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Personally I prefer the latter term... when did it fall into disuse?

It seems to me that most 'modern' 40k sources will say 'Bolter'.

I use both terms but it depends on the context. If the harder, solid sound of 'boltgun' is more applicable then I'll use it. Should the softer, fluid sound of 'bolter' be more suited, then it's better to use it.

For example, which sounds better when said aloud?

Vorxis slammed into the wall, his boltgun hammering out its defiance.

Vorxis slammed into the wall, his bolter hammering out its defiance.

In that context I prefer boltgun because of the words that go with it - 'slammed', 'wall', 'hammering'. All very solid sounding and creating a greater sense of action.

However, if it were;

Vorxis watched the psyker closely, the boltguns muzzle following every movement.

Vorxis watched the psyker closely, the bolters muzzle following every movement.

With that one I think the word 'bolter' fits because of the softer words & context, but boltgun would serve just as well.

However to be more on-topic; they've been widely referred to as bolters since before 3rd Edition - as an example the Codex from 3rd Ed. for Guard lists the upgrade for a Vet. Sergeant of a Hardened Veterans Squad as a 'bolter'. Just depends which term you prefer, which is more applicable in context and who the writer is.

They were referred to as bolters in Laserburn, which Bryan Ansell wrote in about 1980.

The two terms are used interchangably, and the SM codex uses bolter and boltgun.

Bolter is quicker to write and easier to say. Really why it's used more often.

Sparks_Havelock wrote:
Vorxis watched the psyker closely, the boltguns muzzle following every movement.

Vorxis watched the psyker closely, the bolters muzzle following every movement.

With that one I think the word 'bolter' fits because of the softer words & context, but boltgun would serve just as well.

it would be boltgun's and bolter's.
Just fyi.

Yes it should be. Brain was frizzled out today after a late night last night.

Yeah, they refer to they as bolter and boltgun in the same book, so they are interchangeable. I prefer bolter myself, but i also prefer lasrifle over lasgun.

I like to think of it this way.....

A bolter is a boltgun used by the IG and Space Marines.

A boltgun is any damn gun that shoots a self propelled bolt of some kind. IE: Chaos cultists (in most of the books I've read) never have bolters, they have crude bolt guns.

My two cents, just how I see it in my head when I hear boltgun, it's some "other" version of the same type of gun. (Where as the term "bolter" leaves no doubt in my head, it's the clasical image boltgun the marines and IG use)

I prefer bolter because it just sounds smoother to me

The terms are interchangable. Like Lasgun, Lasrifle or just Las if you're real lazy (las refers usually specifically to a lasgun rather than a las pistol or lascanon). Or like Logis Engine and Cogitator Bank are the same thing. Or Trooper and Canon Fodder are interchangable.




I'm a guard player. Did I really just say that?!

both have been in use since RT days... no biggy here

The Mad Tanker wrote:Yeah, they refer to they as bolter and boltgun in the same book, so they are interchangeable. I prefer bolter myself, but i also prefer lasrifle over lasgun.

Lasgun dosen't seem as interchangleable as bolter/boltgun, because there are lascarbines and lasrifles along with laspistols.

I am new too 40k and its a Boltgun... even NooB like me knows that... I slap thous who say Bolter

Its like calling a flamethrower a flamer......oh wait

Never seen a flamer referred to as a flamethrower in-universe.

Nightfall wrote:I am new too 40k and its a Boltgun... even NooB like me knows that... I slap thous who say Bolter

Seriously?

The terms are interchangable, I personally prefer bolter. They are both used in the codexes and in BL novels. Also, is it not a Storm Bolter? I've never heard it called a Storm Boltgun!

Though Heavy Boltgun has a nice sound to it, like it'd punch you just for looking its way.

n0t_u wrote:Though Heavy Boltgun has a nice sound to it, like it'd punch you just for looking its way.

Indeed!

However, saying "Boltergun" just to be safe is just heresy...

Budgie wrote:However, saying "Boltergun" just to be safe is just heresy...

True, anyone saying "boltergun" will be purged!

I prefer bolter. Boltgun sounds a little corny to me. It's would be like referring to a modern assault rifle as a "Bulletgun".

Although, I suppose someone could say using "bolter" would be like referring to a contemporary rifle as a "bulleter". But at the end of the day I just think bolter sounds more bada**...

snake wrote:I prefer bolter. Boltgun sounds a little corny to me. It's would be like referring to a modern assault rifle as a "Bulletgun".

Although, I suppose someone could say using "bolter" would be like referring to a contemporary rifle as a "bulleter". But at the end of the day I just think bolter sounds more bada**...

Then by all means feel free to call a bolter a Godwyn MkIII, Mars Ver7 ect