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Pg. 35 there is a paragraph "Out Of Range". In it, it appears to say that wounds made by Rapid Fire weapons can be allocated to models outside of the 1/2 distance of the weapon if all models within that distance have already been killed. For example, if a single Space Marine Rapid Fires at a unit of two Orks, one at 11" and the other at 13", scores two hits and two wounds, both Orks are removed, even though the furthest is over the 12" half-range of the Bolter; the wounds still spill over to the rest of the unit as long as there are other models within it's 24" maximum range.

Of course you still need to have target models within the 1/2 distance to make the Rapid Fire shot in the first place.

This is far more elaborated on than the 6th edition rules; for one, it clarifies that wounds can not be allocated to models outside of a weapon's maximum range. But I wanted second opinions, because I've never seen this rule mentioned before and have seen a few video batreps now where this appears to have been done incorrectly (if my interpretation of the rule is correct, that is).

what is the maximum range of a bolter?

You can kill stuff that far away.

Its not all that confusing.

Those rules might be more elaborate, but they have not changed how it works from 6th Ed to 7th Ed.

If 10 marines are within 12" of an Ork (so he's at 10-11") whose mob is in a conga line up to 24" away, they still get 20 shots, potentially killing 20 Orks.

The difference between 6th and 7th, is that if the same ork line was up to 36" away and the marines had a Heavy Bolter:
6th ed you could still kill 20 orks.
7th Ed, the Boltguns may only kill 20 Orks that are within 24".

IT has always been that, Rapid fire does not change the range of the weapon, is merely allows a extra shot at half range.

MarkyMark wrote:
IT has always been that, Rapid fire does not change the range of the weapon, is merely allows a extra shot at half range.

I checked the 6th ed rules and from what I can see they are very different.

6th edition's "Out Of Range" paragraph states:

As long as a model was in range of the enemy when To Hit rolls were made, he is considered to be in range for the duration of the Shooting attack, even if the removal of casualties means that the closest model now lies out of range. (pg 16)

This to me says that all weapons in 6th edition were able to kill outside of their maximum range so long as there were models from the target unit within that range when it started shooting. IE a heavy bolter firing at a unit with one model 36" away and the rest 37" or more would still be able to kill 3 models, including 2 outside of it's maximum range. There does not appear to be any specific reference to Rapid Fire shots but given how the above rules appear to be described, ranges didn't really matter anyway (when it came to allocating successful wounds).

In 7th edition however the rule has been clarified by saying "If none of the firing models are in range of a particular model in the target unit, then Wounds can not be allocated to it." This is in bold lettering and directly refers to measuring model to model, and makes it pretty clear that a weapon can only ever wound a model within it's maximum range, never beyond. And that in the case of Rapid Fire weapons, to use it's actual maximum range if there are no more models within it's 1/2 range to allocate wounds to.

The other difference being that 6th edition states all of the weapons in a unit fire simultaneously, while 7th edition states to fire one weapon type at a time.

zverofaust wrote:

MarkyMark wrote:
IT has always been that, Rapid fire does not change the range of the weapon, is merely allows a extra shot at half range.

I checked the 6th ed rules and from what I can see they are very different.

6th edition's "Out Of Range" paragraph states:

As long as a model was in range of the enemy when To Hit rolls were made, he is considered to be in range for the duration of the Shooting attack, even if the removal of casualties means that the closest model now lies out of range. (pg 16)

This to me says that all weapons in 6th edition were able to kill outside of their maximum range so long as there were models from the target unit within that range when it started shooting. IE a heavy bolter firing at a unit with one model 36" away and the rest 37" or more would still be able to kill 3 models, including 2 outside of it's maximum range.

In 7th edition however the rule has been clarified by saying "If none of the firing models are in range of a particular model in the target unit, then Wounds can not be allocated to it." This is in bold lettering and makes it pretty clear that now, a weapon can only ever wound a model within it's maximum range, never beyond. And that in the case of Rapid Fire weapons, to use it's actual maximum range if there are no more models within it's 1/2 range to allocate wounds to.

You're missing the FAQ that completely changed that rule.
And the quote was referring to the fact that a Rapid Fire weapon's range never changes. A Bolter's range is always 24", not 24" with one shot and 12" with two.