SPG pistol (Self-Powered Gauss)

BARD PAPER: VERA5031

A few weapons of this kind has been found from free-traders operating in rimward of Terra. The origin and manufacturer is currently unknown, but laboratory tests indicate that the weapons have been recently manufactured. Military researchers have named the pistols "5.56 mm SPG Mark 1", "5.56 mm SPG Mark 2" and "7.62 mm SPG Mark 3".

The Mk.1, Mk.2 and Mk.3 are all compact self-loading gauss pistols with grip magazines. The interesting feature in these weapons is their unconventional ammunition. Instead of using gauss darts and magazine battery, the pistols use steel-jacketed bullets which each contain a small battery.

When a round is chambered, the battery is discharged into accumulator which in turn will power the magnetic accelerator. When trigger is pulled, the spent battery is fired as projectile.

This method has some advantages and disadvantages:

Projectiles are more expensive and difficult to manufacture than simple steel or plastic darts.
Single dud round will cause stoppage, so the weapon must have ejection/extraction mechanism for clearing the stoppage.
External power is not required for firing. It is possible to build SGP weapons without magazine batteries.

The SPG pistols are obviously of Solomani origin, since 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm projectiles have been used in Terra before 19th century AD. Using an obsolete Terran measurement system, the 5.56 mm projectile converts into 0.22 inch (".22 calibers"), and 7.62 mm converts onto 0.3 inch (".30 calibers").

Mk.1 and Mk.3 are self-loading pistols, while Mk.2 is selective-fire version of Mk.1.

5.56 mm SPG Mark 1

Weapon Details

Tech Level: TL-14

Ammo : 5.56mm /L3 self-powered gauss projectile

Muzzle Energy: 1519 joules, required energy: 2430 joules

Weapon Length: 12.3 cm

Weapon Weight: 0.798 kg loaded, 0.622 kg empty, with no magazine

Weapon Price: Cr 207

Magazine Weight: 0.177 kg loaded, 0.063 kg empty

Magazine Price: Cr 1 (83-round grip magazine)

Ammo Price: Cr 0.1 (Cr 10, 0.14 kg for box of 100 rounds)

Ammo Weight: 1.368 grams per round

Features: Hollow pistol grip, iron sight.

Ammo	ROF	DamDice	Pen Val	Bulk	Magaz	SS	Burst	S Range
5.56-mm SPG	SA 5	3	1-Nil	0	83	4	-	20 (19.5)

Notes: Adding telescopic or electronic sight drops the recoil to 3 and increases the short range to 30-40 m.

7.62-mm SPG Mark 3

Weapon Details

Tech Level: TL-14

Ammo : 7.62mm /L3 self-powered gauss projectile

Muzzle Energy: 3911 joules, required energy: 6257 joules

Weapon Length: 13.5 cm

Weapon Weight: 1.201 kg loaded, 1.021 kg empty, with no magazine

Weapon Price: Cr 239

Magazine Weight: 0.18 kg loaded, 0.067 kg empty

Magazine Price: Cr 1 (32-round grip magazine)

Ammo Price: Cr 0.25 (Cr 25, 0.36 kg for box of 100 rounds)

Ammo Weight: 3.5226 grams per round

Features: Hollow pistol grip, iron sight

Ammo	ROF	DamDice	Pen Val	Bulk	Magaz	SS	Burst	S Range
7.62-mm SPG	SA 5	4	1-2-Nil	0	32	4	-	30 (31.9)

Expanded TNE data
Pistols DV (Pen) Recoil Range Bulk TL Mass ExtMag ROF Mag Price

5.56 SPG M1 3 (1-Nil) S:4,B:- 20 m 0 14 0.8 kg 0.2 kg SA 5 83 207

5.56 SPG M2 3 (1-Nil) S:3,B:9 20 m 0 14 0.9 kg 0.2 kg 5 83 273

7.62 SPG M3 4 (1-2-Nil) S:4,B:- 30 m 0 14 1.2 kg 0.2 kg SA 5 32 239

Expanded TNE data
Pistols	DV (Pen)	Recoil	Range	Bulk	TL	Mass	ExtMag	ROF	Mag	Price
5.56 SPG M1 3	(1-Nil)	S:4,B:-	20 m	0	14	0.8 kg	0.2 kg	SA 5	83	207
5.56 SPG M2 3	(1-Nil)	S:3,B:9	20 m	0	14	0.9 kg	0.2 kg	5	83	273
7.62 SPG M3 4	(1-2-Nil)	S:4,B:-	30 m	0	14	1.2 kg	0.2 kg	SA 5	32	239

Notes: The SGP (Self-powered Gauss Projectile) consists of a bullet-shaped steel jacket and a fast discharge battery. The battery takes up 75% of the total projectile volume, and it is discharged before firing to power the magnetic accelerator.

The accumulator (HPG or functionally equivalent technology) is placed under accelerator in front of the trigger guard. This design makes the gun very short. In Mk.3 the accumulator quite large and the gun has knuckle bow instead of trigger guard.