Some other suggestions,
Exploding projectiles, either an electrical pulse or a chemical explosion.
Gyro pistol firing rocket propelled bullets, they did not work that well in real life but hey this is VSF.
Small recoilless rifles, firing rockets.
Electric powered rail guns, shooting a small but dense and very fast projectile.
Something has to be steam powered through. Maybe an electric eel launcher.

Among your first aid kit should be duct tape, to fix the tears in the suit.

Sounds like it will be fun.