What guns are best against high DT enemies? (non-dlc)

[Detective]

Currently playing a high luck, gun build. In my last scuffle with enemies with high DT (power-armor), I found myself at a disadvantage in close-to-mid range.

Long ranger, I got a sniper rifle for the job, but I am open to any suggestions for close-mid range guns. Thought a riot shotgun with magnum buckshots would be enough when use it together with the perk. but... Still too weak to pierce their armor.

Might need to try using slugs instead of shells for next encounters.

[Rez Elwin]

Obviously the stronger the gun the better but you are probably gonna wanna get some Armor Piercing rounds, they would work the best. If you can get a decent amount of AP round an automatic weapon would work best, or a high powered rifle, personal favorite of mine is 'This Machine" or the Battle Rifle if you are not on great terms with the NCR.

[Prof_Nekko]

probably teh best option without any DLC is a Brush Rifle since that has the highest single shot damage of base game guns. However they only really drop from NCR rangers so unless you're cool with pissing them off you'll have to settle for the next best option of a hunting rifle or the unique "This Machine" you can get from a quest in the NCR base. the Brush Gun uses .45-70 Gov't rounds which sadly don't have AP variants but the other two use .308 rounds which do give you AP variants.

[Detective]

Got the Brush Gun from legioneer assassins, actually! After a while they are a great way to get caps and quality weapons (Sadly can't get a ranger sequila without doing something that would offend or harm the NCR, as far as I know). With the cowboy perk I plan to get, this should further increase the damage output to be able to just overpower the DT.

Got This Machine and tried it out. AP rounds are a light help, but it can still take quite a bit of bullets (and time) before someone in a power suit die- Though at least, the reload is much quicker when compared to the Brush Gun.

Due to damage output, the Brush Gun could be better for mid-range combat (Though reloading is a hassle, and I already have the perk that lets me reload quicker). For closer quarters, will have to try out a riot shotgun with slugs instead at a later time.

P.S: As for automatic weapons- I'm not sure if they are the right call. Depeneding on the weapon, even with a -15 DT AP ammo, most of the damage would still be blocked by the rest of the DT, since it directly reduces the damage for each bullet.

It is why I stashed my 10mm submachinegun, since it became less against medium-armored opponents, and doesn't have an AP ammo version to craft.

[Prof_Nekko]

the best other option you could do is put some points in melee to help deal with the power armor. Rippers and chainsaws are always useful weapons to have since they ignore DT entirely (and if you had DLC you could get moddable versions of them that makes them stupid powerful)

[Detective]

Rippers and Chainsaws are... Actually a good idea! I already am almost halfway there to 100 melee weapons anyway because I wanted to take the cowboy perk, and even in the early levels I ended up using a ripper against high DT targets when I had no other option.

I've been wandering what should be the next skill I focus on for level 30, and those weapons could be just what I need- I even already got a thermic lance fully fixed up, ready to be used (Courtesy of Legioneer assassins, of course :D)

[psychotron666]

Shotgun with slugs is what you want, NOT bucks.
Bucks split the damage into 3, which is awful against armour, while the slug is basically the three of those bucks added into one shot.

[Detective]

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Shotgun with slugs is what you want, NOT bucks.
Bucks split the damage into 3, which is awful against armour, while the slug is basically the three of those bucks added into one shot.

Yeah, did some testing- A riot shotgun with slugs kills them much quicker.
While doing some tests though, I came to a realization that I have another option. Instead of trying to rush them down kill them before they can kill me, I can shoot down their guns using V.A.T.S.
With my current sidearm (That Gun, love that fella), I can unleash up to four V.A.T.S shots- Watching them lose their weapons and then have to either run to get their weapons or fight barehanded, after trying to figure out the best ways to deal with them? Is very satisfying :D

So with that, I think I got just about everything to deal with such opponents in the future (as rare as it might be).

[Prof_Nekko]

if I remember right doing so kinda destroys the health of teh weapon (though it's been a while since I've done that myself) so if you're looking to actually collect the weapon for sale or personal use it will be a lot crappier

[Detective]

I'm aware, though currently fixing a weapon is generally not an issue (Jurry rigging, and enough caps if I'll find myself needing to pay for a fix).

I also know one could aim for the arm to disarm someone, but that depends on whether I can cripple them quickly enough for the job.

[Akasaki]

AMR is a real kill even with out AP round. Explosive round will kill almost anything.
Any explosive gun like grenade rifle or any launcher. Even trap mine is good.

Energy weaponry is a good choice too.
Q-35 matter modulator is reliable
Any laser with high fire rate
Gauss rifle and Tesla canon will reduce any ugly to beautiful ash.
All of these can work with meltdown perk, trigger the mass destruction.

If you want to preserve the ammo, unarmed and melee will do a good work if use it right.
Anything with saw blade like chainsaw, ripper will do the quick work.
.... And if you dealing with a living things standing on 2 feet with armor, spam boxing gloves to K.O. them if you lucky enough.

[Johnny Casey]

Originally posted by Prof_Nekko:

the best other option you could do is put some points in melee to help deal with the power armor. Rippers and chainsaws are always useful weapons to have since they ignore DT entirely (and if you had DLC you could get moddable versions of them that makes them stupid powerful)

Originally posted by Detective:

Rippers and Chainsaws are... Actually a good idea! I already am almost halfway there to 100 melee weapons anyway because I wanted to take the cowboy perk, and even in the early levels I ended up using a ripper against high DT targets when I had no other option.

Despite your belief, the weapons with 'Ignores DT' status will not actually ignore the target's DT due to a bug that Obsidian never bothered to fix.

[4K_240hz_MLED]

noob question, I have to add special ammo only via modding a weapon right?

[Prof_Nekko]

Originally posted by Mariah Afzuri:

noob question, I have to add special ammo only via modding a weapon right?

no you go to the ammo tab in your inventory and select the one you want to use

[lukandroll]

Fully modded laser rifle is great for mid range

[Usernamehere]

Shameless necro because I've been experiencing this issue.

In my arsenal, my heavy weapons I use when nothing else can do the job is the Sprtel-Wood 9700, and a Light Machine Gun with an extended magazine. However during a test I found out they're both garbage at penetrating armor. They fail at piercing even basic enemies' armor, and yes I know about different ammo types and haven't tried those yet because they're scarce.