Gauss Rifle (Fallout 3)

The Scoped Gauss Rifle uses an electromagnetic field to propel rounds at tremendous speed. Its range, accuracy and stopping power are almost unparalleled. Unlike the German M72 Gauss Rifle, which has an ammo capacity of 20, it has to be reloaded after each shot.

The gun energizes and magnetizes a standard 2mm EC projectile round; those are already pre-loaded into the weapon, and are in that giant magazine attached to the side of the weapon. The user loads in the Micro Fusion Cells needed to energize/magnetize each round.

Upon completion of the Operation: Anchorage simulation you will gain access to an armory where you can find a Gauss Rifle. It is an extremely powerful sniper rifle with a long range scope equivilent to that of a regular sniper rifle in the game. It has a knock-down effect that will knock enemies off their feet following a successful hit.

The rifle is featured in one of two Chinese propaganda posters within the simulation, indicating its origin and explaining the substantially different look.

Appearances
While this Gauss Rifle model does not appear in the main Fallout 3 game, it makes an appearance in the Operation: Anchorage downloadable content pack, instead of the M72 Gauss Rifle from Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics. The Gauss Rifle has been reassigned to the Energy Weapons category.

Bugs

 * Sometimes -- especially in free-aim firing -- the Gauss Rifle's projectile will travel straight through your foe, doing no damage and alerting him and his companions to your presence. This is likely a glitch. This is more likely to happen in close range. Until/unless it has been patched, it is suggested that players limit their use of the Gauss Rifle in free-aim mode.
 * This weapon does not deal proper damage when in VATS (it seems to cause around half as much as it should). The knockdown effect is still there, though less powerful. When you target an enemy their health bar will still display the full potential damage.
 * When in 3rd person view and wearing power armor, an equipped gauss rifle (both in hand or holstered) causes the power pack on the back of the armor to disappear.
 * When in third person and firing and moving, the weapon may freeze in place and remain stationary in mid air while the character model appears to be holding nothing but the hands are stationed as if a Gauss Rifle was being held. (this happened in Megaton while wearing the winter T51b. It is not clear if this occurs with any other armor or clothing or in any other location.)
 * when shot in VATS, your character might disappear while he is shooting in the VATS mini scene. though this does not have any effect on your character.
 * If the player aims straight at the ground while in 1st person mode and fires, it is possible to damage yourself (indicating that the weapon does splash damage) but also cause your player to become disarmed and drop the rifle. In 3rd person mode, the rifle will be frozen in place and fire from that position, but will disappear in 1st person mode. Unequipping and reequipping seems to solve this, but may leave lingering bugs with the sound.

Trivia

 * The slugs which this weapon fires appear to be fed through a magazine on the right side of the weapon. Since only Microfusion Cell ammunition is required to fire it, there appears to be an unexplained limitless supply of slugs for it. Perhaps the microfusion cell itself -- being comprised of metal and presumably very explosive when ruptured -- is the projectile!