Slugthrowers utilize explosive chemical compounds to propel physical projectiles, or slugs, at high velocity and were the basis for the design of the first blasters long ago.  Unlike blaster bolts which not only dissipate after reaching maximum range, but do not drop in height while in flight, slugs can continue past their maximum range, but begin dropping immediately after leaving the slugthrower barrel.  The science of projectile flight like slugs and artillery shells is known as ballistics and is covered in great detail in the Artillery Course.  Disadvantages of slugthrowers include:

• Complex ballistics calculations are required to hit long range targets, due to the "drop" of the slug in flight.
• They are based on primitive technology so ammunition and replacement parts may be expensive and difficult to locate on modern worlds.
• Due to the solid physical nature of their ammunition, slugthrowers have a very limited ammo capacity.
• Slugs are easily defeated by modern armor.  Stormtrooper armor is impervious to most slugthrower rounds.
• Slugthrowers have many mechanical moving parts and can be difficult to repair.
• Projectile slugs typically inflict less damage than blaster bolts

Despite these drawbacks, slugthrowers can offer significant advantages over blasters:

• Parts and ammunition are plentiful on primitive worlds.
• Slugthrowers typically have greater range than comparable blasters.
• Slugthrower ammunition is available in a variety of special loads, creating great versatility.
• Slugthrowers are less susceptible than blasters to humidity, corrosion, and static discharge and can function in hostile environments such as radiation zones with no ill effects.
• Slugs are invisible in flight and do not give away a shooter's position like a blaster bolt.
• Slugthrowers can be silenced, turning them into ideal covert weapons.

The above table gives the four rates of slugthrower fire, how many shots are expended with each pull of the trigger, and common slugthrowers these modes are available on.  Note that single-shot black powder weapons are the most primitive of slugthrowers and require reloading after every shot, while semi-automatic slugthowers possess a limited internal magazine.

Slugthrowers can be loaded with a variety of ammunition types, depending on the desired effect and nature of the target.  Different types of rounds may be mixed in a single magazine.  This is common with bounty hunters who may load several mercy rounds, followed by standard or armor piercing rounds for a more lethal response.

COMMON SLUGTHROWERS:

Black Powder Pistols are the most primitive type of slugthrower.  Rather than relying on an internal magazine, each shot must be loaded from the muzzle.  The primitive chemical propellant, black powder, is first inserted and compacted, followed by the slug projectile.  With this method a skilled operator can fire two rounds per minute at an effective range of 20 meters.  Considered antiques by most of the galaxy, these weapons are only encountered in private collections and the most backwater worlds.

The Tusken Cycler is the standard ranged weapon of the Tusken Raiders on Tatooine.  Modified to fire a larger projectile than standard slugthrowers of this type, the weapon is accurate to 200 meters but has a slow rate of fire.  This is because each round must be loaded from the internal magazine, fired, and then ejected by hand via a bolt-action device which grips the slug inside the weapon.

Morellian Enforcers use this semi-automatic pistol, also called the Enforcer, to bring justice to their primitive lawless realm.  An internal magazine holds 8 shots and the pistol is accurate to 50 meters.  The Enforcer requires special training due to the immense recoil created by the large slug loads.  It is common for the weapon to literally fly out of a trainee's hands, making subsequent shots impossible.  While difficult to handle, the Enforcer is capable of penetrating modern Stormtrooper armor.  Caution is advised when engaging hostiles equipped with this potent weapon.

Wookiee Slugthrowers are commonly encountered on the arboreal world of Kashyyyk.  These semi-automatic rifles generate heavy recoil and require great strength to fire accurately.  Each handcrafted weapon fires massive slugs capable of penetrating modern armor from at least 200 meters.

Assault Slugthrowers fire a smaller cartridge than traditional slugthrower rifles, but have a detachable external magazine for rapid reloads, and selective firing rates.  Most weapons in this class can fire in semi-automatic or fully automatic modes, with a few capable of burst fire.  Assault slugthrowers are effective to 100 meters (up to 300 with enhanced optics) and can carry 50 rounds of ammunition.

The Verpine Shattergun, developed by the insectoid Verpine species, is silent, has outstanding range, and is very accurate.  It operates by magnetically accelerating an inert slug to hypersonic velocities, which shatters the target upon impact, hence the weapon's name.  The gun is commonly favored by assassins and others who wish to maintain a low profile while dealing out massive amounts of damage.  The internal magazine holds 8 slugs, and the effective range is 200 meters.

The Imperial Heavy Repeater is a portable fully automatic weapon firing light metallic bolts similar to the more primitive slugthrowers mentioned earlier.  It uses magnetic acceleration to propel its ammunition, instead of the chemical compounds found in slugthrowers.  Commonly used for suppression fire due to the high firing rate of 750 bolts per minute.  Effective range is 600 meters.  Internal magazine capacity is 100 bolts but the Heavy Repeater can also be belt-fed from an ammunition storage backpack capable of holding 4000 bolts.  Issued to Imperial troops for crowd control and in environments hostile to blaster technology.  The bolts are expelled at extremely high velocity, inflicting major damage despite their low mass.  Sustained fire from this weapon will puncture modern armor.  The Heavy Repeater is also equipped with a concussion grenade launcher with a range of 400 meters.

The Verpine Sniper Rifle uses railgun technology similar to the Shattergun to magnetically accelerate a kinetic projectile to hypersonic velocity.  The projectile is inert as the force of impact alone is enough to shred modern armor.  This weapon is silent, has no recoil, and is utterly lethal.  The internal magazine holds 20 rounds.  Maximum range is 800 meters.

The Korikar DH-112 Sniper Rifle is the pinnacle of modern sniper technology.  Utilizing more acceleration coils and a larger bolt than the Heavy Repeater, it accelerates projectiles up to 7 times the speed of sound.  At that velocity, the bolt shreds all modern personal armor and also inflicts moderate damage on vehicles.  Only Walker armor is strong enough to resist this devastating weapon.  The detachable magazine holds 10 bolts of two varieties:

• Supersonic: purely kinetic projectile impacting at 7 times the speed of sound.  Inherently armor-piercing.
• Explosive: Accelerated to 6 times the speed of sound, this anti-vehicle, anti-bunker bolt explodes after penetrating the target's armor.

Maximum effective range is 3000 meters.  Shots at this range require complex ballistics calculations, performed by the on-board ballistics computer in the weapon's sight.  This links to a Sniper Stormtrooper's helmet visor, providing instant target and ballistics data.  These rifles are employed exclusively by the Emperor's Hammer.  Hammer's Fist snipers have standing orders to destroy their DH-112 via the onboard self destruct charge rather than allow its advanced technology to fall into enemy hands.