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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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The '''laspistol''' is a smaller, more compact, pistol-version of the [[lasgun]]. They are the default firearms of Imperial officers who don't have access to more expensive equipment, such as [[plasma pistol]]s or [[bolt pistol]]s. There is little standardisation standardization in the design of laspistols, most worlds producing their own versions. The most unconventional designs are the derringer-type pistols and the ornate and hand-crafted duelling dueling pistols<sup>1</sup>.
[[File:Laspistol.jpg|A [[Tech-priest]] aiming his laspistol in Dawn of War Soulstorm.|thumb|right|300px]]
The [[Imperial Guard]] [[Rough Rider]]s are armed with a Laspistol due to their assault oriented role. Some soldiers may change their equipment to include the popular combination of Laspistol and [[Close Combat Weapon]], usually the veteran squad members. [[Commissar]]s often come with a Laspistol and Close Combat Weapons to allow him to lead the men from the front and show that he is with his men rather than using officer class weaponry that [[Guardsmen]] don't have access to.
A laspistol does not have anywhere near the range of the lasgun, as the power of the las-bolt dissipates into the atmosphere after only a short distance. However, within its limited range, it has the same devastating result as a lasgun, producing an explosion upon contact with a target. The laspistol lacks the lasgun's selective fire options, having only the ability to fire single shots.<sup>2</sup> The limited range of the weapon makes it primarily used for gaining an extra attack in close combat, and actually shooting the gun is sometimes foregone in favour of this attack.
Laspistols are mainly used by Imperial Guard Officers and advisers, including [[Commissar]]s, [[Techpriest]] [[Enginseer]]s and [[Sanctioned Psyker]]s.
==Sources==
*<sup>1</sup>:[[Warhammer 40,000 3rd Edition Rulebook]]
*<sup>2</sup>:[[Imperial Munitorum Guide]], pg. 62
*[[Codex: Imperial Guard]]
