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 Overread wrote:
Under an RPG system you can have balance all over the place and a good DM can mitigate it somewhat. They can even go "actually Dave that combo you found that lets your lasgun kill a greater demon with one shot - I'm not allowing it cause it breaks the game immersion"
With a wargame such tricks are part of the mechanics and might form extensive debates online. They can be highly dividing, confusing or require updates to patch the stats for the game from the developers.

This sort of thing happens in wargames too.

For example, in the current edition of Horus Heresy, the way the rules are written, vehicles, such as the tiny Tarantula (a model which is just above 2cm tall), are treated as being of infinite height for line of sight, meaning even aircraft and Warlord Titans cannot see past it.

"I'm not allowing it cause it breaks the game immersion" seems to have been the community response to that.

(This is in addition to other issues, like the Saturnine thermal diffraction fields doing absolutely nothing RAW, which has gone unFAQed - but again, no one plays it that way).

Just to throw a little extra gasoline on the fire, I don't have my Dark Heresy book close to hand to check against it, but the Only War supplement Hammer of the Emperor from the same RPG line has Astartes bolt casings as a 'very rare' item you can acquire/include in your regiment's standard kit if you feel like paying a bunch of points for it. It mentions Guardsmen 'often' collecting them in the wake of battle to keep as talismans and sacred relics, but doesn't say anything about them risking execution for doing so.

I think it really is just a case of a bunch of writers with slightly different ideas about the universe, stuff shifting with each new release, and a fairly loose hand on the creative tiller, which feels about right for GW. Kind of a 'pick what you like, it's a big universe' situation.

 Ashiraya wrote:

 Crimson wrote:
I know. It is more of a mess and GW does not really care about canon. That does not mean that stuff actually produced by the company and stuff produced by someone else would be on equal footing.

I am going to be real with you, this idea that the RPGs are not canon is just not something most people are going to be interested in. GW has licenced it. GW has creative oversight.

Maybe true, buuuuut . . .

Some canon is more "real" than other canon, you've made this exact argument in the other thread:

 Ashiraya wrote:
According to Rogue Trader, the Ultramarines Chief Librarian Astropath is a half-Eldar. RT has -some- interesting and useful stuff and I respect it for its place in history, but at this point Warhammer's changed so much I would not use 1e as a load-bearing argument.

This is why we look for consistency. If one RPG says something different than every other source we have, it's stands on weaker ground. On authors, Rick Priestly wrote Rogur Trader, and you were quick to toss it when it didn't suit your argument.

Because here it is a clear case of retcon. Ilyan Nastase does not hold the position because we know Tigurius does. Ilyan Nastase does not feature on subsequent detailings of the Ultramarines high command, even ones that are comprehensive.

If we had subsequently been told in other sources that imperial citizens -may- in fact possess Astartes bolter rounds without fear of death penalty, then I would have seen no need to debate, but it has not been addressed since to my knowledge. (Only War claims it is practiced, but not whether it is punishable if found out).

With that said, absolutely it is a case of authors not caring too much about keeping consistency, from either side of the coin. It's talked about in the interview. GW themselves mostly care about vibes, what we're doing here waving citations around isn't what anyone was ever intended to do or approach the setting with.

Yet here we are. We nerds are a stubborn lot!

I’d agree that’s a retcon, and a rare example of one that should stick.

Remember, in Rogue Trader Marines weren’t the post-humans we know them as today. Not entirely baseline human, true. And the Imperium wasn’t presented as the same kind of Xenophobic.

He’s also barely mentioned, and no other human/Eldar hybrids are ever mentioned.

But even if there are the odd ones here and there (looks askance at Haemonculi, who may be capable of that)? The chances of such an abomination in the eyes of the Imperium being made an Astartes are an equally rare in the setting Absolutely Zero.

Of course, there are many real world examples of people claiming cultures that they aren’t (Steven Seagal for instance, who seems to be whichever culture suits him in any given interview), so I don’t want to rule out he just claimed to be Half Eldar. Possibly following a semi-successful Mind War with a Farseer perhaps, that lead to genuine mental confusion from psychic probing/feedback etc.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
But I come back to my earlier point.

Someone not liking a given part of the background? No problemo. In a nice way, I don’t especially care.

Oh I’ll engage for the sake of conversation, highlighting the bits I find cool about it. But never really with the expectation of changing their mind. It does happen from time to time, and I’m included in that having my mind changed.

But, to extend it to “I don’t like it, therefore nobody can ever claim it’s canon or official” is going too far. Then you’re imposing your opinion on others, and potentially derailing a thread.

There’s also more background stuff than mere citations on Lexicanum. Because it’s not a complete repository.

For instance? In I think it was 3rd Ed, might’ve been edging into 4th, a White Dwarf article offered some alternative, experimental rules for Chaos Daemons. And of course it included background explanations. The bit that stuck in my mind is Daemons being able to see in varying light levels. Not because their eyes are really good. But because they perceive souls, rather than physical objects.

The same article also explained that Lesser Daemons are so single minded, that kind of like Orks they just can’t fathom anyone not enjoying their passion.

All genuine memories of a genuine WD article. But I’ve no idea which issue, so I can’t offer a citation. And Lexicanum makes no mention of it whatsoever.

Now, until such time as I, I dunno, collect an entire, complete back catalogue of WD? I’m of course comfortable my claims here are only marginally better than “Trust Me Bro”.

But interestingly? Those claims don’t actually clash with any well known lore, or the general feel of the universe.

On the bolt round charm point, a distinction could be made between a live round, that could be used to smite the enemy, and a discarded casing that is now a holy relic after such smiting has been undertaken could be made. And also it depends on local custom and the particular mental state of the local unilateral authorities (Officer corps, Arbites, local law enforcement, commissariat, etc)

 Flinty wrote:
On the bolt round charm point, a distinction could be made between a live round, that could be used to smite the enemy, and a discarded casing that is now a holy relic after such smiting has been undertaken could be made. And also it depends on local custom and the particular mental state of the local unilateral authorities (Officer corps, Arbites, local law enforcement, commissariat, etc)

A distinction could also be made between soldiers of the Guard, noble warriors sacrificing their lives in His name, and cowardly civilians who haven't volunteered for glorious duty.

Guardsmen collecting spent casings is not the same as civilians holding live rounds.

I'm sure I've read lore somewhere about civilians collecting discarded bolt casings after a SM has arrived as holy relics

Granted that doesn't make it *legal*, but also it just doesn't make any sense to outlaw discarded casings? In fact having such a reverence of the Astartes is something the Imperial higher echelons absolutely encourages.

Do we have a direct quote about its illegality? I’m interested in the context of it.

Illegal on World A doesn’t mean Illegal in the Imperium. Illegal within Regiments from World A doesn’t mean Illegal anywhere else.

So the context definitely has me intrigued.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Moving Swiftly On…..

Bolters, standard issue Bolters.

Is anyone aware of any depiction of such a weapon with a stock, outside of the plastic ones from 1st and 2nd Ed? Which was, due to modelling constraints, near universally clipped off before gluing it? The one that I think first debuted in the metal MkVII box, and continued right up to, maybe slightly beyond 2nd Ed, but definitely wasn’t included in the multipart Tactical Squad of 3rd Ed.

If memory serves the only other stock seen on a Bolter is a manky mangy maggoty wooden one on a Plague Marine?

Meltaguns and Plasmaguns have been depicted with stocks on Marine models (again the 2nd/3rd Ed one piece if you don’t count the back pack metal ones). But Bolters only rarely.

The metal late 2nd ed scout sarge had one of those wire stock that folds over the top of the gun. I don’t think it’s supposed to be a full bolter though, but a very heavily accessorized bolt pistol.

The 3rd ed standard bearer doesn’t have a full stock, but there is a brace on the back of the bolter that stabilizes on his forearm. Which is a little nod to the fact he needs to one hand it.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Do we have a direct quote about its illegality? I’m interested in the context of it.

Illegal on World A doesn’t mean Illegal in the Imperium. Illegal within Regiments from World A doesn’t mean Illegal anywhere else.

So the context definitely has me intrigued.

I don't know, I've now skimmed every likely section in both the Dark Heresy 2nd edition core rulebook and the Deathwatch rulebook and can't find any reference to any death penalty.
There is a passage titled "Man's Reach Exceeds his Grasp" in Deathwatch about how extremely difficult astartes weaponary should be to obtain and how DMs should impose extra difficulties on players beyond the normal requistion system for any player that wants one. This seems like an obvious passage to include the hazards if caught with a weapon they have obtained with such difficulty, yet it is not mentioned.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 catbarf wrote:
Agreed with both of the above. Marines being able to casually wield as assault rifles what is more akin to a plasma, melta, or other bulky/heavy special weapon when carried by a Guardsman is plenty superhuman. The idea that they have to be extra powerful, so strong they'll kill a normal guy instantly, etc just sounds like spank.

Which circles neatly around to those hyperbolic takes being akin to in-universe Fuddlore. Retold tales of the occasional dumb dumb or lightweight who fired a bolter wrong and got hurt being retold to him dying. Or the Munitorum officer telling a particularly stupid batch of recruits that "No they cannot have a bolter! And if they do somehow come across one they are to immediately surrender it to the depot because it will absolutely kill them if they try to use it!!!"

Realised I forgot to throw in behind the "fuddlore" explanation. This makes a lot of sense to me, especially when factoring in that Marine bolters having at least some components oversized to fit meaty Marine fists in power armour would make the guns heavier and therefore reduce felt recoil for the same round.

Give Marine ammunition is typically artisan-produced by Chapter serfs in the Chapter forge, I think it is likely they have a bit more oomph than a standard, mass-produced bolt round, even if both fit in the same gun. Think of the difference between hand-loaded competition-grade 5.56 vs a crate of general issue military 5.56 that was produced to "good enough" and sat in the corner of an arsenal for 50 years. Both will run though an AR-15, but you'll get better results from one.

Marine bolt rounds could easily be loaded "hot". That said, there can't be any dramatic differences because they still all fit within the same weapons profile, so the capabilities have to be broadly comparable... not "rip your arm off or kill you" levels of difference.

Equally, all that artisanal work could just be extra adherence to worshipping the machine spirits of the bolt round that is thought to make a difference by the zealots in 40k, but actually has zero impact on the function. There is almost certainly at least some of this.

Coming back to the OP? I don’t think we ever truly settled on what the kickback might actually be?

If the initial charge is just to get the round moving (a burst of sudden but potentially limited acceleration) before the rocket motor kicks in? It may be lesser than you expect.

Perhaps it is, and is predominantly to wake the shell up, and preserve the rocket part’s fuel, as it’s not having to take it from 0-whatever on its own? Akin to how Motorway driving is more fuel efficient than town driving, as there’s less stop/start going on, so less sudden acceleration for the engine to provide. So in terms of car speeds and Bolt Shells? Maybe the initial bang is for 0-2 in a fraction of a second, allowing the rocket motor to take over and then propel it to 60 in a fraction of a second, and maintaining that velocity? Apologies gun fans, I know that’s a wonky analogy.

But I’d still worry about its sheer bulk and weight. Whilst probably not for sustained periods, the background has plenty examples of a Marine using his Bolter to stove someone in. So it’s not going to have a light build. And by the time you’ve made room for not just Astartes Sosig Fingers, but also the gauntlet of their Power Armour? I’d imagine it’s going to be someone awkward for a regular human to wield.

Sure, a fully grown combat solider can probably pick one up and carry it (especially if you’ve a strap to assist, and we know those exist for Marine Bolters). But to bring it to an amiable firing position, and keep it steady enough? That I think is going to be an issue for most.

And I do mean most, as I find definitives terribly dull in 40K. Especially when we’ve Goliaths and Catachans and Bragg running about who have ridiculous levels of strength.

Firing it? So let’s continue. You can probably lift it. And if you can lift it? You can almost certainly prop it up on a wall. And we saw that in art earlier, though it does seem to be a Guard Issue Bolter. But regardless? If you can lift it, you can prop it on a wall. That of course helps with the aiming and stability. Though without a bipod I’d suspect it’s fairly common for it to tip if you’re not careful.

From there, you’re finally in position to pull the trigger and see what happens. Genelocks exist, but appear to be vanishingly rare. Or at least wildly inconsistently apply. As such I’m happy to assume it’s either busted or entirely not present. So bang goes the bolter, and await its round goes.

But being propped on a wall whilst you try to keep it aimed and balanced? Surely any sort of recoil is going to be an issue?

Certainly without the stance assist of Power Armour and the strength of a Marine in Power Armour, it’s going to be a nastier kick for a baseline human whether they’re firing it normally or what have you.

Would it kill you? Well I’m going to argue it’s not an instant death sentence. But if you’ve got really poor control over it for whatever reason? If it bucks up and hits you in the head, that could range from a fatal contusion to seeing stars with a nasty bruise, and everything in between.

Oooh. I know a source we’ve not checked! Confrontation, the original shot at Necromunda. I don’t have a complete set of the WDs, but I think I’ve the one with the weapon rules.

Nah. Rules yes. Weapon descriptions, no.

I mean, we have literal videos of real humans firing weapons of same calibre in this thread. And those are not gyrojet weapons. Bolter is a hybrid, but if it differs from a non-gyrojet gun of same calibre, then it would have less recoil, not more. And as noted, even normal humans rarely use a stock with bolter, again indicating that the recoil probably is quite manageable.

 kirotheavenger wrote:
eresy 2nd edition core rulebook and the Deathwatch rulebook and can't find any reference to any death penalty.

It's from the 1e The Inquisitor's Handbook, apparently. A book I unfortunately do not own, so cannot give you the direct quote.

Anyway, to get on the topic, all this discussion reminds me that I think the Bolt Rifle was a very good thing to introduce.

Boltguns are iconic, but also a bit undergunned for Marines. A bit like having a HMG as your tank's main gun. It can do better! Space Marines are strong enough to take guns that the Imperial Guard use as stationary, crew-served gun emplacements, and run around with that gun handheld, which is just a terrifying prospect. In city fighting for example you'd normally never expect to deal with that kind of firepower turning a corner and appearing on you so quickly, not without the noise and bulk of a tank telegraphing its presence.

A bolt rifle much better makes use of their strength and size. Marines are still strong enough to readily handle it (it's far from a true "heavy weapon"), so there's not much drawback, and its performance advantages are clear.

I do see the Boltgun as a holdover of the Heresy Supply Chain.

It was by no means the biggest toughest gun a Marine could wield. But it fit the right mix of bloody nasty and comparatively well understood enough to churn out in the numbers needed.

Volkite, the original choice, may often struggle with range compared to Bolt Weapons, is a nastier infantry weapon. You get all the shock and awe of the Bolter (though it’s watching your mates explode into superheated ash rather than them going messily splat), with the added bonus that sometimes said explosion of superheated ash and gas can cripple or kill anyone stood next to you. But, they were hard to manufacture in the numbers necessary for the ever and by no means steadily expanding Legions.

Post Heresy? The Boltgun took on a venerated status. What was once merely A Weapon Good Enough For The Job That We Can Supply In The Numbers Necessary, to an almost holy symbol of the Marines. Perhaps we could even describe it as a Good Luck Charm, and something clung to as an echo of better days past. And so until Cawl? Nobody had really given much thought to replacing it. Not even with Storm Bolters which are far from exotic, being a fairly commonplace Pintel mounted weapon for the staggering numbers of Imperial Guard tanks.

 Ashiraya wrote:

 kirotheavenger wrote:
eresy 2nd edition core rulebook and the Deathwatch rulebook and can't find any reference to any death penalty.

It's from the 1e The Inquisitor's Handbook, apparently. A book I unfortunately do not own, so cannot give you the direct quote.

Ah, fortunately I have a searchable digital copy!
The handbook mentioned blessed bolt casing charms. Apparently the greater the warrior who wielded the bolter, and the greater the foe the round slew, the holier it is. Doesn't specify these are astartes bolt shells or not though.
(The book does repeat the idea that astartes bolters are bigger, more powerful, and with recoil dangerous to a mortal).

This is probably the badger?
From the weapon description of the "Angelus Bolt Carbine"

Angelus Bolt Carbine wrote:
The fanes of Gunmetal, among their most important duties, hold an oath-bond to manufacture the casing and primary propulsion charges for the Astartes calibre bolt shells. Production of the Astartes bolts is carefully controlled and monitored, and once made, each case is stamped with the aquila and its marker's mark before being passed on to the Adepts of the Machine God. Despite the security and precautions inherent in this sacred duty, it is said a few of these shells never see the aquila stamp. These so called "blind shells" are both utterly illegal and highly desirable, but on their own, blind shells are useless without a weapon to fire them. Consequently, the Fane of Fykos makes in secret a weapon known as the "Angelus". Bluntly elegant in shape and crafted from the finest materials, the Angelus' lacquered stock houses its magazine and unlocks to take three Astartes calibre bolt shells snugly nose to tail. Provided only to their richest and most trustworthy of clients, the exclusivity and terrible killing power of the Angelus is favoured by the wealthiest of bounty hunters and the most accomplished of beast-slayers in the Calixis Sector. Carrying one of these powerful, but highly illegal weapons entails certain risks all of its own.

TLDR: It mentions that Astartes bolt rounds are highly controlled and illegal to carry. but it only mentions a non-descript punishment and that's technically for being caught with the gun rather than the ammo.





Automatically Appended Next Post:
I think it's notable that the Boltgun used to be much more lethal than it was.
Back when even a marine was just T4/3+/1W a boltgun could do a reasonable amount of damage. It would do quite a number against a T3 Guardsman that wouldn't even get a save.

These days S4 AP0 just doesn't cut the mustard in remotely the same way it used to.

I read it more that the way the shells are obtained is the illegality. Pinched from their manufacturer, and never intended for Non-Astartes?

The sort of thing where being artisan made, even if one in a hundred goes walkies, it represents an unacceptable shorting of the intended supply.

Nevelon wrote:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Moving Swiftly On…..

Bolters, standard issue Bolters.

Is anyone aware of any depiction of such a weapon with a stock, outside of the plastic ones from 1st and 2nd Ed? Which was, due to modelling constraints, near universally clipped off before gluing it? The one that I think first debuted in the metal MkVII box, and continued right up to, maybe slightly beyond 2nd Ed, but definitely wasn’t included in the multipart Tactical Squad of 3rd Ed.

If memory serves the only other stock seen on a Bolter is a manky mangy maggoty wooden one on a Plague Marine?

Meltaguns and Plasmaguns have been depicted with stocks on Marine models (again the 2nd/3rd Ed one piece if you don’t count the back pack metal ones). But Bolters only rarely.

The metal late 2nd ed scout sarge had one of those wire stock that folds over the top of the gun. I don’t think it’s supposed to be a full bolter though, but a very heavily accessorized bolt pistol.

The 3rd ed standard bearer doesn’t have a full stock, but there is a brace on the back of the bolter that stabilizes on his forearm. Which is a little nod to the fact he needs to one hand it.

I had a look through Guard ones, and the ones I missed (not including 1st edition) were the Krieg command squad (no stock), and the singular Guard bolter with a stock- the 2nd edition Tallarn officer with a stocked boltgun:

kirotheavenger wrote:

 Ashiraya wrote:

 kirotheavenger wrote:
eresy 2nd edition core rulebook and the Deathwatch rulebook and can't find any reference to any death penalty.

It's from the 1e The Inquisitor's Handbook, apparently. A book I unfortunately do not own, so cannot give you the direct quote.

Ah, fortunately I have a searchable digital copy!
The handbook mentioned blessed bolt casing charms. Apparently the greater the warrior who wielded the bolter, and the greater the foe the round slew, the holier it is. Doesn't specify these are astartes bolt shells or not though.
(The book does repeat the idea that astartes bolters are bigger, more powerful, and with recoil dangerous to a mortal).

This is probably the badger?
From the weapon description of the "Angelus Bolt Carbine"

Angelus Bolt Carbine wrote:
The fanes of Gunmetal, among their most important duties, hold an oath-bond to manufacture the casing and primary propulsion charges for the Astartes calibre bolt shells. Production of the Astartes bolts is carefully controlled and monitored, and once made, each case is stamped with the aquila and its marker's mark before being passed on to the Adepts of the Machine God. Despite the security and precautions inherent in this sacred duty, it is said a few of these shells never see the aquila stamp. These so called "blind shells" are both utterly illegal and highly desirable, but on their own, blind shells are useless without a weapon to fire them. Consequently, the Fane of Fykos makes in secret a weapon known as the "Angelus". Bluntly elegant in shape and crafted from the finest materials, the Angelus' lacquered stock houses its magazine and unlocks to take three Astartes calibre bolt shells snugly nose to tail. Provided only to their richest and most trustworthy of clients, the exclusivity and terrible killing power of the Angelus is favoured by the wealthiest of bounty hunters and the most accomplished of beast-slayers in the Calixis Sector. Carrying one of these powerful, but highly illegal weapons entails certain risks all of its own.

TLDR: It mentions that Astartes bolt rounds are highly controlled and illegal to carry. but it only mentions a non-descript punishment and that's technically for being caught with the gun rather than the ammo.

That sounds more like it is illegal to commit fraud and corruptly pinch munitions off the military supplies contracted by the Marine Chapter, as much as it is a prohibition on Marine shells.

Whilst it doesn't typically carry the death penalty, secreting away military supplies off the production line is highly illegal in most modern nations too...

I think it's notable that the Boltgun used to be much more lethal than it was.
Back when even a marine was just T4/3+/1W a boltgun could do a reasonable amount of damage. It would do quite a number against a T3 Guardsman that wouldn't even get a save.

These days S4 AP0 just doesn't cut the mustard in remotely the same way it used to.

This is true, there has been a general power creep to 40k.



Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Crimson wrote:
I mean, we have literal videos of real humans firing weapons of same calibre in this thread. And those are not gyrojet weapons. Bolter is a hybrid, but if it differs from a non-gyrojet gun of same calibre, then it would have less recoil, not more. And as noted, even normal humans rarely use a stock with bolter, again indicating that the recoil probably is quite manageable.

I agree with this. Boltguns can have a stock. Yet most even used by ordinary humans without power armour do not use them. The logical implication is that they actually have fairly manageable recoil in general.

Going back to the "fudd lore" explanation, even a manageable level of recoil is probably going to feel significant to a Guard trooper who has only ever used a stocked lasgun, a weapon easy to aim with zero recoil. Moving from that to a gun with any kick is likely to feel tough, and if someone picked up a bolter for the first time on full auto or burst and expected it to fire like a lasgun with the stock folded... they are going to be in for quite the surprise.

Huh. Never clocked that stock before!

Considering its reputed brutal recoil, it wouldn't surprise me if Guard-issue boltguns came with one...



...stock.

 Ashiraya wrote:
Considering its reputed brutal recoil, it wouldn't surprise me if Guard-issue boltguns came with one...



...stock.

<slow clap>


Well done.

Bolters, and most other Imperial weapons, probably have some universal attachment points to which modifications can be attached, including the buttplate of the bolter itself. Perhaps even the standard lasgun buttstock can be detached and attached to a bolter. So a guardsman who was lucky enough to be issued a bolter could probably ask for a buttstock if he wanted one.

Perhaps that bumpout on the rear of a bolter is simply a coverplate for some attachment point.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Bolters, and most other Imperial weapons, probably have some universal attachment points to which modifications can be attached, including the buttplate of the bolter itself. Perhaps even the standard lasgun buttstock can be detached and attached to a bolter. So a guardsman who was lucky enough to be issued a bolter could probably ask for a buttstock if he wanted one.

Perhaps that bumpout on the rear of a bolter is simply a coverplate for some attachment point.

Part of me thinks “It’s all STC based, cross compatible accessories make a lot of sense”

The other part says “you would profane the holy bolter with a part produced at a workshop not sanctified to exclusively make parts for it?!”

And this being 40k, both sides are probably right.

I think I always assumed the butt there was part of the cloak. And honestly? I’m not entirely sure that’s not the case.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I think I always assumed the butt there was part of the cloak. And honestly? I’m not entirely sure that’s not the case.

Possible. I'm afraid I don't have this model to check. The only 2nd ed Guard I have are Valhallans.

Does seem to have the same metallic paintjob, so most likely a buttstock.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Bolters, and most other Imperial weapons, probably have some universal attachment points to which modifications can be attached, including the buttplate of the bolter itself. Perhaps even the standard lasgun buttstock can be detached and attached to a bolter. So a guardsman who was lucky enough to be issued a bolter could probably ask for a buttstock if he wanted one.

Perhaps that bumpout on the rear of a bolter is simply a coverplate for some attachment point.

Part of me thinks “It’s all STC based, cross compatible accessories make a lot of sense”

The other part says “you would profane the holy bolter with a part produced at a workshop not sanctified to exclusively make parts for it?!”

And this being 40k, both sides are probably right.

Indeed.

Any old lasgun buttstock would work. However, protocol dictates that you should request a special bolter stock to placate its machine spirit(it has a matching boltgun metallic paint job instead of Lasgun OD green)