The pepperboxes and autoguns are usable, but for the purposes you want (kiting, etc.), there are two ways to go about this: Antigua or Alchemer.

Antigua: This line provides the illusion of DPS, but it really isn't that great. The sole exception is when using the Silversix line against Undead; some say the Firestorm Citadel is reason enough to get it. I used to be a big fan of the Silversix because it is an extremely mobile gun (the six shot clip means easier to kite and shield while putting out a constant stream of damage), and it doubles as an excellent weedwhacker and pickaxe. I've heard the Blackhawk line is less useful, due to enemy dodging mechanics and weaknesses.

Alchemer: Namely, the fire, ice and shock alchemers- they inflict some useful status effect, and at 4* and higher, they deal much more damage to mobs in general than the Silversix. Fire especially can put out a lot of damage, but personally I like the shock gun. The bullets on all alchemers will bounce around, inflicting additional damage; in a tightly packed mob, it can be very effective. Because they are pure elemental, they will readily make short work of zombies and most constructs. The main thing is you will have to decided between shot-shot-reload (when there is lots of room) or shot-pause-shot-pause (when conditions are more cramped) so that you can put up your shield in a hurry. The other two alchemers, Shadow and Prisma (pure elemental), don't inflict status effects, and the former suffers from the same issue as the Blackhawk.

I would recommend against the Blaster line because in general, you should tailor your damage type to whatever you are fighting. This is especially true of guns, which already suffer from a low DPS relative to swords and bombs. However, I wouldn't fault you for running a Valiance either- it is easy to obtain, and a versatile gun. It's just that in any given scenario where I would pull out a gun, a Silversix or alchemer will do better than a Blaster.

If you're just running two slots, your best option honestly is probably one of the status inflicting Alchemers. It's elemental, so it'll make short work of mechanical and undead mobs. The only mobs that are resistant to it are mobs you generally don't want to shoot at in the first place.

The Volt Alchemer (shock) is a good option because it won't conflict with a Bomber's Haze lines. Many bombers run the fiery or freezing vaporisers (and their higher tier equivalents), and Fire cancels Freeze, and vice versa. The Firo Alchemer (fire) is probably the best damage though, overall.

Personally, I run with a Khorovod (step up from your Kamarin) right now, and 2 guns which I interchange depending on the strata. I actually chose to run with a Cryo Driver, mostly because I didn't want to accidentally set Oilers on fire or supercharge any Quicksilvers. If you go with one of the other two options, keep an eye out for them, because your ricochet shots can inflict status ailments just the same as the main charge. I also have a Shadow Driver, which is pretty awesome for tearing slimes apart, and works pretty well on Gremlins if you can corner them. It's useful particularly for sniping their healers in arena levels. The ricochet on the 4* alchemer line guns is pretty useful too, and you can get a surprising amount of damage if you're up against packs of enemies. Naturally I also have an Antigua, and I'll probably be going down the Silversix line as soon as I have CE and Basil cooperates with me and coughs up the recipe.

The real issue with the Silversix and Blackhawk guns is that not only do they split damage types, but they split it between two special damage types. Most split damage weapons inflict Normal damage and something else. The Antigua upgrades are either Piercing/Elemental, or Piercing/Shadow. Basically, at least half of the stuff that's weak to either type will actually resist the other type, so you only get half-decent damage when your target is weak to one type and neutral to the other. And in that scenario, you'd get more damage out of the appropriate pure-typed weapon. What makes them good is that you have 6 shots before you go into a reload animation, so it's much easier to shield part way through your clip. One of my big issues with the Alchemer line guns is the 2-shot clip, which makes it very easy to put yourself in a situation where you suddenly need to shield, but can't because you're busy reloading.

Surprisingly, I also have a Strike Needle, which is the 4* piercing autogun. Yes, not being able to move while firing is a pain, but 99% of the stuff that's weak to piercing damage dodges bullets quite well anyhow, so I don't use it very often. Mostly on Fiends, and not the main Devilite line. It does a number on Trojans if someone else has their attention. It's also surprisingly effective on Greavers, mostly because you can't really kite them, and they're all up in your face anyhow. I've certainly had better luck taking them on with the Strike Needle than with my Khorovod.

I wouldn't actually recommend you get one, by the way. I happen to enjoy using mine in certain situations, but I'll admit I could just as easily use something sharp and heavy instead. If you can actually stand using an auto-gun at all, the Pepperbox line makes more sense, being normal damage with fire status. Neither is a particularly good gun though.

Just for the record, I already have the 2 of the 4* alchemers, and I'd just like to say that you can get your "glorious mayhem" with a good crowd of enemies and just the regular shots, particularly if you're careful about which particular enemy in the crowd you aim for. The regular shots do not, however, ricochet twice, only the charged shots to that. The major difference between the 3* MkII's and the 4* Drivers is that instead of a chance to ricochet on the regular shots from the 3* gun, the shots from the 4* gun always do so. The 4* Drivers are also considerably more powerful than their earlier counterparts. There's a very small difference between the basic Alchemer and its MkII variant, damage-wise, but stepping up to the 4* Drivers makes a huge difference.

I take my Shadow Driver into the Jelly Palace, and I can actually compete with swordsmen in terms of killing power. The only thing that really stops me is other people scattering crowds with Calibur charge attacks and the like. (Granted, I have a set of Chroma armor I use for those levels too, which helps.) I've managed to convince a few groups to just leave the Jellies to me, and nail the constructs and such that it's not so good at hurting, and I can often kill 3-5 jellies in the time it takes the other 3 guys to kill 2 Lumbers. Bonus: we all take less damage, because they can concentrate on the harder targets without the stupid cubes getting in they way, and I can kite Jellies pretty much indefinitely if the other crap leaves me alone.

That said, I'm looking foward to the next JK gate, because I'm dying to see what the new patch did to those levels.

P.S. As a further aside, I'd also like to say that I actually picked up a Snarble Barb a few days ago for precisely the reasons he outlined. As much as I like gunnery, I've decided that I need to make a swordsman set, just so I have more options to choose from when I'm trying to pick out a decent loadout for a particular Strata.

There's also the fact that Gunnery armor isn't nearly as good at helping guns as Swordsman armor is at helping swords. (It also sucks as armor in general.) It's almost worth walking around with a bunch of sword bonuses for those times when I actually have to use one, and let the guns speak for themselves.

How can you talk about the range of the pepperbox line o.O? That thing's got the shortest range of any gun in the arsenal. Both lines of the autogun have good DPS, but the caveat is that all 6 shots need to hit (well maybe 5/6, but still a good number of them). This is true for both lines. A shot which only hits once or twice from that gun is going to do horrible damage. In order to ensure a high hit shot you must stand very close to the enemy and hope that it does not dodge out of range of your spread. With the blitz it's a bit easier since it has a smaller spread and a longer range so you don't need to stand quite so close to get all 6 shots to hit. The autogun line is considered a heavy gun that requires you to stand still and fire (meaning you must time your shots so you have enough time to shoot and bring your shield back up before enemies counter attack). This is not a good setup for someone who's already got a slow attacking sword.

I don't really think the question is damage type as to speed to make up for the swords. I recommend (as stated above)

-Blaster. Personally I always have enjoyed this gun and am sad to say I've stopped using it. Good speed and damage. I would wait until the *gunner update* comes out to make the 5* version, since it currently only does normal. A normal combo (having 2 weps that deal the same damage) is never really a good Idea as stated above.

- Alchemer. With good range and fast bullets, these guns are good for anyone to have. I think Shadow and Prismatech would generally be the best due to strong base damage. (no, not dur) I suppose the problem would be reload, but for that just look up advanced gunner techniques.

http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Gunslinger_Guide
I don't know how to link, I'm a forum noob at heart.

I would say Antigua, but here's the damage question.
PIERCING Damage.
Gunner update? It's too faaaaaaaar.
"Now I gotta go it normal."
Patience.

Tis a slow day, at least for me.
And maybe someone else will find it useful.