Well, may as well toss my two cents in... "For what it's worth" as a certain corporal said. In terms of real-world training, all reloads we've been taught with our issued rifles is with the off-hand. The dominant hand stays on the pistol grip to manipulate the safety on during the reload, and back off when you're back on target just before firing. Also reloads were taught in both "Hicks" "style and" "on target" style. With our issued semi-auto shotguns, we were trained to manipulate the charging handle with our off hand as well, never giving up the firing grip. The charging handles on our shotguns even look like the one on the pulse rifle. If it were me, I'd operate the pulse rifle charging handle the same way.
And I can tell ya, after lugging around a rifle for the better part of 10 hours at a time, the less extra crap on there the better. By hour three I'm already resenting the flashlight and T1 micro that are on there, and those are pretty basic essentials for a fighting rifle by current standards. Less weight=Good!

_________________
"He is as clumsy as he is stupid."

Forgot to add, tthe real thing to resign if anything is that magazine release... It practically necessitates a "Hicks style" reload! Especially with magazines that don't drop free.

_________________
"He is as clumsy as he is stupid."

It does have merit, especially things like ambidextrous controls.
But to be consistent with the Aliens world, we have to explore what that means, rather than just assuming our current real-world civilian range shooting trends should apply. The design teams put a lot of thought into the weapons and kit the Marines carry, so we ought to do the same.

I don't know that the design team put as much thought into these fictional weapons as one might think. They designed something that looked absolutely badass that would play well on-screen...and that was it. The illuminated ammo counter facing away from where the shooter can see it during firing has already been covered over and over.

Lets also consider:
-Mag 'tabs' near the magazine that LOOK like they are for mag release and would logically be for mag release (and be ambidextrous!)....yet they do nothing and the awkward 1930s mag release is what is used.
-A stock that is guaranteed to bend if dropped
-an entire setup that is bulky and awkward.

Make no mistake, these in-universe guns were designed with the 80s version of 'tacticool'. Sleek, flashy and badass.
When it comes to the topic of improving them, I believe applying real world sensibilities is not asking too much. They would defintely be improvements to a far-from-perfect original design.

That said, I do believe an argument can be made about a new system of accessories and attachments that don't rely on a modern rail system or blocky/cumbersome 'add-ons'. Some completely new proprietary gear from "Armat" would be logical. Things integrated into a redesigned shroud is what I would expect (and would love to see on a new build).

Movie aesthetics was a defining element, sure, but with a lot of real world factors considered.
The whole thing of using Vietnam-esque kit to convey certain messages about the world and the culture, for example. Making futuristic weaponry that still resembled real world weapons of the day, instead of outright space lasers. I always thought the Smartguns were the most impractical pieces of junk ever, until I had a go with a couple of real weight ones at a drop and suddenly they made a world of sense... Arms companies are even trying out versions of the same concept today.

You also have limitations of film, too.
For example, I don't think we ever see anyone use the Thompson mag release lever, so the tabs could very easily work. Same for 99 rounds of 10mm caseless when all we actually see is a blurred .45 stick mag, or battery powered shoulder lamps even though we might see the mains cable trailing in the edge of shot...

In light of this, we could probably assume certain things, like the stocks being made of a material that won't bend as easily as they might appear, for example.


Not too much, no, but remember that these things looked like viable kit because they were built on stuff from two decades earlier, or in the case of weapons as early as WW2... It looked cool because it was all futuristic, but it looked plausible by looking like hardy old military tech.
The problem with current day Tacticool is that there's *so* much choice and customisation for everything - In a military environment, especially back then and in the Aliens world, you generally get what you're given... and that tends to be cheap, hard-wearing junk made by the lowest bidder. If your kit is so cool that you can't complain about it, it's not military!

The PR is indeed bulky, but it's also pretty free of snag points thanks to the shroud and various guards. Very few current weapons are that snag-free, a lot of which is down to the various add-ons.


This is the way to go, I reckon - Rear iron sight inside the existing sight channel, incorporating a flip-up reflector for reflex shooting and possibly other display modes, like Infrared. Adding a digital sensor array to the front edge of the shoud (possibly recessed for protection) can allow for magnifiied views and rangefinder overlay in the same reflector, as well as laser target designation if needs be.

I got away from the pulse rifle when I did all the 'Raider' materials. I tried to remain true to an existing, plausible style, while giving it an all new look. I never went into lasers or tech that departed too far, but I did want the designs to have some cross platform potential for variations. I think variety is key, while still maintaining some use of materials and form across those designs.

I'm imagining a pulse rifle shape but all in one single frame. same underslung concept and shape but one piece with different rounds and grenades. solid od green or black, indestructible plastic.

Regarding rail systems etc. - I always thought a nice way to attach components to a futuristic weapons platform could be using superconducting electromagnets.
Something as strong as the buggers you can harvest from old hard-drives, but that deactivate at the push of a button... Imagine a series of dots, or a faint grid on the top, sides and bottom of a PR base gun; along the lines of the spacing of current rail systems. All you need do is offer up your scope/flashlight/grenade launcher etc. and release the button and it locks into place - no fiddly thumbscrews or levers required.

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop