773 Firepuncher sniper rifle

The 773 Firepuncher sniper rifle, also known as the 773 Firepuncher rifle^[7] or simply 773 Firepuncher, was a model of a versatile^[8] sniper rifle^[2] manufactured by Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. that featured ablative coating and a wide-beam "burning" mode.^[1] The rifle could also fire bolts that could reflect off of surfaces.^[9] The 773 Firepuncher rifle was a customizable weapon,^[10] but even a standard-issue 773 Firepuncher rifle was a powerful weapon.^[11] It could act as a blaster rifle, grappling hook launcher, and homing-beacon dispatch. The weapon was capable of firing many types of ammo, including electro-darts and tripwires.^[8]

History[]

During the Clone Wars, the 773 Firepuncher was a favored weapon of Galactic Republic snipers, including Clone Force 99 clone trooper Crosshair.^[12] He utilized a customized rifle and became a master in using the weapon in its many configurations including, but not exclusively, a blaster rifle, a grappling hook launcher, and even fire darts that electrified a target on contact. Crosshair also carried a special type of mirrored reflector disks that could stick to surfaces and cause his blaster bolts to ricochet. Crosshair stored his rifle on his backpack by taking the scope and long barrel off. The weapon also had alternate barrel configurations that could be manually swapped out, such as a underbarrel attachment that fired a long grappling cable. Crosshair continued to use the weapon to deadly effect in service to the Galactic Empire, where he commanded an Elite Squad of specialized human recruits on a mission to Onderon.^[13] On several occasions, Crosshair’s sniper rifle was equipped to fire a homing beacon^[14] and a glowrod.^[15] Crosshair used another 773 after the Attack on Kamino where his former squad confiscated his rifle when they left^[16], though his old rifle was eventually given back to him.^[17]

CloneXAim-TCC — Clone X taking aim with his sniper rifle.

During the early Imperial Era, Clone X troopers Clone X, CX-1, and CX-2 also used 773 Firepuncher sniper rifles, though some versions had a wooden stock and a longer scope.^[5] CX-2 used his rifle to fire several time-rigged sticky bombs onto the hull of the Marauder and shot the conscription trooper pilot piloting a LAAT/i gunship on the planet Pabu.^[18] CX-2 later used his rifle on the planet Wayland to pin down Clone Force 99 within a ruined hangar within Tantiss Base. After Clone Force 99 members Hunter, Wrecker, and Omega were captured, CX-2 entered the training room where they were being held with compact rifle strapped across his back. When Wrecker tried to escape, CX-2 drew his sniper rifle, but Wrecker threw a large piece of metal, knocking CX-2 down. As CX-2 tried to reorient himself, he attempted to shoot Hunter, only for Crosshair to kick his rifle out of the way, causing him to miss. Hunter responded by throwing one of the assassin's electrostaff at CX-2, killing him. Hunter passed CX-2's rifle to Crosshair before supporting him out of the room to rescue Omega. On the landing pad, Crosshair used CX-2's rifle to kill Scorch, shoot Omega's binders, and kill Doctor Royce Hemlock.^[19]