Firearm Beasts

If you were a military engineer designing a next-generation infantry weapon, would you prioritize a highly modular system where a soldier can swap barrels and calibers in the field, or a completely fixed, non-modular system that is much more durable and simpler to maintain?

You are a secret agent during the Cold War trapped inside an enemy government building. You must shoot your way out to freedom. Which gun do you pick?

Heavy-barreled precision rifles can fire many dozens of rounds continuously without the barrel warping from intense heat, but they add a significant amount of front-end weight to the weapon; do you think the extra accuracy is worth the physical fatigue of carrying it on long marches?

A rival raider clan has launched a surprise mortar attack on your survivor community. They are now breaching the main gates. What is your choice?

Some pistols are made with lightweight polymer frames that flex slightly to absorb recoil energy, while others are made of solid, heavy steel that uses sheer weight to stay steady; which design do you think gives a shooter better control during rapid firing?