You're wandering through the Mojave Wasteland, parched and probably suffering from a mild case of radiation poisoning, when you realize your 9mm pistol isn't doing jack against a charging Deathclaw. We’ve all been there. But then you remember that weird, clunky battle rifle sitting in your inventory with the "Well This Machine Kills Fascists" carving on the stock. This Machine Fallout New Vegas fans know exactly what I’m talking about. It isn't just a gun; it’s a statement. It’s loud. It’s heavy. And honestly? It’s probably the most satisfying weapon to fire in the entire game, mostly because of that iconic "ping" at the end of a clip.
Let’s get one thing straight: This Machine is basically the Fallout universe's legally distinct version of the M1 Garand. It’s a .308 caliber semi-automatic beast that feels like it belongs in a museum, yet it absolutely shreds through Legionnaires and Cazadores alike. You don't just find it lying in a crate near Goodsprings, though. You have to earn it through a bit of white-collar investigation at Camp McCarran, which makes finally holding it feel like a genuine reward rather than just another loot drop.
The Hunt for This Machine: Why the Quest Matters
Getting your hands on This Machine in Fallout New Vegas requires navigating the "Dealing with Contreras" questline. You’ve got a choice here. You can be a narc and turn Supply Shack Merchant Daniel Contreras in to Lieutenant Boyd, or you can play along with his slightly-less-than-legal business ventures. If you want the gun, the easiest path is technically to turn him in, but a lot of players prefer keeping him as a merchant because he has one of the best ammo stocks in the game.
Contreras is a sketchy guy. He’s skimming off the top of the NCR’s supplies, but in the chaos of a post-nuclear war, who isn't? If you complete his tasks—which involve a lot of running back and forth to places like the Ruined Shop or dealing with Price—he’ll eventually just hand over the rifle as a "thank you" for your discretion. Alternatively, if you rat him out to Boyd after getting the manifest, she’ll give it to you as a reward for cleaning up the camp. It’s a moral toss-up. Do you want a reliable source of .308 rounds for the rest of the game, or do you want the gun right now without the headache of more errands?
Most veterans will tell you to side with Contreras until the very last second. Why? Because .308 ammo is expensive and relatively rare compared to 5.56 or 9mm. Having a guy who sells it in bulk is a godsend when you're playing on Hardcore mode.
Breaking Down the Stats: Is It Actually Good?
People love to argue about the "best" gun in New Vegas. Some swear by the Anti-Materiel Rifle. Others love the Medicine Stick. But This Machine holds a unique spot in the meta. It fires .308 rounds, which are punchy. It has a base damage of 55, which is nothing to sneeze at, especially when you factor in its rate of fire.
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- Damage per Second (DPS): It hits around 214 DPS if your Guns skill is at 100.
- Crit Multiplier: It’s a 1x multiplier, so it’s not exactly a crit-fishing weapon like the Ratslayer.
- Weight: It’s heavy. 9.0 units. You’re going to feel that in your carry capacity.
- Strength Requirement: You need a Strength of 6 to use it effectively. If you're a noodle-armed courier, the sway is going to be nightmare fuel.
The iron sights are a bit... controversial. They’re chunky. They block a lot of the screen. If you're trying to snipe a target from three miles away, you’re better off with a scoped hunting rifle. But for mid-range engagements? It’s a monster. The weapon has a very low spread (0.5), meaning the bullet actually goes where you point it, which is more than can be said for a lot of the wasteland’s junk.
The "Ping" and the Aesthetic
We have to talk about the sound. Obsidian Entertainment nailed the foley work here. When you fire that eighth round, the en-bloc clip ejects with a metallic ping that is pure dopamine. It’s a direct homage to the real-world M1 Garand used during World War II. In a world filled with laser muskets and plasma casters, there is something deeply grounding about a rifle that uses old-school mechanical physics.
The inscription on the side—"Well This Machine Kills Fascists"—is a nod to folk singer Woody Guthrie, who had the same message painted on his guitar. It fits the Fallout vibe perfectly. It’s that blend of mid-century Americana and grim, wartime reality. It’s also a nice bit of environmental storytelling; this weapon has clearly been through some things before it ended up in a supply shack at a converted airport.
This Machine vs. The Battle Rifle (Gun Runners' Arsenal)
When the Gun Runners' Arsenal (GRA) DLC dropped, it introduced a generic version of This Machine simply called the "Battle Rifle." This caused a bit of confusion. Are they the same? Not quite.
The unique This Machine is objectively better than the standard Battle Rifle in almost every metric. It does more damage, it’s more durable, and it has a lower VATS cost. The only "advantage" the GRA Battle Rifle has is that it’s easier to find since you can just buy it from the Vendortron. But if you're a min-maxer, you’ll ignore the store-bought version and do the quest. The unique version has a much higher health pool, meaning it won't break in the middle of a firefight with a group of Super Mutants. It can fire about 1,500 rounds before breaking, while the standard version starts falling apart much sooner.
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Strategic Tips for Your Next Playthrough
If you're planning to make This Machine your primary workhorse, you need to build your character around it. It’s a "Guns" build staple.
- Hand Loader Perk: This is non-negotiable. .308 JSP (Jacked Soft Point) hand-loaded rounds give you a 1.5x damage multiplier and reduce target damage resistance. It turns This Machine from a good gun into a terrifying one.
- Rapid Reload: The reload animation isn't slow, but in a pinch, every millisecond counts.
- The Strength Check: Don't forget the 6 Strength requirement. If you started with low Strength, grab the "Weapon Handling" perk to lower the requirement by 2, or just go get the reinforced spine from the Old World Blues DLC.
- Repair Kits: Since it’s a unique weapon, you can’t just find another one to fix it. Unless you have the "Jury Rigging" perk (which lets you fix it with other bolt-action or semi-auto rifles), you’ll be relying on Weapon Repair Kits. Start hoarding duct tape and scrap metal early.
The Nuance of the .308 Caliber
There is a weird tension in New Vegas regarding ammo types. .308 is great because it’s shared by the Sniper Rifle and the Hunting Rifle. This means you’re competing for resources within your own inventory. If you use This Machine as your "trash mob" clearer, you might find yourself empty when it’s time to pull out the sniper for a boss fight.
However, the versatility of This Machine makes up for it. It functions as a "battle rifle" in the truest sense. It’s okay at close range, great at medium range, and passable at long range. It’s the "Jack of all trades" that actually masters a few of them.
Common Misconceptions and Bugs
Some players think This Machine is bugged because they can't find it after completing the quest. Usually, this happens because they accidentally sold it or left it on a corpse. Another thing: the "Dealing with Contreras" quest is notoriously buggy. Sometimes the dialogue options just... vanish. If you're on PC, you might need the console to jumpstart the quest stages. If you're on console, save often. Camp McCarran is a crash-prone zone anyway, so frequent saving is just good practice.
There’s also a myth that This Machine is a "stealth" weapon. It really isn't. Even with a high Sneak skill, the report of this rifle is loud enough to alert every raider in a three-block radius. If you want stealth, go get the Ratslayer or a suppressed Sniper Rifle. This Machine is for when the talking is over and the shooting has started.
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How to Get the Most Out of It in 2026
Even years after release, the New Vegas modding community is still tweaking this weapon. If you're playing on PC, I highly recommend looking at texture overhauls that sharpen the wood grain on the stock or mods that fix the iron sight alignment. Some mods even allow you to add a bayonet, though that might be pushing the "lore-friendly" boundaries for some.
Regardless of mods, the base game version remains a top-tier choice for any Courier. It represents the best of Fallout's design philosophy: a weapon with history, a unique acquisition path, and a distinct "feel" that sets it apart from the generic loot found in modern shooters.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Courier:
- Head to Camp McCarran immediately once you hit level 10-15; you’ll need some levels to survive the travel and the quest requirements.
- Locate Daniel Contreras in the supply shack (it’s tucked away in the back of the terminal building).
- Check your Strength stat. If you're under 6, start looking for Buffout or plan your next perk as Weapon Handling.
- Start collecting Lead and Powder. You’re going to want to craft those .308 JSP rounds as soon as you hit 75 Repair.
- Decide your moral stance early. If you want a long-term ammo supplier, don't narc on Contreras until you've bought thousands of rounds.
Ultimately, This Machine Fallout New Vegas fans adore isn't just about the stats. It’s about that feeling of reliability. It’s a rifle that doesn't jam, hits like a truck, and rewards precise fire. In a desert full of glowing ghouls and Roman-cosplaying slavers, a solid piece of American steel is sometimes the only friend you can trust.
Expert Insight: While many players rush for the Anti-Materiel Rifle for its sheer "wow" factor, This Machine actually has higher utility in 80% of the game's combat encounters due to its fire rate and ammo efficiency. It is the definitive mid-to-late game weapon for any serious Guns-based build. Go get it, listen for the ping, and clear the Mojave.
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