The projectile weapon of choice for the Tusken Raiders of Tatooine during ranged engagements was the Cycler rifle. These rifles, diverse in their construction, were frequently cobbled together from salvaged components, including wreckage from starships, refined metals, and assorted discarded materials. Employing a constrained Magnetic pulse accelerator to launch physical projectiles through their extended, robust barrels, cycler rifles were effective at long distances and possessed considerable stopping power. While ammunition primarily consisted of standard slugthrower rounds, certain tribes occasionally obtained explosive projectiles encased in an energy field upon firing. Upon discharge, the weapon produced a distinctive sound reminiscent of a hybrid between a blaster and a musket.
Tusken Raiders commonly modified their rifles because the standard model lacked the necessary targeting systems for effective sniping. Modifications typically involved enhancing the firing mechanisms to accommodate larger, more potent slugs or incorporating scopes to improve accuracy at long range.
Due to their similarities with the Czerka-manufactured 6-2Aug2 hunting rifle, it's plausible that the Raiders acquired stolen shipments of these rifles and adapted them for their own purposes. The Raiders were notorious for setting up ambush positions near the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace course during races, where they would attempt to shoot at the passing pods. The high number of racers who died this way is proof of the Tusken's marksmanship.
Compared to more modern blaster designs, the cycler rifle's extended barrel provided superior accuracy; the best models could reliably hit targets the size of a human from distances of up to 1000 meters. The rate of fire was generally slow because many rifles used a bolt-action system. As a result, Tusken Cyclers were not employed in close-quarters combat where a rapid rate of fire was essential. Instead, they were used to eliminate targets from a distance. For close-quarters combat, the Raiders kept their gaffi stick.
In Star Wars (1977) 1, these weapons are identified as "laser rifles," however, this seems to be at odds with later depictions that show Tusken Cyclers as slugthrowers in The Phantom Menace.
The weapon's design and function are inspired by the jezail, a type of long-barreled musket used by Pashtun fighters against British soldiers.