The Spacepiress of Chaos
Intent: Updating the SSI Dushkal Rifle for CIS use
Image Source: [HERE]
Canon Link: N/a
Permissions: N/a
Primary Source:
Manufacturer:
Affiliation:
- Closed-Market
- M58/AR-D
- No
- Minor
- Slugthrower Components
- Durasteel
Classification: Slugthrower
Size: Large
Weight: Heavy
Ammunition Type:
- .30-06
- 12 Gauge
- Large
- 150 Round Magazine
- 16 Round Tube
- Long-Range
- Average
- High
- High
Undermounted Scattergun / Flechette Launcher
Round-Counter
Padded Shoulder-Butt
Quick Release Clips
Round-Counter
Padded Shoulder-Butt
Quick Release Clips
Undermounted Scattergun / Flechette Launcher - A secondary weapon system mounted directly beneath the primary barrel. Often it is not utilized unless in combat at closer ranges, or when the overall weapon would otherwise be too unwieldy to properly handle (such as in a confined space).
Penetration - The Dushkal Rifle has the possibility of penetrating armor up to 2inches thick due in part to its high stopping power and primary round.
Range - The primary weapon is capable of firing over a long-range, stopping just short of clearing a battlefield.
Slam Fire - The secondary weapon is capable of being slam-fired, in which the operator holds down the trigger and slams the pump mechanism, resulting in a rapid-fire release of its scattergun or flechettes (whichever is loaded).
High Recoil - Even with the padded shoulder butt, the recoil of the weapon has the capability of dislocating a joint or otherwise putting the individual firing the weapon on their ass if they're not prepared for the recoil. This can also limit the primary weapon's usefulness in certain situations, such as close-quarters combat.
Eyeballing - Much like its predecessor, the M58 Dushkal lacks any kind of optical aide to aim and fire the weapon; even lacking so much as rudimentary iron sights.
Cumbersome - Due to the M58 Dushkal effectively being two weapons in one; it is highly unwieldy and takes some getting used in terms of properly carrying the weapon. Individuals that are expected to utilize this weapon undergo extensive training to ensure that they are capable of properly handling the weapon.
Tube Jam - More often than not, the secondary weapon system tends to jam - an occurrence that happens more frequently when it is slam-fired.
Depending on whom you question, the M58/AR Dushkal is either an improvement over its predecessor, or a drawback that just misses the mark that its predecessor hit. With additional features that were lacking in the original Dushkal Assault Rifle, the M58/AR sought to provide additional assistance to the operators of the weapon. This can be seen by the inclusion of a round counter at the rear of the weapon which keeps track of the munitions and produces an audible (albeit minor) alarm when the clip is running low. Additional attention to assisting the operators was put into the inclusion of a padded stock in an attempt to mitigate dislocated shoulders - though this hasn't assisted as much as hoped in the long run. Whereas the newly equipped quick release clips aide in reloading the weapon.
While the newer design attempted to overcome some of the drawbacks of the predecessor, it still has its problems that came along with those updates. Still lacking any form of rudimentary optical aide to aim the weapon, it more than makes up for this with the comparable range of the weapon itself. While the recoil of the weapon remains high, even with an attempt to mitigate this problem with the padded stock - this is due in part to the larger round that the M58 chambers compared to the previous Dushkal Rifle's .308 round. A marked improvement of the predecessor weapon is that the M58's Scattergun/Flechette Launcher is more effective and is capable of being slam fired whereas the previous weapon lacked this feature. However, a problem that often occurs in this instance is that the secondary weapon tends to jam the more frequently it is slam-fired.
And while the weapon remains as cumbersome as ever; still requiring extensive training to properly operate - those that have utilized the original Dushkal rifle still find that the M58 does live up to its predecessor's capabilities. Its versatility on the battlefield shines through by providing those that utilize the weapon with options when it comes to approaching a situation - or when one needs to clear out a small room or trench of an enemy unit.
