# Most effective SF small arm for the modern world
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 24, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900 "2012-05-24T01:04:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/61 "2012-05-24T21:45:35Z")
> [@AndrewL](#):
>
> Accurately aiming a weapon has much more to do with ergonomics, the design of the grip and the sights or lack thereof. With the possible exception of the pistols in the original TOS, Star Trek phasers have astonishingly poor phasers. The small hand phasers in TNG are especially bad - it’s not clear how you’re supposed to aim them at something more than a few dozen feet away with any accuracy, there’s no sights or barrel or any way to accurately tell what it’s going to hit. The phaser rifles in DS9 are a slight improvement but still a mess in terms of ergonomics.
I agree about TNG.
However, the TOS ones were accurate enough - you only had to hit any part of the organic mass you wanted. Still, a sight, and shooting from eye level rather than the hip would admittedly be smarter.
Or, a laser sighting, then just switch to actual phaser when you’re on target.
I must respond to the recoil comment, too- recoil affects accuracy a _lot_ in a standing position. Even the extra half-second it takes to buttress one hand against the other to counteract recoil can make a time difference.
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### Author:  [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/62 "2012-05-24T21:59:42Z")
As long as you’ve got the upgraded brain, a [Persuadertron](http://www.syndicatewiki.com/wiki/Persuadertron) could prove quite useful.
“No, I didn’t hurt anyone”
“No, this person is no longer my enemy”
“Fetch me a beer”
Far more useful than the average firearm. 😉
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/63 "2012-05-31T15:09:57Z")
Just wondering … if you have transporter technology reduced to small arm scale … and you can use sensors to target someone you can’t even see … why don’t you just program the projectile to materialize inside your target, preferably taking out a vital organ in the process? 😕
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/64 "2012-05-31T15:20:28Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#):
>
> No handheld pocket nukes or pail-sized universe destroyers.
Aww… thermonuclear hand grenades were a staple of _Paranoia_ adventures.
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### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/65 "2012-05-31T15:32:25Z")
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> Aww… thermonuclear hand grenades were a staple of _Paranoia_ adventures.
Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas both have mini-nukes which appear to be about the size of a football. They are launched from a bazooka-ish weapon called The Fat Man. The designers do give a perfunctory nod to reality in that they are difficult to use without injuring yourself and getting irradiated because the blast radius is pretty close to the maximum range the Fat Man will lob the bomb. Still, the mushroom cloud is cool and, on those rare occasions when you manage to target a cluster of enemies at a safe distance, using it can be very satisfying.
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/66 "2012-05-31T15:46:06Z")
> [@terentii](#):
>
> Just wondering … if you have transporter technology reduced to small arm scale … and you can use sensors to target someone you can’t even see … why don’t you just program the projectile to materialize inside your target, preferably taking out a vital organ in the process? 😕
Or better yet - simply teleport a vital organ a foot or so outside the body. No projectile required.
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### Author:  [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/67 "2012-05-31T17:05:50Z")
What no bio-weapons?
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### Author:  [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/68 "2012-05-31T17:47:55Z")
> [@Scumpup](#):
>
> Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas both have mini-nukes which appear to be about the size of a football. They are launched from a bazooka-ish weapon called The Fat Man. The designers do give a perfunctory nod to reality in that they are difficult to use without injuring yourself and getting irradiated because the blast radius is pretty close to the maximum range the Fat Man will lob the bomb. Still, the mushroom cloud is cool and, on those rare occasions when you manage to target a cluster of enemies at a safe distance, using it can be very satisfying.
The Fallout minis bear a family resemblance to (and may indeed have been inspired by) a man-portable nuclear weapon called the [Davy Crockett](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)). Whenever I first heard of it, I also heard the story that the first step in using it was to dig yourself a trench, as the effective range was such that you faced significant risk in using it. This seems to have been an exaggeration, but not too much of one.
> [@](#):
>
> If you’re talking Fall Out, I’d really like to have a Gauss Rifle and a .223 revolver AKA “That Gun.” The basic idea of That Gun doesn’t sound like it should be impossible to have in real life, but high intensity bottlenecked cartridges have a history of not working well in revolvers. Realistically, That Gun appears to have a 4 or 5 inch barrel and the .223 wouldn’t perform well from it.
Folks have made .223 semi-auto pistols. They’re kind of [unwieldy](http://www.gunblast.com/Bushmaster-Pistol.htm).
> [@](#):
>
> I might go for the Zorg ZF-1.
What can you tell me about this red button on the underside of the gun, though?
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/69 "2012-05-31T20:24:28Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Or better yet - simply teleport a vital organ a foot or so outside the body. No projectile required.
Or even better: Just lock onto the guy and dematerialize him. Assuming he has to be beamed SOMEWHERE, transport him out into open space.
Set on wide beam for groups of enemy combatants, and _voila_, tactical problem solved! No need to lug around heavy ammunition, either.
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### Author:  [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/70 "2012-05-31T20:33:39Z")
I think a faster weapon beats a more powerful one. I remember one story where the firearm was actually built into the helmet and was activated by thought. You can shoot the guy with a phaser before he evens draws. I seem to recall that the recoil could cause some headaches.
I don’t think anyone mentioned the Weapon Shop guns that emitted a force shield to protect the owner. At least from attacks from the front.
I also like stories where armor is thin and flexible, but becomes super stiff and hard under impact.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/71 "2012-05-31T21:02:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I also like stories where armor is thin and flexible, but becomes super stiff and hard under impact.
The military is actually working on that-- It works on the same principles as cornstarch solutions.
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### Author:  [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/72 "2012-05-31T21:46:43Z")
In terms of phaser-like flexibility, there’s also the zat’nik’tel from _SG-1_. One shot incapacitates most targets, the second shot within a relatively short period kills, and a third shot disintegrates. Like most Goa’uld weapons, it has terrible ergonomics, but precise aim doesn’t seem to be much of an issue; peripheral hits are effective, and even near-misses can conduct through other materials to affect the target. It can also be used to destroy electronics and disintegrate small objects.
I’m not sure it’s a contender for “best”, but between its flexible effects, forgiving aim, ability to bypass limited armor and cover, it’s probably worth considering as a personal protection weapon. As a mass-issue military weapon, not so much.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/73 "2012-05-31T22:29:58Z")
I’d prefer to go old school and use a Morganti(soulkiller) blade. One scratch and it’s Lights out forever.
If I absolutely had to have a firearm I’d be partial to The Master’s tissue compression eliminator.
Basically, if you’re going to force me to defend myself, I’m going to ruin your day.
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### Author:  [@Joe\_Cephalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cephalus)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/74 "2012-05-31T22:29:59Z")
A FORCE assault weapon, from the Hyperion books. With “an 18-mm plasma rifle, variable-beam coherent-energy weapon, grenade launcher, a bhee-keeper (beams of high energy electrons), flechette launcher, a wideband blinder, [and] heat seeking dart flinger” it’s a classic [Swiss Army Gun](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwissArmyGun).
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### Author:  [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/75 "2012-06-01T17:38:35Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#):
>
> I’d prefer to go old school and use a Morganti(soulkiller) blade. One scratch and it’s Lights out forever.
I could never quite figure out how there could be “stronger” and “weaker” Morganti weapons. Your soul’s just as toast either way.
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### Author:  [@slitterst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slitterst)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2012, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/76 "2012-06-01T19:24:05Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#):
>
> I could never quite figure out how there could be “stronger” and “weaker” Morganti weapons. Your soul’s just as toast either way.
I interpreted it as the strength of the blade’s hunger for souls. A weaker one will kill just as effectively, but will be easier for the wielder to control. A strong one will try just as hard to take the wielder’s soul as it would an opponent’s.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-sf-small-arm-for-the-modern-world/622900/77 "2012-06-01T20:05:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’d prefer to go old school and use a Morganti(soulkiller) blade. One scratch and it’s Lights out forever.
Wait, I thought that the weapon still had to kill you conventionally; it’s just that, once it’s done that, resurrection is impossible. I don’t remember anything about them working on any mere injury.
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