I'm playing an automatic weapons-oriented character, and I am in something of an awe from the Assault Carbine. With the DT reduction from the new patch, it rips through things like nodoby's business, and I am wondering if it hasn't rendered the LMG obsolete.

Assault Carbine pros:

1) Less than half the weight of the LMG
2) 10 points DT reduction (25 points with AP ammo as opposed to 15 points with 5.56 AP ammo), possibly offsetting the DAM and DPS advantage of LMG
3) Ammunition available in large quantities
4) Very low ST requirements (a mere 3)
5) Lower skill requirements
6) Available for purchase earlier than the LMG
7) Somewhat lower spread (1.2 for AC vs. 1.5 for LMG)
8) Being a "rifle"-class weapon, AC benefits from the Commando perk
9) Ammunition is cheaper, and its weight lower in hardcoe

LMG pros:

1) Much larger magazine capacity, especially with expanded drums
2) Almost twice the DAM of the Assault Carbine and approximately 40% more DPS
3) Slightly lower AP cost in VATS (18 for LMG vs. 20 for AC)
4) Durability-saving .223 ammunition available (for what it's worth).
5) Unlike the 5mm ammunition of the Assaut Carbine, 5,56 ammo is interchangeable between a wide variety of guns; the ammunition you stock up in early game for the Varmint Rifle or Service Rifle is still good for the LMG


What do you think? Which is best?

LMG, no doubt.

LMG triumphs over Assault Carbine as a main weapon, simply because it has higher DPS and DPH.

But if you ask which is a better high RoF gun to carry along with other weapons, than Assault Carbine's weight have much bigger edge.

It's obvious the 3rd 1

LMG will out damage Assault Carbine unless the target have more than 10 DT with 'normal' rounds, but if you also consider AP then it would be 25.

LMG with a 200 round belt. Now grab Raul's "Full Maintenance" perk and run surplus 5.56mm ammo through.

Or just give it to Raul with those surplus ammo

Need to have 5 charisma to make up for the lost Grunt perk. I assume 1 Charisma builds are still the norm, even if wrong.

The LMG is more versatile, but the AC should be used against high-DT enemies, assuming a "Rambo Build" (Guns/Explosives, using military style weapons only). If not, there are far better weapons to use against a high DT enemy. So...Option 3.

That's if you have Honest Heart. Between alcohol, T-51b helm and Implant, that wouldn't be too hard.

I have Cass anyways.

In my opinion, it depends on your traits.

A character with Fast Shot would enjoy the lower spread of the Assault Carbine, and with it, they'll be able to use the gun with decent accuracy. A character with Fast Shot that uses an LMG might be limited to using it for point-blank range.
A character with Trigger Discipline on the other hand would probably be able to use even the automatic rifle from Dead Money and be fairly accurate.

personaly last time i did the end game i used a fully modded mini gun and a had no problems, but if you have DM id have the assuault carbine, theres more ammo for it available and if you use the vending machine in the abandoned BoS bunker to get weapon repair kits your fine

1.5*1.2 is just 1.8, way away from point blank spread.

2.5*0.8 on the other hand is just 2, I wouldn't say it is "fairly accurate".

In all the case you have mention Assault Carbine lost anyways.