The Big Shoota is the Orks’ most common heavy weapon, a huge, loud machine gun that sprays bullets and makes a glorious racket. It’s the go-to choice for Ork vehicles and the occasional lucky Shoota Boy who wants to bring serious anti-infantry firepower to his mob.
What is a Big Shoota?
A Big Shoota is essentially a scaled-up Shoota: bigger shells, more noise, stronger recoil, and a whole lot more dakka. It’s a large-calibre machine gun that bucks and sparks when you pull the trigger, usually fed from chunky magazines by crank handles, motors, or whatever clever mechanism the Mekboy rigged up.
You’ll most often see Big Shootas bolted onto vehicles, from Grot Tanks to Stompas, where they lay down anti-personnel fire. Sometimes a Shoota Boy gets his hands on one and gives his mob some real anti-infantry punch, which tends to make the other Boys jealous.
- Also known as ‘Eavy Shootas.
- Common on Ork vehicles for anti-infantry support.
- Often kustomized with multiple barrels, big crosshair sights, or longer ammo belts.
Variants of the Big Shoota
Orks love to tinker, so the Big Shoota has spawned a few notable variants. Each one takes the basic formula and tweaks it for a specific role or just for more noise.
- Scoped Big Shoota: fitted with a telescopic scope and used by Kommando snipers.
- Dakkagun: a twin-linked version mounted on Warbikes. It has two barrels and shorter range because the mount is unstable, but Orks think the way it makes bikes spin out of control is a feature, not a bug.
- Supa Shoota: an enlarged, even noisier version favoured by Flyboyz, often mounted on Dakkajets and Blitza-Bommers and kustomized for a bigger bang.
How it fits into Ork warfare
The Big Shoota sits in the sweet spot between the common Shoota and heavier ordnance. It gives Ork mobs a way to chew through infantry at range without sacrificing the sheer volume of fire Orks love.
Because it’s so widespread, the Big Shoota shows up across Ork society, from biker mobs to flyer squadrons. It’s a staple of the Ork arsenal and a clear example of their philosophy: if you want more damage, just make it bigger and louder.
Key facts
- The Big Shoota is the most common Ork heavy weapon, also known as an ‘Eavy Shoota.
- It’s a large-calibre machine gun that’s typically vehicle-mounted for anti-infantry support.
- Common variants include the Scoped Big Shoota, Dakkagun, and Supa Shoota.
- Big Shootas are often kustomized with multiple barrels, sights, and ammo belts.
- They’re fed from chunky magazines using crank handles, motors, or other mechanisms.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a Shoota and a Big Shoota?
A Big Shoota is basically a bigger, louder Shoota with larger calibre ammunition and more recoil. It’s classified as a heavy weapon, while a standard Shoota is a basic firearm.
Can a regular Ork Boy carry a Big Shoota?
Yes, sometimes a Shoota Boy acquires one, giving his mob extra anti-infantry firepower. It’s not standard issue, but it happens.
What is a Dakkagun?
A Dakkagun is a twin-linked Big Shoota mounted on Ork Warbikes. It has shorter range due to the unstable mount but is otherwise similar.