RE-ing artifacts can yield results it is confirmed i just did it and also sorry if you hate me it took me 3 attempts
im armstech 153/400
so i crafted:
m-415 particle beam ripper (initially learned from a dropped schematic, prototype base)
dam 97-118
19 end
23 cun
16pow
143 tech
i re-d into a redoubt( not sure how many i made for this but less then 15) but i didnt want it so i made the base version again and re-d into overkill( 1 shot)
overkill m-415 particle beam ripper( artifact )
same stats as above cept
dam 107-131
29 pow
in 3 re-s i got another version still artifact though so it didnt go up a tier from artifact
hawkeye m-415 particle beam ripper( artifact)
same stats as above cept
13 accuracy
not really worth it but it is do-able
dont know if somebody else succeeded in this before now i stopped reading when i re-d the new sniper schematic