Auto attacking turrents in SOTA will allow you to gain wep skill
the only thing you can't do is use any special abilitys such as holyshock etc as you won't gain skill and it will stop the turret skilling you up so only melee swings will gain skill.
I did unarmed 1-400 in 2 strands. And also leveled my 1 handed mace skill screenie below. It's a nice and easy way to level wep skill and I havn't been killed once while doing it there.