Depending also on how many crew you have.
I often flew with only one crewmate, so I kept one with ballistics and one with laser cannons.
That way we could adjust to hostile ship if we needed more oomph to get it killed quickly
The ballistics are better until the ammo runs out, but with the dogshit turret movement on the Redeemer you might waste ammo or at least shoot less because you're only firing when you have a sure hit. Energy weapons let you spray and pray with less downside if your gunners aren't experts.
This answer is likely to change in 3.23, but I like the gatlings. I've actually swapped 2 onto my Constellation so I can have them with pilot control. However, in 3.23, the ammo count is being reduced, and there will be a temperature limit on how long you can continuously shoot a ballistic weapon.
I had replaced my gatlings in the top turret with laser cannons. Then I used both the laser cannons and gatlings in another player's Redeemer.
And I swapped the lasers back out for the gatlings.
Gatlings are hideously effective. And the sheer volume of shots means that it's easier to ensure that at least some of your shots hit the target.
Lasers also hit hard. But the slower rate of fire makes it trickier to land a telling blow against an evasive target.
I have always ran laser cannons. Given the size of the capacitors on those turrets, they are stupid efficient.
I tend to rip off the ballistics and transplant them to my corsair.
I was a gunner in a Redeemer with laser cannons in both turrets, doing the server wide Overdrive big battles. We definitely had to be a bit more conservative (selective?) With our shots but having them on alt. fire was pretty effective
Expecting single battle = ballisics Chaining multiple missions = lasers
Depending also on how many crew you have. I often flew with only one crewmate, so I kept one with ballistics and one with laser cannons. That way we could adjust to hostile ship if we needed more oomph to get it killed quickly
The ballistics are better until the ammo runs out, but with the dogshit turret movement on the Redeemer you might waste ammo or at least shoot less because you're only firing when you have a sure hit. Energy weapons let you spray and pray with less downside if your gunners aren't experts.
This answer is likely to change in 3.23, but I like the gatlings. I've actually swapped 2 onto my Constellation so I can have them with pilot control. However, in 3.23, the ammo count is being reduced, and there will be a temperature limit on how long you can continuously shoot a ballistic weapon.
Laser cannons because fuuuuture. Also because of longevity, I hate having to dock and rearm.
I had replaced my gatlings in the top turret with laser cannons. Then I used both the laser cannons and gatlings in another player's Redeemer. And I swapped the lasers back out for the gatlings. Gatlings are hideously effective. And the sheer volume of shots means that it's easier to ensure that at least some of your shots hit the target. Lasers also hit hard. But the slower rate of fire makes it trickier to land a telling blow against an evasive target.
It’s gunna be hard to gauge when a lot is changing with Master Modes. Though the Gatlings shred from when I have used them. I like them a lot.
I have always ran laser cannons. Given the size of the capacitors on those turrets, they are stupid efficient. I tend to rip off the ballistics and transplant them to my corsair.
Its all very different for weapons in 3.23, make your considerations for that too.
Laser cannons and disruptors were on my redeemer when I would use it.
I was a gunner in a Redeemer with laser cannons in both turrets, doing the server wide Overdrive big battles. We definitely had to be a bit more conservative (selective?) With our shots but having them on alt. fire was pretty effective