X ATN 01001
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 1

This is the first installment of the series. Big Bang is a new guide to firearms dedicated to being useful for all RPG systems. Each entry starts with the history and facts about the weapon, providing everything you need to fit the gun into your own games. Then it expands by providing statistics for several popular game systems.
This first volume (and certainly not the last) provides details and statistics for over 100 firearms. New volumes will be published irregularly. This series of books will also be of interest to historians and weapon afficianadoes.

Weapons covered:
Handguns: Semmerling LM-4, American Derringer Semmerling LM-4 .45 ACP, American Derringer Semmerling LM-4 9mm, American Derringer LM-5 .25 ACP, American Derringer LM-5 .32 Magnum, American Derringer Model 1 .45/.410, American Derringer Model 1 .45-70, American Derringer Model 4 .45/.410, American Derringer Model 4 Alaskan Survival, Arcus 94, Arcus 98-SA, Arcus 94-DA, Arcus 94C, Arcus 98C-SA, Arcus 98C-DA, 8 models of the Arcus 95R Revolver, Astra Modello 300 in three versions, Astra Modello 400, Astra Modello 600, 5 versions of the Astra Modello 900 series pistol, 3 variants of the IM Metal HS2000, Kolibri 3mm pistol, Pretoria IFA
SMG: Agram 2000, American 180 M-1, American 180 M-2, American Eagle M-21, American Eagle M-22, American 180 M-1 Briefcase Gun, Ares FMG, 9 versions of the Bushman IDW, FN Herstal P-90, Ilarco AM-180 .22LR, Ilarco AM-180 .22 Magnum, Ilarco AM-180 Briefcase gun, MTAR-21 Micro Tavor, Tavor-2 SMG, 4 variants of the IzhMash Bizon, KBP PP-90 FMG, MGV-176, Parker & Hale IDW
Rifles: FN Herstal F2000 LG-1 & five underbarrel weapon attachments, GIAT PAPOP w/ grenade launcher, E&L Mfg. American SAR 180/275, TAR-21 Tavor rifle and 5 variants, 3 variants of the Keltec Sub-Rifle, M29 SABR (OICW), 9 versions of the OC-14 Groza
Heavy Weapons: Ilarco 180 Quad, Ilarco 180 Twin
The volume also provides extensive rules for converting real gus to its core rules systems, as well as a chapter detailing the effects of different types of bullets.

110 pages.

XATN 01000
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Special Edition: War in Iraq

With the recent conflict to depose the old Iraqi regime of the last 24 years, we've put together this special edition that details the most common small arms utilized by the Iraqi, British, and U.S. forces involved in the conflict. This includes the main assault rifles used by each force, and heavy weapons like machine guns, mortars, MANPADS like the Stinger, and man-portable anti-tank weapons like the Javelin or RPG-7.
With this revision, not only did the 60 weapons of the previous edition get expanded with new data for our new licenses, but we have also expanded the weapon listings to over 125 small arms, plus a primer on biological and chemical weapons.
This product is designed as an expansion to Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Firearms Volume 1. Therefore, that product is required in order to make full use of this one. As always, a great value for gamers, historians, and weapons afficionadoes as well.
109 pages.
NOTE: This volume contains all new material not found in the other volumes. It is not a special republishing of the first volume.

XATN 01002
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 2

Volume Two continues the the tradition now being established with this series, adding nearly 100 more weapons to the series.
Each entry provides historical and technical information about a specific weapon or family of weapons, the expands that by providing game statistics for four licensed game systems. A separate free conversion guide provides information and guidelines for converting the real world data to work with a variety of other game systems. As well as being a valuable RPG resource, the series is also of interest to historians and weapon afficianadoes.
This volume is more diverse than prior editions, providing details on a number of experimental weapons, concealable spy weapons, and american small arms from World War II.

XATN 01003
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 3: US Army Future Combat Systems

This particular volume of Big Bang focuses on the Army Future Combat Systems. We'll look at the entire family of new weapons being developed as variants of the XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle and revisit the XM29 SABR. We will also cover the X312 .50 Caliber Lightweight Heavy Machine Gun, the XM307 25mm Crew-Served Weapon, the XM25 25mm Airburst Weapon, the XM107 Long Range Sniper Rifle as well as its M82 'Light Fifty' predecessors, and Barret’s XM109 Payload Rifle. We also cover the Predator SRAW, AT8 Bunker Buster, Multi-Purpose Individual Munition/Short Range Assault Weapon, and the XM320 40mm Grenade Launcher. It all comes with the usual stellar combination of tasty fluff and crunchy goodness you've come to expect from the Big Bang series. Over 30 weapon systems and variants are covered in this smaller volume.

XATN 01004
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 4: European Military Rifles, 1870-1900

Another shorter themed volume of Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons. This particular volume revolves around a document published in 1889, Small Arms of the European Armies. This volume looks back at the start of the era of modern firearms, detailing a number of weapons used around the world between 1870 and 1890. Included is a copy of the public domain 1889 article, which will provides valuable insight into the struggle of small arms advancement in the military. Of special interest is the many arguments against obtaining more modern weapons; arguments that still stood when the U.S. adopted the M16 in the 1960's and with the full-auto vs. 3-round burst debates of the 1980's.
Weapons covered include the various Hotchkiss Rifles, Jarmann Rifles, Krag-Jorgensen Rifles, Kroptschek Rifles, Lebel Rifles, Lee-Metford Rifles, Remington-Keene Rifles, Vetterli Rifles, and Vitali Rifles, over 50 different firearms in all. An excellent selection of weapons for those running games in the atmosphere of revolution that swept through post-Napoleonic Europe. Many were serving as military issue weapons as late as World War I.
62 pages.

XATN 01005
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 5: Grenades of the Cold War

This latest volume presents the theme of grenades. Focusing mainly on grenades manufactured by the United States and the former Soviet Union, this book presents a wide range of all types of hand grenades, rifle grenades, spin-stabilized grenades, and polyvalent grenades. More than 50 different grenades are presented.
Accompanying these weapons is a section detailing riot control agents, the chemical weapons used to break up unpeacefull demonstration, riots, and unruly mobs around the world.

XATN 01006
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 6: German Small Arms of World War II

This volume is the first of several focusing on German small arms of World War II. The primary focus is on the many sidearms issues to not only the organized German military, but also to Nazi units like the Volkssturm and the Waffen SS. The book also covers a number of experimental support weapons that were developed by the Germans in the final months of the war, including 15! variants of the Panzerfaust. Stats are provided for 60 individual weapons.
41 pages.

XATN 01007
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 7: Covert Weapons

In this volume of the Big Bang series, we focus on the covert, disguised, and occasionally improvised weapons used by the spy industry and others. numerous types of small, concealable weapons are covered, including stats for 54 different weapons and variants.
33 pages.

XATN 01008
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 8: Soviet Anti-Tank Guided Weapons

This volume of the series covers the entire spectrum of guided anti-tank weapons that have been used by the Societ and Russian militaries since the late 1950's. Over a span of almost 50 years, they produced 16 launch platforms and more than 35 different missiles in this long line of very effective weapons. The book begins with the AT-1 Snapper, first introduced not long after the Korean War, and finishes with the AT-16 Vikhr, including mention of the AT-16 Germes variant, a radar guided anti-tank platform that can fire on a dozen different ground targets simultaneously, with a greater than 95% chance of hitting each of them. And yes, we have carefully sorted through NATO, US Army and Rusian documents and books regarding these weapons in order to reduce the vast amount of confusion that resulted from Cold War misidentification of many systems.
This volume is 34 pages long. Also included is an 8 page demo for The Qalashar Device, second in a line of non-FX military-based adventures by Sword's Edge Publishing.

XATN 01009
Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons, Volume 9

Volume 9 is a rather unique enterprise, prepared as a supporting supplement to the first line of adventures published by Sword's Edge Publishing. This volume covers a number of Soviet/RFAS weapons, as well as some British military equipment. The volume also introduces the prototype for Big Bang Ricochet, providing the first vehicle coverage in the Big Bang series.

XATN 00001
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #1: Promotional & Unpublished Material of 2003

This volume collects the assorted promotional material we put together during 2003, along with a number of weapons that were done, but accidentally overlooked during the assembly of the first six volumes of Big Bang: The Mostly Illustrated RPG Guide to Modern Weapons. A total of 13 weapons and variants are presented. The weapons covered include:
The Beretta CX4 Storm, a new pistol caliber carbine rifle that has been on the market less than a year.
The Colt Lawman Mk. 3 "Air Crew" a revolver designed for issue to civilian airliner crews to combat terrorism - back in 1970!
The Companion Flashlight Firearm, a D-Cell Maglite flashlight with a built in .410 shotgun.
The H&K VP70, the world's first "polymer pistol", long before the Glock 17 came along.
Roth-Steyr Repetierpistole Modell 1907, one of the earliest semiautomatic pistols adopted by any military and prone to automatic fire.
XM-148 Grenade Launcher, the only real competition the M203 ever had in U.S. military trials during the Vietnam War.
FARA 83, a homegrown assault rifle developed for the Argentine military.
19 pages.

XATN 00002
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #2: The Dealiest Weapon That Never Was

Welcome to the Deadliest Weapon That Never Was. This short addition to the Big Bang line covers an epic failure of a weapon system that haunts the United States Military to this very day. Between 1948 and 1952, the US military learned that 50,000 rounds of ammunition were fired for every enemy casualty caused during World War II, a clear indicator that the much vaunted marksmanship of U.S. soldiers and marines did not actually exist. As the 1950's came to a close, the supposedly obvious cure for this was a superweapon that could fire with beeline accuracy. The result was the Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) program. Focusing on the use of flechettes, the government expected the program to produce a viable weapon in less than two years at a budget of $20 million. The infant technologies going into the weapon were so promising that the military cancelled all contracts for the continued production of the M-14 rifle.
Instead, the concept ballooned, facing impossible weapon specifications, insane budget overruns to the tune of six times the original budget, and endless extensions. With the Vietnam War looming, a shortage of M-14's, and no wonder rifle in sight, the SPIW forced the military into adopting the M-16 rifle before that new weapon was ready for combat. The SPIW program, after evolving into the Serial Flechette Rifle program and Serial Bullet Rifle programs, finally collapsed in 1978, almost 20 years after it began.
The primary supporter of the technologies, Aircraft Armaments, Inc., continued supporting the concept all the way up to the early 1990's, developing numerous additional flechette weapon systems for military consideration. A descendant weapon of the SPIW was even entered into the early competition stages for the OICW program. The very same specifications and problems that doomed the SPIW program now 30+ years later also threaten the XM-29 that developed from the Objective Individual Combat Weapon program of the 1990's.
This document chronicles the development of the SPIW program and is successors, as well as detailing the numerous prototype weapons produced between 1959 and 1991.
13 pages.

XATN 00003
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #3: Experimental Weapons

This minor volume of the Big Bang line focuses on a wide range of failed experimental weapons. These numerous systems often represented astounding advancements in firearms technology and design, yet were ultimately rejected by their target markets. This booklet covers numerous weapons, including:
The Colt SCAMP, a highly controllable machine pistol that was only slightly larger than the M1911A1, but with nearly 4 times the ammunition capacity.
The Hughes Lockless Machine Gun, a reliable automatic weapon that with a full 300 magazine, weighed a mere 13 lbs, far less than today's small caliber SAWs and LMGs with half the ammunition.
The TRW Low Maintenance Rifle, a rifle designed to make the M-16's "never needs cleaning" claims a reality, in an astonishingly accurate rifle that looked like the German WW2 era FG-42.
In all, 11 weapons and variants are covered, along with two new ammunition types.

XATN 00004
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #4: CAWS & Other Automatic Shotguns

With this volume of Big Bang, we focus on the RHINO and CAWS projects implemented by the US military between 1979 and 1994. These projects were dedicated to the development of automatic shotguns for combat use in urban environments, earthwork environemtns, and aboard navy vessels. In the end, the programs resulted in numerous functioning automatic shotguns, but in the end, it was decided these weapons were simply too deadly to be in compliance with the century old Hague Convention used as a guide to conducting modern warfare.
This volume covers more than 20 models and variants of automatic shotguns developed between 1972 and 1994, including:
the Atchisson Assault Gun developed during the Vietnam War.
the AA12, the second generation of the Atchisson.
The Daewoo USAS-12, the third generation of the Atchisson.
The Pancor Jackhammer
CAWS prototypes from Heckler & Koch, Aircraft Armaments, Inc. and Smith & Wesson.
20 pages.

XATN 01005
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #5: American Grenade Launcher of the Vietnam War

XATN 01004
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #6: North Vietnamese Weapons

XATN 01004
Big Bang: Mini-Bang #7:

XATN 11001
Big Bang Ricochet: Argentina's VCTP IFV

This inaugural issue focuses on the VCTP, argentina's premiere infantry fighting vehicles, and all its numerous incarnations. Big Bang entries for 66mm smoke dischargers, the 120mm LR FMK-2 mortar, the IMI LAR-160 artillery rocket, the Oerlikon KAD series 20mm cannons, and the Palmeria 155mm howitzer.

XATN 11002
Big Bang Ricochet: Argentina's VC TAM

Coverage of the Tanque Argentine Mediano, the primary tank used by Argentina's ground forces. An entry for the L7 class 105mm tank gun is included, along with details on a wide range of ammunition.

XATN 11003
Big Bang Ricochet: Russia's SA-9 Gaskin

Coverage of the BRDM-2 based SA-9 Gaskin SAM, a vital part of the soviet doctrine of highly mobile tactical air defense. An entry for the vehicle-mounted Enerla anti-aircraft missile system is included.

XATN 11004
Big Bang Ricochet: Germany's Wolf Light Infantry vehicles

One of the latest pieces of heavy equipment for special operations is the Wolf Light Infantry Vehicle. Fast, tough and all-terrain, they can pack enough firepower to give you black ops team all the muscle it needs.

XATN 11005
Big Bang Ricochet: The M1151 Interim Fast Attack Vehicle

For decades, the Marines' doctrine of fast manuever and heavy firepower required a light, unarmored vehicle that could go fast and carry big guns. After the HUMVEE was introduced, the USMC got by using againg M151A2 Mutts, as well as a collection of DPVs, both of which posed maintenance issues due to either complicated design or parts shortages. The M1511 is a Mercedes G-Wagen modified to suit the needs of the USMC, in a fashion similar to the new Wolf LIVs. A Big Bang entry for the Mk. 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher is also included.

XATN 11006
Big Bang Ricochet: The Desert Patrol Vehicle

You should remember these from the triumphant ride into Kuwait City at the end of Desert Storm. These military dune buggies, laden with heavy weapons, filled with Navy SEALs and led by an Army liaison officer. These vehicles remain in service today, doing duty with the USMC and Navy, as well as serving in the Mexican military.

XATN 11007
Big Bang Ricochet: The M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle

OFor years, the Army's Military Police got the short end of the stick, expected to patrol rear areas and guard both sensitive locations and supply lines with unarmored jeeps, then unarmored HMMWVs. Now they get the M1117 Guardian, an armored vehicle that traces its roots back to the M708/V-100 armored cars used for air base security in Vietnam. Already serving in Iraq, the ASV has already saved the lives of at least 20 US servicemen running convoy security.

XATN 11008
Big Bang Ricochet: France's AML-90 Armored Car

This armored car, armed with a 90mm cannon, served the French military for decades, first entering service in the early 60's, and surviving long enough to see duty as a UN peacekeeping vehicle in Somalia. More than 6,000 were built, serving in armies all around the globe. Big Bang entries for the CN-90-F1 90mm cannon and AAT-52 GPMG are included.

XATN 11009
Big Bang Ricochet: The M1040 Hellfire FAV

Before the Navy got the Desert Patrol Vehicle, the Army had the Hellfire. Not just the missile, but also the Fast Attack Vehicle. These dune buggies were heavily armed, serving as a scout and harassing tank destroyer should the Soviets invade Western Europe through the Fulda Gap. They were effective, serving until the late 1990's when the lack of domestic production of spare parts forced them to be decommissioned. Some were sold to collectors, but othered lived on, serving as Air Force base security vehicles in a modified form, as well as becoming patrol vehicles for the Department of Energy's SRT units stationed at nuclear test sites in the western states. An extensive writeup of the TOW ATGM is included.

XATN 11010
Big Bang Ricochet: Chile's Malkina Multi 163 APC

For every successful military vehicle produced by the world's defense industry, there are usually several failures. The Malkina 163 is on of them. Designed for airbase security, this armored personnel carrier was poorly design, offering little protection, while the driver's seat, high up in the vehicle, provided the manueverability of a jumbo jet.

XATN 11011
Big Bang Ricochet: The Renault VBL

In the early 1980's, France wanted a new light armored vehicle weighing under 3.5 metric tons. Two manufacturers were chosen to develop prototypes, Renault and Panhard. The Renault vehicle was light, reliable, and totally amphibious, but eventually lost the competition because it was simply too car-like in its design.

XATN 11012
Big Bang Ricochet: France's Panhard VBL

The Panhard VBL won France's light armored vehicle competition in the early 80's, beating out the Renault VBL. Panhard's vehicle, a cross between an SUV and a van, proved to be a reliable and versatile military vehicle, with more than 20 variants developed to date. The LRAC-89, Mistral, and Fly-K weapons are detailed.

XATN 11013
Big Bang Ricochet: Argentina's VELA & VELA II

These dune buggies are Argentina's answer to a unique problem. The bulk of Argentina's chopper airlift capacity comes from a fleet of aging UH-1 helicopters, which simply don't have the power to lift most modern "light" military vehicles. With a maximum cargo weight of 1,300kg, Argentina's military issued a requirement for a well armed light reconnaissance vehicle weighing less than 1000kg. The VELA was the answer provided by two civilian mechanics, producing a miniscule little vehcile armed to the gills and carrying a crew of three. The prototype, now an active duty vehicle, has been well accepted by Argentina's Air Assault Brigade 601.

XATN 11014
Big Bang Ricochet: Britain's AT105 Saxon APC

In the 1980's, the Cold War was ramping up and the UK selected this armored vehicle as their mechanization element for their infantry divisions. Designed very much like a box on wheels, this APC has proven itself to be one of the most mineproof vehicles on the planet. Terrorism and violence in Northern Ireland throughout the 1980's made this vehicle a common sight on the nightly news all around the globe.

XATN 11015
Big Bang Ricochet: Cadillac Gage Stingray

America's first new light tank design since the Sheridan.

XATN 11016
Big Bang Ricochet: Cardoen BMS-1 Alacrán

The last new halftrack ever designed.

XATN 11017
Big Bang Ricochet: Belgium's BDX

Belgian armored car, produced under license from an Irish design

XATN 11018
Big Bang Ricochet: Vickers Valkyr

A British armored car, produced from an Irish design, originally meant to be the BDX Mk. 2

XATN 11019
Big Bang Ricochet: Russia's FROG-7

Soviet era artillery rocket system.

XATN 11020
Big Bang Ricochet: The FMC CCVL

FMC's Close Combat Vehicle, Light, a light tank that competed with the Stingray and Buford for the coveted Armored Gun System contract. The AGS competition started in the late 70's and finally collapsed in the late 90's with no replacement for the M-551 Sheridan.

XATN 11021
Big Bang Ricochet: The M-50 Ontos

"The Thing", as it was well known, was a tank destroyer turned fire support vehicle. It was the smallest tracked armored vehicle fielded by the US military since the end of WW2 and was armed to the teeth with SIX 106mm recoilless rifles.