Some Thoughts About the AR-61, BR-14 and MG-43

[Gundug]

I was looking at the data on these three weapons and made a few observations about their ammunition types and damage values.

The AR-61 Tenderizer is seemingly based on the 7.62x51mm NATO (quoted cartridge size - the actual movie props were 5.56x45mm rifles) Morita Assault Rifle from Starship Troopers. The projectile type is listed as "Rifle Rico", but the caliber is 8mm, so that would suggest it has the same dimensions as the 8x60mm ammunition used in the MG-43.

The BR-14 Adjudicator appears to be modeled somewhat on the idea behind the U.S. M-14 rifle, which also chambered 7.62x51mm NATO. The projectile type listed for it is "Battle Rifle", but the caliber is 8mm, so the likely choice would be 8x60mm.

Here is how they currently compare, as best I am able to determine:
AR-61 (8x60mm?):
Muzzle Velocity (m/s): 820
Bullet Mass (grams): 11
Armor Penetration: 2
Damage: 95
Durable Damage: 22
Magazine: 30

BR-14 (8x60mm?):
Muzzle Velocity (m/s): 820
Bullet Mass (grams): 11
Armor Penetration: 3
Damage: 80
Durable Damage: 16
Magazine: 30

MG-43 (8x60mm FMJ):
Muzzle Velocity (m/s): 820
Bullet Mass (grams): 11
Armor Penetration: 3
Damage: 90
Durable Damage: 23
Magazine: 150

While these three weapons generate exactly the same muzzle velocity with the same weight of bullet, the AR-61 fires a round that suffers in armor penetration, but does a little more Damage, while the BR-14 generates the same armor penetration as the MG-43, but somehow deals less damage. I would argue that at a minimum, the BR-14 should either have identical terminal performance to the MG-43, or there should be a muzzle velocity difference between the MG-43 and the two rifles.

I would also suggest that the damage vs. penetration trade off for the AR-61 seems a bit off, and assuming it's loaded with some type of expanding or fragmenting round that doesn't penetrate well, but does more internal damage than the FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) of the MG-43, I would bring its Damage up, and particularly increase the Durable Damage, but keep the stats lower than the R-63 Diligence. This change ignores the game balance effect of the strangely light handling of the weapon, particularly in recoil.

For comparison, here is the R-63 Diligence (9x70mm FMJ):
Muzzle Velocity (m/s): 850
Bullet Mass (grams): 20
Armor Penetration: 2
Damage: 125
Durable Damage: 32
Magazine: 20

Also, I get sidetracked easily, but how is a 9x70mm FMJ 20 gram round at 850 m/s penetrating less than an 8x60mm FMJ 11 gram round at 820 m/s?