In my opinion I think the type 73 is the best side arm for the common man. Sure CO’s and UPP surv can get better ones but for the average joe this is the best. From MST’s to XO’s it is available to all regardless of background or whitelist. Bearing stats similar to other side arms what truly makes it shine is its damage.
It rocks the second highest damage output of all side arms with a nasty 71 damage per shot. Only beaten by the M44 revolver with a 72 damage but only when using non marksman ammo. However the 73’s ammo has better armor penetration. Able to fully ignore armor of 15 making marine light armor useless. The combat revolver base ammo has no armor penetration and falls off heavily. Now the revolver does have markman ammo that has full AP. Meaning armor does nothing to it. However that only deals 55 damage meaning that the 73 still out damages it. The only exception being xenos with more than 30 armor. Be aware the queen only has 25 armor and only a crusher and defender have 30.
But it gets better cause the 73 is not a revolver but a pistol. Meaning it has a higher ammo capacity and fire rate. Comparing it to other pistols it suffers from a much lower fire rate compared to the service pistol and M10. Being higher than the 88 mod 4 combat pistol and VP76 but seriously who uses those. However it still has the same fire rate as a Mk2 pulse rifle somehow so it’s not slow. For accuracy it is mostly the same as other side arms. Except oddly enough it has the unique ability of suffering no loss or bonus to accuracy when used one handed or two handed.
It does have one major weakness. You only get 3 magazines for it. Yeah being a russian gun you can only get more ammo from the colony or black market. But that’s the joy of being a side arm. It’s a back up with super high damage meaning 3 mags is probably all you will need.
I have used it as non combat roles to fend off t3’s like ravs and pratorions. When you’re alone they tend to walk straight at you. Then why they get in point black range I unload an entire mag into them. I once sent a rav into crit by doing this. However it also serves a front line purpose for those who use things like the M56D or xx88. Guns that are good but can’t be deployed quickly. It’s what the VP78 was trying to be except this works. Not to mention its use against humans as it can 2 shot anyone. Even a single shot can put a full health human on the edge of pain crit.
However this gun is not for everyone. It costs 4 fluff points to get it. If you see someone using this gun it means they traded fancy accessories for raw power. Most marines don’t have the iron will necessary to choose this over more accessories. Those who use this gun are not like other marines. We have an appreciation for every bullet we fire. It’s not a pretty gun nor a very noticeable one. But those of us who have gained a deeper understanding of its power know it’s worth it.
I only grab it AS a accessory, love the look of it more then even its power… yes no else will see it on me but Tis what my character would use. But yes its a very good gun.
Hey now, the best sidearm is the ES-4 Electroshock Pistol. 100% success rate at getting shot dead by a marine/MP/anyone at all because they thought it was a lethal firearm and not a weird taser thing. That’s what I call practical. It also costs four bajillion dollars to do absolutely nothing.
Of all the weapons in the vast UPP arsenal, nothing was more profitable than Bullpup model of 2073, more commonly known as the Type 73 or Survgun. It’s the world’s most popular assault rifle. A weapon all fighters love. An elegantly simple 9 pound amalgamation of forged steel and plywood. It doesn’t break, jam, or overheat. It will shoot whether it’s covered in mud or filled with sand. It’s so easy, even a child can use it; and they do. The UPP put the gun on a coin. CLF put it on their ensignia. Since the start of the Second Cold War, the Type 73 has become the Chinese people’s greatest export. After that comes Labubu, Skibidi Labubu, and suicidal political activists. One thing is for sure, no one was lining up to buy their planes.
To My Dearest VP78
They call you a sidearm. A backup. A last resort.
But to me? You’re everything.
When the xenos closed in and my squad lay bleeding. There you were. Steady. Silent. Unyielding.
You’ve never once betrayed me. Your recoil, a gentle kiss. Your weight, the only comfort I need. Others scoff: “It’s just a pistol,” they say. Fools. They don’t know the way you sing when you’re fired with love. They’ve never seen you put a bullet between a Lurker’s eyes when it counted most.
You fit in my hand like destiny. You chamber .45 like a poet crafts words. Sleek, precise, unforgiving.
You are a minimalist masterpiece in a world that glorifies overkill. You don’t need to be flashy. You just work.
When I’m downed and bleeding, I hope my final breath is spent with you in my hand, slide locked back, barrel still warm. Because then I’ll know I gave it my all.
With you by my side.
Forever your liltiptop (Probably idk)
It’s great, I use it on one of my characters as a souvenir, personally I find it’s basically an M4A3 sidegrade - more or less the same use case and performance, but better against bigger xenos and worse against smaller ones.
