Scopes on a 98c

[Dese]

Now, I hear a lot of people bashings scopes on paintball guns, saying that they are useless and stuff. Before I go on, I want to say right now my opinion might be biased to some extend because the only barrel I have ever used in paintball games (other then pistols) in the flatline for the 98c. And I used that for all my 5 or more (dont quite remember, stoner ) years of experience. But, I used a Bushnell 3-9X40 variable zoom riflescope mounted straight to that piece of crap plastic shroud that comes with the flatline with great success. It took a lot of tweaking and 100's of paintballs, but I got to the point were I could not only use the scope for a guide, but practically get my balls on my crosshairs. Please dont jump in with all your reasons that what im saying isn't true, because I'm 20, tired, and been using firearms and paintball guns for a long time. I have no arguements to claims of disbelief, I only wish to help influence the decision of people contemplating buying a scope.
But back to my point, I was able to make a 150 ft (approxametly, couldnt measure during a game) head shot with two out of three paintballs fired rapidly with my crosshairs on my targets head. Im not saying there wasn't some luck with that, but it was mostly hours of fine tuning.
Same game, and my most memorable shot (and this one was luck), I tagged my friend who was playing for the other team in the back of the head while he was talking to a team mate. I made a single shot through 2 buildings (thats four windows) and hit him from 175 feet (again approx.) But he was pissed. Never even seen it coming. He came and told me what happened after the game and I realized then that it was him I shot. We still talk about it, it really was a lucky but beautiful shot.
So as far as anyone thinking about buying a scope for a 98c with a flatline, I would say go for it, get a good $60 - $80 scope and some elevated scope rings (if you have a stock, so you can see through it with your googles). But you gotta be able to spend hours and 100's maybe 1000's of paintballs to perfect it.

P.S. To get that nasty hopper out of the way, either get an elbow (to put your hopper of on an angle) or a smokestack (to lift it high enough to clear the scope)

[auto a5's]

Why pay hundreds of dollars on a scope and 1000's of paintballs and co2 refills for a couple lucky shots. It doesn't matter if you fine tune your gun and scope for your whole life only a very small handfull is going to hit directly on. A paintball is never going to fly that straight and hit its target enough times. For a eighty dollars you can get a much better performing aftermarket part. Im sorry it just doesn't work.

[hunter2]

Scopes can be effective but most of the time you won't have the time to poke out and aim unless your in back but I play front and mid so I just snap.

[TippmanUsr4lyfe]

dont get 100 dollar scope or anything like that my friend has a simple daisy 4x12 wal mart scope for liek 20 bucks and thats all you need for paintball it gives u vision more than your opensights and if u break it its a whole 20 bucks woo hoo,red dots are nice i got one on my shotty and i love it but pb isnt shot gun season so i would recomend a daisy one and if it doesnt fit get cheap scope mounts not that big of a deal

[hunter2]

Spending $100 on a scope for a Paintball gun is pointless because if its hit its $100.

[Deception]

Originally Posted by hunter2

Spending $100 on a scope for a Paintball gun is pointless...

Wrong, while $100 is pretty expensive for a scope (which no one here suggested spending that much on one), the point is to try to make your first shot, your last one.

Originally Posted by hunter2

...because if its hit its $100.

False, if it's hit, it's still a scope. It's just either covered in paint, or against all odds, broken.

Back on topic: I've found laser sights to be fairly useful for locking on a first shot. If you're going to be given away your position, you might as well take every available precaution to ensure that the shot is as close as possible to it's target.

[dukedude4evr]

what i think is a smart idea is to just use ur sights to line up, take an apex (buy)(also, if u already have a barrel, dont worry about that.....) and then spray 12 or so shots at someone.....that's how u get someone out. Not all shots may be accurate, but by gosh sakes u'll be bound to scare the crap outta someone.

[TheSpy11]

Originally Posted by Dese

Please dont jump in with all your reasons that what im saying isn't true, because I'm 20, tired, and been using firearms and paintball guns for a long time.

Hmm, that's exactly the same details about me.

What you have talked about is the ONLY minor, and I mean MINOR, benefit to a scope. Counter that with many more MAJOR reasons why not to buy or use one, and anyone will learn that a scope is a great way to hurt anyone's game.

Your "success" with the scope was exceptional luck--nothing more. The scope did virtually NOTHING to help you make that shot. The reason? Your aim didn't make the paintball go anywhere near the target, only the barrel did. 99% of the time the Flatline will cause balls to go anywhere but where you exactly want it to. The chance of hitting the exact spot with the scope is very, very slim. You may think you're aim helped, but the chance of you hitting your target when aiming a foot away is just as good. There is no predictability when using any barrel, but especially with the Flatty. Your precise aiming has probably caused you to MISS just as much as hit your target because you cannot control where that paintball flies.

So, why spend even $10 on a scope? There isn't any point to it:

-Limits your view. The best thing I want to see from my opponent is someone trying to line up their scope while I move from one area to the next. The chance of the opponent seeing me this way is much lower, and it has exposed the opponent to a blind-side attack.

-Slows your aim. Nothing is slower than lining up any sighting device. The best way to aim is to not aim at all. You point your gun at your target without precise aiming and then compensate ever so slightly once you start shooting to place your shots right where you want them. It's very quick, allows the shooter to see with maximum field of view, and is surprisingly accurate after a little practice.

-Off-hand shooting. Not only is it hard enough to use a scope with the dominant side/eye, but try doing that with the off-hand/eye. Very difficult.

-Larger area to hit. Bigger guns make for bigger targets for elimination. The opponent of a scoped player is drooling at the thought of that.

-Durability. Optics are pieces to be kept in prestine condition for proper performance. I shudder at the thought of paintballs hitting the objective lens. Bye-bye $100.

-Expense. Instead of spending the money on paint, field fees, or true upgrades, money is spent on a scope that hurts their game. Doesn't make sense.

I LOVE to see players trot onto the field with scopes. It only helps me get them out. I do NOT like seeing a fast, accurate marker in the hands of a quick player that snapshoots with speed and precision. That's a tough player to play against.

[sarduy]

i have used the scope and the reddot, and the scope not useless but i would go with the Reddot, because is easier to aim and take (your first shot) and is more low-profile....i think is more of personal prefference

[Dese]

Edit, auto A5's is an idiot. I said $60-$80, not hundreds. SCOPES HAVE MUCH MORE APPLICATION THEN AIMING. (and oh yeah, I only specified ranges of 150+ ft. But 75 ft or less, you can expect damn good accuracy with a flatline, scope and lot of tinkering) Plus, I'm sorry, but it just does work, unlike your brain. Get over it.

LOL Scine i posted this in the last twenty four hours, people have jumped in with lots of ideas. I do agree with many of the pros and cons expressed (Especially by TheSpy11, who seems rather intellegent [or atlest he thinks he is], however, luck was not the leading factor... see when someone says they have five or more years of experience with the same gun, they tend to know what there talking about. I never asked you to believe me, and I know for sure I did ask you to not crap on my opinions, so lets let me be happy in my little world here were the sky is purple and the sees are orange) However, apperantly not many of you spend most of the game hiding and waiting. When your in a ghillie suit in a pile of leaves, you have all the time you need to line up a shot, therefore rapid target aquisition is not as important as it would be in a firefight.
Despite some of the shortcommings of a scope, it has many woodsball application beyond just shooting. First off, is better view of far targets. Its much easier to see someone through trees and leaves from a distance when you can magnify. Also, any scope you pay $60 or more for has specially coated optics to aid your view in rain and fog, which is obviosly a large advantage over people playing with limited visual capability.
In addition, Im afraid I'm going to have to crap on the 4x12 cheap scope comment. Smaller lenses means more time to aim and less magnification. Also, can be tricky to see through with a mask of. If you want something that small and cheap, get a reddot. But I must stress that my focus is not only on aiming and shooting, but also for scouting and recon ops. Which I'm sure any good player can see the value of, especially when you can report intel to your teammates (via radio communication). When you can accurately describe an enemy squad to your team, there distance, direction, and route of approch, you have provided valuble information and time.
It might just be my desire for perfection, but the hours, $$$, and tuning is all worth it when you do make that one perfect shot. So yeah, it doesnt work every time, and its a little pricey, but when you can camofluage yourself well, see distant oppenents, and get a reasonable grouping at 100+ ft, it pays of for itself in victories. Maybe a scope is not for you, hey thats cool. Maybe you play up close, in firefights, if you do DONT GET A SCOPE!!!But, if your a sniper, and you care about more then just good shooting, a $80 scope becomes invalueble. For recon, observation, intel gethering, increased visability in poor conditions, and the occasional headshot from a respectable distance, you can't go wrong.

P.S. Please bear in mind I am a sniper, and I will hide in a bush for a long time (hours) for one good shot. I also usually have plenty of time to sight in my target and am not often engaged in a firefight. I also value important intel over one or two kills, so if your not like me, don't critizise my descion to buy a scope, just get a reddot, or no sight at all, and try to respect the fact that I use my equipment for the benefit of the team, not just my own kills.

[AngryInsurgent]

Scopes can be useful for recon, using them like mounted binoculars can help you spot opponents.

Beyond that that they are a waste of money. Even after hours a dozens of paintballs wasted tuning a scope, that means you still only tuned it to a particular range. Unless you have an adjustment dial to tune to scope mid-game to adjust for the opponents range, the scope is only accurate at the range you tuned it at. If you tuned it to hit inside the crosshairs at 100 ft, you will miss horribly if you fire at a target 130 ft away using those same tuned crosshairs.

[slaminator3323]

Useless period.

[Dese]

AngryInsurgent is also an idiot. Here is a list of all the ways you are stupid, Insurgent:
1. You seem to think I am talking about a high powered rifle and a distance of 800+ meters. I said flatline, as in 200 ft of FLAT TRAJECTORY. A flatline goes 200 ft and then drops like a stone. There is no bullet-drop in a flatline-fired paintball at 130 ft, like there would be with a rifle at 900 meters.
2. See above, 'FLAT TRAJECTORY'. Zero-ed scope is zero-ed at all ranges necessary (or possible) for paintball. A 100 foot grouping would be VERY close to a 130 foot grouping. Either way, three rapid shots all but guarantees at least one hit.
3. Any scope you pay at least $60 for will ALWAYS (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS) have elevation and windage adjustment knobs. Besides, learn to compensate for distance, wind, and the accuracy of your weapon.

Damn speedballers. Obviously none of you play seriouse milsim scenario woodsball or have any experience as a paintball sniper. I asked nicely for people not to argue and just view and respect my personal opinions. Apperently though most of you who responded have a hard time respecting other peoples views, without dismissing them as B.S. Grow up, and don't call a man a liar unless you can watch him fail at what he says he can do. You guys are loosers. Go play paintball instead of irritating someone on the internet.

Edit: Final fantasy 8 rocks????? LOL looser, you don't deserve to play paintball

[slaminator3323]

Wow so angry because of two words I said. And my liking Final Fantasy has nothing to do with my ability to play paintball. Here is a reason scopes/sights are useless.
1)Aiming down the barrel.

Edit: Also most of the time I'm playing in the woods so I'm not a speedballer. and please the use of the word sniper just brings bad things along with it. I actually own a 98 with a flatline. And three rapid shots with a flatline will never be guranteed to hit too dang inaccurate. Mine is perfectly aligned BTW.

[PTE. O'Hearn]

I don't care what anyone says liking and disliking scopes is a matter of opinion. Yes in some cases scopes do help, and yes in some cases scopes are useless, but like I said it's all a matter of opinion. It's like speed vs accuracy some people prefer one over the other, but myself I like a nice balance between both.

[TheSpy11]

I disagree.

It's not a true matter of opinion. I can't think of one scenario where a scope will be helpful. Now some may think they do better with it, but in reality they would be much better off to home their skills without one.

[Dese]

OMG Thank you PTE. O'Hearn. Thats exactly what I've bee saying the whole time. You are officially not an idiot.

But screw the rest of you.

[Jesus o's me $$]

if you some how got a scope to work well with your gun, there are still other draw backs to a scope like if it gets hit, you drop the gun, it gets dirty the scop may not work right or may not work at all also there is the draw back of it adding bulk to the gun which is never good.

[bvdave]

I have a small scope but I never use it for aiming or shooting, only scouting if I think I see someone but am not sure

I had a friend whop had one and spent all of his time trying to adjust it, then got shot every game before he coudl take the time to use it to aim, he wined the whole time saying if he had a chance to aim hed smoke us all (LOL) and every chance he did get to aim and missed he blamed it on the site not being set up right... he wasted the entire day paintballing and got smoked every time cuz of his sight lol


moral of the story.. dont use it to aim or you die.. there are some small usesd that help in woodsball but shooting isnt one of em..

[AngryInsurgent]

Originally Posted by Dese

AngryInsurgent is also an idiot. Here is a list of all the ways you are stupid, Insurgent:
1. You seem to think I am talking about a high powered rifle and a distance of 800+ meters. I said flatline, as in 200 ft of FLAT TRAJECTORY. A flatline goes 200 ft and then drops like a stone. There is no bullet-drop in a flatline-fired paintball at 130 ft, like there would be with a rifle at 900 meters.
2. See above, 'FLAT TRAJECTORY'. Zero-ed scope is zero-ed at all ranges necessary (or possible) for paintball. A 100 foot grouping would be VERY close to a 130 foot grouping. Either way, three rapid shots all but guarantees at least one hit.
3. Any scope you pay at least $60 for will ALWAYS (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS) have elevation and windage adjustment knobs. Besides, learn to compensate for distance, wind, and the accuracy of your weapon.

Damn speedballers. Obviously none of you play seriouse milsim scenario woodsball or have any experience as a paintball sniper. I asked nicely for people not to argue and just view and respect my personal opinions. Apperently though most of you who responded have a hard time respecting other peoples views, without dismissing them as B.S. Grow up, and don't call a man a liar unless you can watch him fail at what he says he can do. You guys are loosers. Go play paintball instead of irritating someone on the internet.

Edit: Final fantasy 8 rocks????? LOL looser, you don't deserve to play paintball

This is why I don't usually avoid debating with pissy 12 year olds still going through their flatline/sniper stage.