Rapid-Fire or AutoReload?

[Osamaru]

I'm pretty new to the Bowgun, and been playing around with the Light Bowgun today.
Honestly, I don't get why people call it a Support weapon, I've been chewing through everything will it. The Mines do huge amounts of damage, and the mobility is nice.

The only thing I am not to sure about is, what is better? Rapid-Fire or Autoreload?
Honestly, both seem to have their + and -.

Rapid Fire is double damage, meaning you can dish out huge amounts of damage, pretty quickly. However, you have to keep an eye on your Ammo, and once you've used all of you Rapid-fire ammo, damage is sub par.

Autoreload means you can deal a constant stream of damage, often from various types and there is FAR less micro managing and such. but its damage is lower and slower (the reload Mod really helps wiith this though).

In general, what one is better to focus on?

[Elsa]

a lot of people prefer to use the range items to stay in the back and support while the melee classes tank the dmg

[Wren]

it really is just up to preference and hunting target. i'm loving auto reload, circling a monster and pelting it with spread shots, but i know i'd prefer rapid-fire for targets that are harder to hit point blank, like legiana

[Elsa]

Originally posted by Marina:

it really is just up to preference and hunting target. i'm loving auto reload, circling a monster and pelting it with spread shots, but i know i'd prefer rapid-fire for targets that are harder to hit point blank, like legiana

the lance is all so useful against legiana as long as you remmber to power guard his ice attacks

[Mattrex]

Monster Hunter has no "support" weapons. Not even the hunting horn. Even when using a bowgun, you perform at your best when you're dancing with the monster at close to mid range.

As for the core question, neither is better in an absolute sense, and a big factor in which weapon you choose to bring is what monster you're fighting and under what circumstances. In group hunts, ammo consumption is less of a concern because you are likely to kill the monster before (or just as) you run out of your main rapid-fire ammo. In solo hunts, or hunts against monsters which will take a while, you'll want to choose a weapon that has 2-3 effective ammo loads, rapid-fire or not. You can also bring materials to craft more ammo in the field.

Auto-reload is particularly effective against fast-moving and fast-attacking monsters that give you little time or room to lay down fire. In these situations you will get more mileage out of peppering the monster with individual shots between dodges than you would by rooting yourself with rapid-fire. This is especially true when solo. In groups, you have more breathing room to plant your feet and use rapid-fire.

You should also pay attention to the recoil of each kind of ammo, which differs from gun to gun. There is a big difference between a high-recoil rapid-fire shot that roots you for 3+ seconds and once that you can shoot without slowing down.

In summary, rapid-fire is better in situations where you have more opportunity to zero in on a monster's weak spots for sustained fire. Auto-reload is better in situations where you have little time to move or aim and have to make every shot count. And pay attention to recoil and reload of the primary ammo you'll be using.