Welcome to the Fall edition of our hardware magazine. In this edition we will specialize on the new line of MAL products and the fierce competition between MAL and FEN on the scout/sniper rilfe market.

We will begin this edition with a comparison between the three premier scout/sniping rifles that hit the market recently: the FEN GAG Scout and the MAL UW-37 Scout/Sniper rifles.

Pressed by Scout Operatives for a lightweight and accurate scout rifle, FEN has developed a lighter and shorter version of their 93 GAG 12mm rifle. With a barrel length of 66 cm the new FEN 908 GAG scout is shorter than the original GAG, but also lighter.

Just like the original weapon, the GAG Scout features semi-automatic and burst fire and the inbuilt GasVent 2 recoil baffling makes the burst recoil noticeable but yet manageable. The three-round burst is shot with a cyclic rate of 450 rounds per second, giving it a close shot spread.

When we asked FEN if they intended to produce a true sniper variant of this weapon with a manual lever action, the company denied, suggesting that they already offer a wide variant of sniping rifles and were confident that these rifles would suit all Operative needs.

Nevertheless the FEN 908 GAG Scout is an outstandingly accurate weapon, on par with the classic FEN 30-30 sniper rifle. And with a magazin capacity of 10 rounds, the GAG Scout is at an advantage in those situations that require a series of fast and accurate shots.

The GAG Scout comes with a shock-absorbing stock, level 2 recoil baffling, attachable suppressor and laser pointer and can also accepts a bi/tripod (not included). The rifle is delivered in a rugged, matte-black carbon-fibre carrying case and can be easily disassembled in under one minute.

PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 5-12-2

Cost: 800 Credits
Weight: 3.5 kg

Soon after the FEN GAG Scout hit the market, MAL picked up the gauntlet and entered the scout/sniper rifle market with its line of UW-37 (Urban Warfare) rifles. The UW-37 scout is chambered for the 11.35mm round, which makes it an exceptional weapon, as these calibre is usually reserved for WarWorld equipment and hard to come by on Mort. However, as MAL is primarily a military arms producer, this choice comes as no surprise. MAL has stated that a new line of especially Operative-produced 11-35mm rounds will be available through MAL outlets all over Mort soon.

Apart from the bigger caliber, the UW-37 Scout is also shorter than the FEN GAG, which sadly, reduces its accuracy in direct comparison to the FEN GAG Scout. It is still more accurate than most assault rifles, but simply lacks the high-precision of the GAG Scout. But that the UW-37 is a true MAL weapon, shows in it's bulpup configuration, which combined with its short barrel produces a far more compact (and easier to carry) weapon than the FEN GAG Scout.

The UW-37 Scout features semi-automatic as well as burst fire; although the burst uses a cyclic rate of 600 rpm, the higher power of the cartridge eliminates this advantage, and both rifles present a similar close shot spread. The UW-37 magazin accepts 7 rounds, good for 3 burst and one quick shot afterwards, if absolutely necessary.

The UW-37 Scout has a shock-absorbing stock, recoil 3 baffling and comes in a shock-resistant combat case, with several urban camo camouflage patters of choice. The weapon can be disassembled quickly and can accept silencer, laser painter attachements as well as a bi/tripod (not included).

PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 7-14-2

Cost: 1975 Credits
Weight: 4.0 kg

The MAL Urban Warfare Sniping Rifle is the professional choice for a guaranteed kill. In any situation where a miss is not an option the UW-37 Sniping Rifle is proving it's exceptional accuracy. The maximum range of over 2000 meters and the optimum range of about 500 meters gives the Sniper a free choice to select his kill zone.

The UW-37 Sniping Rifle is usually powered with the enhanced MAL 11.35 mm HEAP Round, providing it with an outstanding performance in regards to armor penetration, guaranteeing enough force to punch even through an Powercell Armor with no effort, incapacitating most targets with just one hit. The UW-37 Sniping Rifle is designed for accuracy and dependability. The bolt action mechanism enhances the accuracy and provides the user with an weapon easy to maintain, even under the worst possible combat conditions. During rigorous field tests in Downtown and Cannibal Sector 1 the UW-37 proved it's outstanding performance.

It can be disassembled for cleaning purposes and carrying in a matter of seconds. A full disassembly has been done by our testers within 1 minutes.

The UW-37 is a bolt action rifle with an 35.4inch barrel. It has an integrated recoil baffling and an shock absorbing stock to keep the recoil so low, that almost every operative is able to use this weapon conveniently. The magazine has a capacity of 10 Rounds.

The Rifle comes fitted with an MAL PowerScope providing magnification for any range, enhancing even more the superb accuracy of this weapon. Also included is a carrying case, which makes it very convenient to carry the disassembled weapon. Neatly fitted into the top of the case is a MAL weapon maintenance kit, specially designed for the UW-37. Furthermore MAL provides the Rifle with two magazines and 20 MAL 11.35 mm HEAP rounds. And for the instances where silence is the goal, MAL provides a customized silencer that can easily be fitted onto the UW-37 Sniping Rifle.

The weapon, including all accessories, will be offered at a price of 2999,99 Credits. Owner of a MAL gold card are entitled to a discount of 2% or an extra magazine of MAL 11.35mm HEAP rounds.

PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 8-16-3

Cost: 2999 Credits
Weight: 6.5 kg

The Hammer needs no further introduction; this heavy autoloader took the market by storm. It has become one of the premier heavy pistols for those who could wield it comfortably.

In their Summer Special, MAL offered a customized Anvil for the broad market; coming with increased barrel length for even more punch, the customized MAL Anvil was especially designed for the Contract Market and the Dark Finder Corporate Sector.

Due to the high demand after these weapons, MAL has extended the offer till the end of the year.

PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 3-7-1 (9'')
PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 4-9-2 (13'')

Cost: 300/400 Credits (9''/13'')
Weight: 1.8/2.1 kg
Weight (clip): 0.27 kg

The Wrecker Ball is an compact piece of ugly deadliness. Although by definition a revolver, its 40 cm barrel makes the PDR (Personal Defense Revolver) look more like a strange SMG than a revolver, and its thick cylinder enhances the strange visual effect.

However, the PDR is quite easily the most deadly revolver ever seen in the World of Progress. Chambered for the monstrous 17mm Pistol round, the cylinder holds 4 rounds, and firing this weapons results in an unmistakable loud report and an even stronger recoil.

According to MAL the PDR was designed with Stormers or the boosted Operative in mind, and we cannot image anyone else comfortably firing this weapon. The PDR is also clearly aimed at providing an alternative to BLA's graceful Blitzer, but it is extremely doubtful if MAL can seriously endanger the Blitzer's market segmert with this weapon.

This is not to say that the PDR is a horrible weapon, far from it - its stopping power is excellent and the holes it punched into our test pigs were impressive, as impressive as its great accuracy, which is dead-bang on the spot.

The question only remains if the World of Progress is ready for such a weapon ...

PEN-DAM-AD (3d System): 7-15-3

Cost: 560 Credits
Weight: 3.5 kg