how much damage do they dish out?

All of it

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Automated_turret_%28Fallout_4%29 can be very damaging, but there are good medications that can keep it in check.

But seriously, click the link. You should get all the info you need there

It would be nice though if turrets gave us actual informationike guns do when it comes to damage and rate of fire.

http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Laser_turret_(Fallout_4)#Wall.2Fceiling_mounted. Did not find any better website. I use missile turrets, they seems to do more dmg if hit direct and they also do area dmg.

Cheers,

-Klevs

I prefer Heavy Laser turrets to Missile Turrets, since they don't have splash damage that blows up my settlers and my generators and my own damn Missile Turrets - but Missile Turrets do beat Heavy Laser Turrets against Vertibirds, which may or may not be useful depending on your relationship with the Brotherhood.

Yeah, missile turrets do the best damage on paper, but because of friendly fire issues, they have limited use. I use fences to keep the from firing towards my settlement.

Well, it seems like the weakest turret is located to left and strongest to right (defence - workbench mode). Meaning missile turrets deals most damage. It doesn't matter what kind of dmg they deals, all depends on who they going to hit. Lasers don't work well against enemies who have that kind of electric resist. It's okay to mix different turrets in settlements, because the attackers can be everything from small critters to super mutants. Overall, the missile turrets works best, but if missiles hit your own stuffs in the settlement, you have to do a great job to rep.

Cheers,

-klevs

When I went to my home in Red Rocket yesterday --- every one of the turrets was firing non-stop even though the place was not under attack.

I quit the game and came back and they were still firing.

The only way I could stop them was by scrapping EVERY one of them.

Don't know what is going to happen when I play later this morning.

*Proceeds to link to an article with missing data tags on every turret type*

I have seen critters etc inside walls, under floors and under soil. It seems like they are spawning at wrong place. If something cannot be seen, but turrets keep fireing, hostiles are hidden. Some of the devs have to be more carefull when they place spawning location. We have that issue in TES also. Fish spawning where no water as example. Or you just got a bug...

Cheers,

Klevs

Heh! Just noticed that myself. Well now how much damage do the damn things deal?

At one time yesterday McCready's head and shoulders were sticking up out of a closed trunk!!

Clipping is a big issue in this game. Happens all the time. Characters half in and half out of walls / floors. Only thing to do is ignore it.