Excerpt from The Outer Rim Marine's Semiannual Tribute, issue Summer, 2190
"Tired of the shortcomings of the ARMAT M37? Looking for a new challenge in the ever growing outer rim as a gritty marine? Kerchner is here for you where ARMAT isn't! Try the latest triple barreled shotgun, now undergoing field testing"
"Respectable damage output at medium ranges, while the ARMAT M37 is the king of CQC, the Kerchner MOU53 is what hits the broadside of that barn!"
Introduction and Basics
Often overlooked, the MOU53 Break Action Shotgun is one of the more overlooked restricted weapons available in the marine arsenal but should not be used in certain roles where ammo storage is an issue.
Contrary to common belief, the MOU53 is not restricted to only flechette and slug ammo, it fires every single shotgun ammo except for buckshot (flechette, slugs, beanbags, incendiary)
It can mainly be obtained in regular requisitions in the form of the MOU53 Field Test Kit and occasionally in squad requisitions on the RNG kit spawn racks, as for attachments I recommend and use the following:
Spoiler:
To start off with, there's many uses for the MOU53 in various ground-side roles. It excels in certain uses but often fails in others.
Where does the MOU53 excel?
- It excels as a primary OR secondary weapon, where you use the MOU53 to lay down a heavy chunk of damage quickly and switch to another weapon OR using the other weapon before laying down the heavy chunk of damage. Using the MOU53 alone is not viable
- It excels against T3s and heavily armored xenos at close and at a somewhat medium range (4-5 tiles) Laying down three shots of all flechette against a Crusher or Queen without warding or kevlar for example can take up to thirty - forty-five percent of their health away. Where as a M37 with buckshot would take just as much or more to do this damage, it would often put you in more danger to do so due to firing delay, leading you to be more susceptible to friendly-fire or slashes
-For use of flechette and slugs, due to the +11% damage modifier and near non-existent firing delay compared to the M37
-Hit and Runs (more on this later)
-Shredding armor of T1s/T2s and Queen
T3s have virtually invincible armor now, so there is no point on using it for this alone
-Slug(MOU) Buck (M37/other) loadouts
-Laying down three flechette into a cramped group of xenos
-Most open areas, or areas where you can maneuver to do a hit and run easily
-Finishing off T3s, Queens with low health, occasionally bypassing crit straight to death. (See video section)
-Human VS Human (See video section)
Where does the MOU53 NOT excel?
-Roles where storage and ammo capacity is limited, such as medic
-Some defensive roles and areas such as FOB, where you do not have much space to maneuver and/or do hit and runs
-Against unarmored xenomorphs, usually.
-Flechette at long range (6-7 tiles)
With a few exceptions, landing flechette on most T2s/T3s deals minimal damage at this range, sometimes I've seen only five - ten percent health taken away at 7 tiles from a praetorian. Using it to shoot an ignited xeno on the ground is usually viable however
-Inside the center of a crowded group of marines, usually in a choke-point
-Runners
-Without use of attachments and an angled grip, like most guns, or one handed.
Using the MOU53
- Preferably use it in areas where you can do a hit and run if needed, always be prepared to pull your other weapon after unloading the MOU53
I usually use a M37 with a gyro and recoil compensator with buck to follow up and chase without wield speed down.
- Focus on T2s/T3s where applicable. If a T1 or T2 is bothersome and can be stunned* I advise using slugs in this manner.
Load two flechette and lastly one slug. The slug will fire first and should allow you to still land one flechette before it can get up, landing the last flechette should be easier due to the slug daze slowdown. Be wary of the xeno attempting to tackle since it cannot use it's abilities and if it's close.
Further more, two flechette and one slug is great against defenders and spitters, often melting their armor
* Keep in mind boxer strain warriors cannot be stunned as of the time this guide is posted, along with carriers and hivelords.
-Be aware of how fast you fire
Firing all three barrels in succession applies an accuracy debuff
Further more, xenomorphs have an armor "grace period." If you want to remove as much armor as possible, time your shots by at least a second. Said grace period stops all damage to armor for a second or so after a projectile lands
-Recoil. Firing all three barrels as quickly as possible produces some of the highest recoil in game* firing as fast as possible should be used mostly in close range until you get the hang of it in order to minimize friendly-fire or missed shots
* As such, using the stock and angled grip is mainly needed for this reason, the stock only provides a slight wield delay which is completely countered by an angled grip which stills provides a moderate wield delay reduction buff after that.
- For faster unloading and loading, make sure to use a Unique-Action macro and use the swap key (default X)
I usually unwield, open the MOU53, hit X and grab flechette and load, press E or when needed drop the remaining flechette, then swap to the weapon hand and wield to fire again, you can become quite fast at this to the point you can do this in under two seconds.
Additionally, using a shotgun rig full of flechette, storage setting set to bring the last stored item out of it is useful.
-Shift click an onscreen xeno to observe its health and determine if it's a good target, usually a xeno, even T3s under 40-50 percent health can be dispatched and killed quickly with the MOU53 and followup weapon
-Use binoculars and stay somewhat farther to observe where an opportunity provides a good hit and run to secure a kill, especially with queens.
- Remember to bring enough ammo
Usually a vest and rig full of flechette suffices, but is it always nice to fill another shotgun rig with flechette and leave it at FOB due to ROs often neglecting to send flechette
Some loadouts I use with MOU53
- Flamer and MOU53
- Gyro RC buck M37/HG37 and MOU53
- Double-Barrel (buck or flechette) and MOU53 when possible
- AP M41A MK2 (BFA, BC, Reflex, stock) or (RDS, BC, VG) and MOU53.
Before T3 armor buffs, a double barrel and MOU53 could do this to armor.
Spoiler:
Planned Future of the MOU53 in Upcoming Weapon Rework
Be sure to at least try the MOU53 once before the rework, it's a great, despite having one of the highest skill floor of any marine weapon!
Good luck and good hunting
Video Section:
Mixed MOU53 use with various followup weapons