Hand Cannon or Looking Glass rifle?

With the rifle, you should be able to make every shot a called shot to the head, and hit - getting lots of critical hits.

 

TH = to-hit. It adds that to your chance to hit, so +20TH makes 90% become a 110% chance of hitting your target.

The chance of hitting the enemies is displayed when you hover the mouse cursor over them. Called shots (keys , . / ) reduce that chance slightly (I don't know the exact numbers), but with over 110% chance of hitting, they're worth trying.

As for what you choose - it's up to you, the hand cannon has more pure destructive power, but the long range and accuracy speak for the rifle.

For some reason, my favorite firearm (before getting the warbringer) is the pyrotechnic gun. Also the machine gun is awesome, in the must-try-once way. Best take it to the Ashbury castle and mow down the anything that moves. I wouldn't take the MG as my main weapon on any serious trip though, this baby can eat 3000 bullets faster then you'd think.

 

Well then try to get the schematics at your nearest gunsmith, buy some manuals (at tarant university) if you don't have the tech expertise and build yourself some interesting new guns.

 

It adds some points (probably the equal of your int stat) to your chemistry 'expertise', allowing you to make things (from these found schematics) that require a higher expertise in the field. Check that in your character sheet, while you have the manual in your inventory, your chem skill is higher.

Generally you should keep a stash of these manuals somewhere.

One thing you can make without spending a point in any discipline is the electro armor. Another is the compound bow.

If you can make repeater rifles, then with a bunch of electrical and gunsmithy manuals, you would be able to make the charged accelerator gun.

 

RTFM - it's in the download section.

In short, schematics require a certain number of 'expertiese' points in some disciplines. Buying degrees for character points increases the expertise in their field, and gives you the ability to make new items. Many found schematics rely on the items you get by spending character points, and getting them otherwise is difficult (they can't be bought in stores).

However if you get your hands on the items needed by a schematic, the only thing you lack is the expertise. That's where tech manuals come in handy.