Why don't meltaguns get hot?

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**alexwars1**

It seems to me that a meltagun has a lot more "devastating force" in a single shot than a plasma gun has, so why doesn't it suffer from Gets Hot?

**SagesStone**

Lexicanum wrote:Melta Weapons are heat-based weapons which work by sub-atomic agitation of the air. Targets on the receiving end are heated to the point of being vaporised. The effect on flesh is fearsome to say the least, while vehicles can be reduced to molten slag. Most melta weapons use highly pressurized pyrum-petrol gases with a two part injection system which forces the gases into a molecular state, which will vaporise just about anything. Unfortunately, due to the high power consumption and range dissipation, the weapon is only effective over very short distances, but anything caught in the blast is likely to be destroyed.

Although short-ranged and slow to fire, they are prized for their power against armoured vehicles. They are also considered a good alternative to plasma weapons, which are unreliable and capable of killing their user. Besides the roar of the explosive vaporising of the target's moisture, melta weapons themselves make little noise when firing. Given their fairly quiet and very effective nature, infiltrating parties make use of melta weapons to destroy enemy vehicles before they get a chance to fight on the battlefield.

Many races make use of the same basic technology. In the Imperium they are called meltas, and often referred to as 'fusion guns', 'melters', 'cookers' and 'vape guns'. Equivalent weapons used by other races have similar effects, although sometimes completely different technology and methods of operation. Both the Tau and Eldar use melta weapons, primarily for tank hunting like the Imperium.

I guess it's just more stable, though I don't know why they would as more could probably go wrong than with Plasma weapons. But this doesn't trap the energy in a small field like Plasma does.

**FeistierErmine**

The reason is because plasma weapons cause the molecular reactions and generate all of their heat within the weapon, and then encase it in a magnetic field which allows the plasma to travel further through the air without dissipating.

Melta weapons simply release reactants into the air which cause a stream of air in front of the weapon to super heat without heating the gun itself. They basically work like really powerful flamers.

**IronChaos**

Be careful, alexwars1. An Inquisitor could purge you for asking that...

**Sanctjud**

IronChaos wrote:Be careful, alexwars1. An Inquisitor could purge you for asking that...

AKA: "I have no idea."

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Thank you FeistierErmine, very informative.

**daedalus**

Something else interesting about plasma. Other races have weaker plasma guns that don't get hot. It could be that the Imperium just over-tuned their plasmagun design for additional damage because someone determined that it was within "acceptable tolerances".

**Gavo**

daedalus wrote:Something else interesting about plasma. Other races have weaker plasma guns that don't get hot. It could be that the Imperium just over-tuned their plasmagun design for additional damage because someone determined that it was within "acceptable tolerances".

No, I would say it's more because other races (Like Tau) have more advanced technology, and have figure out a way to make it safer, but at the cost of some strength.

The Imperium, AFAIK, is having problems making plasma, from a lack of knowledge of how to make it, killing chances to actually advance the technology.

**daedalus**

Yeah, I guess that's probably more belivable, given how behind in technology the Imperium is supposed to be.

**Extinction Angel**

I think it's in the Chaos Codex, where they have drawings of all the different weapons, that the exposed heating coils are what pose the real danger.

**Melissia**

Actually, many non-Imperial plasma weapons don't overheat. See Tau weaponry. The Imperium is kinda behind on the plasma side of technology.

**Captain Idaeus**

I always figured it had something to do with range and fire rate (at least fluff wise).
If a melta gun was modified to have extended range and fire rate, it could have similar drawbacks. I also assume the reverse ie. if a plasma gun fired at a more controlled rate at a shorter range it probably wouldnt overheat in such a dangerous manner. Of course I could be totally wrong

**Frazzled**

daedalus wrote:Something else interesting about plasma. Other races have weaker plasma guns that don't get hot. It could be that the Imperium just over-tuned their plasmagun design for additional damage because someone determined that it was within "acceptable tolerances".

well as plasma guns are the only ones with problems, while plasma cannons with proper cooling systems are more effective than xenos variants (stupid xenos!) I'd tend to agree. They just stripped down the gun from its support and said "here private 1210155765523536." I'd note In the Good Old Days (TM) plasma didn't overheat, it just had to recharge a turn if you set that sucker to blast. But of course back then, minis were minis, and we could throw grenades.

**nosferatu1001**

The overheat in various fluff (latest was Sons of Dorn i believe) comes from firing too rapidly for the cooling system to keep up, which can cause superheated steam (ouch) or potentially leak / explosion.

Melta weapons seem to be able to cause fusion like energy output from a chemical reaction, which is fairly impressive!

**Lexx**

Because they aren't unstable like plasma technology in the Imperium. Tau plasma weaponry doesn't overheat because they use weaker shots to not let it overheat. As said above melta weapons release a massive chemical reaction in a bolt from the gun that causes the heat (Some fiction with them states how theres a high pitched whistling/whine as the air gets superheated in a few seconds by the gun. Literally cooking the atmosphere it passes through ) . Plasma generates bolts of plasma energy in the gun then fires it.

**A Matter of Pride**

Balance is prolly another issue. Its always lame to look at it that way but thats partly why.

As much as I am not really a fan of halo. I always imagined plasma guns sorta like how those aline guns worked. If you kept firing it it would over heat then open up and release alot of heat and gas to cool before the weapon totally over heated. Its just that 40k plasma guns are just meaner so there emergancy cooling is a bit more harsh. Plus I imagine a plasma gun is worth way more then a guardsmen or 2 for that matter. And for the most part. Power armor can save you from the plasma over heat.

**Ruckdog**

I think it might be for a bit of character and humor, as well.

**sevend3f**

I always thought it was because plasma guns are old relics and are prone to breaking.

**Noobtodagame**

BECAUSE MELTA GUNS SHOOT BAD SCIENCE.

**Cambak**

They don't get hot, because we pray that they wont blow up in our face.

were else Plasma guns....

"Oh sweet, I have the power of the sun, in my hands...." *blows up a few minutes later when we rolls a real life 1.*

**Ailaros**

So, technically speaking, both plasma guns and meltaguns create superheated plasma inside the weapon.

The difference is that with a plasma gun, you are attempting to carefully contain and compress and eject the plasma at high speed. This technology is notoriously cantankerous, and can cause plasma misfires, which are not good. With melta, you generate the plasma and then just open a window on the side of the plasma generator and let it all fly out in a super hot cone of destruction.

With plasma, you have to rely on the safety release valve working properly or else it overheats. With melta the weapon fires by opening the safety release valve in the general direction of your target.

**Kanluwen**

Well...that's not entirely true. A Plasma Gun/Cannon operates in a state of barely controlled overload, while a Meltagun carefully regulates it and prevents it from getting anywhere near that level.

**king-newmic**

What about multi meltas? they have the equivelent range of a plasma rifle yet still dont get hot?

**Melissia**

Why would they get hot?

**Ailaros**

Melissia wrote:Actually, many non-Imperial plasma weapons don't overheat. See Tau weaponry. The Imperium is kinda behind on the plasma side of technology.

Right, the question isn't "why don't meltaguns get hot?", but "why do plasma guns get hot?"

Both weapons rely on superheating a fuel into a plasma state and projecting it at an enemy. In the case of plasma guns they want to project it much faster and much farther (unlike a meltagun where you basically just open up a window in the front of the plasma chamber and hope for the best), and the machinery required to make this possible is notoriously unstable, at best. At least, when you're dealing with the imperium...

**MekanobSamael**

daedalus wrote:Something else interesting about plasma. Other races have weaker plasma guns that don't get hot.

I think you should take a look at Warboss Nazdreg's gun from the old orks 'dex.

When the question is power vs. not overheating, I know what I'd choose!

Of course, that was back when some orks could actually shoot worth a crap.