Jul 15 08:37:52 108 PA - A Brief Discussion of Chemical Propellants

From Chronicles

Jul 15 08:37:52 108 PA.

FIRING RANGE

It's a known given that the number of people who come to the public firing range at night is stifling, and Gabriel has been looking in for days now. Which is why he's up before the sun is, and before most everyone else as well. While he's carrying all of his standard weapons that you'd see him with every day on the street, it only seems to be his three ancient slug throwers that he's interested in. Has his own little tinkering toolbox out and everything, set up near a ten, fifty and the full two-mile range. Galvin comes into the firing range with just a pistol. He walks over to one of the booths after paying his credits. He regards the target for a brief bit before he raises up his pistol, and fires it at the target. The sharp crack of electricity is heard as the ion blaster goes off. He takes a moment to look at the target and adjusts his glasses.

With so few people on the range, it's not surprising that Gabriel notes Galvin's appearance. He lowers the High-Standard that he's currently gripping and waves down the line. "Hey! Up early to beat the crowd too? I'm making a couple of little adjustments to the things you did for me." He then devolves into some louder chuckles. "I guess I should say, *trying* to make a couple of little adjustments. You're the expert, that's for sure." He raises the long-barreled pistol and caps off a round - a round that from Galvin's range, would be completely inaudible to anyone without enhanced hearing.

Galvin jumps a little in surprise at the voice addressing him. He turns to take notice of Gabriel and gives the man a brief smile. "Oh hey. I just could sleep so I decided to come here I guess." He takes a brief look at your weapon and then nods his head. "I hope it is working out for you."

Smiling, Gabriel says, "Oh yeah, they're great. But it's always a good idea to check your sights regularly. Even the best optics can fall out of alignment if you don't keep track. Atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature changes." He turns to look at his mechanically-inclined friend. "Every material warps a little bit under those conditions. But as these are really the only kind that I feel safe tinkering with... I'm tinkering with them." He turns back to fire again, then asks, "Hey, you ever fired a projectile weapon before? Something like a full-scale rifle?" Using his long muzzle, he taps the rifle leaning against the stand near him.

Galvin nods his head as he is well versed in maintenance of weapons. "Sure have to keep everything calibrated and what not." He looks towards the rifle that Gabriel is gesturing. "I've fired mounted rail guns before, but not any chemically propelled weapons. They generally aren't very efficient."

Gabriel smiles and sets the long pistol down, then picks up the rifle, holding it out for Galvin to take from him. "Every weapon has its place. These three weapons fire silver rounds, and for the life of me I haven't been able to find any other silver slug thrower. Plus, they came with me. I've been using them all for more than a decade, so I know them like I know Natasha's body." There's a slightly waggled finger. "Don't ever think that a weapon isn't efficient. You just need to know the proper application for it. Go ahead, look it over." The rifle is out-thrust a few more inches.

Galvin walks to within a few feet of where Gabriel is holding out the rifle. "Yes it is a well made weapon. Using precision machined parts. A good rifling technique on the barrel. Yes I see." Galvin says without touching the rifle. "It seems like a good chemical propellent based rifle. I am sure you could quite a bit of damage to a vampire or other creatures vulnerable to silver. I don't really need to hold it." He says with a brief smile towards Gabriel.

Gabriel grins, "I know you don't need to hold it to inspect it. I'm just asking if you've ever fired a primitive weapon based on a chemical propellant with a semi-automatic short-stroke gas-piston system, rotating bolt and one to nine-point-four rifling." The rifle is held out again. "Wooden stocks and slugs in something like this are a lot different from firing rail guns or energy weapons. Just saying that as a weapons engineer, if you haven't fired one, you should give it a shot, in case it comes around again. That's all. Not questioning your abilities."

Galvin shrugs his shoulders before he takes the weapon from Gabriel. "If you insist." He holds the rifle to his shoulder as he points it down the range. He looks down the sights, before he squeezes the trigger. His shot seems to be fairly accurate. "If you want I can make extensive modifications to chemically propelled weapons. I know NTI and Wellingtons makes quite a few interesting models. I can do quite a bit to them."

The older man gently retrieves his weapon. "Nice shot. I don't like the NTIs. They hit hard, but I don't like depending on one manufacturer for my ammunition. Besides, I tried to get silver rounds for it, and they don't make 'em. I can't honestly say that I've ever seen a Wellington, or what they make. Even with this little girl, though -" Gabriel caresses the rifle "- I'd be a little worried about changes. What'd you have in mind?"

"Well I can make you some extended clips for it. I could also put a flash suppressor on it so that it is less visible." Galvin says as he switches the safety on and hands back the rifle to you. "I can do more to rifles capable of bursts, pistols, automatic weapons, or sub machine guns. You might want to look at what Wellington sells. I could heavily modify such a weapon."

Gabriel nods along, listening intently. Anything that makes a weapon better is good information. Yet unfortunately, before he can discuss the matter, his military watch alerts him to the time. With a frown, he begins to pack up his gear. "I'll come back to you for that, Galvin. Time for me to run off." After giving the other man a brief swat on the shoulder, a smile, and another apology, he's gone.