Modern Monster Hunting Guns [XM500, MICOR Leader 50, etc.]

[weby]

Depends on what you want to do. Basically the short .50 bmg rifles are really not suitable for use as carbines, you need to use the rest.

As for building a suitable carbine doing more damage:
.50 beowulf from loadouts monster hunters is a good candidate, but below the 7d (6d+1 pi+), but if you use the optional bigger is better rules it gets the nice x1.8 multiple, so that compensates..
.450 Bushmaster is lower energy and smaller cartridge(only 1.6x multiple with bigger is better)
.45 Raptor is quite a lot higher energy, I wonder how well it can be shot without rest. But the damage profile would fit your criteria as it would be order of magnitude 7d+something of pi+ (though only 1.6x with bigger is better)

In something like .408 CheyTac or .416 Barrett you are talking around 11kj of energy and that is a lot to shoot from anything except a rest and the rifles for such tend to be pretty heavy too...

The heaviest cartridge I have shot from a short barrel is .338 lapua mag, and that is only about half the energy. An acquaintance has a shortened Sako TRG-42 and it shoots just fine without a rest and can be used well while standing. It is bolt lock though and still about 5kg, thus pretty heavy. A semiautomatic action would add further mass..

(The original short barrel TRG 42 model is 510mm (20"), but his is shortened close to the minimum allowed by law here, 400mm including the cartridge length, basically pretty close to half the barrel length of my long barrel version(690mm) and about 2/3 the original short barrel version.)


TLDR; If you use the bigger is better rules just use the .50 beowulf, if not, use as high energy .46/.46 as you can with your ST.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by weby

Depends on what you want to do. Basically the short .50 bmg rifles are really not suitable for use as carbines, you need to use the rest.

Normal people do. World class experts in the real world, like Jerry Miculek, can do just fine standing up. And if the PCs are supposed to take on supernaturally tough monsters and survive, not once but multiple times, I'd prefer that they were at least as capable as the top real experts.

Originally Posted by weby

As for building a suitable carbine doing more damage:
.50 beowulf from loadouts monster hunters is a good candidate, but below the 7d (6d+1 pi+), but if you use the optional bigger is better rules it gets the nice x1.8 multiple, so that compensates..
.450 Bushmaster is lower energy and smaller cartridge(only 1.6x multiple with bigger is better)
.45 Raptor is quite a lot higher energy, I wonder how well it can be shot without rest. But the damage profile would fit your criteria as it would be order of magnitude 7d+something of pi+ (though only 1.6x with bigger is better)

I use a modified version of Bigger is Better, where I figure out a Wound Channel Modifier from the size of the projectile, expected tumbling and fragmentation, etc. I use Douglas Cole's system for WCM and eyeball corrections.*

I don't reallly want a .50 pistol bullet that weights 300 grains to have a better Wound Channel Modifier than a 400 grain rifle bullet that happens to be chambered in .375 or a 510 grain rifle bullet that happens to be chambered in .458.

*Because the ever-increasing linear WCM produced by his system does not play well with GURPS.

Originally Posted by weby

In something like .408 CheyTac or .416 Barrett you are talking around 11kj of energy and that is a lot to shoot from anything except a rest and the rifles for such tend to be pretty heavy too...

If ST 14+ is going to be worth it, it helps if there are options for weaponry that really take advantage of the added bulk and strength.

[Tomsdad]

Did the FN BAR come in anything that would get the Pi+ rating? Give it an extended magazine and that could be the way to go

[Tomsdad]

Hang on thinking outside the box for a second how about adapting the Barrett M97 Dragonfang, .50 Browning from the High Tech designers notes?

You'll need to add the stock back on, but you could do that by reversing the process in TS (and factor in the stat line is based on one handed firing)

That's a FA 12.7mm Acc 4*, assault carbine with a bulk of only -4*. It would be MinST14 (if I've factored two handed use and stock right).

It will still be heavy, but I'm not sure why your worrying too much about the weight at ST14+.

The range look's a touch high, but really it's not going to come up as you don't seem to be intending to fire this at long range anyway.



*when you put the stock on

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Hang on thinking outside the box for a second how about adapting the Barrett M97 Dragonfang, .50 Browning from the High Tech designers notes?

You'll need to add the stock back on, but you could do that by reversing the process in TS (and factor in the stat line is based on one handed firing)

That's a FA 12.7mm assault carbine with a bulk of only -4*. It would be MinST14 if I've factored two handed use and stock right.

Good idea, but I'm not sure that the stats given are perfectly right. It's supposed to be short-barrelled, but does the exact same damage as a full-size M82A1 rifle.

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

It will still be heavy, but I'm not sure why your worrying too much about the weight at ST14+.

Weight is always a consideration, if only because every 4.4 lbs. you save somewhere can be used for another magazine of .50 BMG bullets.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Good idea, but I'm not sure that the stats given are perfectly right. It's supposed to be short-barrelled, but does the exact same damage as a full-size M82A1 rifle.

Hmm good point (range seems high as well)

Originally Posted by Icelander

Weight is always a consideration, if only because every 4.4 lbs. you save somewhere can be used for another magazine of .50 BMG bullets.

True but at ST14 your likely to be carrying .50 Mags like someone with ST10 carries 7.62 mags

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Hmm good point (range seem high as well)

Anecdotal evidence suggests that 20" barrel .50 BMG rifles are extremely unpleasant to shoot and perform fairly poorly, as much of the propellant does not burn inside the barrel. Cue fireball, concussion that slams you in the face like a donkey's punch and a loss of ca 450-600 fps of muzzle velocity (-15% to 20%).

This means that Range and Dmg ought to be reduced from a 29" barrel for any short-barrelled .50 BMG platform.

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

True but at ST14 your likely to be carrying .50 Mags like someone with ST10 carries 7.62 mags

In a Monster Hunter scenario, you had better be!