Advanced Propellant Rifle Table

At TL 9, there may be innovations that increase the performance of rifles even further.Binary propellant firearms step away from the self contained ammunition cartridge that revolutionized gun design at TL 6. Instead, the propellant is stored separately in liquid form. In fact, the propellant is broken down into two tanks, one of which holds the oxidizer (such as hydrogen peroxide), the other holds the fuel (such as kerosene). Fuel and oxidizer are squirted into the chamber just behind the bullet as an aerosol and then electrically ignited, using much the same mechanism as the fuel injector of your car. By carefully timing the rate at which propellant is injected, a controlled expansion of the reacting gases allows the bullet to be pushed at peak pressure for longer, resulting in higher muzzle velocities. Since the fuel and oxidizer are stored separately, there is no need for bulky stabilizer chemicals; this and the elimination of the cartridge case significantly increases the ammunition capacity of a rifle. While binary propellant technology will work on pistols, the short barrels do not allow the performance increase seen in rifles. Binary propellant guns are listed with a BP following the name.

Electrothermal-chemical rifles offer similar performance increases to binary propellant. These rifles retain the ammunition cartridge, but the propellant is normally inert (such as water threaded with fine aluminum wires). When fired, a brief pulse of electric currant heats the propellants to temperatures where they are no longer inert, and they react in much the same way as the chemical components of gunpowder. By controling the rate at which the propellant is electrically heated, a controlled burn is achieved resulting in greater bullet velocity.

Binary and electrothermal-chemical rifles have the same bullet type selection as highpowered rifles.

• Non-deforming bullets (FMJ) do their listed damage. Cost is unchanged unless the military uses ammunition in that caliber, in which case cost is halved. LC is normal.
• Expanding bullets (JSP) do -1 basic damage per two dice of damage, but are +2 piercing sizes larger. Cost and LC are normal. Faster expanding bullets -1 basic damage per die and are +3 piercing sizes.
• Armor piercing bullets have an armor divisor of (2). Contrary to popular belief, damage is otherwise unchanged - the tough, dense bullet is better at punching through tough, hard materials like armor but has the same shape as normal bullest and leaves the same wound profile. Cost is doubled, LC is 2. Available at TL 7+.
• Fragmenting bullets have an increased blow through limit (equivalent to +2 SM) to targets within half the half damage range ; damage is otherwise unchanged. Cost is halved if the military uses this bullet as standard ammunition, otherwise the cost is normal. LC is normal. At TL 7, only 5.56 mm ammunition is commonly fragmenting. At TL 8, fragmenting ammunition may become commonly available in all rifle calibers.
• Armor piercing discarding sabot bullets have an armor divisor of (2), damage is at +1 per die, but the piercing size is -4 lower than listed (the projectile is a thin, dense subcaliber dart, and tends to just poke small holes in people). Cost is multiplied by five, LC is 2. Available at TL 9+ for rifles.

Binary Propellant Rifles

TL	Weapon	Type	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	ROF	Shots	Min ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC	Notes
9	Assault Rifle, 4.6mm	pi-2	6d+2	6+2	500/2000	3.5/0.8	12	100(3)	9	-4	2	$1800	2	[1]
9	Assault Rifle, 5mm	pi-2	7d+1	6+2	600/3000	4.5/0.8	12	100(3)	10	-4	2	$2700	2	[1]
9	Battle Rifle, 6mm	pi	8d+2	6+2	800/4000	5/1	12	80(3)	11	-5	3	$3300	2	[1]

Electrothermal-Chemical Rifles

TL	Weapon	Type	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	ROF	Shots	E	Min ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC	Notes
9	Assault Rifle, 4.6mm	pi-2	6d+2	6+2	500/2000	3.5/0.8	12	100(3)	1	9	-4	2	$1200	2	[1]
9	Assault Rifle, 5mm	pi-2	7d+1	6+2	600/3000	4.5/0.8	12	100(3)	1	10	-4	2	$1800	2	[1]
9	Battle Rifle, 6mm	pi	8d+2	6+2	800/4000	5/1	12	80(3)	1.5	11	-5	3	$2200	2	[1]

Notes
[1] Includes "smartgun" electronics.
[2] Civilian semi-automatic version is RoF 3, LC +1, and -1 to minimum ST.

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