Do Paintball Guns Have Sights? Do You Need Them?
Yes, paintball guns have sights. The purpose of the Sight is to help you aim your weapon at your target.
It does this by providing a reference point that allows you to align the barrel of your gun with what you’re aiming at and pull back on the cocking piece (the thing that looks like an arrow) until it locks into place.
This will lower whatever pressure is inside so there’s no need for extra air compressors or anything like that; all without having any kind of complicated electronics involved!
What Is a Sight?
A Sight is one of the oldest and simplest means for aligning a firearm.
The device itself doesn’t do anything other than provide a visual indicator for how your marker is pointed and help you aim with a little more accuracy.
The principle behind it is fairly simple: if the barrel and the target are at exactly the same elevation, then your shot should intercept with your opponent’s location.
Sights don’t tell you how far away your opponent is, how fast he’s moving, or exactly where on his body you should aim at.
They’re there to help with aiming so you know where to shoot your gun to hit your target.
Why Are There Different Sights on Paintball Guns?
There are different types of sights, each with a different purpose – and you’ll need to understand how they work before mounting them onto your paintball gun.
The most common sights are Open Sights, which usually have two-dot markers on the top of the peep sight so you can aim by lining up with your target.
Fiber Optic Sights are very similar to Open Sights, but they have a thin tube of fiber optic on top of the sight so you can look through them to get a clearer sight picture.
Aperture Sights are similar in size to Open Sights, but they have a circular hole in the middle for you to look through.
Low Profile Sights usually protrude less than an inch from your marker’s frame, so they’re good for quick acquisition.
And finally, Scope Sights are usually reserved for sniper-type paintball guns because it allows you to get a much clearer sight picture.
So, Which One Do You Need?
It all depends on the type of gun you’re using and the type of paintball you’re playing.
In a typical scenario, Open Sights can do just as well as some of the other sights on the market.
The advantage of fiber optic sights is that they offer a much clearer sight picture for faster target acquisition, but the downside is that it’s more prominent on your gun.
Aperture Sights, like Open Sights, are great for close-range engagements because of their size and speed.
They’re not as sharp as fiber optic sights, but they do offer a lot of precision for your shots which makes them great for CQB (close quarters battle) games.
Low Profile Sights are also great for CQB because they protrude less than an inch away from your marker.
However, they don’t give you the clear shot necessary to take out opponents at a distance, so it’s not quite suitable for sniper roles.
And finally, there are Scope Sights which are really reserved for sniper-type paintball guns because they provide a clear sight picture and are actually attached to your gun.
They’re not really necessary for the typical paintball player, but it would be good to have if you want to play sniper roles.
What To Look For In A Sight?
Now that you understand the various types of sights on the market, here are a few things you should know.
Size:
The smaller the sight, the less prominent it is on your gun. So if you want something with a low profile and can’t afford a Low Profile Sight, you might want to look into sights that offer the same features.
Fiber Optic Sights are the most prominent because of their size.
Price:
Sights can vary in price, depending on where you buy them – but in general, they’re not that expensive.
You can find them in paintball gear shops or online for around $10 – so it’s not something you should worry about.
Type:
Depending on the type of gun you have, the kind of sight that would be most advantageous to you.
If you have a sniper-type gun, then Scope Sights will be most advantageous for you because it’s already attached to your marker.
Otherwise, Open Sights are probably the most popular because they’re the cheapest and most versatile.
Final Words:
There’s no need to go buying a low-profile sight, scope sight, or fiber optic sight unless you really want to – and if you want to have a versatile marker, you may want to invest in different kinds of sights so you can adjust them depending on what game you play.
