Phaser Rifles

[James Wright]

Has anyone noticed how the Starfleet phaser rifle used in the the DS9 episodes "Rocks and Shoals" & "The Siege of AR-558" looks similar to the Cardassian rifle?
I looked at Memory Alpha for info about these 2 weapons. didn't find anything thogh!

James

 

[JNG]

Phasers.net is a great site for info on such things, and I wasn't paid to say that.*





*Okay, I received a free phaser for the endorsement.

 

[curson]

Haven't ever noticed this resemblance.
I have to say though, that the rifles used in First Contact and in much of DS9 are the best that Star Trek designers have ever come up with. Here is what I'm referring to: http://phasers.net/2370/type3abr.htm

 

[James Wright]

Phasers.net only has pictures of Starfleet phasers, I dug througha lot of VHS tapes and noticed the 2 rifles looked a lot alike.

James

 

[CuttingEdge100]

I don't get why they need those rifles. Those phaser pistols are so powerful as they are...

 

[Major Chord]

I don't get why they need those rifles. Those phaser pistols are so powerful as they are...

The rifle may carry a larger charge. Also,if only because it is larger, it may be easier to steady/aim for distance shots. When trying to hit a target at distance, it always helps to have a forearm to hold on to, as well as a stock to steady the weapon in the shoulder. So, you get more accuracy out of your weapon (When dealing with beam weapons, the "projectile accuracy" argument is pretty much moot, so any and all accuracy is due to the shooter.) The rifles also seem to have sights, again, making them ideal for distance shots.

 

[Cary L. Brown]

I don't get why they need those rifles. Those phaser pistols are so powerful as they are...

Advantages of larger weapons (regardless of the "baseline power level" you're discussing):

1. More accurate, easier to aim
2. Greater available power (meaning more powerful shots, or more shots of similar power)
3. Longer range (typically... a consequence of both of the above, but worth mentioning separately... it's always nice to be able to "reach out and touch someone" before they can do the same to you!)
4. More robust (USUALLY).
5. Harder to lose (yes, that IS a concern... trust me!)
6. Intimidation factor (among other psychological justifications)

Advantages of smaller weapons (regardless of baseline power level)

1. Easier to conceal.
2. Faster reaction time.
3. Less intimidation factor.

That last one is listed as an advantage both ways... that's because, depending on the situation, you may want to intimidate, or you may not.

 

[JNG]

Meaning this weapon? (center)

 

[00MrNotWrong00]

I just love the type III b phaser rifle.

Check mine out, and let me know what you think .


http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=62827




In my opinion that's the only phaser.

 

[jamestyler]

Phasers.net only has pictures of Starfleet phasers, I dug througha lot of VHS tapes and noticed the 2 rifles looked a lot alike.

James

http://theredeemed.co.uk/stash/siskorifle.jpg
^ That one?

From memory those are the ones DS9 used most, with the versions designed for First Contact only making a rare appearance. I don't know why they used the TNG versions, maybe just to fit the style?

I never really noticed the resemblance before...

 

[James Wright]

I didn't like the Starfleet phaser rifle of TNG or it follow on series, the rifles were over done with features that weren't needed and they were to long. I think the best rifle was that used by the Klingons, it the AK-47 of phaser/disrupter rifles!

James

 

[Peter the Younger]

Phasers.net only has pictures of Starfleet phasers, I dug througha lot of VHS tapes and noticed the 2 rifles looked a lot alike.

James

http://theredeemed.co.uk/stash/siskorifle.jpg
^ That one?

From memory those are the ones DS9 used most, with the versions designed for First Contact only making a rare appearance. I don't know why they used the TNG versions, maybe just to fit the style?

I never really noticed the resemblance before...

It always bugged me that DS9, right in the thick of the Dominion War, was stuck using the older props, while Voyager, lost in the Delta Quadrant, somehow had a full supply of the Type III b and compression rifles.

 

[Timo]

I really like the Klingon rifle, too. Essentially, it's just a new stock added to the standard single-handed disruptor pistol for a two-hand hold and, presumably, extra power or features.

Also, the new stock can apparently be bolted onto other types of weapon as well. In "Too Short a Season", the wall of Governor Karnas features various guns, including one fashioned from the Klingon stock and a more compact forward end; this type of gun is used to good effect against the E-D personnel.

Of the Starfleet rifles, I'm still partial to the original TNG one. It's more innovative than the ST:FC ones: it dares to look different, rather than imitating current gunpowder-based designs, and the size-to-power ratio is at least somewhat reasonable. It makes no sense to build a rifle as big as the ST:FC ones if it does little more than the Type 1 palm weapon.

Probably the ST:FC rifles do have some added benefits, though - and not just over the palm and hand phasers, but over the "standard" TNG phaser rifle as well. After all, in DS9 "Empok Nor" it appears that the ST:FC rifle that Nog totes is supposed to be a more powerful weapon than the regular rifles carried by the security detail. Basically, then, the TNG gun could be an "assault rifle" or a "submachine gun" while the ST:FC weapon could be a "light machine gun".

You don't send your entire platoon out armed with M-60s in normal conditions; a combination of lots of M-16 and a single M-60 works better, as in "Empok Nor". But if your ship is being invaded by the Borg, then perhaps it does make sense to hand out M-60s to every man and woman...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

Then again, with the Enterprise-E you ARE serving on a flagship of the Federation Starfleet; then there's the brand new Voyager with its bioneural whatsits and other cool tech. I see no reason NOT to equip such ships with the flashiest toys and the means to maintain them. In the rest of Starfleet, everyone gets the trusty and reliable rifle that's been in use for years and can be maintainted and powered up anywhere.

Mark

 

[JNG]

^Yes, it makes sense to me as well that frontline starships would probably have the newest technology, while the shortages and large-scale deployments of the Dominion War would not allow for everyone to be so equipped.

I can't imagine these things have to be replaced very often, either. Hardly any situations call for phaser-3.

 

[Timo]

The VOY guns seemed to be something else again... If the TNG rifle was yer standard assault rifle, and the ST:FC one was the light machine gun, then these "compression phasers" might have been something like automated shotguns. They never showed much destructive potential beyond that of the standard TNG weapon, at any rate.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Tigger]

I'll spot folks most of the other advantages of a phaser rifle over a phaser pistol, but I am not sure "accuracy" is one of them. It's a directed-energy beam weapon, not a slug thrower, after all.

 

[Timo]

Then again, "multiple target acquisition" is one of the known abilities of the TNG rifle. And while all phasers seem to do some aiming of their own, to assist the clumsy users who can't point the things in the right direction, the multi-target thing might be what gives the rifle an edge over the sidearm.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[CaptainStoner]

I'll spot folks most of the other advantages of a phaser rifle over a phaser pistol, but I am not sure "accuracy" is one of them. It's a directed-energy beam weapon, not a slug thrower, after all.

For long range shots, unless you're Geordi or Data, the rifle with optics is going to be far superior to a handheld unit.
But I don't remember ever seeing optics employed on a Starfleet rifle - correction, there is the STVI assassination sequence. I guess we don't want to see our heroes sniping.

 

[JNG]

I'll spot folks most of the other advantages of a phaser rifle over a phaser pistol, but I am not sure "accuracy" is one of them. It's a directed-energy beam weapon, not a slug thrower, after all.

For long range shots, unless you're Geordi or Data, the rifle with optics is going to be far superior to a handheld unit.
But I don't remember ever seeing optics employed on a Starfleet rifle - correction, there is the STVI assassination sequence. I guess we don't want to see our heroes sniping.

I don't know if we actually saw them employed per se, but we did see the little holosights flipped up on the phaser-3 units several times.

In fairness to the show, they are most often using the phasers at close range.