MA - rank up pulse 8 or Jav6?

They're not really noticeable if you're the kind to always arc your shots to the side/back of the enemy, but having access to the next bracket of damage numbers makes the crits/modifiers count for more when they do go off.
The accuracy bump to pulses is more noticeable.
If you want to feel like those AI killshots that hose you down every match in CPC, go Pulse. If you want to squeeze the most out of Javs, for tournament farming etc, go Javs.

Crits deal extra damage equal to the base damage of the projectile. The minimum/maximum ranges for Javelin are also the same as it's optimal range.

Optimal range bonus damage, from my experienced guesstimation, is somewhere around 70% rate of activating based off of the average outcome of 6 optimal range OR crit, 2 optimal range AND Crit, and 2x normal damage across 10 Pulse cannon shots in optimal range

Using that same principle, outside of optimal range, 1/3rd of Pulse bullets deal double damage, so Critical hits for ALL weapons is around 30%

That being said, the "Critical hit chance" provided by Javelin's ranking up, is a modifier to that hidden base value, not a flat rate out of 100. So, 10-30% Critical bonus is more like:
Critical Chance: R3: 33%, R5:40%
Much like Shotgun range, Accuracy, and other status modifiers.


All that being said: the damage profile range for Jav 4.1 is 6264-25,056: Projectile(Magazine)

Base damage: 1044 (6264)

Base damage+"Optimal Range" modifier OR Critical hit OR "Flank" modifier: 2088(12,582)

Base damage+ "Optimal Range" modifier AND critical hit OR "Flank" modifier: 3132(18,792)

Base+Optimal+Critical+Flank: 4176(25,056)

punishingcossack

I disagree with Redfiend in this (primarily on the Javs, though I noticed a difference when I upgraded the PC8s too). Every 10% increase (and it's not just a multiplier on the current multiplier...it takes you from 10% to 20% critical hits) effectively adds at least 1 more missile that will get a critical hit from your volley of 12 missiles. I definitely noticed a difference when I took mine to R4 and am planning to take mine to R5 ASAP. I watch the damage numbers occasionally on my Jav hits and it's not at all uncommon for me to see an occasional 7.4k damage number from one of the missiles. The base damage for mine is around 1.2k. I'm not exactly sure how it reaches that high but it certainly means I'm stacking multipliers by hitting from the rear, being in optimal range and a critical hit (and probably benefitting from someone else's overheat). The point is, while other rank ups don't upgrade damage, the Jav's critical hit increase IS a direct upgrade to damage. It's noticeable and quantifiable, if technically it's still "random".

Like I said though, the PC8 upgrade to accuracy is also helpful and noticeable. I think it comes down to which one you find yourself using more often and for how long you plan on using it. I start my Jav6 KS on all CPC matches to run beacons and also it dominates on almost all tourney maps, so the ROI on it is off the charts for me. I'm also not using the PC8s right now because the accuracy of the Carb8s at range far exceeds that of the R4 PC8s. I don't want to push the PC8s to R5 just to find out, though I may later. I just have other projects that are higher priority for me.

Where I find that the Carbines shine is on my Zephyr (scoreboard...I know...sorry).  The ability to freeze someone in a position where I can easily get the flank damage multiplier really allows them to shine.  Straight on against a leveled tank, you won't really like them as much.  I mean, it's not like spitting into the wind or anything, but you won't want to be around when your opponent unfreezes and decides to exact his revenge.

TL;DR version - Attack enemies within 30 meters from the sides or rear to see the full power of the dark sid...I mean Carb8s.  

Just roll with it, learn to work around it an you'll be a better player for it.  That's how I handle things right now.  Sometimes they steam roll me, but not everytime.  

   Rank up the Java.  They are strong, flexible weapons that will serve you well into mid and even later game imo.

My thing, and where most of my rants get started, is that MM always seems to decide it’s time to knock me down at the least opportune times, like when I’m trying to complete challenges that require winning and/or standing above the rest of my team, or trying to scrape out those last few tournament wins to maintain my bracket position. I like banging those things ou5 as quickly as I can, so those monkey wrenches tend to frustrate the crap out if me. Otherwise, when I see MM throwing OP enemies at me and lobotomizing my AI teammates, I just roll with it, especially if I’ve already completed my challenges. You say it’s time for me to lose a few? Fine, let me help out with that. And I play like a total moron for a few games, let it beat me down a bit, and soon enough the matchups return to normal. It’s kind of a challenge in itself to see how well I can fare while playing stupid.