The Great Phaser Rifle Debate! #startrek #starfleet

a breif look into the raging debate on Phaser Rifles and their designs throughout trek

[logicplague]

Recoil aside, a stock helps with ergonomics, it's simply easier to aim(for humanoids, at least). I'm just glad they finally added a sighting system, the idea of "just point and shoot, it's a beam" doesn't work, try that with a laser pointer and note your lack of precision.

[knightofavalon]

No matter how much computer correction there is, a stock is always better than no stock. Humanoid body mechanics dictate this. Even if there's literally no recoil, two points of contact on the weapon is always inferior to 3 from a basic design standpoint.

[Sephiroth]

The buttstock not only helps with recoil, but with steadying the weapon- which you want when you're engaging at range.

[KeeperValen]

I think during the TNG era, whomever developed the phaser rifle at the time was more concerned with just getting as much power out of the phaser as possible and wasn't concerned with long-term carrying or usage. It was probably also seen much more as a multi-tool than a weapon. Versus later after tensions with the romulans, the Klingons, and then the Dominion. The developer of the phaser rifle saw that need for a proper ergonomic weapon versus just a tool. So I wouldn't see the need for a movie era rifle during what was a golden age of peace and vice versa the TNG rifle I wouldn't want to bring with me on a month's long deployment during the Dominion war.

[jedighostbear]

I'll agree, stocks are important for ergonomics. I've used quite a few real guns and long arms are often preferred to handguns specifically because the multiple points of contact makes it so much easier to be accurate. Especially at long range

[CRYOKnox]

The best one where in TOS as they looked like someone bolted a tiny satellite receiver on a naked microwave build after a description of the function of a microwave from somebody who never has seen one.

[blacktronpavel]

I believe what we saw in First Contact were newer ones pushed to service to answer shortcomings of the TNG-style. Voyager was probably the first to have them fielded in limited numbers which is why we saw them use it, but there were still plenty of TNG-style in service throughout the Dominion War.

[crownprincesebastianjohano]

I also like the Cardassian rifles for their smaller size, power, reliability and having a pulse and beam setting. Solid weapon.

[The_Viscount]

I think the two weapons are probably better in different situations. The compact nature of the TNG "rifle" makes it ideal for shipboard use and close quarters combat. On the other hand, the butt stock of the compression phaser makes lining up long range shots easier and makes it more useful anywhere you need to fire over medium or long ranges. It's like asking "which is better, a rifle or a submachine gun?" The answer depends on the mission parameters.

[toriasdax]

Hands down best one is the TOS rifle… Doesn’t get better than that. It was so good we only see it in one episode.

[arcticshark]

The enterprise era phaser rifle and pistol will always be my favorite type of weapon. The MACO's made them look so cool with the sling on the shoulder

[BoisegangGaming]

I think a buttstock is necessary if there's no recoil but no Head-mounted display or ocular implants. That said, i'd expect federation stuff to have swappable furniture such as triggers, handguards, and stocks to accomodate other biological forms than just a human's ergonomics.

EDIT: Also, considering the amount of modularity most federation tech has, it wouldn't be out of the question to have a lot of customizability in terms of handgrips, displays, etc. I doubt a captain would prevent their security personnel from modifying their equipment to better fit their needs.

[roberthilton]

I wish you had expanded your thoughts on the line "where it's used". The TNG phaser rifle is described like a higher powered weapon in close quarters, short ranges (like a shotgun?) Whereas the later rifle sounds like more of a long-range weapon, planet-side someplace other than indoor, urban or subterranean environments.

[reverendrico]

Nope, they handle how we see on screen. Why they do is the debate.

[vanwade]

The later one was the Laser Tag Rifle. I received it as a Christmas present in 1983.

[alexmandilaras]

Agreed butstocks help with accuracy and control. But maybe there could be a use for both: TNG version for close quarters, like repelling bording parties on a starship, and movie version with butstock and longer barrel for ground troops fighting on a planetary surface.

[andrewmalinowski]

I'd say the best version is either the compression phaser rifle, used on Voyager (mostly against the Borg), or the TR-116; transporter rifle (transport-use of physical projectile). While both are similar to the stocked phaser rifle they're also more useful since the TR-116 would hav e made more sense against the Borg (non-energetic projectile) and the compression phaser rifle packs more of a punch and could therefore be better used akin to the original phaser rifle

[Shutterbug]

It depends.

On a small ship like the Defiant or Steamrunner with narrow corridors and relatively small rooms, the smaller "carbine" styke phaser rifle makes a lot of sense.

[AndrewByrne-dj]

There is mentions of recoils in certain rifles in DS9. The different options, payload, weight and capability. The one where Kira is talking to Ducats daughter and teaching her how to use a rifle prior to them taking on the Klingon bird of prey. It seems one is for special operations and the other a quantitative design etc. You see them using some kind of upgraded or commando version variant in voyager and it seems like one is maybe for a particular enemy like the Borg. If you were to apply it to real life you have to consider the physics involved and even with laser phased weapons potential retina damage you would assume.

[GarfieldofBorg]

There are different types of phaser rifles in the late 24th century. And those types have slightly different functions regarding their use when they are compared to each other. As for which type of phaser rifle is the best, that depends on the functions that each type of phaser rifle is equipped with. Also, more than one type of phaser rifle has been seen in action on screen in the same movie/TV show episode.