Omni-6
Core
This one ain’t bad if you want a little more bang for your buck. It’s a revolver, so your semi-auto specializations won’t apply, and if you’re firing the option it has for larger-caliber bullets you won’t be doing any semi-auto bursts–not that you would want to anyway, at that ammo capacity. It’s not a bad gun, overall, but frankly there are better specialized options available.
Fichetti Executive Action
Run & Gun
Burst-fire-capable pain in a small package, but with no recoil compensation and no accuracy aids. Despite its flaws the Executive Action remains a very nice pistol, mostly because the errata removes the need to spend a complex action on burst-fire. It is, essentially, a cheap and more easily-concealed machine pistol, perfect for the pistoleer who wants a little more power to play with. Just remember to put some recoil compensation on it–a folding stock or gas venting wouldn’t go amiss.
Shiawase Arms Puzzler
Run & Gun
Stat-wise, the Puzzler isn’t really anything special. It’s the fact that you can disassemble it into pieces that don’t look like weapon parts that’s the selling point, allowing you to sneak it in pretty much anywhere. With low accuracy and damage, the Puzzler isn’t going to last you for long in a real firefight, but it might be enough to plug someone who has an actual gun that you can take, or drop the target of a wetwork job. If you don’t have the Armorer skill you’re likely going to struggle with reassembling it, but if you do then this is a nice little spy toy for your kit.
Nitama Sporter
Run & Gun
This piece is actually pretty nice, despite getting made fun of in the shadowtalk entry under its description. It’s got longer range and better accuracy than other pistols in its class, and a sizable magazine. It doesn’t exactly hit for much, but if you’ve got the skills to take advantage of the accuracy this is a pretty good choice for a sidearm.
Colt Agent Special
Gun H(e)aven 3
Clean and simple killing power. The Agent Special is for when you absolutely need to be sure that you’ll make one target very dead in the time it takes them to realize you’ve got a gun. Those high-caliber rounds come at a cost, however, with lower accuracy than the rest of its class, a tiny eight-round magazine and an aggressive drop-off in effectiveness at range. It might be worth it, though, to be able to hit like a heavy pistol with such a small package. Like the name says, this is for when you’re operating like an agent, at close range and with surprise.
HEAVY PISTOLS
Ares Predator V
Core
Everyone loves the classics. The latest model in the Predator line has the usual inherent smartlink, high-caliber rounds, nice ammo capacity and high price tag–all marks of fine Ares craftsmanship. No recoil compensation to speak of, but that’s standard for heavy pistols. Just remember to take the time to aim and you’ll do fine with this one.
Ares Viper Slivergun
Core
A sleek, powerful weapon with burst-fire capability making up for poor accuracy. The magazine size is something I’d expect to see on a light pistol or automatic, and should keep you going for a while without having to reload. If you don’t mind being a little less effective against hard targets, this is a very practical option, though I’d suggest adding a smartgun system to it. It’s cheap enough to get an internal one built in without too much hassle. It’s cheap, period, actually, especially for what it gives you. The Slivergun is probably the best bang for your buck in the heavy pistols category.
Browning Ultra-Power
Core
Get this if you can’t afford a Predator, or if you don’t have a smartlink. Otherwise, ignore it. It’s an older model, and it’s starting to show its age.
Colt Government 2066
Core
Reliable, very accurate heavy pistol. It doesn’t come with a smartlink and doesn’t hit as hard as the rest of the heavy pistols, but it’s also reasonably cheap, and otherwise performs just as well as the Predator V. If you want a semi-auto .45 and want to avoid the commonality of the Predator line, I’d go with the Government 2066 instead of the Browning Ultra-Power. It’s a nice little piece, which you could make better by adding on a smartlink and maybe a touch of recoil compensation. It’s modeled after the classic 1911 handgun, which means it looks good as well.
Remington Roomsweeper
Core
This is a ganger’s gun, not a professional’s. If that’s the vibe you’re looking for, by all means, pick up a Roomsweeper–it’s certainly cheap, and firing shot from it gives you rock-solid close-range burst damage. Its ability to adjust the choke means you also have some options if people are dodging your shots. Just don’t be surprised if you run out of ammo in the middle of the fight.
Ruger Super Warhawk
Core
This is the fuck you gun. This is Dirty Harry, Hellboy, and every wild west gun bunny that ever made it into legend. This is chrome and blood and the sound that means you’ll never hear right again. If you’re a professional, you don’t really need this gun, but goddamn if it isn’t cool. Buy one if you expect to be swaggering a lot.
Cavalier Deputy
Run & Gun
This is the Super Warhawk’s younger, more reasonable brother. More accurate, and with an odd seven-chamber cylinder, this revolver hits in a lower weight class than Ruger’s chrome behemoth, but also doesn’t break your wrist every time you go to fire it. Unless you’re specialized in revolvers, there are better options available. On the plus side, like the other revolvers available, it’s easy to get, cheap, and you’ll never have an enemy hacker ejecting your magazine for you.
PSK-3 Collapsible Heavy Pistol
Run & Gun
If you can get ahold of one of these, it’s a nice alternative to your Streetline or Needler, but you’re going to pay good nuyen for a weapon that hopefully you won’t have to use that often. Much like the PPSK-4 machine pistol and the Puzzler light pistol, put this on your spy gear shopping list once you’ve got a some money and contacts.
Savalette Guardian
Run & Gun
I really like the Guardian. Built-in smartlink, burst-fire, hits hard, inherent recoil comp and an association with high-class VIP protection and noir trids. It’s also an expensive gun, and the magazine size is nothing to write home about (especially for a burst-fire weapon), but by the time you need to reload you should have been able to put down whatever was troubling you. A serious piece for serious work, and definitely the most aggressive heavy pistol available.
Onotari Arms Violator
Run & Gun
Do you want to attract enemy hackers while using a mediocre heavy pistol packed with way more electronics than it needs? Your bizzare dreams have been answered by Onotari Arms. Every item that might have been in this gun’s favor is more than balanced out by something else. On the one hand, the Violator does have inherent recoil compensation, but so does the Guardian, and the Guardian can burst-fire. On that first hand again it is very cheap for a gun that comes with a smartlink, but it also comes with an electronic safety and safe-targeting system that is going to be a playground for anyone who gets past your firewall. It is the only way you’re going to be able to get all these electronics to fit into one gun, and frankly the thing is a marvel of engineering, but it’s all just not that useful. Save yourself the headache and buy something else, unless you really love Saeder-Krupp’s weapons subsidiary for some reason, or unless you’re really frightened of getting mind-controlled and want something that you know for sure won’t fire on your allies.
Colt Future Frontier
Gun H(e)aven 3
This piece is somewhere between the Super Warhawk and the Deputy, though it’s more expensive than either. It’s also not as useful as either of those other two revolvers. If you really want to use a single-action revolver in a world of cyberware and machine guns, you should probably get a Warhawk instead.
It does look very nice, for what it’s worth, and if you are for some reason committing to a cowboy motif then go for it.
SHOTGUNS
Defiance T-250
Core
Cheap, reliable ghetto-trash. If your local gangers haven’t graduated to automatics, this is the heavy firepower they’ll be bringing to the table. Despite being on the lower tier of shotguns, the T-250 isn’t actually that bad a piece; I’m especially a fan of the sawed-off version, which you can hide under a big coat or in a gym bag. Compared to the other shotguns available it’s not stellar, but damn if you can’t beat that price. Note that it doesn’t have the best accuracy in the world, so you might want to use buckshot and widen the choke a bit to make sure you’re hitting what you point it at.
Enfield AS-7
Core
This is what your professional room-clearer is going to be using. Burst-fire, high damage, optional high-capacity drum mag, laser sight–the Enfield has it all, at a price that shouldn’t pose any issues for your average gun-bunny. It’s a military-grade weapon and thus illegal for civilians to own, of course, but keep it well-hidden and the AS-7 will treat you well. Accuracy is a little on the low side, but it’s a shotgun–you’re not going to get pinpoint marksmanship here. For someone who’s serious about using a shotgun as their main weapon, the Enfield is the best option by far–at least until you can get an AA-16.
PJSS Model 55
Core
An accurate hunting weapon, not a gun for real combat. Don’t bother owning one unless you really need to pass for a hunter, but you should at least be aware of this piece’s existence, because if you run into someone out hunting while you’re on a run in the wilderness they’ll probably be carrying something like this.
Auto-Assault 16
Run & Gun
The premier combat shotgun. This is basically an Enfield with a larger drum, extensive recoil compensation and full-auto capability. It’s also nearly impossible to get ahold of, and illegal as all hell, but if you absolutely need to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.
Not much else to be said here. When you need to rock and roll, this is your instrument.
Mossberg AM-CMDT
Run & Gun
Another full-auto shotty, more accurate than the AA-16 but without the option of a drum magazine. This gun is meant to hose down one target and then either switch to another gun or duck back to reload. It’s not a bad weapon, but you’re going to want to bring a lot of spare clips with you. Which might not be so bad, if you like to swap ammo types a lot, and at least the included smartlink makes ejecting spent magazines easier.
Franchi Spas-24
Run & Gun
A decent burst-fire shotty, worse than the Enfield by virtue of, like the AM-CMDT, not being able to use a drum mag. It does have a smartlink and shock pad for pretty cheap, which is nice. Load it with something that hits hard and you’ve got a damn fine gun at a damn fine price.
Remington 990
Run & Gun
A basic, solid shotty waiting for you to mod it to greatness. It doesn’t hit as hard as the military shotguns, true, but it does have top and bottom slide mounts for easy accessorizing, and it’s reasonably cheap. Get this if you don’t expect to use it much and want a gun that won’t draw much comment, or if you want something you can customize to your own particular tastes.
Krime Boss
Gun H(e)aven 3
An inexpensive shotty that hits as hard as a military weapon, but is legal to own, with its only real downside being the abysmal accuracy. Get it a smartlink or a laser sight, though, and you’ve got yourself a cheap piece capable of dishing out some major damage. Well worth a look for people who want a weapon for an emergency rather than day-to-day use, and definitely Krime’s best offering in the small arms category.
Winchester Model 201
Gun H(e)aven 3
If you want a super-accurate shotgun, don’t get the PJSS. Get this instead. Double-barreled, so you only get two shots, but that sweet accuracy means you can make those count. A professional will probably want a heavier tool, but if you need to pose as a high society gamesman the Model 201 is a damn fine piece to bring along for the ride.
Winchester Model 2066
Gun H(e)aven 3
This is…it’s classy, all right, but less useful than pretty much any other shotgun. Low accuracy, low damage (for a shotgun, anyway, which is to say it still hits hard) and a very slow lever-action mechanism. Get this along with a Future Frontier revolver to complete your cowboy costume: otherwise, skip it.
Winchester Model 2054
Gun H(e)aven 3
Get this shotgun if you don’t expect to ever fire it. The low magazine size won’t serve you well in a real firefight, but the laser sight and stock should make handling it easier for a less-skilled operator. And it’s cheap, on top of that. Put it in the rack above the door on your rigger van and forget about it until the shit hits the fan.
Shiawase Arms Rain
Gun H(e)aven 3
Another weird stacked-barrel gun from Shiawase Arms. This one is wonderfully cheap, but that’s about the only thing it has going for it. It has the same stats as a T-250, except for some recoil comp from the stock. If you want a cheap shotgun and don’t mind that you can’t get a sawed-off version, the Rain might work out okay. Just don’t expect to do serious work with it.
Cavalier Falchion
Gun H(e)aven 3
This shotgun would be pretty nice if it weren’t crammed full of enough electronics to make any enemy hackers cream their pants, and if the action were a bit faster. As things stand, though, it’s only single-shot, has a smallish internal magazine and doesn’t even have a trigger–you have to fire it wirelessly. If you want to make a statement about how much you trust your firewall, be my guest, but a wireless shotgun is a pretty stupid way of doing that.
SNIPER RIFLES
Ares Desert Strike
Core
This is a basic, no-frills professional sniper rifle. Scope, shock-absorbent stock and beautiful reliability. It isn’t the absolute best long rifle out there, to be sure, but it gets the job done, and I consider it to be the base level of effectiveness for a dedicated sniping weapon.
Cavalier Arms Crockett EBR
Core
This is basically a cut-down, long-range assault rifle, and should be used as such. If you want to transition between assault and sniping roles, then this is your tool, right up until you can get your hands on a JP-K50. Personally, I like the Crockett. It’s a precise instrument for the operator who understands that sometimes the real world gets a little sloppy.
Ranger Arms SM-5
Core
If you want to work as an assassin, you want this gun. It’s that simple. The SM-5 is the classic rifle in a briefcase, carried by true professionals. And you have to be professional to use it, because you can’t jostle it very much–if you get involved in a running firefight with Ranger’s legendary assassination tool, you start losing accuracy fast as the fragile targeting mechanisms get knocked out of alignment. If you carry the SM-5, therefore, you should also have a backup piece, preferably something like the Puzzler or one of the foldable guns that you can carry around in a similar fashion, to keep the low profile that this rifle’s carrying case buys you.
Remington 950
Core
This is your disguise gun. Pretend to be a hunting enthusiast when the cops come, and show them your fake license, and hope they don’t look around too long and find the real heavy hardware you’ve got hidden away. Unless you can’t afford anything else don’t bother using the 950 in an actual fight.
Ruger 100
Core
This is the downscale model of the Remington 950. It’s a hobbyist weapon, and as such not a bad thing to pick up if you want to convince people that that’s all you are.
Terracotta Arms AM-47
Run & Gun
If you can actually get this behemoth of a weapon into a position where you can viably use it, then rest assured you are going to wipe the floor with anything that you point it at. The difficulty comes in transporting and hiding the thing–if you’re a human or elf, then the AM-47 might well be taller than you are, and if you’re a dwarf you can forget about it. It’s also crazy illegal and one of the most expensive guns out there, which makes sense considering it hits like an assault cannon and has both a smartlink and a built-in commlink (a pretty nice one, too). That sort of firepower and electronics doesn’t come cheap. This is a top-of-the-line military-grade weapon, and any plan involving it is going to be based entirely around trying to figure out a way to get it into the proper position without being noticed or arrested, because once you’re there it’s just going to be point and click. If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of ops in the wilderness, or if you’ve got a van to carry it around in, this is a definite contender for best gun out there. Subtle it ain’t, but sometimes you need to get unsubtle on someone.
Onotari Arms JP-K50
Run & Gun
Finally, Onotari Arms does something right, even if only by accident. The JP-K50 was originally designed as a dragon-killer, and despite failing at that goal it still has that history of durability and high firepower. It’s basically an upscaled Crockett EBR, and it’s what you should graduate to eventually if you started your running career with the Crockett.
Pioneer 60
Run & Gun
If you ever find yourself scrambling around some backwoods house looking for a gun, this is likely what you’ll come across. It’s complete garbage, and I’m sorry to have to tell you that whatever’s got you unarmed and looking for a gun in the backcountry is probably going to kill you. High-caliber round, but that’s about the only thing it’s got going for it. The Pioneer 60 has the distinction of being the only weapon this cheap and this common that I can’t see a professional potentially making use of.
That said, if you’re on a desperate shoestring budget, it is a hard-hitting gun for cheap. I could see a ganger in a street scum game doing some good work with this one.
Barret Model 122
Run & Gun
Old-school .50 caliber class, right here. It’s got the same problem as the AM-47, where it’s hard to hide and get into position, but also similar to the AM-47 once you have it there you’ve got it made. It’s got lower damage but higher armor penetration than its troll-sized cousin from Terracotta Arms, and also comes with a suppressor, which is something every sniper needs. Get this if you’re planning on shooting soldiers, hardcore corpsec troopers or vehicles.
SVD
Assassin’s Primer
The worst true sniper rifle of the lot, and also the cheapest, this Russian classic gets nano-printed in back alley machine shops a lot, making it a nice throwaway weapon for long-range assassinations. Don’t bother with it if you can afford something better, but if you need a sniper rifle and you need it now, this’ll do.
SPORTING RIFLES
These are only found in the Gun H(e)aven 3 supplement. They’ve got their own range table because of that, but they’re basically sniper rifles, and will be treated as such by me here. They are also generally not good combat tools, more useful for when you want a weapon you can carry legally, so bear that in mind as you read through these–a sporting rifle that I’m praising here is still probably not going to carry you through any particularly heavy work.
Springfield 2003
Gun H(e)aven 3
The 2003 is essentially one piece of metal, barely any moving parts, hardcore reliable and is the unchallenged god of accuracy. It’s a very old piece, so most modern accessories won’t work with it, but there’s not a whole lot of improvement you could’ve given to it in any case. Five high-caliber rounds in an internal magazine that should be easy enough to reload for someone with enough agility to take advantage of the pinpoint accuracy, which is so high even the most modern high-tech sniper rifles can’t achieve it without smartlink assistance. My only real advice about using this lovely weapon is to be careful about policing your brass afterwards; it’s old enough that you can’t get caseless ammo for it.
Accurate, elegant boom-boom. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.
Winchester Model 2024
Gun H(e)aven 3
The Model 2024 certainly isn’t a bad piece, overall. It can’t stand up to a real sniper rifle, of course, but it does have the advantage of hitting hard and being pretty cheap for what you get, and the included scope is a nice touch. This is an accurate, professional hunting tool, and isn’t an awful choice for your backcountry trip. If you can get your hands on a Springfield M1A, however, you’ll likely want to pass this one by.
Marlin 3468SS
Gun H(e)aven 3
This gun hits hard, and that’s about the only thing going for it. If you’re not an experienced shooter but still want a hunting piece, you might want to consider it, since the lower accuracy won’t bother you and anything you do hit should go down right quick.
Springfield M1A
Gun H(e)aven 3
The M1A is basically a better version of the Winchester 2024 for cheaper, and without a scope. Unlike most sporting rifles this one has an external magazine, with a reasonable amount of bullets in it. It hits hard and accurately, and overall is a damn fine weapon for the money. Put a smartlink on it and you’ve got a legal gun that could easily work for you on any dangerous mission as well as any hunting trip.
M1 Garand
Gun H(e)aven 3
This one’s a classic American weapon, and is still pretty decent. There are better options available, sure, but if you really want to haul around an antique at least you won’t die because of your weapon choice if you pick this one. If you can find an original, sell it–those things are worth a fortune as collector’s items.
Springfield Model 1855 Reproduction
Gun H(e)aven 3
There is no reason why you should ever be using a cap-and-ball musket in a modern operation, unless you’re a hardcore unionist who’s still pissed that the South rose again and wants to make a point using period-appropriate firearms. Do not purchase this weapon as anything other than a joke.
That said, putting one of these on a drone to take advantage of the sensor accuracy would be pretty entertaining.
Marlin 3041 BL
Gun H(e)aven 3
This is a weak, less accurate hunting rifle with a basic scope and inexplicably high armor penetration. If you need a legal weapon that can deal with hard targets, the 3041 is a pretty good choice–load it with APDS, and you’ll punch completely through light armor and most paracritter hides.
Marlin X71
Gun H(e)aven 3
This rifle is bolt action, which means single-shot only, but that and the low ammo capacity are the only real downsides. It’s got very nice damage, along with armor penetration that I’d expect to see on an anti-material rifle. The scope is excellent, accuracy could be better but is decent enough, and the price tag is low. As icing on the cake, it comes with extreme cold adaptation, for the handful of times that’ll come up. If you want a legal hunting weapon, and you don’t mind single-shot only, then the X71 is a fantastic choice. Just make sure you don’t get in too close with it, as you’ll likely need to reload before any serious firefight is over.
Marlin 79S
Gun H(e)aven 3
Super common and super cheap, and that’s all this rifle has going for it. It’s not aggressively bad like some others, but it’s still a pea-shooter, meant for kids and hobbyists. If you need to grab a gun fast, at least this one won’t raise eyebrows, but get a serious gun as soon as you can. Don’t buy a 79S for yourself.
LIGHT MACHINE GUNS
Ingram Valiant
Core
Lower caliber than most, but easy handling and burst-fire capability makes the Valiant a popular choice. The smaller rounds mean it’s not going to do as much damage as even a standard assault rifle, but it does have a little more armor penetration to compensate for that. Remember to abuse the heavy range advantage you have over your rifle-toting enemies and you’ll do fine with this weapon.
GE Vindicator Mini-Gun
Run & Gun
Inaccurate, expensive and powerful as all hell. The Vindicator fires a smaller-caliber round similar to the Valiant, but at a much higher rate that tears through armor like tissue paper, and the custom 200-round belt means you won’t need to ease up on the trigger until everything has hit the ground. If you really, really need to ruin someone’s day, you can’t get much better than this.
Plus it looks really cool. Who doesn’t love miniguns?
SA Nemesis
Run & Gun
A high-tech gun from Shiawase Arms, the Nemesis is expensive, hard to find and surprisingly accurate for a machine gun. It’s got a lot of electronics, but frankly I don’t think they make it any better than the Valiant. The accuracy is nice, but overall I’d suggest getting something cheaper and less over-designed.
Krime Wave
Gun H(e)aven 3
Cheap, cheap, cheap! And just as good as the more expensive guns to boot, though it can’t do burst-fire. Since the only recoil comp is from the bipod you’re going to want to set it up before firing, or mod it a bit–throw some gas venting on, maybe a shock pad, and the Wave is flat-out better than most other guns in its class, except perhaps the Vindicator. Thank you, Krime, for your perpetual dedication to the field of heavy weapons.
MEDIUM MACHINE GUNS
Stoner-Ares M202
Core
This is your basic medium machine-gun. It’s got an appealing no-frills approach to it, without any electronics or recoil compensation to speak of. If you want to mount a machine gun on a vehicle or drone, the Stoner-Ares M202 is one I would highly recommend, since the lack of inherent modifications means it comes at a reasonable price for a heavy weapon. If you want a MMG for personal use, you might want to pick up a different one, since you’ll likely need to mod it to make it usable and there are others that come with some built-in accessories that could save you some nuyen. It’s also the only one you can start with at character creation, so if you’re getting a medium machine gun at game start it’s going to be this one no matter what its stats are.
FN MAG-5 MMG
Run & Gun
Expensive, but it hits like a truck and has very nice handling, especially if you set it up on the tripod. Accuracy is a little on the low side, but you’re going to be firing full-auto bursts from this thing so that doesn’t really matter that much. The ad copy mentions that this is commonly seen mounted on vehicles, and if you want a hard-hitting automatic for that role than this is certainly a good contender. I would not recommend using them on any drone other than a Steel Lynx or something similar that has some survivability–putting this on a rotodrone is just going to see you lose more cash when it gets shot down–but it would make a grand addition to your team getaway vehicle.
Ultimax MMG
Run & Gun
Good accuracy and some recoil compensation make the Ultimax MMG not the worst choice in the world, certainly, but there are better guns. Instead of buying this gun, I suggest modding an M202 and get a gun with more armor penetration for cheaper.
HEAVY MACHINE GUNS
RPK HMG
Core
This is very much a gun that you will not be personally carrying around. Mounted on a vehicle it’s not bad, with a no-frills design just waiting for you to slap on some mods to really bring out the beast. If you’re looking for personal weaponry, look elsewhere: if you’re looking for something that will surprise the hell out of pursuit cars when you open the back door of your van and open fire, the RPK is a classic, reliable option. Hit ‘em where it hurts.
Ruhrmetall SF-20 HMG
Run & Gun
This weapon looks really, really slick. It’s got enough recoil compensation that you could conceivably mount it on a rotodrone, which is nice, but the price tag is way outside of the effectiveness you’re getting. The gun looks rad as hell, it’s a really nice piece overall, but unless you have nuyen coming out of your ears you’re probably better off going with a customized RPK.
Ultimax HMG-2
Run & Gun
Cheaper than an RPK, but less accurate and doesn’t hit as hard. The description and shadowtalk really gives the HMG-2 a lot of grief, but frankly it’s not that bad a gun. If you’re looking for an upscaled assault rifle for your troll heavy to use, this is a pretty good choice. If you can afford an RPK, get that instead, but otherwise the HMG-2 ain’t too shabby.
ASSAULT CANNONS
Krime Cannon
Core
The main advantage of the Cannon is that it’s semi-automatic instead of single-shot, which means that if you want to experience throwing 120 nuyen downrange in a single initiative pass you can semi-auto burst whatever poor bastard has had the misfortune of attracting your attention. It’s also the cheapest assault cannon available, so it’s likely what you’ll be picking up first if you decide you need that kind of firepower in your life. Just be aware of the low accuracy, and consider putting a smartlink on it–cannon ammo is too expensive to waste on missed shots.
Panther XXL
Core
THE get fucked gun. Accurate thanks to the smartlink, hits like a truck and with a very deep magazine, anything that gets touched by the Panther is going to be straight-up gone once the smoke clears. It’s also twice as expensive as the Krime Cannon, but that nuyen buys you a weapon that will fucking level whatever you point it at. Don’t fire it at anything that can dodge, obviously, but any glancing hit from this thing is likely to put your target in the dirt. Use it as an anti-vehicle weapon; the Panther is overkill for pretty much everything else.
Ares Thunderstruck Gauss Rifle
Run & Gun
Now, this is a nice one. It uses energy clips and gauss ammo, which makes keeping it loaded a little more complicated, and the rounds aren’t as large as a standard cannon, but the armor penetration and accuracy are unmatched in its class. It’s expensive, but not as much as most of the true assault cannons, and it looks damn cool. If you can’t afford a Panther, get this, is my suggestion.
Ogre Hammer SWS Assault Cannon
Run & Gun
This is less a weapon and more a lifestyle decision. It’s got the usual high damage, but less armor penetration than other cannons, as well as accuracy that is surpassed only by the Thunderstruck. The magazine size is small, but unlike most cannons it’s a box magazine, not an internal one, so reloading is less of an issue. The main reason to get the Ogre Hammer, though, is the electronics–it comes with an advanced safety, internal commlink, and a scope with all kinds of enhancements on it. You could get all that for cheaper individually, though, so unless you’re really averse to having to customize things yourself there are better options.
Ares Vigorous Assault Cannon
Run & Gun
A decent, low-cost assault cannon, though not as cheap as the Krime Cannon. The Vigorous’ main selling point is the very large magazine, with twelve rounds in a gun that is single-shot only. Accuracy is low, so you may want to add on a smartlink if you pick up this no-frills Ares product, but aside from that it’s a pretty good cannon, especially for the price.
Krime Bomb
Gun H(e)aven 3
Very accurate, but for most people the cheaper Krime Cannon is going to be a better choice. Get this if you’d like a Cannon but would be regularly hitting the limits of the Cannon’s accuracy–it’s only a 2k difference in nuyen, which if you’re buying an assault cannon should be chump change.
