Somebody scoped out a laser rifle a few years ago.
It fired a 2mm IR beam with the energy of a .45ACP+P. Considered effective to 1500 metres before atmospheric effects reduced power and colimation.
The bad news was that it was a gas dynamic laser and the surge of hot gas down the lasing cavity actually generated recoil. Computed about the same as .458 Win Mag.
And it was radioactive, that is how you got six weeks of shooting on a charge.
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