I don't think that energy weapons of the hand held variety are that far away. We already see lasers attached to gun rails, the only change is the power required to ramp it up to weaponized standards and the things that go with that. Your number one problem is a power source, and batteries get more efficient all the time. Soon enough you'll be able to fire a few shots of powerful laser from a charge, and after that there will only be cooling and other factors that I think we are already within our abilities to design.
High energy storage would eventually give it advantages over projectile weapons in terms of shots fired vs weight, and needing no barrel length for accuracy, range, and recharging instead of having to produce ammunition.
All that can be done with bullets either already has been done or shortly will be, the only changes being nicer guns and more efficient methods of launching the projectile.
High energy storage would eventually give it advantages over projectile weapons in terms of shots fired vs weight, and needing no barrel length for accuracy, range, and recharging instead of having to produce ammunition.
All that can be done with bullets either already has been done or shortly will be, the only changes being nicer guns and more efficient methods of launching the projectile.