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GURPS Pistols and Machine Pistols (TL 7)

Pistols are often the standard weapons of adventurers in high-tech roleplaying game settings. This is mainly because they are easier to obtain, more legal than say assault rifles and easier to conceal. To boost the weak firepower of pistols there are two ways, each with its own drawbacks. Machine pistols have a high rate of fire but are hard to control in full-auto and are slightly bulkier. Magnum pistols share the last drawback and are difficult to fire by small and/or weak characters. There is no optimum solution. The choice boils down to a matter of taste, style and professionalism. Take your pick.

Some weapon descriptions have codes (e.g. [h, l, n, s, f]) indicating possible modifications/accessories. A code in round brackets (e.g. (s)) indicates that the weapon is already fitted with that extra. Click on the codes to go to the modifications/accessories page. A "+" or "-" after Type of damage means a caliber-based wounding modifier (p. HT7) applies to the remaining damage after subtracting DR: "-" means halve damage; "+" means multiply by 1.5; "++" means double remaining damage. Damage for 10mm+ (.40+) caliber pistol bullets that penetrate is multiplied by 1.5 (see p. B209).

Use the Guns [Pistol] (for single shots), Guns [Machine Pistol] (for bursts from pistols with a RoF marked with "*") or Guns [Light Automatic] (for bursts from pistols with a RoF marked with "*" while using a shoulder stock) skills with pistols. 

Automatic Pistols

Very fine quality version of the integrally suppressed Ruger MK II Pistol by AWC. Very silent (-8 to hear, -10 to recognize if unfamiliar with), very accurate, very handy. The Ruger .22 is the weapon of professionals, continuing a "tradition" since 1949. Converting this pistol to selective single-shot as per p. HT111 lowers noise even further (-10 to hear, -12 to recognize if unfamiliar with, +$400). To further raise accuracy it may be fitted with a laser sight (Acc +2, SS -1, +$400).

As the name indicates, this is often the second (or third, or fourth) weapon of a professional. This is not the AMT Backup from GURPS High-Tech but a larger caliber gun with more punch.

Uses the SS190 rounds of the FN Herstal P90.

GURPS High-Tech tells you that this gun was available by 1980. In fact it wasn't even even developed by then. It started being available in the U.S. in 1985.

Favored by many police officers for its stopping power.

Full name is "Customized Guardian .32 ACP" by North American Arms. A ladies pistol.

This is the military version (MK23 MOD 0) of the almost identical civilian HK Mark 23. It was developed for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) program. The "OHWS" (now know as the HK SOCOM) consists of three components: a .45 caliber pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and a sound and flash suppressor. The early rectangular suppressor mentioned in GURPS Special Ops (p. SO98) was not satisfactory and has been replaced by a new tubular one that is better (-7 to hear shoots, -9 to recognize if unfamiliar with). The LAM has a dual laser, one visible light, and one infrared, visible only with night vision.  Without suppressor Damage is 2d+2, and Holdout is -2, without suppressor and laser Holdout is -1.

The ASP has clear plastic grips that show the available ammunition at a glance. The weapon is designed for covert carrying, reliability, fast-draw, and fast target acquisition. To speak with James McMahon, this is the gun Ian Fleming would choose today for James Bond. Used by the U.S. Secret Service.

Machine Pistols

Full-auto version of the Beretta 93R, not available any more. May use a 20 round clip (as shown on the pictures; Holdout -3). Rcl for single shots is still -1 (and ST 9). Rcl on full-auto while using the folding stock is -3. Rcl without even the use of the folding front-grip (one-handed) is -10. Subtract -2 from Fast-Draw skill for unfolding the front-grip while drawing. No fast-draw is possible if the folding stock is to be used. The use of the folding stock raises SS to 12, Acc to 6, and Wt to 4. Later versions came with a 3-round-burst option (RoF 3*), dropping the full-auto option and the folding stock (Holdout raised to -1). Rcl for 3-round-bursts is -3 (or -6 without using the folding font-grip).

The full-auto descendant of the Glock 17. The gun may use a 33 round clip, inceasing loaded weight to 2.5 lbs. Rcl for single shots is still -1 (and ST 9). The compensator system is very good. Use 20-round groups for "Very High RoF" (p. HT78, CII66) to calculate "Hits in a burst" (p. B120).

Rcl for single shots is -1. With a folding stock the MP5K becomes the HK PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) that also accepts a silencer and has a Rcl of -1 and Wt. 6 (all other stats unchanged).

The HP PDW is not identical with the stocked variant of the HK MP5K (above) but a new development. It is a machine pistol similar to the Steyr TMP, but with a folding foregrip and a telescoping shoulder stock, firing a cartridge similar to the 5.7x28mm of the FN Herstal P90. The magazine is in the grip, like with the UZI and the Steyr TMP. This is currently a prototype in the last stages of development (January 2000). Later versions may include a full-auto option with RoF 16, on customer demand. The weapon may be set to fire single shots or three-round bursts, at one burst per pull of the trigger, for a maximum of three bursts per round. Rcl is the same for single shots and for bursts: -1. There is an optional 40-round magazine, with adverse effects on handling: SS +1

Using the foregrip (but not the stock) results in SS 9 and ST 8. Using the stock (with or without the foregrip) results in SS 11, Acc 8, ST 8, Holdout 0. It takes one round to unfold or fold the foregrip or to extend or retract the telescoping stock.  The new 4.6mm cartridge weighs 6.3g/round, that is 72 Rounds/lb. The loaded 20-round magazine weighs 0.4 lb., the loaded 40-round magazine weighs 0.8 lb. The HK PDW with 40-round magazine weighs 3.8 lbs.

Rcl for single shots is -1. Rcl on full-auto while using the folding stock is -3. No fast-draw is possible if the folding stock is to be used. This gun is used by Israeli airline security guards, one concealed in every flight. They use special low penetration "soft" plastic bullets [damage 1d+1; double the DR of anything hit; Rcl -4/-2 without/with folding stock]. Use 20-round groups for "Very High RoF" (p. HT78, CII66) to calculate "Hits in a burst" (p. B120).

This weapon system was designed by Gordon Ingram (gun) and Mitchell Livingston WerBell III (silencer) in 1967 and later produced by Military Armament Corporation (MAC) as the MAC 10. It is a heavy and controllable machine pistol, even more so if fitted with a silencer. Rcl for single shots is -1. Rcl on full-auto while using the folding stock is -2. Note that RoF is 19 not 12 (cyclic rate of 1145 rpm).

Rcl for single shots is -1. There is no folding stock. You may choose between 15-round (0.5 lbs.) 20-round (0.65 lbs.) or 30-round (1 lb.) magazines.

Magnum Pistols

This pump action smoth bore pistol is manufactured by Applied Tactical Technologies Inc. from a Mossberg 500 Cruiser pistol grip shotgun in 12 gauge with a barrel length of 9.5". Use the Guns [Pistol] skill with this weapon but for damage use the GURPS rules on shotguns: p. B119, pp. CII58, p. CII38, and for especially detailed rules see pp. HT17. Look at the GURPS Shotguns (TL7) page for shotgun ammunition. The Cobray "The Rogue" AOW is so similar that the same GURPS statistics may be used. The definition of AOW you can find at the shotguns weapon tables page.

The now out of production AMT Automag V was a single action autoloader with 6.5'' barrel. The stats include extra recoil reduction (p. UTII62). (Note that the picture shows a similar Automag IV; no picture of the Automag V was available.)

At 51cm this a large pistol, firing rifle ammunition from AR15/M-16 magazines. Muzzle blast and noise are monstrous (+3 to hear or spot over the usual modifiers; see under Silencers). Roll against HT when fired indoors without serious ear protection. A failed roll results in temporary Hard of Hearing (as per p. B28) for 1d hours.

For large hands. -4 to Fast-Draw. This is the 6'' barrel version. The statistics are for a version that  includes "Mag-na-porting compensation vents" for extra recoil reduction (as per p. UTII62).

For large hands. -6 to Fast-Draw. This is the 10'' barrel version. The statistics are for a version that  includes "Mag-na-porting compensation vents" for extra recoil reduction (as per p. UTII62).

This .50 caliber, 17'' barrel, one-shot pistol was designed by Bob Steward. The statistics include extra recoil reduction (as per p. UTII62) by the very effective muzzle break (see second picture). Muzzle blast and noise are monstrous (+4 to hear or spot over the usual modifiers; see under Silencers). Roll against HT-1 when fired indoors without serious ear protection. A failed roll results in temporary Hard of Hearing (as per p. B28) for 1d hours.

Generic sawed-off double barrel 12 gauge shotgun without shoulder stock. Legally this is an AOW. The definition of AOW you can find at the shotguns weapon tables page. Use the Guns [Pistol] skill with this weapon but for damage use the GURPS rules on shotguns: p. B119, pp. CII58, p. CII38, and for especially detailed rules see pp. HT17. Look at the GURPS Shotguns (TL7) page for shotgun ammunition. Recoil has no effect on effective skill if both barrels are fired at once but the gun will kick quite hard.

Ruger double-action revolver. The stats are for a version with extra recoil reduction (p. UTII62). -2 to effective skill to hit, unless the hammer is thumb-cocked (RoF 1/2; p. HT72).

The stats are for the version with the 21.3cm (8.38'') barrel with extra recoil reduction (p. UTII62). -2 to effective skill to hit, unless the hammer is thumb-cocked (RoF 1/2; p. HT72).