: My guess is that it's part of the barrel assembly, and it's there for either
: loading or cooling purposes.
Or maybe it does have a deflective purpose, but in a more controlled fashion than just "randomly". Think about it - why would you eve ruse the MA75b over the KKV7, in Infinity? The KKV7 has a much hire fire rate, but almost no spread. It's the spread on the MA75b that gives the weapon it's use in group combat when you're not concerned about any friendlies nearby... it's a weapon for standing atop a piped heap of corpses as more and more of your enemies charge at you from all sides, building yourself your own high ground from their ever-mounting dead fallen at your feet. THAT is what would impress pompous generals.