Why not magnetic weaponry? Wouldn't assault-rifle sized rail guns be far more devastating and effective in combat? The projectiles of magnetic weaponry are pretty close to being as fast as lasers, and are better at piercing armor; not to mention most magnetic rounds have a farther effective range than laser weaponry. Overall, magnetic weapons are better than laser weapons unless you have a highly advanced laser weapon that fires ridiculously powerful blasts; and without a compact power source capable of containing ludicrous amounts of energy, that ain't happening.
TL;DR: Magnetic weapons > Laser weapons
Thoughts? Opinions?
-
Reason lasers are seen as a future weapon is because they travel at the speed of light which will outrun a bullet any day. The problem we face is that though we can make deadly lasers it's very easy to counter act and the only way to make it combat effective is to be able to have the laser carry any material. Magnetic guns are more likely to come next but once we figure out how to make space ships travel at light speed we'll be able to extrapolate some of the methods used to make the deadliest firearms we can think of.