I don't know why but almost all my characters in all three fallouts (who aren't melee or unarmed) use the underpowered weapons in fallout. They just feel cooler. Small arms with the .223 pistol, or combat shotgun feels business like to me. The desert eagle and .44 get honourable mentions.
I hope V13 has some low power, high cool weapons to appease me.
What are other people's weapons of choice?