Boltgun

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Bolt Weapons:

Bolt pistols - Boltguns - Storm bolters - Heavy Bolters - Psycannons - Hurricane Bolters - Vulcan Mega-bolters - Other bolt weapons

BolterTemplate:C

The following information mainly concerns Bolters manufactured by/ for and/ or used by the various human factions and organisations, not for bolters manufactured by Xenos - for the latter please see the corresponding paragraph at the end of the article.

General information

The Boltgun, also commonly referred to the Bolter, is the standard weapon of the Adeptus Astartes and Adepta Sororitas. A 76 caliber weapon, the Boltgun fires self-propelled explosive 'bolts' which explode with devastating effect once it has penetrated its target, effectively blowing it apart from the inside. Finely hand-crafted by Space Marine Forges or the Adeptus Mechanicus, Boltguns are heavy, sturdy weapons with a powerful recoil normal humans would find difficult to handle.Template:C

Religious/ cultural significance

For the Adeptus Astartes and Adepta Sororitas the boltgun is a holy symbol of the Emperor's wrath.Template:C

Imperial Bolter designs

Adeptus Astartes

Note that some of these are only used by specific Space Marine Chapters.

Angelus boltgun

The Blood Angels (and also their successor Chapter) use a wrist-mounted variation of the standard boltgun for their Sanguinary Guard called the Angelus boltgun. It uses Bloodshard shells as ammunition.Template:C This is not to be confused with the Angelus Bolt Carbine which is not a boltgun and not a Space Marine weapon.

Angelus boltgun

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  Angelus boltgunTemplate:C

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  Angelus boltgunTemplate:C

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  Angelus boltgunTemplate:C

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  Angelus boltgunTemplate:C

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  Angelus boltgunTemplate:C

Godwyn pattern

The model currently used by most Space Marines is designated the 'Astartes MK Vb Godwyn pattern'. The Godwyn-pattern bolter has a built-in ammo counter and uses a Sinister/Dexter locking mechanism with a sickle-shaped magazine carrying 30 rounds.^{11 p.11} It fires the standard Astartes .75 calibre bolt, composed of a diamantine tip, depleted deuterium core and mass-reactive detonator, typically in bursts of four rounds.^{11 p.1} Other features include a palm-print sensor for genetic identification,¹³ as well as an integral targeter that links with the Space Marine's autosenses for superior accuracy.¹⁴ It can also be upgraded with weapon accessories such as the M40 Targeting System.

Like other Space Marine weaponry, Astartes boltguns are designed around their superhuman physique. The weight of each weapon would require most humans to use a supporting brace, with hand-grips larger than any normal human could manage. However, even if a normal human were to fire the boltgun, the resulting recoil would rip their arm from its socket.^{5 p.173} Normal humans found to be in possession of even a single Astartes bolt round, much less a boltgun, can expect a swift execution for their crimes.^{5 p.109}

Other Godwyn patterns:

• Astartes Mk IIIa Godwyn Pattern: older version, still used by Dark Angels Chapter.¹²

Godwyn Ultima

Note: due to the ambiguous labelling of the images it is not possible to say if the Minotaurs weapons shown here is a "Godwyn Ultima" or an "Ultima".

The Minotaurs are known to have used Godwyn Ultima bolt weapons during the Badab War - it is unclear if these are Boltguns or Bolt pistols.Template:C The Exorcists used Godwyn-Ultima bolters during this war.Template:C

Godwyn Ultima

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  Godwyn-Ultima with Chainblade attachmentTemplate:C

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  Godwyn-UltimaTemplate:C

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  Godwyn Ultima or Ultima (see above)Template:C

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  Godwyn Ultima or Ultima (see above)Template:C

Hesh-pattern

The Deathwatch uses the Hesh-pattern boltguns since M36. This weapon was originally designed by Magos Cymbry Jamis of the Adeptus Mechanicus in recognition of the Deathwatch's services. The bolters of this pattern are more compact than other weapons of its type and show exceptional craftmanship. Due to their smaller size they are well-suited for fighting in confined spaces and they are also favoured by vehicle crews and by certain Assault Marines. The bolters incorporate an integral folding stock, motion predictor, and preysense sight.Template:C

Hesh-pattern

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  possibly a Hesh-patternTemplate:C

Note: the picture shown is located next to the article about the "Hesh-pattern", but does not have a description confirming that it is this pattern

Mark III boltgun

The Mark IIITemplate:C or MKIII patternTemplate:C boltgun is known to exist as Badab Primaris Manufactura IssueTemplate:C and has been used during the Badab War by the Astral ClawsTemplate:C.

Mark III

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  Mark IIITemplate:C

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  MKIII (Astral Claws approved)Template:C

Mark IV boltgun

Note: it is unknown if and which pattern this weapon would be as it is just referred to as "standard".

The standard model Mark IV (pictured here with a sickle magazine containing 20 bolts) has single-shot and burst fire modes (i.e. firing three bolts in short succession). The bolter also incorporates a palm-print sensor to identify its wielder by its genetic imprint.Template:C

Mark IV

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  standard Mark IVTemplate:C

Nocturne-Ultima

The Salamanders are known to have used Nocturne-Ultima modified boltguns during the Badab War.Template:C

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  Nocturne-Ultima modified (Salamanders)Template:C

Ryza-Ultima Variant

The Star Phantoms are known to have used Ryza-Ultima variant boltguns during the Badab War.Template:C

Ryza-Ultima variant

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  Ryza-Ultima variant (Star Phantoms)Template:C

Ultima

Note: due to the ambiguous labelling of the images it is not possible to say if the weapon shown here is a "Godwyn Ultima" or an "Ultima".

The Minotaurs are known to have used Ultima bolt weapons during the Badab War - it is unclear if these are Boltguns or Bolt pistols.Template:C

Ultima

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  Godwyn Ultima or Ultima (see above)Template:C

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  Godwyn Ultima or Ultima (see above)Template:C

Ultra pattern

The Mk II Ultra Pattern features a Dark-Eye nightscope.Template:C

The Mk IV Ultra Pattern has a 25-round magazine, standard features include ammo-counter and targeter which links with autosenses, and palm-print genetic indentification.Template:C

Mk IV Ultra Pattern

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  Mk II Ultra Pattern with Dark-Eye nightscope (Red Scorpions)Template:C

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  Mk IV Ultra Pattern (Red Scorpions)Template:C

Umbra pattern

The Umbra pattern boltgun was first used in the later years of the Great Crusade and was produced in big quantities.Template:C

The variant known as Umbra Ferrox was mass-produced by ChapterTemplate:C Techmarines to ensure that enough weapons and ammunition were available during the ongoing Horus Heresy.Template:C The difference to the "normal" Umbra pattern is the replacement of the original sickle clip by a box magazine, allowing for a greater ammunition capacity. Also incorporated are a long-range gunsight with additional Target Reciprocator Systems which mesh with the Power Armour's Autosenses.Template:C

Note: contrary to the statement that the "Umbra-Ferrox variant" is different only in the ammunition clips used, other sources show "Umbra-Ferrox patterns" with sickle clips.Template:C

Umbra pattern and Umbra Ferrox variant

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  Umbra pattern manufactured in the Mantis Warriors Chapter forgeTemplate:C

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  Umbra pattern (Executioners)Template:C

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  Umbra pattern with Chainblade attachment (Carcharadons)Template:C

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  Umbra pattern with optional combat blade attachmentsTemplate:C

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  Nocturne modified Umbra-Ferrox pattern with Chainblade attachment (Salamanders)Template:C

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  Umbra Ferrox variant with optional combat blade attachmentsTemplate:C

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  Umbra Ferrox variant with attached combat bladesTemplate:C

Stalker Bolter

The Stalker Bolter is a variant of the standard Boltgun. With an elongated barrel and scope, it is used by Space Marines as either a precision battle rifle or sniper weapon.Template:C

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  Space Marine Stalker BolterTemplate:C

Adepta Sororitas

Godwyn-De'az Pattern

The Godwyn-De'az Pattern boltgun has been the standard-issue weapon for the Battle Sisters since their first formation, and is unchanged due to its superiority to nearly all other boltgun-type weapons.Template:C The sisters also make use of a Sarissa as a blade attachment for their bolters.Template:C

Godwyn-De'az Pattern

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  Godwyn-De'az-patternTemplate:C

Mars Pattern Mark II Scourge Boltgun

The Mars Pattern Mark II Scourge Boltgun is the preferred variant used by the Sisters of Battle of the Order of the Ebon Chalice at the Abbey of Dawn on Iocanthos. The Scourge is equipped with a Sarissa as a combat blade.Template:C

Mars Pattern Mark II Scourge Boltgun

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  Mars Pattern Mark II Scourge Boltgunwith SarissaTemplate:C

Other Boltguns used by Imperial or human factions and organisations

Boltguns usable by mere "mortals" come in various patterns, though they still follow the same basic design philosophy. Despite the fact that they pale in comparison to their larger cousins, their power is still such that they can easily cut a man in two. Boltguns meant for the Imperial Guard are supplied by the Departmento Munitorum.^{5 p. 173}

Locke pattern

The Locke-pattern is a variant of an old Adeptus Arbites design and the most common boltgun design found in the Koronus Expanse.Template:C

Locke pattern

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  Locke patternTemplate:C

Perinetus pattern

The Perinetus Pattern "Solo" Mark II is considered to be heretical by some members of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Its workings are much less sophisticated compared to other boltguns and it can only be operated in single-shot mode. Its lack of an automatic fire mode is made up for by its somewhat longer range, better accuracy and higher reliability of its mechanism. These features make it popular with PDF and rebels alike.Template:C

Perinetus-pattern

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  Perinetus-pattern "Solo" Mark IITemplate:C

More boltgun designs

Due to the fact that in most cases specific boltgun images are not labelled, unnamed designs are collected here, grouped by outward similarity.

Ammunition types

The standard bolts comprise the following components: outer casing, propellant base, main charge, mass reactive detonator cap, depleted deuterium core, diamantine tip.Template:C The calibre of the standard round .75 and it possesses a super-dense metallic core.Template:C

Variants include:

• Bloodshard shells: ammunition used by the Blood Angels for their Angelus boltgun (see above). Its payload of razor-filament is very effective against most armours.Template:C
• Dragonfire Bolts: are used by Sternguard Veterans and release a gout of superheated gas that makes a mockery of cover.⁴
• Hellfire Rounds: have devastating results on organic matter, as the rounds are developed to combat Tyranids.⁴ The core and tip are replaced with a vial of mutagenic acid¹ with thousands of needles that fire into the target upon the shattering of the vial, pumping the acid into the target.
• Inferno Bolts: are designed to immolate their targets and destroy them with superheated chemical fire. The deuterium core is replaced with an oxy-phosphorus gel, known as Promethium.¹ It should be noted that the Chaos Space Marine Thousand Sons have their own similarly-named but unrelated type of inferno bolts, which are actually psychically-bound slugs that release arcane energies; these slugs explode with sorcerous energies upon impact.
• Kraken Pattern Penetrator Rounds:are powerful armour-piercing rounds. The deuterium core is replaced by a solid adamantine core and uses a heavier main charge.¹ Upon impact, the outer casing peels away and the high velocity adamantium needle accelerates into the victim, where the larger detonator propels shards of super hardened metal further into the wound. These are effective against heavily-armoured infantry.
• Metal Storm Frag Shells: are best against multiple lightly-armoured targets. They detonate before impact and spray shrapnel, shredding their victims. A proximity detonator replaces the mass-reactive cap, and the diamantine tip and deuterium core are replaced with an increased charge and fragmentation casing.¹ They are similar to flak rounds and are used against clusters of enemies.
• Psycannon Bolts: are used by the Inquisition, primarily the Ordo Malleus and Grey Knights.^2,3
• Seeker Bolts: are special rounds used by Chaplain Boreas of the Dark Angels. Each handcrafted round contains a minature cogitator capable of steering the bolt towards the heat signature of a target.⁸
• Stalker Silenced Shells: are rounds with low sound signatures, meant for covert fighting and used in conjunction with an M40 targeting system and an extended barrel and stock on a bolter to produce a sniping weapon system. A solidified mercury slug replaces the mass-reactive warhead for lethality at sub-sonic projectile speed.¹ A gas cartridge also replaces both the propellant base and main charge for silent firing.¹
• Tempest Bolts: incorporate tiny plasma shock generators that emit electromagnetic and thermal radiation when the shell detonates. Produced only on Mars, Tempest shells are noted as particularly effective against machines and mechanical targets.^{5 p.148}
• Vengeance Rounds: utilise an unstable flux technology which makes them slightly hazardous to use but makes them very good against armoured targets. In fact, they were originally developed to combat Traitor Marines.⁴

Magazines

The boltgun may have different magazines. These include:

• Sickle - Standard magazine, 20Template:C or 25Template:C or 30Template:C rounds
• Drum - 40-60 rounds, Prone to jammingTemplate:C
• Straight - 12-20 rounds, Easier to loadTemplate:C
• Duplus X - Two sickle magazines strapped togetherTemplate:C

Appearance and sounds

Boltguns make a unique roaring sound when fired, which is caused as the propellant in their shells ignites followed shortly afterwards by an explosion when the bolt detonates upon hitting its target.Template:C

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• Template:C: during (and before) the Horus Heresy the standard organisational unit was the Space Marine Legion. While the term "Chapter" existed to designate a sub-unit of a legion and not Space Marine chapters as they are known in the "present" of the game setting, it is unclear which is meant in this case.

Sources

• Template:C: Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook, p. 60
• Template:C: Codex: Daemonhunters (3rd Edition), p. 18
• Template:C: Codex: Witch Hunters (3rd Edition), pp. 19, 22
• Template:C: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pp. 63, 100
• Template:C: Dark Heresy: The Inquisitor's Handbook, p. 148
• Template:C: Dark Heresy Rulebook checked
• Template:C: Rogue Trader Rulebook checked
• Template:C: The Purging of Kadillus (Novel), pp. 267-268
• Template:C: Rogue Trader: Into the Storm checked
• Template:C: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition)
• Template:C: Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)
• Template:C: Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition)
• Template:C: Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign checked
• Template:C: Warriors of Ultramar (Novel) by Graham McNeill, Ch. 12
• Template:C: Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project, p. 126
• Template:C: Dark Heresy: Blood of Martyrs, p. 114
• Template:C: Forge World product page: SPACE MARINE BOLTER - PHOBOS PATTERN checked
• Template:C: Forge World product page: SPACE MARINE BOLTER - UMBRA PATTERN checked
• Template:C: Forge World product page: SPACE MARINE BOLTER - UMBRA FERROX checked
• Template:C: Games Workshop Product page: Blood Angels Sanguinary Guard checked
• Template:C: Deathwatch: Rites of Battle checked
• Template:C: Index Astartes III
• Template:C: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine checked
• Template:C: Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two
• Template:C: Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One