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The '''Boltgun''', also commonly referred to as the '''Bolter''', is the standard weapon of the [[Adeptus Astartes]] and [[Adepta Sororitas]].{{Fn|19}}
A .75 caliber weapon, the boltgun works similarly to a [[grenade launcher]] firing a relatively small explosive: an initial ballistic charge launches the bolt in the same way as with an [[autogun]], after which the explosive, commonly called a 'bolt', is self-propelled. Once it penetrates reaches its target, it explodes, generally after some penetration. Finely hand-crafted in Space Marine or [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] forges, Boltguns boltguns are heavy, sturdy weapons with a powerful recoil normal humans would find difficult to handle.{{Fn|19}}
For the [[Astartes]] and [[Sororitas]] the boltgun is a holy symbol of the [[Emperor]]'s wrath.{{Fn|9}}
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==Imperial Bolter Designs==
The following information mainly concerns Bolters manufactured by/for, and/or used by the various factions and organisations of the [[Imperium]], not for bolters or bolter-like weapons manufactured by [[Xenos]], which are dealt with in the relevant paragraph at the end of the article.
