Ablation damage might not be a concern if everything is vaporized, i.e. turned into gas. Also, if you're getting bombarded with high-energy oxygen atoms, that's

Ablation damage might not be a concern if everything is vaporized, i.e. turned into gas. Also, if you're getting bombarded with high-energy oxygen atoms, that's just called rusting! Anyway, it's all SF. BTW, new crazy idea: a weapon that propels high-energy oxygen atoms toward the enemy, instantly oxidizing the enemy's rifles. Enemy combatants might also get killed as a side effect. :)