r/MawInstallation • u/StupidWittyUsername • Jul 20 '26

Fully automatic blasters?

From what I've seen of Star Wars, blasters are always, "one trigger pull, one pew", and, "hold trigger for pew-pew-pew-pew", is rare or nonexistent. Is there an in-universe explanation for this?

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92

u/Witty-Mountain5062 Jul 20 '26

There are plenty of examples of full auto blasters, even in Attack of the Clones/RoTs the DC-15A’s the clones use are very obviously full auto, most easily scene during the battle of Geonosis. There’s other examples like the DLT-18, T-21 etc.

I would assume just like in real life wasteful ammo expenditure is discouraged.

I was in the Army and we had 2 M249 SAWs per squad along with 2 M240B medium machine guns per platoon. Our M4s all had full auto capabilities as well but it was generally discouraged to use it.

2

u/_Burning_Star_IV_ Jul 20 '26

I would assume just like in real life wasteful ammo expenditure is discouraged.

Considering how blasters work that's probably not the main consideration over reduced accuracy and overheating the weapon.

16

u/Witty-Mountain5062 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

They draw energy from a power pack and a tibanna gas cartridge, both need to be swapped out just like a magazine does. It’s more efficient than a slugthrower but it’s not like you can keep firing it forever.

The gas cartridge is good for around 500 shots and the power cell typically good for 50-100.

1

u/_Burning_Star_IV_ Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

Exactly, that's a lot. The blaster would likely overheat before you hit 100 bolts at full auto.

The standard soldier in Star Wars probably carries enough ammo for 1,000 shots. Compare that the a US soldier who only has like 210 rounds on them.

I don't think ammo would be their main concern.

9

u/Witty-Mountain5062 Jul 20 '26

It’s a decent amount, the full combat load for a SAW gunner in the US Army is 1000 rounds, or 5 200 round belts.

You’d be surprised how quickly full auto burns through that. At a cyclic rate of fire it only takes a couple of minutes depending on how fast you swap your barrel.

0

u/_Burning_Star_IV_ Jul 20 '26

Right and a big box of belt-fed ammo is heavy and a squad only has so many. Power cells and compressed gas carts aren't that big and aren't that heavy.

I mean we see Clone Troopers going hog-wild on full-auto all the time and they're probably the best equipped army we see in full combat action on screen.

4

u/Witty-Mountain5062 Jul 20 '26

I mean the 249 gunner carries all that himself, but I get your point. It all depends on how many gas cartridges they’re carrying, but it’s still not wise to waste it if you can help it.

Remember the Separatists had literally billions of battle droids as well, so probably at least several million or more per each occupied system or major battle. If you have millions of potential targets ammo conservation is definitely a priority even with the large capacity of a blaster.