.223 pistol (Fallout 2)

.223 pistols are ballistic firearms that can be found, bought and obtained in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout: New Vegas and were to make an appearance in Van Buren.

.223 pistol


The original .223 pistol that became one of the iconic weapons of New California, was originally a full sized .223 revolving rifle, belonging to Irwin, a farmer outside of the Hub. He cut his rifle down to the size of a large pistol, leaving the bolt handle and the original, vestigial trigger intact. This unique weapon offered firepower comparable to a hunting rifle in the compact package of a pistol. Five rounds of .223 ammunition were more than enough to deal with most dangers out in the wastes. 

Mass produced 5.56mm pistol


This iconic sidearm caught the eye of gunsmiths and by 2241, and the pistol was deemed profitable for mass production. Vestigial elements were shed to smooth the weapons' profile, and to help further improve performance. The internal mechanisms are retained from the original .223 revolving rifle, modified as needed to create a powerful double-action revolver. 

One of the pistol's advanced systems is its cylinder. Protected by an external gate with LEDs signaling the weapon's status (red safe, yellow reloading, green ready to fire), it is mounted on a mechanized crane. When all five shots are fired (or the operator triggers the reload sequence), the firearm automatically opens the gate and the cylinder extends on the crane outside, allowing for fast, easy reloading with a speedloader. 

For the unique versions that appear in Fallout: New Vegas, see: That Gun.

Behind the scenes

 * The weapon would have also appeared in Van Buren, as the .223 autoloader.
 * The pistol is modeled on Deckard's blaster from Blade Runner by Gary Platner.
 * That Gun is named as such because players would often refer to the original .223 pistol as That Gun.
 * A .223 pistol was intended to be available as an Easter egg weapon in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, alongside the Bozar, but it never made it out of development stages.