Autogun
An Autogun is a chemically powered projectile throwing weapon(a slug thrower), that can be compared to late 20th century fire arms, though it is significantly more powerful, which is why it avoids the title of stubber (which have virtually no improvements on World War II firearms) which are even worse than lasguns (there is not a single part of a suit of flak armor that a rifle sized stubber can pierce at any range). Simply put these weapons use a propellant to accelerate a metal projectile to punch holes in things. It is a significantly older weapon than the Lasgun, and does not see quite as much use due to the Departmento Munitorium - Lasgun Power packs weigh significantly less than autogun magazine and are sustainable (rechargeable via heat, light, or wall outlet). Lasguns are also significantly more accurate and require notably less maintenance than Autoguns, and have no recoil, meaning even the 8 year old baby faced kids and 98 year old dusty seniors the Imperial Guard recruits can fire it straight, so a big reason that Autoguns were phased out was a matter of practicality, though /tg/ rather enjoys musing that the main reason was cost (all that spent ammunition came from somewhere, after all).
In spite of the ammunition problem, the Autogun still sees use throughout the Imperium, and it's removal from official service hasn't stopped it's development, there are dozens of other Autogun models that have been created since, including more-advanced versions that use caseless ammunition. With the most common variety being an assault-rifle sized version formerly used by Imperial Guard regiments, known as the Armageddon-Pattern Autogun. It can fire on semi-automatic, 5-round bursts, or on full-auto and holds 60 rounds in a triple-stacked magazine. Most versions are modded to fire specifically in 5-round bursts, allowing it to achieve 12 bursts per mag. Whilst the Autogun is not hugely damaging, its fire rate is extremely high, allowing it to quite literally chew through body armor at medium range. Autoguns are commonly employed by pirate and rebel groups, Cultists, and Planetary Defense Forces. There is also a single-handed submachine gun (called the Autopistol) which sees considerable use by the aforementioned groups. It is also frequently used by Chaos heretics (and on occasion, traitor guardsmen) and cultists who don't particularly care about accuracy or expenses and wish to be able to make noise and cause death at a distance (the former is done better by an autogun than a lasgun) as they close in to use their swords.
Variants
Heavy Stubber
Well-known is the Heavy Stubber, a heavy machine gun used as a vehicle mount in the guard because 40000+ years hence, it's still damned hard to find a replacement for Legend Weaponsmith John Browning's 50cal (PBUH). Just ask the goddamned Orks.
Assault Cannon
The Assault cannon is essentially a Heavy Stubber with an outrageous rate of fire, meaning it has to have rotating barrels to stop them from melting. It also fires unique, diamond-hard rounds, at significantly increased velocity, resulting in far greater power and penetration. Primarily used by Space Marine Terminators and as anti-infantry weaponry on various vehicles and aircraft.
Sniper Rifle
The term "Sniper Rifle" is fairly loosely used in the Imperium, many Sniper Rifles are simply over-powered Lasguns, but many others are high-velocity slugthrowers. With other more exotic variants firing poisoned darts and other, stranger payloads. All of these variants have pretty much the same effect on the target.
Autocannon
The Autocannon is the big-cheese of the Autogun family, firing enormous shells capable of tearing through bodies like a guillotine through a French aristocrat's neck. Most commonly mounted on vehicles, but also seeing use in Imperial Guard Heavy weapons teams, it possesses a worrying rate of fire, and good armour penetration, proving that even older tech can work when made sufficiently huge. It used to be much better, using what were approximately up-scaled Heavy Bolter shells to literally kill anything, but then grimdark happened and the Mechanicus forgot how to read. You know, business as usual.
Also comes in Reaper variant, which only the Chaos Space Marines get because Assault Cannons were discovered after the Horus Heresy, and everybody Imperial promptly thought they were cooler than the Reaper Autocannon. This is an infantry-portable, twin-linked Autocannon that wants to put its shells in your face at 36" or less. Scary for light vehicles and monsters, the Imperials were right (for once) to switch to the Assault Cannon for infantry fighting.
Gallery
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Autoguns - Better Than Your Crap Flashlights!
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A typical mass produced model.
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Traitor Guardsmen armed with Armageddon-pattern Autoguns and Autopistols. You know you want 'em.
