Core Long Arms

Return to Home

Return to Equipment Guide

**M14- American 7.62mm NATO Automatic Rifle (PL 5)**

   The M14 was developed in the early 1950s to be the American service rifle in the new NATO-standard 7.62mm caliber. It is essentially a progressive development of the World War II–era M1 Garand, and its ancestry is apparent. It has been rechambered and redesigned as a select-fire weapon with a high-capacity detachable box magazine. The automatic capability proved troublesome and required that the action be considerably strengthened, making the weapon bulky and heavy overall, though it is reliable and controllable.

Variants: A number of folding-stock versions have been developed over the years. A light machine gun variant, known as the M14A1, was also developed; this used a modified stock with a pistol grip, but it was never produced in quantity. A dedicated sniper variant, the M21, was also developed (and is covered in detail in Chapter Three). The Springfield Armory has produced a series of semiautomatic-only versions for civilian sporting use called the M1A. These are particularly popular in national match target shooting competitions, which involve military service rifles.

Who Used It: The M14 served with the U.S. armed forces from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s, when it was replaced by the M16. It saw considerable action during the early part of the Vietnam War, where it lingered on in Marine service well after the Army had switched to the M16. The M21 sniper has lasted longer, and is still in limited use to this day. M14s are also frequently still seen in ceremonial use by color guard drill units.

**M16 Series- American 5.56mm Assault Rifle (PL 5)**

   The M16 appeared in the late 1950s, and it was soon adopted by the U.S. armed forces. Though it suffered numerous development problems and was initially widely criticized, it has grown to enjoy success second only to the Russian Kalashnikov. The M16 has been used in virtually every conflict of the past forty years, and it has been produced under license in great numbers in dozens of countries.

Today, nearly fifty years after its original design, it is being adopted by more armies than ever before and is replacing the Galil in Israeli service.

The M16 is built around an innovative gas-powered select-fire rifle action developed by Eugene Stoner called the AR-15 (M16 is the weapon’s military designation). It features a distinctive carrying handle on top, which also holds the weapon’s rear sight.

The M16 was the first major military weapon designed to fire the 5.56×45mm cartridge. At the time, the U.S. was widely criticized within NATO for abandoning the then-standard 7.62×51mm round (which the U.S. had demanded be adopted in the first place). The new cartridge was also thought by many to be too weak when compared to its hard-hitting predecessor. Eventually, the new round proved itself, and by 1980, it had been adopted as the new NATO-standard small-arms caliber, eclipsing the older 7.62mm round.

Cartridge aside, other problems surrounded the introduction of the M16. The all-plastic furniture, which some felt gave the M16 a toy-like appearance, was questioned. Many soldiers felt that a solid wooden stock (like that on the older M14) was preferable, since rifles sometimes need to be used as clubs in hand-to-hand fighting. A greater concern was reliability. The early M16s suffered severe problems in this area, and it quickly established a poor reputation. For several years, the wisdom of adopting the M16 was seriously questioned.

The U.S. military was determined to make the M16 work, however, and set about refining and improving the design. Much of the reliability problem turned out to stem from poorly manufactured magazines and ammunition. New procedures for keeping the weapon clean were implemented. With these issues addressed, the M16 became much more dependable.

**M16A1:** In 1966, based on combat experience from Vietnam, an improved version known as the M16A1 was developed. The biggest advance was a manual bolt-closure device, which the shooter could use to push a round home into a fouled chamber if necessary. The M16A1 became the standard U.S. military service weapon shortly thereafter.

**M16A2:** In 1983, a new version called the M16A2 was adopted, replacing the M16A1. It incorporates a heavier barrel, rifled to fire a new Belgian-designed NATO-standard variant of the 5.56mm round. A three-round burst setting was introduced, replacing the automatic setting. The grips and stock were redesigned and made from a new (and much stronger) plastic material. New sights were introduced. A spent-case deflector was added for the benefit of left-handed shooters so that empty brass wouldn’t hit them in the face. Collectively, these changes resulted in a vastly superior weapon, which remains the current service model to this day.

**M16A3 and M16A4:** Newer models of the M16 take the basic M16A2 and modify it to accommodate various standardized accessories. The M16A3 does away with the top-mounted carrying handle and its integral rear sight; instead, an accessory rail is machined into the top of the receiver, allowing a variety of sighting systems to be readily attached. The M16A4 goes a step farther. It also features the accessory mounting system developed by the Knights Armament Company (KAC) in the forward grip (see the sidebar). The M16A4 has been selected to replace the M16A2 in the U.S. Army and will enter service in large numbers over the next few years.

**CAR-15:** Combat experience showed the desirability of a more compact version of the M16 for use by Special Forces troops. The result was the CAR-15, also known as the “Colt Commando” or by its military designation of XM-177. The CAR-15 features a shortened barrel with a ribbed forward grip and a folding stock. It quickly proved popular with special operations troops and was used extensively during the Vietnam War.

**M4 Carbine:** The M4 is the modern equivalent of the Vietnam era CAR-15, fitting a telescoping stock and a shortened barrel to a weapon that has been fully brought up to the M16A2 standard. The current version, the M4A1, features the detachable top handle of the M16A3. The barrel is long enough to mount an M203 grenade launcher, and there is a distinctive notch in front of the forward sight to accommodate the M203’s attachment clamp. The latest version, the M4A1, also incorporates the KAC (Knights Armament Company) forward mounting system in place of the handgrip, making what is essentially a compact carbine version of the M16A4.

**M4 CQB:** Taking advantage of the inherent flexibility of the M4A1, the U.S. Special Operations Command developed the M4 Close Quarters Battle (CQB) weapon to replace the MP5 submachine gun. The M4 CQB is a compact, lightweight weapon specially tailored for close-in fighting. It essentially consists of a “kit” known as the Special Operation Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD). A SOPMOD kit (purchase TN 16) contains a variety of accessories, including illuminators, scopes, reflex sights, night sights, target designators, and a short-barreled 40mm M203 grenade launcher. In all, there are enough parts to equip four M4A1 carbines. When a Special Forces unit is issued a number of SOPMOD kits, its troops can quickly tailor the accessory kits to their M4 carbines to suit the specific needs of any mission.

**Commando:** The Commando is a very compact version of the M16, incorporating the telescoping stock of the CAR-15 and a radically shortened barrel. For members of security details who need to keep their armament out of sight, it is designed to fi t under a coat or in a briefcase. The barrel is too short to allow an M203 grenade launcher to be fitted. In most other respects, it is like the M4 carbine.

**Ultra-compact Models:** A number of companies manufacture ultra-compact variants of the M16 design, including the Professional Ordnance Carbon 15. These weapons are designed to serve a similar role to submachine guns but are chambered for full-power rifle ammunition. They feature radically shortened barrels, muzzle compensators, and minimal stocks. Most incorporate governors to reduce the rate of fire and make the compact weapon more controllable.

**AR-15:** The semiautomatic-only version of the M16, from which the select-fire military weapon was originally developed, has been popular with police forces and civilian sport shooters alike. It equipped many early SWAT teams in the 1970s. Civilian AR-15s have been developed in numerous configurations over the years, optimized for hunting, personal protection, and competition target shooting.

Other Variants: A bewildering variety of M16 and AR-15 variants have been developed over the years. These include light machine guns, accurized target rifles, cut-down micro-carbines, and a number of semiautomatic civilian sporting rifles. Variants rechambered to fire nearly a dozen different calibers have also appeared.

Who Uses It: The M16, in its various forms, has been the standard service weapon of the U.S. armed forces for nearly forty years and will remain so for at least more ten years. Widely exported and produced under license, it has been adopted by dozens of armies worldwide, including Brazil, Denmark, El Salvador, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand. It has also been popular as a police weapon, especially for SWAT teams.

**d20 Universal Rules:** The M16A2, M16A3, and M16A4 each feature a three-round burst setting. When used with the Burst Fire feat, it fires only three bullets instead of five and can be used with only three bullets in the weapon. This setting does not grant the ability to make burst fire attacks without the Burst Fire feat; if you use the setting without the feat, you make a normal attack, and the extra two bullets are wasted. Because these weapons do not have the automatic rate of fire, they cannot be used to make auto-fire attacks.

The Commando and ultra-compact Carbon 15 each grant a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal the weapon.

**M16 Squad Designated Marksman- American 5.56mm Semiautomatic Marksman Rifle (PL 5)**

   The M16 Squad Designated Marksman rifle is an accurized variant of the M16 assault rifle developed for the U.S. Army’s Interim Brigade Combat Teams. It represents a shift in tactical doctrine, made in recognition of the increasing threat posed by enemy snipers. Each infantry squad contains a trained sharpshooter to engage high-value enemy targets and serve in the counter sniper role. The M16 SDM will be the issued weapon for these sharpshooters.

The M16 SDM is essentially a standard M16A4 assault rifle action equipped with a heavy sniper barrel, a Harris bipod, and a scope. The forward grip is replaced by KAC (Knights Armament Company) accessory rails, and a carbine-style folding stock is fitted. The M16 SDM is designed to be upgraded over time with new accessory fits, allowing it to keep pace with developments in technology.

Who Uses It: The M16 DMR will be issued to infantry squads, starting with the Interim Brigade Combat Teams now being fielded.

**d20 Universal Rules:** This weapon features a three-round burst setting. When used with the Burst Fire feat, it fires only three bullets instead of five and can be used with only three bullets in the weapon. This setting does not grant the ability to make burst fire attacks without the Burst Fire feat; if you use the setting without the feat, you make a normal attack and the extra two bullets are wasted. Because it does not have the automatic rate of fire, this weapon cannot be used to make auto-fire attacks.

**12 Gauge Double-Barrel Shotgun (PL 4)**

    This descendant of the blunderbuss musket has changed little since its introduction. It fires small lead balls, or any junk and debris that might be at hand.

**Colt Revolver Rifle (PL 4)**

    Colt's revolving action is not very successful as a rifle, despite several attempts to win over the U.S. government.

**Buffalo Rifle (PL 4)**

    These large, powerful weapons (produced by a variety of manufacturers) are designed to handle big game at extreme ranges.

**M1 Grand (PL 4)**

    The US Army adopts this rifle in 1936, though the rate of production before World War II means it is slow to get in service during the war. The same statistics can be used for similar rifles, such as the Lee-Enfield no. 4 (.303 caliber) or the US Carbine M1.

**Winchester 1873 (PL 4)**

    More than 700,000 of these famous rifles are produced between 1873 and the 1830s. The same statistics can be used for similar weapons, including the .44 Winchester 1866, which is a favorite of nineteenth-century hunters and frontiersmen, and various .45 Springfield trapdoor rifles.

**Daewoo USAS-12- South Korean 12-Gauge Automatic Shotgun (PL 5)**

    The Daewoo USAS-12 incorporates a box magazine and is capable of automatic fire. Chambered for 12-gauge rounds, it can throw out considerable firepower. Controls and configuration are like those of an assault rifle, with an M16-style pistol grip and carrying handle. It is much bulkier than a rifle, however, due to its large recoil compensation system. This bulkiness makes it somewhat awkward to carry, especially in close quarters, but it is surprisingly controllable to fire, even in automatic mode. In addition to the 12-round box magazine, a high-capacity 28-round drum is also available.

Variants: A semiautomatic-only version serves the needs of law enforcement. Its statistics are otherwise identical to the standard model.

Who Uses It: The USAS-12 is used by South Korean security services and is available for export as well.

**d20 Universal Rules:** This weapon is unreliable. It fires 2 3/4-inch shells only.

**FA-MAS G2- French 5.56mm Assault Rifle (PL 5)**

    A more advanced version of the G1, known as the FA-MAS G2, emerged in the 1990s. The most obvious difference is a large trigger guard that accepts the whole hand. The G2 features a STANAG magazine well, allowing the use of M16 standard clips. The internal action has been strengthened.

Variants: A compact version with a cut-down barrel, known as the Commando, is available. A civilian version for sporting is capable of only semiautomatic fire and chambered in the .223 Remington caliber.

Who Uses It: The FA-MAS serves throughout the French Army, Marines, and Foreign Legion. It has been sold to a number of former French colonial states, including Djibouti and Gabon. It has also been adopted by the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.

**d20 Universal Rules:** The FA-MAS G2 may be modified to have a three-round burst setting instead of the automatic rate of fire. (When modified in this manner, it can fire on semiautomatic or three-round burst only.) The modification requires a successful Repair check (TN 10) and 10 minutes. It can be returned to its original state with another Repair check (TN 10) and 10 more minutes. The Commando compact version of the weapon has both auto-fire and three-round burst settings and need not be modified, as above.

When the three-round burst version is used with the Burst Fire feat, it fires only three bullets instead of five and can be used with only three bullets in the weapon. This setting does not grant the ability to make burst fire attacks without the Burst Fire feat; if you use the setting without the feat, you make a normal attack and the extra two bullets are wasted.

**Mossberg M9200 Series- American 12-Gauge Semiautomatic Shotgun (PL 5)**

    The Model 9200 is a semiautomatic shotgun with a gas-powered action and a tubular magazine. The recoil spring extends into the stock. The M9200 is most popular as a sporting weapon and available in a variety of different hunting and target-shooting configurations. The tactical model is known as the M9200 Persuader. It features synthetic stocks and an overall black finish. An M9200 Viking slug gun variant features a rifled barrel; it uses slug ammunition instead of shot ammunition.

Who Uses It: The M9200 Persuader variant is in service with a number of police agencies, though it is not as popular or common as the Remington Model 11-87.

**d20 Universal Rules:** The M9200 Viking variant uses slug and slug penetrator ammunition only (see Shotgun Ammunition, at the start of this chapter, for details).

**Mossberg Model 500 Bullpup- American 12-Gauge Pump Action Shotgun (PL 5)**

    Designed for police and paramilitary use, the Model 500 Bullpup is a highly modified derivative of the basic Mossberg Model 500 design (see below). Using the same action, it rearranges the component parts into a bullpup configuration to maintain a long barrel on a reduced-length weapon. The mechanism is housed in a high-impact plastic casing that incorporates the forward slide and gives the weapon a decidedly military appearance. A ventilated shroud protects the shooter from the hot barrel. The spent cases are ejected out the right-hand side of the weapon behind the firing grip. Most Bullpups also feature a vertical foregrip on the slide for more rapid cycling.

Who Uses It: The Model 500 Bullpup is in service with a number of police departments throughout the U.S., particularly with SWAT teams.

**d20 Universal Rules:** The Model 500 Bullpup grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal the weapon. This weapon can fire 3 1/2-inch shells.

**Dirty Gun (PL 5)**

Similar in nature to a heavy rock launcher, the dirty gun is a large-bore muzzleloading ranged weapon packed with debris such as rubble and nails, and fired using a compressed CO2 cartridge. The weapon requires a new CO2 cartridge after being fired two times. Replacing the CO2 cartridge is a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

The dirty gun derives its name from the habit of some users to pack it with irradiated debris. When this is done, the weapon causes radiation sickness in addition to the regular weapon damage (see Radiation Sickness).

**Irradiated Debris:** This debris consists of small bits of glass, metal, and concrete collected from irradiated areas for use in dirty guns. (Nonirradiated debris for dirty guns is free and can be easily collected anywhere; irradiated debris has a TN because few people are willing to enter irradiated areas to gather it.)

Irradiated debris is a moderately radioactive material. Being within 5 feet of it (unless it’s kept in a lead-lined box) causes radiation sickness. See Radiation Sickness.

**Tire Shredder (PL 5)**

Normally mounted on ganger vehicles for use against other vehicles’ tires, a tire shredder is a ranged weapon that uses compressed CO2 to fire four crossbow bolts from parallel tubes. Because it fires multiple projectiles in parallel, the tire shredder gives its firer a +2 bonus on attack rolls.

Each shot from a tire shredder uses an entire CO2 cartridge in addition to four crossbow bolts. Loading a tire shredder is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity.

**Disk Gun Disk (PL 5)**

These small discs are cut from flattened tin cans and given sharp, jagged edges for maximum impact.

**Blunderbuss Pistol & Musket (PL 3)**

    These weapons are heavy flintlocks with short barrels and large calibers, loaded with small shot. Their flaring barrels are erroneously believe to spread the shot at close range. Blunderbuss pistols are popular with pirates, and blunderbuss muskets are favored by the pilgrims.

**Brown Bess (PL 3)**

    The standard longarm of the British army for over 200 years, the "Brown Bess" flintlock musket is inexpensive and reliable.

**Dreyse Needle Gun (PL 3)**

    The ancestor of all bolt-action rifles, the Prussian needle gun has a bolt to open and close the chamber at the breech. The weapon's name derives from the long firing pin that passes through the paper cartridge to strike the percussion cap and fire the round. The French Chassepot rifle (developed in 1863) is similar but slightly more reliable, and it has a longer range increment (60 feet).

**Ferguson Rifle (PL 3)**

    The first breech-loading rifle used in warfare, the Ferguson could have revolutionized warfare (and possibly changed the outcome of the American Revolution) if the British army had fully recognized its potential. The weapon's relatively high purchase TN reflects the fact that only a few of these weapons were made or used. A character using a Ferguson rifle can reload it with a single full-round action, or with a move action of the character has the Quick Reload feat.

**Kentucky Rifle (PL 3)**

    The first firearm designed in the American colonies, this fine shooting piece is designed for hunting. Its long barrel increases its accuracy, allowing it to outrange contemporary military muskets.

**Matchlock Rifles (PL 3)**

    When they appeared in the early fifteenth century, matchlock firearms revolutionized warfare. They remained in use in Europe until 1700, and in Japan and India well into the nineteenth century. Pulling the trigger of a matchlock plunges a glowing match into a pan of priming powder. This mechanism has several difficulties, the first being keeping the match lit (especially in we conditions) and having to manually open the pan cover before firing.

**Matchlock Arquebus (PL 3)**

    Not exactly the first personal firearm, the matchlock arquebus (or harquebus) is derived from the hand-match weapons that are essentially miniaturized cannon. While the arquebus is difficult to use and slow to reload, it's a huge improvement over earlier weapons and starts a revolution in the way war is conducted.

**Matchlock Caliver (PL 3)**

    A lighter descendant of the arquebus, the caliver is light enough +to be used effectively from horseback. This is the first firearm to have its bore calibrated to a standard size, permitting soldiers to exchange bullets.

**Plains Rifle (PL 3)**

    The famous trade rifle supplied to various Native American nations during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, these weapons are also popular with the first wave of white scouts and pioneers who pushed west before the Civil War.

**Rifle-Musket (PL 3)**

    The standard infantry longarm of the American Civil War, this is the last muzzleloader to be produced in numbers in the United States. A number of these weapons are flintlocks that have been refitted as percussion cap weapons.

**Wheel Lock Carbine (PL 3)**

This weapon is similar to the wheel lock rifle but shorter, making it more suitable for use on horseback.

**Wheel Lock Musket (PL 3)**

Because the wheel lock mechanism is expensive compared to the popular matchlock, it is rarely used in muskets intended for common soldiers and it never entirely displaces the matchlock. Wheel lock muskets are usually elaborately decorated weapons owned (and possibly used) by members of the nobility.

**X-Ray Laser Rifle (PL 8)**

This weapon is like its smaller cousin, only able to fire over a longer distance, and with a larger power pack.

**Sonic Pistol and Rifle**

In addition to normal damage, anyone hit with this weapon must make a Fortitude save (TN 15) or be Deafened for 1d6 rds. If the attacker confirms a critical with this weapon, then the victim fails their Save, it deafens the target for 1d6 days. This deafness may be cured with a successful Medicine skill check (TN 20).

**Fire-Stream Rifle (PL 6)**

The fire-stream rifle is an interesting expansion on combinding jet engine, and flamethrower technology. The fire-stream rifle fires a high presure tight stream line of ignighted fire propellant at a target. Fire-stream weapons were origionally developed as precision replacement to the clumsy and unwieldy flamethrowers, and incendiary weapons of previous eras.

• • **Secondary Line Of Attack:** Fire-stream weapons attack in a line, while the initial attack is rolled and hits or misses normally, however all creatures and characters along the line of attack out to the full attack range must make a Reflex save = attack roll or suffer half damage, a succesful save prevents any damage.

• • **Limited Range:** Fire-stream weapons do not fire past their listed range.

• • **Special:** On a critical hit a target is set on fire for 1+1d4 rounds dealing 1d4 damage each round.

**Needler Rifle (PL 6)**

Like the needler pistol, this injection gun can be fitted with cartridges containing medicine or poison. The needler rifle fires darts much farther than its smaller counterpart.

• • **Special:** Needle Attacks are counted as dealing 6 points of damage for purposes of overcoming damage reduction. If the attack would deal actual damage the target is successfully injected with the drug or poison and must deal with its effects.

**Arc Rifle (PL 7)**

Arc rifles fire deadly electrical blasts and have a longer range than arc pistols. Like arc pistols, arc rifles can stun targets that are not killed outright by the electricity damage.

• • **Special:** On a successful hit that deals damage to the target, that target character and/or creature must make a Fort Save TN = Damage Dealt or be Stunned 1 combat round.

**Shock Caster (PL 7)**

Shock casters fire a blast of electrical energy that explodes when it impacts, creating an electrical storm that can damage and stun anyone within its radius.

• • **Special:** On a successful hit all characters and/or creatures in the radius of the blast must make a Fort Save TN 20 or be Stunned 1 combat round and go 1 step down on the condition track.

**Plasma Rifle (PL 7)**

Plasma rifles fire long lines of ionized plasma that lance through objects and opponents in their path.

**OICW Assault Rifle (PL 5)**

One of the most technologically advanced weapons to reach production during the information age, the OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) assault rifle is a combination weapon. The weapon houses a 5.56mm compact assault rifle as well as a 20mm grenade launcher. The grenade launcher features 2 detonation modes with the ability to set the grenades to detonate on impact or in the air after traveling a predetermined distance. The OICW Assault Rifle is also equipped with a laser range-finding scope accurate up to 150 meters with built in night visiion.