Currently I'm using flame throwers and laser turrets.This works a treat, the only downside is that I need a power line, and an outage would likely be be catastrophic. This puts some restrictions on how and where I can build the installation. I don't think I want to create the power locally, as that would substantially increase the footprint of the installation, not to mention the constant fear of running out of steam.
But what about gun turrets? I haven't looked at them in a good long while, but now that I do... with uranium ammo they will have a tremendous damage output, much higher than lasers. I'd still need power for the inserters, but that might be doable even with solar. I'd be willing to give it a try, but that will require some effort and I'd like to ask if anyone has experience with guns against behemoths and how does it play out? For scale: my evolution currently stands at 0.98.
The possible problems I see are:
- lower range -- not sure if that matters. Killing at range is the flamethrowers' task and they do it extremely well, mostly by creating pools of fire. The turrets' job is to pick off the (few) biters that are getting too close so that the flamethrowers will keep hosing down the more distant areas. Turrets have a lower range but will be more deadly to anything in range, so the end result should be similar enough? I guess?
- less damage resistance is concerning, as my laser turrets occasionally get spat at. While the damage is quickly repaired and never becomes critical, I wonder if the more fragile turrets might be destroyed.
- the hassle of unpacking and recovering ammo might be more trouble than it's worth. Then again, I'm already doing that for walls and turrets and one more type of item on the list probably won't make much of a difference.