I'd like to create this thread in order to discuss about the wapons in game.
I think a good start tothis thread would be a nice list of all weapons aviable in the game (so we could know what to add in the future -via updates or mods-).
Also, what weapons are your mercs using, what are their pros/cons and all those thnigs?

M40 Sniper + AK-47 + .45 HP ammo pistol

VSS (silent sniper) + any 9mm sidearm silenced

MP5 + Shotguns for CQB

In my last playthrough I used a lot of HP ammo, because enemies are badly equipped (this needs to be addressed). Those will full (head+torso+legs) gear are rare. Most of them lack one piece of equipment, which makes HP shots to crit around 60 pts. So two leg shots, bye bye.

But it's not exactly a fair fight.

So far I think handguns are ok for their role (interrupt/close range). SMGs are badly underpowered. ARs are way overpowered (AK47 with full attachments in particular). LMGs are almost useless thanks to ARs being too good. Sniper rifles are ok, but way way too common in shops. Rifles should have a much bigger role at the start of the game, but they both rare and made obsolete by the supply of M40s and AWPs.

I also noticed a strange lack of SVD Dragunovs. I had 1 SVD last game by the time I conquered entire map. I had 20 M40, about 10 AWPs, 5 Baretts. But 1 SVD... weird.

Nice.. Sadly I never had been able to go far enough in the game to see sniper rifles and the only Assault rifle I have is a G3 wich is really good I think and I found an RPK that I use like a DMR^^. I use a lot of SMGs and Shot gun because of my playstyle (ambush w/ interupt mod.. because I hate when my mercs gets hurt).
And there is a good list of weapons that has been made during that time: http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/guns-1980-1989.asp
(As a Hitman Fan I'd love to have a WA 2000.. ^^)

I LOVE the G3 (yeah I'm German) the sound is very nice implemented (especially with the reverb when shooting in urban areas) - I choose my equipment by preference and style. Grizzly will be my maschinegunner since JA2 ;-)

My mercs have functions reflected by their equipment. I noticed the game is ulra exploitable (at the moment) when the AK47 with attachments and a SR for the second weapon slot are equipped for every merc. So I have my sniper girl (Buzz), my MG (Grizzly, always going prone to shoot because of bipod), my Assaulter (me), my Russian (hehe Ivan - the only one able to use the SVD right), my CQB girl (Viccy with shotgun - jahmaaaaan) and so on ...
Most of the game is happening in my head at the moment but that's not explicit a fault of FullControl or someone else. I add stuff that's not reflected by the engine and I do that since I'm a kid playing SNES games (I do that until today). All that gun porn we know from JA2 1.13 came from the community anyway.

I'm with you Shanga regarding the SVD - and sniper rifles in general. They shouldn't be availabe in such quantity at the arms dealer, they should deal more demage and there should be more variants of the .50 ammo. AFAIK regarding the M82 it's the ammo what makes this gun so flexible and powerful.