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There is no real basis for a case of RAW or RAI being available for SB carrying models getting/using the ammo. Codex Space Marines, Page 99: "A storm bolter resembles two bolters attached side by side." Mat Ward did not say it IS two bolters attached together, he said they only resemble that, therefore SB are not bolters/boltguns. Only boltgun carrying models are given the special ammo, so no ammo is available for the SB carrying model to use. If GW wanted the SB to get, much less use, the special ammo, they would have spelled it out as they did with the bolters that are part of combi-weapons. Codex Space Marines, Page 97: "Combi-Weapons are bolters that have been specially modified...".

At least a bolter/combi-weapon carrying IC that has joined the Sternguards has a case (a very small one at that) at getting ammo based on RAW since he would be a "bolter-armed model in a Sternguard Veteran Squad", the model therefore "automatically comes with several special ammunition types." I am not going to argue for this one but there is at least a case for it, however small.

If someone somehow gets a SB that is allowed the special ammo, it would have its profile replaced by whatever ammo is being used at the moment. Sorry, no Assault 2 with the rest of the special ammo profile being unchanged for Sternguards. Maybe they can get psycannon ammo next codex, since it can be fitted in a SB.

Augustus wrote:
Uh isn't everyone forgetting that the scout heavy bolter has got hellfire rounds too right? Doesn't that mean that special amo comes in all flavors for bolters: bolt pistols, bolters storm bolter and heavy bolter too?
?

Don't worry, I don't think anyone's going to argue the fluff on this, practically speaking they could retrofit this ammo for virtually any of the imperium's solid-projectile firearms. Mmmmm, hellfire assault cannons.....

However, all we're concerned about here are the game mechanics, which I frankly think speak for themselves.

Right, there's no rule, just a fluff reason... fluff wise, at least as I remember when I was reading the stuff in the books, the same caliber bolt was fired from a bolt pistol, boltgun, and stormbolter... so the ammo for those weapons were interchangable.

Actually, there is a rule, it's on the same page that Sternguard ammunition is explained.

The logic, fluff wise, is because this stuff is hard to make and rare as hell. If the Mechanicus is going to hand out Super Amazing Special Expensive Bullets, they're only going to give it to the guys who can make each and every shot count. Storm and heavy bolters dump ammunition into their targets. When your ammunition is made of money, that's not a very good thing. On the other end of the spectrum, pistols with their limited range and volume of fire don't have enough tactical value to bother with super special ammo.

Why are people still talking about this? It's pretty easy to understand.

Yes, and why in the world do you call yourself "MauleedlovesYakeface"?

Because loves Yakface??
Stranger things have happened

Mauleed might in fact love Yakface, but I'm thinking that "MauleedlovesYakface" is neither Mauleed nor Yakface.

Hence my confusion...

I seem to remember reading a fluff reason along the lines that the special shells tend to jam more often and are therefore unsuitable to the faster-firing storm bolter and heavy bolter. I can't for the life of me remember where I read this though.

Ah ha, yes you are right Alpharius, I see your confusion now

I also remember reading about special issue ammo jamming and being too high a cost for normal use. I also remember reading that terminator armour was planned to replace all power armour as standard and was halted due to Horus Heresey. I believe both were in the same book so it might be either 4th Ed BRB or the previous Marine Codex (the one with trait system)

And I can't see the issue here either, reads straight forward to me. "shrugs"