LB-10X AC versus Gauss Rifle

Wow these are actually much more similar than I would have guessed.

The list of slight differences is astounding: Lb-X10 v Gauss
-Heat 2 v 1 (Point to the Gauss Rifle)
-Damage 10 v 15 (Point to the Gauss Rifle, although the LB-X can have buckshot which is a tactical win so point there too!)
-Minimum Range: None v 2 for Gauss (another point in my books to the autocannon)
-Short Range: 1-6 v 1-7
-Medium Range: 7-12 v 8-15
-Long Range: 13-18 v 16-22 (alright the Gauss has longer reach, point given where due.)

-Tonnage 10/11 v 12/15 IS/Clan (autocannon takes it again)
-Critical Space needed: 5/6 v 6/7 IS/Clan
(again the autocannon barely wins out here; however I have to give a second point to the autocannon as the Gauss explodes if hit! Thus 6 or 7 explody bits on a mech is not a good idea! explody ammunition usually would only account for 3-4 crits)

Cost: 400,000 v 300,000 (Honestly surprised, would have thought the Gauss would be more advanced and expensive given it needs a lot of power. Point to Gauss)

Cost per Reload: 12,000 Slug/20,000 Cluster v 20,000 (Sure the cluster round ties with the Gauss "melon" slug, but if we just look on slug v slug, point goes to autocannon.)

Ammo Per Ton: 10 v 8 (And this is the big sticking point with me. The autocannon gets two more shots per ton. I figure because the Gauss has higher damage and range as a result. Point autocannon although I almost feel this is worth 2 points itself.)

Arguably if we look at play-ability in MWO as an indicator of how these are used tactically I have to give the LB-X autocannon another point. Gauss Rifle charging and firing is not as easy as it seems, you have to time it just right or loose the charge and the chance of a good shot. The autocannon is just a point and click affair, and doesn't jam like the Ultras or Rotary varieties.

My tally: LB-X 10 AC Score (8) versus Gauss Rifle Score (4)

Sorry I have to go with autocannons in general as my favorite weapons of choice, I am biased though. The buckshot of the LBX is excellent for anti-air power and causes a fair share of my enemies to go boom from ammunition crits or in the case of pesky tanks can help with disabling them. Similar to getting lucky head hit rolls, but more likely given how often ammunition is held in a torso, which is much easier to hit.