BLASTECH E11/M
        The E11/M is variant of the venerable BlasTech E11.  The rifles start
life as production E11s, but show a certain degree of accuracy over and above
what is normally expected during test firing.  These are later test-fired
from a machine rest to prove that the accuracy was actually due to the
rifle, not the shooter.  From here, they are fitted with the long barrel and
fixed stock found the H11 (the weaker, sporting version of the E11).  They
are similar in almost every way to the standard E11, they just are a little
more accurate.  These are being fielded by the Empire as platoon level
special weapon, in an attempt to minimize the danger of Rebel marksbeings.
In reality, this idea is quite misguided and rather useless, but is still
quite a  good rifle.
        type: sharpshooter's blaster rifle
        skill:  Blaster: rifle
        availability:  3 X
        cost: 1500  (25)
        range:  4-40/120/300
        ammo: 100
        damage:  5D
        note:  scope: +1D to hit if used for one round of aiming.

by Kevin Dole
BLASTECH SHARPSHOOTER V

        The Sharpshooter V is a direct outgrowth of the relatively new
Hunter V sporting carbine.  When members of the Imperial Ordinance
Procurement Command first examined the Hunter V, they found much that they
liked.  However, they wanted better throughput and coherency from the
bolt, and a better scope.  Having written their findings, the samples went
to various General and Admirals as hunting guns, and a very few where
given to COMPNOR SAGroup shooting contest winners.  BlasTech took their
own initiative, and redesigned the Hunter, producing the Sharpshooter V.
They petitioned for a new trial for their weapon, and received it through
the intervention of an Advisor to the Emperor, who enjoys target shooting.
The scope which is built directly onto the SS V is quickly becoming the
standard which all others are measured, and most people agree the that
what many call a "lack of  power" is a suitable compensation for the
increased range.  Sharpshooter Vs are currently a standard issue weapon
to Army Sharpshooter and Engineer units, counter-terrorist teams from the
Imperial Security Bureau and the Sector Marshals.  The Hunter V is often
used by law enforcement organizations as a precision rifle, in an effort
to minimize loss of innocent life and the destruction of private property,
and by game hunters who wish to minimize meat and hide damage.

        type: precision blaster carbine
        skill: Blaster: carbine
        availability:  2 X
        cost:  1200 (25)
        range: 3-30/100/350
        ammo:  100
        damage:  4D+1
        notes:  scope:  Reduce range, smoke and darkness penalties by 2
		steps (ie: long range becomes short, 4D smoke becomes 2D
		smoke, etc) if used for one round of aiming.  (Hunter V:
		Reduces range, smoke and darkness penalties by one step.)
		Includes bonuses for bipod.
BLASTECH HUNTER V

       type: precision blaster carbine                                         
        skill: Blaster: carbine
        availability:  1 R
        cost:  1000 (25)
        range: 3-30/100/300
        ammo:  100
        damage:  3D+2
        notes:  scope:  Reduce range, smoke and darkness penalties by 2
		steps (ie: long range becomes short, 4D smoke becomes 2D
		smoke, etc) if used for one round of aiming.  (Hunter V:
		Reduces range, smoke and darkness penalties by one step.)
		Includes bonuses for bipod.

by Kevin Dole         

MERR-SONN M-435 DEATHSLEDGE

        The companion longarm of the new M-434 DeathHammer pistol, the
DeathSledge is actually meant to be a basic grunt rifle.  At this time,
however, it is seeing service mostly as a sharpshooter and marksman's
rifle.  It has the longer range normally associated with less powerful
weapons, the throughput of the famous A280 and is tougher than a pourstone
brick, topped with an excellent, passive light enhancing scope.  The only
real drawbacks are the price (and this is due to the cutting edge
technology incorporated in the weapon) and the energy consumption rate.
This last is unavoidable at this time, but later variants of the design
expect to improve in this area as the technology involved improves.
Personally, I think the price is well worth it.

        type: advanced blaster rifle
        skill: Blaster: rifle
        availability: 3 R,X
        cost: 1500 (25)
        range:  4-40/120/350
        ammo: 60                        
        damage:  5D+2
        notes:  scope: +1D to hit if used for one round of aiming.  Up to
		+2D against lo-lite conditions.

by Kevin Dole    

MERR-SONN SX-451 HEAVY SNIPER RIFLE

        The Merr-Sonn SX-451 is one of the premier heavy sniper rifles on
the market today, it is closer to a piece of light artillery than it is to
a personal weapon.  The mission of the SX-451 is to destroy material, 
vehicles and crew served weapons from a distance, usually outside of the
enemy's perimeter.  It is also being used by law enforcement authorities
to neutralize armed criminals who have taken cover behind cover capable of
stopping a lesser shot, to destroy explosive devices where they lay and to
disable a felon's escape vehicle.  Having the range and power of the 
famous E-WEB heavy repeating blaster, the SX-451 is not a small weapon,
nearly two meters long and 15kg in weight, making unsuitable for all but a
few, specialized, select missions.  For transportability, the rifle breaks
down into four pieces (barrel and scope, bipod, action, and stock), and
packsinto a case or a specially built packframe.  Reassembly take about a
minute, with no special tools, just a credit chip, screwdriver or similar
item.  The scope is built under license from BlasTech, as it utilizes the
thermal, UV and passive light enhancement composite image systems found in
the  Sharpshooter V, while improving on the haze and smoke filters.
Unfortunately, due to the power, the capacitors in the trigger group must
be quite powerful, but compact for portability.  The trade off with this
is a 20 second recharge time on the firing mechanism.  But all things
considered, you really don't need to hit a target twice for it to stay
still.

        type: heavy sniper rifle
        skill: Blaster: rifle
        availability: 3 X
        cost:  4000  (25)
        range:  3-100/350/500
        ammo: 5
        fire rate: 1/4
        damage: 8D
        notes: Scope:  Reduce range 2 steps (long becomes short, etc.),
                negates all smoke and darkness penalties, after 1 round of
                aiming.  Includes bonuses for bipod.                           

by Kevin Dole
RODIARMS NEEDLE RIFLE

        Not what one thinks of as a sniper rifle, the Rodiarms Needle
Rifle is almost the perfect covert marksman's weapon:  silent, compact,
lethal.  The Needle Rifle fires a frozen dart of some kind of poison,
ranging from fast acting knockout drugs, to slow toxins, to truth serums,
with jets of compressed gas.  When fired, the dart makes a soft "thirp"ing
noise which is almost impossible to hear after three meters, and feels
like the bite of an annoying insect when it hits.  Unfortunately, the
projectile is quite brittle, and can be beaten by all but the absolute
lightest armour, even leather or chromasheath swooper jackets!  COMPNOR
agents have made some use of this weapon to expose corrupt politicians,
hitting them with truth serum darts just prior to making speeches (often,
the Rebellion has claimed the actions as their own).

        type:  frozen dart rifle
        skill:  Missile Weapons: needle rifle
        availability: 3 R,X
        cost: 3000                                                             
        range: 3-50/150/400
        ammo:  500
        fire rate: 1
        damage:  varies by toxin
        notes:  scope: +1D to hit if used for one round of aiming
                brittle:  Can not penetrate any armour heavier than +1
		Physical.
                unnoticeable:  requires Difficult PERC roll to feel impact
		of the dart.

by Kevin Dole        

SOROSUUB X-45 SNIPER

        This is what happens when profiteers try to make a precsion rifle.
The only saving graces of this thing are the scope and the cost.
Actually, mostly the cost.  It is very light, the stock is too short for
anyone other than a Sullusten or Jawa, has no provision for mounting a
bipod, has poor ergonomics and pitiful range.  The scope is of a
generation of electrical image enhancement that predates the first
skirmishes of the Clone Wars.  The SoroSuub X-45 is often sold as a
sporting weapon (along with slip-on, aftermarket stock extensions), and
sees usage only among the most desperate private military units.  It is
such a pitiful weapon, even the majority of the Rebel Alliance considers
it to be almost as bad as no weapon at all.

        type: sniper rifle
        skill: Blaster: rifle
        availability: 2 R,X
        cost: 950 (25)
        range: 1-25/100/250
        body: 1D                      
        ammo: 25
        damage: 5D
        notes: Scope: -1 level of range if used for one round of aiming.
                Short:  Designed for little people.  +3 difficulty if
		shooter has normal to long sized arms.  Stock extensions
		available (cost about 10cr).

by Kevin Dole