what ya think about those damn lasers...

[DaFin]

Lazer... Kinda worthless IMO.. maybe just something to lose.

I have never used a sight on any of my mags or other semi auto guns but have sights on both my pump gun and primary stock class gun. When you are going to take ONE shot it's better to know where that shot is going. That being said there may be instances where you want to aim where you think someone is going to be not where they are now and there might not be anything to shine the lazer on.

As for the center feed getting in the way, look for an occluded eye sight. That's where one eye picks up the dot and the other picks up the target picture. They've also been called Armson sights.

For you that say I need to work on my snap shooting so that I don't need a sight, you are right. I just need to play more anyway.

[rawbutter]

red-dots do work for woodsball

this brings up another question, I saw a lot of you has scope sight mounted on your gun.. dose that really work? between the mask and the foggy lens... what can you really see with out spending few hundred dollars to by a big scope?)

For speedball, I don't think sights of any kind are really worth anything. You make so many snap shots and quick moves... if you take a half-second to line up your shot through a sight, you'll often miss your opportunity or get shot out in the process.

Now, for woodsball (which I play primarily), sights can be a little more helpful, especially red-dot sights. I use a red-dot sight on my gun, and I must say that it really helps with long distance kills. I've made a few converts among my friends as well.

There are three main advatanges of red-dots sights, in my mind.

First, red-dot sights (even though they don't magnify) can be used with both eyes open, so you don't lose your field of sight.

Secondly, as athomas already said, red-dot sights do help you line up your shot very quickly. You just point and shoot.

Third (and most importantly), a red-dot sight provides a fixed point of reference. Most people aim by watching the first paintball and then adjusting their gun to compensate. But this system (especially at long range) is inherently flawed because paintballs never go 100% perfectly straight because of wind and tiny inperfections in the paintball and barrel. With a red-dot sight, you can beat this flawed system.

(And call me a geek, but I made a little diagram to help illustrate this point.)

Let's pretend that you're aiming for a cross-target fifty feet away, and let's suppose that you have your gun aimed DIRECTLY for the center cross. But then you shoot and your paintball hits low and left. What are you going to do? Well, without a red-dot sight, you'll assume that your first shot was accurate, and so you'll move your gun up and to the right to compensate for the next shot. So then, if your next shot shoots perfectly straight, you'll hit top right, and you'll adjust again.

Now, if you had a red-dot dialed in for that range, you would aim and shoot right at the center cross, and if your shot hits low and left, you wouldn't adjust your shot. You would just assume that the paintball missed by a standard deviation caused by the imperfections of the system. When you fired again, therefore, you would be much for likely to hit the bullseye the second time.

There's a fourth point too... kinda connected to the third. With a red-dot, you can hit your target the FIRST time. You don't have to shoot once to make sure your gun is pointed in the right direction. This is especially useful when you're firing from a concealed location.


Sorry that this is really long. I got a little carried away. I do speak from personal experience, though. I play woodsball once a month or so, and I always use a red-dot that I have dialed in at 100ft or so. And it helps. I have one-balled more people that I care to count (at extreme range, too), and I can provide precise cover fire without just spraying a tree.

If you're interested, this is one of the best red-dot sights I've ever found, at least for $30. It has red/green settings, and it has wind/elevation adjustments.

[cadams]

I got nothing against them. I think they are pointless in real life paintball though. The effecive range of a paintabll marker is such that the laser dot really adds nothing to your accuracy (other than telling you where your shot will NOT be landing). Furthermore, if you ARE watching your little red dot, that you are NOT watching your angles.

A scope at least has some usefulness to it in woods ball. Not so much for aiming, but if you can't tell if that shape off in the distance is a gun barrel or a branch, the magnification is nice to have. (I use a cheap monocular).

I play woods ball with a guy who has the laser dot scope. Its only useful if your camping. In the heat of the fight, you rarely get to position your gun at the necessary angle to properly see through the scope. The most effective posture with a paintball is totally different than that of a rifle.

[Jaan]

I would think so too...but do you want to be the one to find out by losing an eye? I don't...

Actually, I would prefer hard facts, one way or the other. I did do a cursory search for information on the subject, but apart from some anecdotes I didn't find much there saying that people do "loose an eye" on occasion.

[druid]

Actually, I would prefer hard facts, one way or the other. I did do a cursory search for information on the subject, but apart from some anecdotes I didn't find much there saying that people do "loose an eye" on occasion.

"Losing an eye" is a relative term meaning blindness...not a literal one, meaning their eye will melt out of their socket...Jeeze...

The point is...there's a reason why there's a warning label on all Class III and IV lasers. There's also a reason why most (if not all) fields banned their use.

They do damage to the human eye. Whether it's "flash" blindness or permanent damage - the severity of the malady is irrelevant to the totality of the situation. If a laser is shined in an eye, there will be blindness...possibly temporary, possibly permanent...who wants to risk that? After having my own eye surgery (for a completely unrelated reason), I can tell you that a person's eyesight is the one thing they should not take for granted...or forsaken on an un(der?)educated whim.

Anyone who says "Meh...just do it" is irresponsible and feels no burden of fault if something happens to some other "unknown" person on some public forum. What do they care? They don't have to live with the consequences of someone else's mistake or misfortune...now do they?

Back to the subject of red-dot sights....

The Leapers shown above is a good example of "cheap and useful." The Leapers brand is almost the same as the BSA brand but a tad better. I use the BSA's on my AK, Armalite and my 2 SKS rifles and have to say they are outstanding performers for their cost.

Now, paintballs hold the same basic trajectory as a standard bullet with obvious differences. The [lack of] speed in the paintball, the fact that it's a sphere and not conical and the profile size/shape is affected more easily by 20 bazzillion factors greater than a bullet (like wind, humidity, swelling, etc) make it almost impossible to "zero-in" any kind of red dot or scope with 100% accuracy. If you sight the red dot at a specific distance, say 50 feet, the paintball is going to hit within a 6" area of that "zero"...perhaps a bit better, possibly worse...but that's going to be the average. A 6" target area isn't really that bad considering all possibilities and the fact you only need to hit a human-sized target.

A Vertical feed will present you a problem in that it's going to be in the way of a top-mounted sight. Mounting it on a side rail would be another option or "In Yo Face" made an "offset sight" that attached to the top sight and moved it left or right of center. HERE is one in blue...It clamps onto a top sight rail and the Leapers will mount onto the one on top of the platform. It's angled at just the right amount to help center the sight for you around the vertical feedneck.

[dstud2000]

never used a laser myself, but I could see them as a possible point of reference for your team to use in a night game.

other than that, I just sight down the side of the gun to the tip of the barrel. I have hard sights on one of my pumps and I find them useful when I get the opportunity to use them.

[OneUp]

here in sunny cali i doubt you can use a laser....

[athomas]

A Vertical feed will present you a problem in that it's going to be in the way of a top-mounted sight.

For vertical feed guns, the occluded site is probably the best bet. It sits behind the feed tube directly above the gun for perfect alignment. You aim with both eyes, one looking into the site and the other looking at the target. The occluded site superimposes a red dot onto the target that the free eye sees. These sites are available in both light gathering types or battery operated.

[mostpeople]

I saw someone get royally F'd up in the eye from a lazer, so I will not play when someone uses one.

As far as the gameplay of it though I have no problem, I just wont put my eyes at that risk.

[doc_Zox]

http://www.scenariopaintball.com/rules/GSRPv302.htm

laser sights; crossbows; sling shots; BB guns. When in doubt, ask the game management. Any device designed to raise or lower the velocity of a paint marker (tools, adjustable barrels without locking caps) are prohibited on the field of play. NO predominantly yellow or orange shirts, jerseys allowed. This is reserved for field staff and referees only. If this is in doubt check with event management.

[BigEvil]

^
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One of the greatest Simpsons episodes EVER.

[warbeak2099]

Laser sights should be banned on all fields no matter what. I can't believe there are fields that actually allow them. It is a fact that they will damage the retina if shined at a person's goggles, period. There is no reason that in a game of paintball, any dickface should be allowed to put other people's eyesight in danger because he thinks he's Rambo. Other than that they are tactically useless just like scopes.

/thread

[Smoothice]

\ thread

I guess if we are assuming that anybody that would have a laser sight on his gun is stupid enough to aim it at someones face then I change my original post.

Hopefully if anybody does use a laser sight on their gun they will use some common sense and aim for the body.

[Lohman446]

\ thread

I guess if we are assuming that anybody that would have a laser sight on his gun is stupid enough to aim it at someones face then I change my original post.

Hopefully if anybody does use a laser sight on their gun they will use some common sense and aim for the body.

When you fire a marker is it ever exactly where you thought it would be? Same with a laser... might be an accident

[Warwitch]

When you fire a marker is it ever exactly where you thought it would be? Same with a laser... might be an accident

exactly. The fact that there is a chance for loss of vision should make this one a no-brainer, and so it is