Manual-Loading Pistols
This page covers Breech Loading, Lever Action, Bolt Action, Muzzle Loading, and Derringer pistols. For more information on how handguns are categorised in H3, see the previous subpage.
American Derringer Model 6
Update #105's first experimental build added several derringers to the game, with the American Derringer Model 6 among them. Two variants are available - a standard version in .357 Magnum, and an engraved "XL" version in (of all things) .45-70 Government; amusingly enough, both of these are, in fact, factory options for the real pistol.
American Derringer Model 6 - .45 Long Colt/.410 bore
Inspecting the Model 6 out in the Hangar. At some point, one really has to question how big you can make a gun and still call it a "derringer".
Looking at the other side reveals a warning that would be very useful if the in-game gun's safety was actually usable.
Flipping the barrels open; the lever just behind the trigger pivots down and forward as the barrels go up and back.
Loading in a pair of .357 Magnum rounds...
...and snapping the barrels shut.
Taking aim at a steel popper target; being a "competition" derringer, the Model 6 has some rather surprisingly good sights.
Becoming the quite possibly the first person in any reality, virtual or otherwise, to ever fire an American Derringer Model 6 from a V-TAC barricade.
With that accomplishment comes spent brass; the Model 6's automatic extractor kicks it out in orderly fashion.
If the standard version's not quite flashy enough, why not try out the engraved, pearl-gripped "XL" variant?
The finish looks quite nice under the bright blue sky of (fittingly enough) the Grillhouse XL scene. Pay no attention to those bulletholes.
Opening up the fancy Model 6, and revealing why the normal version was held so low in its corresponding shot - the uncharacteristically long barrels sweep out a rather wide arc as they open, and are thus liable to eclipse the edge of the screen.
Loading up; largely the same as the version above, but with two .45-70 Government rounds instead. These particular ones are "High Grain" rounds (seemingly hard-cast flat-points), which function as the caliber's
de facto HV round.
Since the previous version's set lacked one, here's a shot of the hammer being cocked. And, since the previous section had one, this set lacks a shot of the barrels being closed.
Aiming at a distant door; apart from the finish (which can, in fairness, impact visibility depending on the background), the sights are the same between the two variants.
The recoil, however, is decidedly different. Even with the extended grip and barrels, there's not much that can be done to tame the kick of a full-powered rifle cartridge coming out of what is, at the end of the day, still a relatively small gun.
Having survived both rounds with a right wrist that's still somehow intact, it's time to celebrate by testing the extractor's mettle. Even upside-down, it rises to the occasion.
Brügger & Thomet VP9
The Brügger & Thomet VP9 was added in the Meatmas 2023 update. Much like the earlier-added Welrod, it is a suppressed bolt-action pistol, though it is notably less silent than the Welrod (as it uses a conventional detachable suppressor, instead of the Welrod's unique interchangeable baffle system) - though also more lethal.
Brügger & Thomet VP9 (later model) - 9x19mm Parabellum
Opening up the next gift box, and discovering a nice, subtle tool of the trade.
The veterinary trade, that is - "VP" stands for "Veterinary Pistol", as its stated purpose is to humanely, quietly put down sick animals.
This, of course, necessitates an 8-round detachable magazine - illness can spread quickly on a farm, after all. Might need to put down several, to stop the red from spreading.
Chambering a round; like the Welrod it's derived from, the VP9 has reference marks (a pair of red dots, in this case) to let the user know when the bolt is properly locked.
Taking aim; the sights are quick to acquire, and have a nice degree of contrast. Some animals have to be put down from a bit of a distance, after all - they may be... dangerous, acting erratic. Out of line, so to speak.
Cycling out a spent case. Should probably pick that up - wouldn't want the...
farm owners, to have to see such a grim reminder of what happened to their beloved
livestock.
Should probably also have put this on first. Don't want to draw too much attention to such... unpleasant business.
There we go, much better. The sights even clear it, too.
This way, nobody will hear a thing when you do what needs to be done. It's nothing personal, mind - just business, putting down
animals that're causing trouble.
Pushing the (animated) magazine release midway through a reload. Probably want to keep a hold of that empty mag - the, uh,
vet's office doesn't want its
doctors leaving things behind. It's terribly unpleasant to think about, and they don't like leaving any reminders about this side of their business - hurts their public image, so they say. Best to just keep their
euthanasia deniable.
COP 357
The full release of Update #85 added a pair of derringers, the more modern (and useful) of which was a COP 357.
Examining the COP in a small, seemingly-endless hallway.
It's a rather small gun, though we haven't actually given you any means of verifying that yet.
Popping the COP's top; note that the locking plate (which also holds the rear sight) has appropriately moved back.
Loading in some .357 Magnum rounds.
Aiming through the surprisingly usable sights...
...and failing a
Voight-Kampff test, with some rather spectacular recoil. Rapid fire is all but entirely pointless.
Dumping out a set of spent cases.
Blasting apart a crate with the COP. This isn't meant to imply that it's exceptionally powerful or anything;
H3's crates just sorta do that.
Flintlock Pistol
Update #81 brought in the game's first muzzle-loading firearm (barring the GP-25, if you want to get pedantic), a .69-caliber Flintlock Pistol of supposed 18th century origin; it uses a completely proprietary code-base (the most complex of any firearm in the game), with a wide variety of possible interactions and results (whether beneficial or otherwise). It is referred to as the "Heavy Flintlock" due to its large caliber being shared by the Brown Bess musket, as opposed to using a smaller "pistol-caliber" ball.
New Land Pattern flintlock pistol - .65 caliber. Somewhat similar to the pistol in-game
Examining the flintlock pistol; unlike the reference image, this one lacks brass fittings, and has a rounded butt.
A simple weapon in appearance and function alike, but a wonderful one to see here nevertheless.
A close-up of the lockplate, showing off the leather-padded screw-jaw used to hold the flint in the hammer (or the cock, if your dedication to vocabulary outstrips your desire not to hear everyone giggling like a middle school biology class), as well as the simple v-spring used to put tension on the frizzen (a word whose meaning will be elaborated on further down the page).
To load the pistol, one must first half-cock the hammer...
...and then grab this thing. Said thing is a paper cartridge, containing a pre-measured charge of powder, a single lead ball, and a note from Mom telling you to have a good first day at school.
After
punching yourself in the face with a VR controller tearing open the cartridge with your teeth, the next step is to drop some powder into the flash-pan, either by tapping the button to drop individual clumps (as attempting to simulate a powdered substance in PhysX would likely cause blackouts across half the county), or by simply upending the cartridge and pouring out powder; the maximum clump count is five. Then, just close up the frizzen with a swipe of the hand (lest the priming powder fall out when the pistol is tipped over), and move to the muzzle.
The rest of the powder can simply be dumped down the barrel.
Along with the rest of the cartridge.
If speed isn't your speed, loose powder is an option, with the source of the Spice being this wooden flask.
The lid's not just for show; this is a mythical Powder Flask of Holding, and as such will continue to produce black powder when tipped over until either the lid is put back into place, or the universe is destroyed by an endless flood of slightly clumpy propellant.
Anyway, this is a lead ball. Keep out of reach of children.
To finish off either reloading method, one must pull the ramrod from the stone...
...and then shove everything into place (to prevent it from falling out, and compress the powder properly for maximum effect). The ramrod makes a tapping noise whenever it bottoms out, with the noise dropping in pitch when the contents can't be pushed any further; interestingly, the maximum depth it can reach depends on the contents of the barrel, with larger amounts of powder/projectiles (both of which can be loaded to whatever degree the user desires, at the risk of jamming in a ball without propellant, getting a squib (a bullet that doesn't have enough energy to leave the barrel), or blowing up the gun).
Finally, just fully cock the hammer, and you're ready to fire.
This image would be captioned "Aiming down the pistol's sights" if it had any.
Upon pulling the trigger, there is first a flash in the flash-pan, caused by the hammer's flint making sparks as it strikes/opens the frizzen, and igniting the powder beneath. The more powder that is placed into the pan, the larger and longer-lasting this flash is, with the only real reason to add more being dramatic effect.
After this second-fractional delay, the main charge goes off, and a .69-inch hole hopefully appears in whatever you were aiming at.
Of course, slamming a small stone into a piece of iron repeatedly isn't going to do wonders for the former, necessitating replacement from time to time (unless you just want to ignore the hammer entirely and set off the priming powder with a strike-anywhere match, which this game also lets you do); to do this, half-cock the hammer, click the hammer's screw to loosen it, remove the old flint, insert a new one, and re-tighten the screw. These steps are all condensed into one screenshot here, because I have a finite amount of patience.
Another flintlock, this time in the Proving Grounds, with its ramrod shoved into the barrel. Why, you ask?
To use as a projectile, of course! (And yes, this Sosig is on fire, as the flintlock is perfectly capable of igniting targets close enough to the muzzle when not loaded with an actual projectile.)
Heckler & Koch P11
The Heckler & Koch P11 was added in the Meatmas 2023 update; this makes it the game's first underwater firearm, though it uses its standard above-water ammunition in-game, effectively making it a simple integrally-suppressed pepperbox.
Heckler & Koch P11 - 7.62x36mm
Opening up another box, and receiving... a pistol grip?
Sure doesn't look like a complete gun, at any rate.
Notably, the P11's safety spawns engaged, unlike most of the game's pistols; the green ring indicates that it's on...
...while the disappearance of this ring means that it's on, provided that "it" is now used in reference to the gun itself.
Yes, "on" is an apt word - the backs of the barrels have brass electrical contacts instead of firing pin holes, while the projection at the bottom of the pistol's grip is a battery. This never runs out in-game, likely due in no small part to the absolutely ridiculous amount of firing you'd have to do to actually drain it.
Sliding the barrel cluster into place. The lever in front of the safety is used to lock them into place, with the semi-circular cutout on the cluster's large rectangular brass lug serving as the interface for this.
Aiming; the simple 3-dot setup is nice and easy to read - important when you're working in dark, murky waters. No water around here except the frozen variety, though, so that'll have to do.
Attempting to shoot some of said frozen water out of the sky; this attempt is foiled by the tree's hitbox. And definitely not just poor aiming skills and a failure to realize just how slowly this thing's projectiles move. Just the hitbox, I swear.
Taking a look at the muzzles in rather ill-advised fashion; each barrel comes with a foil seal to keep water out, which is broken when the relevant round is fired.
As such, once you've had your five, the whole barrel cluster ceases to be of use - you can either drop it, or ship it back to H&K for reloading.
Heizer Defense DoubleTap
The Heizer Defense DoubleTap was the first weapon to be added to the Meatmas 2020 Advent Calendar event, specifically the 9x19mm ported version.
Heizer Defense DoubleTap - 9mm Non ported
The DoubleTap in its crate, with an
M1911A1 for scale. It is referred to in-game as the "Doubledown Derringer", or "DDD" for short. Given the weapon's date of introduction (December 1st), and the game's frequent use of crass humor, it wouldn't be surprising if this was a reference to the
other DDD.
Taking a look up close, one can see that this version features a ported barrel.
And looking on the other side reveals that the release for the barrels is ambidextrous.
Operating the Doubletap is near identical to the earlier-added
Model 95, apart from not needing to cock the hammer.
The scene provides the player with two +P API rounds, which gives the diminutive pistol a boost in viability.
Taking aim at one of the new Junkbot enemies; the small gutter-sight on the derringer makes anything but point-blank shots a challenge, but at least these bots are unarmed.
When the glowing red can on the back of the Junkbot's head is shot, the entire thing immediately falls apart.
Having spent the second shot on another Junkbot, the derringer is now empty.
Heizer Defense PAK1
The Heizer Defense PAK1 made its media debut in Update #102's first experimental build, going by the name "PK1" in-game.
Heizer Defense PAK1 - 7.62x39mm
Nope, that caliber note isn't a typo; this thing really exists, and it's actually chambered in 7.62x39mm. Hence the name - it's short for "
Pocket
AK".
The other side is much the same, so a pull of the weapon's somewhat long double-action trigger has been added for variety.
Just like its double-barreled cousin above, the PAK1's barrel pops open for loading with a push of the button on either side. A forward push, to be precise.
Loading in a round not at all suitable for this length of barrel; the green tip denotes a tracer. Just 'cause.
Unaware of its own absurdity, the diminutive pistol accepts it without complaint; the automatic extractor sits right in the round's extractor groove, just as it ought to.
Aiming at a large window; aside from the rather tiny sights, the main thing worth noting here is just how impressively thin the PAK1 is. Sure, it's a pocketable derringer, but it's still chambered for an intermediate rifle cartridge.
As one would expect out of a sub-4" barrel slinging a round meant for something at least 4 times that length, there's a considerable amount of muzzle flash...
...and a not-insubstantial amount of recoil. Enough frames passed between these two screenshots for the round in question to hit its mark; a great deal of effort went into making the window respond in kind, freely breaking into a series of shards along cracks that radiate out from a single impact point.
Excitedly cracking the PAK open to reload and continue the demonstration, before remembering that that was the only round provided.
But hey, if it's a shattered window you're after, you can at least take solace in the fact that there's more than one way to break glass with a gun.
High Standard Derringer
Added in the first experimental build of Update #105, the High Standard Derringer is the game's first derringer chambered in .22 Magnum, and only its third weapon (and its second "real" one) to use the round at all.
High Standard Derringer, white plastic grips - .22 Magnum
Giving the Derringer a nice close look; the markings are mostly accurate, sans the "HIGH STANDARD" trademark and logo on the barrels (with the "DERRINGER" text below it being shifted up to take its place). Its formal model designation is "DM-101" (one of 3 models produced - the earlier D-100 and contemporary D-101 were available only in .22 LR); the game simply calls it the "HS22".
Seeing as the right side of the barrel block is, in reality, only marked with the manufacturer's information (as shown in the reference image), the only marking on this side is the serial number on the frame - "074283".
Popping open the HS22; the game's derringers were upgraded in this update, with interpolation between the open and closed states, and animated extractors where appropriate.
The .22 Magnum round itself was likewise updated with a new model; many of the loadings are now spitzer-pointed, and use non-heeled bullets.
Aiming; for being a derringer, the High Standard's sights are surprisingly usable. Granted, they're not exactly being held to their manufacturer's name, but still.
Firing off a tracer; while .22 Magnum isn't the most powerful round out there, it's got some decent pep to it - especially for a gun this small. Also note the red mark on the floor - this isn't a spark or a ricochet, but the reflection of the tracer on the well-polished floor.
Repeat that process one more time, and this is the logical result. The upgraded .22 Magnum model features burn marks on the case; while not visible here, they also have struck primers.
"IPSICK 2011"
Added in Update #95, the "IPSICK 2011" is an M1911-pattern racegun, visually reminiscent of the STI's 2011 series; in keeping with the update's theme of "cursed guns", it is a rather exaggerated-looking example of such a pistol, with purple wrap-around grips, a bright red C-More-style "YOLOgraphic" sight, a titanium nitride-coated barrel, and a multi-colored stack of daisy-chained compensators about as long as the entire slide. Furthermore, instead of being a mag-fed semi-auto as one would expect, it is a single-shot break-action pistol. Chambered in .50 BMG.
STI Grand Master 2011 with C-More red-dot sight - .38 Super. Visually similar to the in-game pistol.
Heading out to the range for some IPSC practice, and taking a look at the fancy new racegun.
A closer view of the markings; note the Bohr-style atom model in place of the STI logo on the grips, the "Z-BORE" marking on the sight mount (an obvious spoof of "C-More"), and the rather interesting model designation of "2112".
Attempting to shove a magazine into the pistol's flared magwell is met with rather limited success, since said magwell isn't actually open...
...not to mention the fact that that isn't how any of this works at all.
Taking a closer look at all this nonsense only reveals more; aside from the fact that the serrated magazine release, extended beavertail, and slide racking handles are all now pointless (given its position, the slide stop lever is presumably used to break the pistol open), there's also the fact that the weapon's fancy flat-faced match trigger (which has the silhouette of a normal 1911
cut into it) pivots instead of sliding linearly.
Apprehensively holding up a .50 BMG tracer round, as if afraid that this will actually work.
The pistol accepts it without complaint.
Cocking the hammer; this has to be done manually with each shot; the IPSICK's manual of arms is much like the earlier-added
Thompson Center Arms Contender.
Aiming through the permanently-affixed "YOLOgraphic" sight very quickly shows the user where it gets its name. For reference, the dot in the center of the second "O" is the actual aiming point.
Firing the pistol produces less recoil than one might expect, thanks in part to the massive dry-erase-marker-sword of compensators on the end; a side effect of this is that the muzzle flash completely obscures the user's view of more or less everything.
Dumping out a spent case. Was this shot taken on a whim? Or was it meticulously tried and retried, time and time again, until a perfect frame was captured? You'll never know. Unless you check the page's edit summary, that is.
Mossberg Brownie
The Mossberg Brownie was added in Update #105's first experimental build, marking its first ever media appearance; it is referred to as the "Blondie", in keeping with the game's proclivity towards food-related puns (blondies being the non-chocolate counterpart of brownies).
Mossberg Brownie - .22 Long Rifle
Taking a
really close look at the Brownie, showing off the spoofed markings - it was apparently made by "O.F. BOSSMERG & DAUGHTERS" out of "NEWTON, BOS U.S.A".
The pistol's other side; while the trademarks on the other side are obfuscated, the patent date over here is completely normal.
Popping open the Brownie, and getting a good view of the extractor. This is a non-standard part - the original Brownie design had no extractor at all, instead featuring a slot for a removable sheet-metal ejector rod (the small rectangle on the top-left side of the frame, visible in the first image, is the end of this).
Loading in some .22 LR hollowpoints - these are the newer models, with more appropriate features (including proper heeled bullets) and a less glossy finish.
Snapping the barrels (and the trigger mechanism) shut. Oddly, the breech latch seems to be missing; given that this is the component which holds the pistol shut, this is understandably a bit worrying.
This conspicuously-absent component also explains the uncharacteristically open, clear sight picture - these would be decent sights for a modern handgun, nevermind a .22 derringer from 1920. The "rear sight notch" here is actually the channel that the breech latch is supposed to sit in; the real pistol's latch has a shallower groove in it that serves as a rear sight instead.
Switching to dominant-eye aiming, and trying to score some Brownie points.
Cracking the Brownie open again after firing all 4 rounds, showing off the proper struck primers of the new .22 LR model. It also shows off...
...the automatic extractor. It may not be a standard feature, but it sure does a heck of a job speeding up reloads.
All less-than-okay jokes aside, the full release of Update #107 added the missing barrel latch.
It even works! Also visible here is the rotary striker, another once-missing piece that was added in the same update.
Sadly, this does make the sight picture a little less clear. A worth sacrifice in the name of making the gun actually work properly.
Remington 1866 Derringer
The second derringer added with the release of Update #85 was an ornately-decorated Remington 1866 Derringer, going by its alternate name of "Model 95" in-game. Holding just two manually-indexed rounds of the rather anemic .41 Short cartridge (with poor accuracy to boot), the Remington holds the somewhat dubious honor of being quite possibly the least useful firearm in the game - while the the earlier-added Volcanic Repeater does slightly less damage per shot, it has fourfold the capacity and enough accuracy to put all eight of those rounds into one side of a barn, a claim the Model 95 can't make in complete honesty.
Remington 1866 Derringer with engravings and pearl grips - .41 RF
We weren't kidding when we said "ornately decorated" - the gold-inlaid engravings are intricate, detailed, and overall quite nice-looking.
Even if you have to hold the gun pretty close to your face to really see them.
Opening up the derringer; holding it like this is generally recommended, unless you enjoy loading rounds in blindly and pointing both muzzles at your own face.
Loading in a couple of .41 Shorts.
Cocking the hammer, an easy step to forget when you're busy swearing about how bad your luck with the Take & Hold weapon pool is.
Aiming the pistol at a watermelon, and...
...yeah, we weren't kidding about the whole "poor accuracy" bit either.
Engaging the target from a derringer-suitable range (read: within loogie-hocking distance) produces more satisfactory results.
Dumping out the two spent cases; with the round fired only being a .41 Short, the watermelon made a full recovery in record time.
With the addition of a re-imagined Meatmas Snowglobe scene in Update #106 came this - just beyond the snowglobe itself lies a giant-sized version of the Model 95. Or rather, a normal-sized one, since the entire map takes place inside a snowglobe on a coffee table.
The derringer is, interestingly enough, fully-modeled; you can rent out the firing pin channels for $600.00 a month plus utilities. It's not a bad deal, as long as you can put up with all the people shooting
James Bond intro sequences in your driveway.
The homeowners would later report hearing
"Rules of Nature" playing softly from somewhere in the room.
Remington Rolling Block Model 1871 Navy
The Remington Rolling Block pistol is one of the available firearms in-game, added through Update #32; with the release of two additional Rolling Blocks (both rifles) in Update #91, the pistol got a slight rework in the form of a slight change to its controls (going from swipes to clicks on the user's touchpad/joystick to cock the hammer and open/close the action) and a rescaling of its model.
Remington Rolling Block Cavalry - .50
A pair of Rolling Block pistols on a table.
Taking a good look at the pistol.
The other side. The lighting at this angle gives a good view of the somewhat worn appearance, which is to be expected of a >150-year-old handgun.
Loading the Rolling Block is a rather involved process; it starts with cocking the hammer...
...loading in a (proprietary) .50 caliber black-powder cartridge...
...and finally closing the breech.
Aiming the Rolling Block...
...and firing it, producing an impressive cloud of smoke in the process. Such is expected of black-powder firearms.
Ejecting a spent case from the pistol.
The newly-rescaled Rolling Block, in a distinctly less serious-looking setting.
Loading a round into the pistol, which should hopefully give you some idea of how its size has changed. Or maybe it doesn't, in which case you'll just have to take our word for it.
Sharps Model 1C
The Sharps Pepperbox, more specifically the Model 1C variant, was one of the derringers added in the first experimental release of Update #105; it is the first firearm in the game chambered for the concurrently-added .22 Short cartridge.
Sharps Model 1C - .22 Short
Admiring the game's second quad-barreled derringer. Or the first, depending on which timeline you're talking about.
The near-identical opposite side; bar the pins and screws (and the markings being written the other way), the Sharps is pretty much completely symmetrical.
Opening up the barrel cluster - while most derringers are break-action, the Sharps uses a less common sliding-barrel system.
Loading in a quartet of .22 Shorts. Copper-coated hollowpoints are a fair bit more modern than the Model 1C (or any of Sharps' pepperboxes, really), but they work. (In-game, at least - the IMFDB makes no claim that loading modern ammunition in a brass-framed gun from the 1860s will result in anything good.)
Taking the opportunity to look down the barrels of a loaded firearm, revealing the fully-modeled rifling. Hey, at least it technically can't fire in this state.
Sliding the barrels closed, and quietly wondering if an underbarrel variant would be feasible. It just seems like a good fit,
for some reason.
Cocking the hammer - the lights haven't gone out, this is just a different range booth.
More specifically, it's a range booth that the RSO isn't paying attention to, hence why the targets are placed on the shooting bench and made out of glass. The sights aren't much to look at, but on a gun like this, they're not really meant to be.
Opening up an already-opened glass bottle even more.
With all 4 bottles' entropy successfully increased, the gun runs empty. Being essentially a shorter .22 LR (or rather, the .22 LR being a longer version of a longer version of it), the .22 Short shares the same details, including the scorched case neck and struck primer.
Signal 9 Defense Reliant
Known simply as the "S9R", the Signal 9 Defense Reliant derringer makes its media debut in H3, courtesy of Update #105's first experimental build. The in-game weapon is chambered in .32 ACP, and uniquely includes the real weapon's unusual feature of a spare speedloader in the bottom of the grip, along with its integrated underbarrel (or rather, under-barrels) laser sight.
Signal 9 Defense Reliant - .32 ACP
Examining the Reliant. Being shaped like it is, it's somewhat reliant on other objects to provide a sense of scale, as not shown here.
It's also reliant on a right-side view to show any markings whatsoever; rather than being a copyright-sensitive sanitization, this is accurate to the real thing. Not like it'd be necessary to remove the trade dress anyway; Signal 9 Defense isn't in business anymore.
Operating the weapon is dead-simple; apart from the trigger, it's only reliant on one control - the little catch on the side that holds the barrels in place.
Loading the pistol, courtesy of one of its proprietary 4-round speedloaders; it's not reliant on these, but they do make the process faster.
Shutting the barrels; this can be done with a simple push of the touchpad/joystick, for those who don't want to be reliant on dubiously-reasonable gun-flicking.
For those reliant on a greater volume of fire than a 4-shot derringer, a spare speedloader can be stored in the base of the grip; this doubles as a finger rest, and brings the weapon's profile into line with the reference image. Coding this was apparently quite a task - code-wise, the gun apparently thinks this is a magazine that it can't feed from.
Aiming at an IPSC-style target; the sights are a typical modern 3-dot style - not what one would usually associate with a derringer, but good for those who've become reliant on the high-contrast irons of most modern pistols.
For quicker point-shooting, there's also the integrated laser. It's helpful, but try to avoid becoming reliant on it - lasers won't always be available, especially for those who use a variety of different guns.
Sending off a couple rounds. While its lack of a self-loading action does make it a bit lighter, and less reliant on consistent ammo and a strong grip for reliable cycling, it does make the recoil somewhat stouter than a typical .32.
Popping the gun open; thankfully, it has an automatic extractor, so it's not reliant on slower, fiddlier methods of ejection like manual ejector rods or well-sharpened fingernails.
Throwing in the spare grip-stored speedloader; you'd do well to get this process down pat, especially if you're not reliant on spawn-locking for spare ammo. Note the bronze-colored bit below the barrels; this is the back end of the laser.
Tossing the speedloader up for some impromptu target practice; it'd be an unenviable situation to be reliant on a gun like this for shooting a small, fast-moving target, but the skill's something better to have and not need than need and not have. Not sure it's worth the cost of an almost-certainly-unobtainium speedloader for a no-longer-produced gun, though.
Also, this should go without saying, but if you're planning on trying this trick, you'd best make sure you're not dependent on that particular range for target practice, because you're probably getting kicked out.
...what?
Thompson Center Arms Contender
The 12th alpha build of Update #52 added a Thompson Center Arms Contender pistol chambered in .45-70 Government, with a curious combination of a wooden forearm and a synthetic Pachmayr grip. Interestingly, it uses the same code-base as the earlier-added Orion Flare Gun, due to the near-identical manual of arms.
Thompson Center Arms Contender with Pachmayr grip - .45 LC / .410 bore. Similar to the in-game gun.
When faced with the threat of a giant evil hotdog trying to monetize Christmas, always keep your handcannon handy.
Loading in a jacketed hollow-point .45-70 round. Several other types were added as well, including soft-points, wadcutters, and solid-brass Lehigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator rounds.
Aiming; the Contender in-game is meant to be used with optics, and as such doesn't actually have any iron sights.
This doesn't actually prevent you from hitting your target, however, as the headless fellow in the bottom-left of the shot can attest to.
Triple Action Thunder
The Triple Action Thunder was added on Day 4 of the Meatmas 2020 Advent Calendar event. It is the fourth pistol chambered in .50 BMG added to the game, and the first with a real-world counterpart.
Triple Action Thunder - .50 BMG
For copyright reasons, the gun's name is abbreviated to "TA Thunderer", despite the Thunder existing only as a prototype that failed to find a manufacturer.
It really is an achievement when the Thunder
isn't the most unorthodox pistol to be added to your game.
In case it wasn't driven home how ridiculous this thing is, see how it compares in size to a 1911 pistol.
Loading the Thunder requires opening up the unique "scissor breech" in the rear.
This should also drive home how improbable the game's other .50 BMG pistols really are; the enormous bulk towards the rear of the pistol is taken up by the Thunder's massive nitrogen recoil dampener, which renders the recoil
somewhat manageable.
Taking aim with the Thunder's built in notch sights against the Static Drone enemies in the new Meatmas scene.
Firing the Thunder predictably yields a lot of recoil. Yet despite the powerful round, the drone's armor is too strong.
Emptying the spent casing requires opening the breech block and dropping the casing out.
To meet this challenge, we're going to need some... assistance.
The drone's weak spot, these small red triangles, are tough to hit from a distance. But you'll want to be shooting from a distance...
...as the drones explode on death. Or if you get too close. Either way, the Thunder is not to be underestimated.
Volcanic Repeater
The Volcanic Repeater is one of the firearms added in the Wurstworld update. It's based on an early Smith and Wesson produced Navy model, with iron frame over the later brass frame, and is chambered for .41 caliber "Rocket Ball" rounds, which are (correctly) rather anemic.
Volcanic Repeating Arms "Navy" Pistol - .41 Rocket Ball
While out in Wurstworld, you have to admire the detail in the Volcanic.
Opening the Volcanic's magazine tube. A notable error is that the follower tab (the small projection sticking off of the end of the tube) is always in the pushed-forward position, meaning that there is nothing actually pushing the rounds in the magazine towards the action.
Loading in some .41 caliber rounds...
...which, fortunately enough, do show up in the tube.
Chambering a round in the Volcanic.
Taking aim with the Volcanic's rather small sights.
Flip-cocking the Volcanic. This is one of two ways that the weapon can be used in-game; the other is holding it with two hands and working the action normally, which is much more practical, but much less cool-looking.
Welrod Mk IIA
The long-requested Welrod was added on day 13 of the Meatmas 2020 Advent Calendar event. It is the game's first bolt-action pistol that isn't a chopped down rifle, and one of the only known media depictions of the Welrod that accurately depicts its use of replaceable wipes that degrade with use; this is reflected in both the firing sound (with the first shot on a fresh set of wipes being near-totally silent apart from the firing pin, and the tenth being roughly as loud as an ordinary suppressed pistol) and the model of the baffles (which visibly wear out over time).
Welrod Mark IIA - .32 ACP
Opening Bunker A-13's weapon case reveals a seemingly-random assortment of items, none of which look particularly weapon-like.
Examining the rather unassuming pistol; its not-very-gun-like appearance is deliberate, as the Welrod was meant to be an inconspicuous weapon for resistance fighters and covert operatives in occupied Europe.
Purportedly, it could either be hidden in a bag of various tools without catching anyone's eye as an obvious gun; if asked about specifically, it could be handwaved as a bike pump, or something of the sort.
Opening up the Welrod's bolt; lacking an obvious bolt handle, the bolt's knurled rear surface has a notch that lines up with a marking on the receiver tube, to let the user know when the bolt is (or, in this case, isn't) properly locked.
Loading in one of the distinctive rubber-covered magazines; these are proprietary, but appear to have been based around
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless mags. They also form the Welrod's grip, and in doing so make it look far more like an actual gun. Or, at least, a small child's drawing of an actual gun.
Chambering a .32 ACP round.
Aiming at a Static drone just outside the bunker; the Welrod's sights are rudimentary, but usable within the ranges that it's supposed to be used in. The real weapon's irons featured tritium inserts, though these are missing from most currently-documented examples, and may have simply lost their radioactivity anyways.
Firing; this produces very little recoil and almost no sound, so the only real indication that anything has happened is the bright light emanating from the drone. Which, incidentally, means that it's about to explode.
Working the bolt to eject a spent casing, as a Hardened drone comes to investigate; being sound-sensitive, it looks in completely the wrong direction.
Using the Welrod for its intended purpose (i.e. silent, near-point-blank elimination of sentries - it even had a recessed muzzle for the express purpose of firing the gun while pressing it into a target); even if they can't recognize the sound of one of their compatriots' heads coming apart as a cause for alarm, doing this to groups is still not a great idea.
Checking on the condition of the suppressor in about the most ill-advised manner possible; a mag or two will leave the orange rubber wipes torn to the point of near-uselessness. As mentioned, this makes the gun louder, though not by any means loud (since the suppressor also contains conventional metal baffles, and it is still a manually-operated gun firing a small, subsonic cartridge).
To replace these wipes, one must first remove the end of the suppressor...
...and then pull out the baffle/wipe stack. One can also simply fire the gun with the endcap removed, causing the stack to come out on its own (as shown here); given that this wastes a round, throws the stack onto the floor, and makes a rather loud noise, doing so isn't recommended. Especially not in the presence of the aforementioned sound-sensitive Hardened drone.
Incidentally, the weapon can still be fired in this state (i.e. with the suppressor's innards removed); doing so gives the weapon its only real opportunity to produce a relatively normal-sounding gunshot, and about the closest thing it can manage to a normal muzzle flash.
Preparing to insert a fresh stack. Note that the wipes (the orange rubber disks) are completely solid; this is correct, as part of the Welrod's famous quietness comes from the fact that it fires straight through these wipes, causing them to partially self-seal for the first few shots (and thus allowing less propellant gas to escape).
"Whizzbanger"
A weapon that vehemently resists all attempts at conventional classification, the "Whizzbanger" is arguably the strangest addition brought along by the 2019 April Fools' Day update - and that's saying something for an update that also added Sosigs with glowing red clown noses that bleed confetti. Based on a Pimp My Gun photo believed to have originated from 4chan, the Whizzbanger consists of an RIS foregrip, attached to which are a pair of scope mount-esque rings in front of a spring-loaded firing pin, meant to be struck with a provided mallet (though just about anything - other objects, walls, enemies, etc. - will also do the job). To top it all of, the cartridge of choice for this monstrosity is, of all things, .50 BMG (which is presumably why it sits with the anti-materiel rifles in the item spawner). Update #71 furthered this insanity by adding a 3rd, smaller ring to the front of the device, and allowing it to take attachments. Including suppressors.
The Pimp My Gun image that the Whizzbanger was based on.
See, 4chan, this is why we can't have nice things.
The other side of the Whizzbanger. Honestly, it's just in the pistol section because we can't think of a better place to put it. Maybe it should just get its own category.
Contemplating how on Earth to shove a .50-caliber tracer round into the ring mounts.
With that issue solved, the next thing to contemplate is
why. Unfortunately,
Jeff Goldblum's
Jurassic Park quote has already been used on this page, as it would have summed this device up perfectly...
Never before has a firearm's hammer been so aptly named. Or a poor Sosig so completely oblivious of what's about to happen to it.
Though, granted, one has to feel just as bad for the person holding the damned thing. And no, this isn't a muzzle flash, because the term "muzzle flash" implies the existence of a muzzle, which implies the existence of a barrel.
A couple frames later, and the kick of an unsupported .50 BMG going off attached to little more than a lightweight handle kicks in. Not every day that somebody's cause of death is "decapitation by torso disintegration".
Popping the somehow-not-blown-apart spent case out of the Whizzbanger, and taking a moment to seriously think about the decisions that have led us all to this moment. So many mistakes...
...so what's another on the pile?
Pointing a
Gepard PDW at the monstrosity; not to rid the world of it, mind you, but to use it: another feature added to the Whizzbanger in Update #71 was the ability to hit the firing pin with bullets fired from other weapons. Rube Goldberg machines, anyone?
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