.44 Magnum revolver (Fallout 2)

The .44 Magnum revolver is a small gun in Fallout 2.

Background
Described as the most powerful revolver of its time, the .44 Magnum revolver is found throughout the wasteland after the Great War.

Characteristics
This revolver has the highest damage per action point of all single-shot weapons available from the early to the late-mid stages of the game. Its main strengths are the low AP cost of 4 per shot in lieu of the standard 5, and the powerful .44 Magnum JHP round. This ammunition increases the weapon's damage on soft (unarmored) targets by over 60%, to an average of 24.42 Hit Points, while an average critical to the eyes (with a critical roll of 50) will average 72 HP.

The weapon's weakness is its short range of only 15 hexes. This can be improved, to a degree, by modifying the weapon with a speed loader which, in addition to lowering the AP cost of reloading, curiously also adds 5 hexes to its range. Even with the modification, the weapon's range remains its main handicap.

Locations

 * Flick in the Den sells this weapon, as does Happy Harry in Vault City.
 * A drug dealer in New Reno (Virgin Street, turn right at the Desperado and walk north, he looks like a long-haired man in a leather jacket) has this gun and some JHP ammunition for it.
 * Eldridge, the arms dealer in New Reno occasionally carries two, and will attach a speed loader for free.
 * Sometimes the Red 888 Guns will carry them.

Behind the scenes
The item's description is a reference to Clint Eastwood's line in Dirty Harry.