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Autopistol

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(Redirected from Auto-Pistol)

The autopistol is an automatic pistol which fires in short bursts. Essentially it is a smaller, one-handed version of the autogun. It uses caseless ammunition and has roughly the same potential to kill as a laspistol - in terms of pure tactical effectiveness in combat, the difference between the two is that the laspistol is less accurate at long range than the autopistol. Since the release of Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex), the autogun has been removed from use due to a lack of distinction between it and the laspistol.

Because it is less technologically advanced, it benefits from being easier to produce on low-tech worlds. It is popular among hive gangs throughout the Imperium.

The autopistol works by using a solid hammer to ignite a chemicaly combustable propellant, expelling the solid projectile through the barrel. The reactive force of the bullet's expulsion returns the breech, loads a futher bullet, re-cocks the mechanism and (providing the trigger is still depressed) fires a futher round until the magazine is empty or the trigger is released.

Some regiments, including the Cadian 8th, often equip their troops with autopistols as sidearms, improving their combat firepower. In other quarters, it is felt that only officers should be equipped with pistol weaponry, so such equipment is reserved for soldiers of and above Lieutenant