Red-Dot Scopes

Ok, it's not a "red dot scope".  It is a "red dot sight".  The thing works by projecting a red dot onto a lense that you look at.  You do not look through it (like you do for a scope).  Tunnel vision is not an issue as with a scope. You focus on the target, not the sight.

You can argue that it's not very useful because of paintball accuracy, etc... but the sight has it's uses.  In my case, scenario night time games... longer distance shots are great (try to adjust your aim in the dark when you can't see where the paint is flying).  Otherwise, it looks cool.  Lots of people buy stuff for their paintball marker that look cool, but are basically useless.

Here is a picture of mine, with an Adco IMP.  Not a very good picture, but you can see clearly the red dot.  (by the way, that's Bill Maher on the TV - not a big fan of his).

As to your other questions:

The  one your looking at appears to have the right mount, but they call it a "weaver-type rail"... I thought the Tippman receivers have a dove-tail mount.  I would bet that it would fit, though.

1x magnification means no magnification.  All red dots should be 1x magnification, otherwise you will get that "tunnel vision" mentioned in above post (not good for paintball).

cbrad wrote: Alright, I've been looking around and have decided I probably want to get a red-dot scope for my custom pro. I have several questions. First of all, does the following red-dot sight look good to you (and is $45 expensive for it)? http://www.getintosports.com/product.php?productid=16157& ; ;a mp;a mp;a mp;cat=256&bestseller Also, does anyone have a picture of what it looks like, when you are looking down a red-dot scope? Lastly, I'm confused. Can I take the scope out of the box and just screw it on to my tippmann with no seperate rail (purchased seperately) required? Any help would be great! byetheway: I realize that red-dot scopes dont normally magnify. Does 1x magnification mean there is no magnification at all? Or is that 0x?

1X is no magnification at all. Contrary to what others are saying a red dot "scope" does work well in paintball. No magnification allows you to use it with both eyes open. You are not sighting through a "scope". With both eyes open, if you are aligned looking down the top of the receiver, you just see the red dot superimposed on the target. It allows for some of the easiest snap shooting you can accomplish. It still requires practice and the right stock can help you come into alignment quickly.

Also, the larger diameter you can find, the better. 40 mm is small unless it is mounted close to your eye. Red dot sights do not have parallax problems like some inexpensive scopes do...meaning that your eye does not have to be centered behind the rear reticle to accurately locate the dot on the target. Said another way, where you see the dot is where the shot hits even if your eye is not positioned to have the dot appear in the center of the reticle.

One last thing, if you get a red dot, go cheap. I picked up one intended for a 22 rifle that cost me only $18. Another consideration is that there are scope flip up covers that have a transparent lens on the front (similar to the picture at the web store you linked). Getting that style of cover will protect the front lens from paint. A paintball shot to the lens will not harm the lens but it is difficult to clean and a lot of wiping will eventually scratch the lens. I found that a squirt bottle of plain water cleaned the lens easily (wipe the larger blobs of paint with your finger tip then squirt again...then if the droplets of water interfere with good visibility, before they dry, wipe with a very soft cloth, like an old worn out cotton towel or worn out cotton baby diaper...DO NOT USE A PAPER TOWEL as they will scratch the lens...eventually paper towels will even scratch a glass lens) These sights are water proof so squirting the lens with water won't hurt it.

I cannot recommend the open red dot sights, as recommended by another post here, because paint can get into places that make the sight un-usable during a day of play. The LED that projects the dot is exposed and therefore can get clogged with paint. These sights are not water proof so squirting lenses and the LED to clean may short the electrics, until they dry out. I have several of them so I have some experience. If you want to experiment with these open red dot sites try E-Bay. They show up periodically for as little at $3. At $3 you can throw away one that gets really messed up and not feel a great loss.

cbrad wrote: Alright, can anyone point me to the address of a red-dot sight that has/is: $40 or under Fits Tippmann Custom Pro Has a plastic covering to protect lens Preferrably, non-ebay links.

This is a good start:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-disp lay.jsp?id=cat320001&navAction=jump&navCount=1&p arentId=cat20712&parentType=category&cmCat=MainCatca t20712

Tippyprouser wrote: dude...hes lookin for a red-dot sight that is under $40 dollars...all i saw was ones that were $150 and up on that website

Ya know, dude, I can take you by the hand and lead you to the oasis, but it looks like you expect me to swallow for you. Ah, let's see, it might help if you would put your finger on the screen on the Cabelas page...and rather than just move your lips when you read the info, try reading it out loud: Pine Ridge Red Dot $6.00, Aim Point ML2 for $15, BSA .22 Red Dot $20, BSA Shadow Red Dot $35, BSA 42mm Red Dot $40, Tasco 22 Red Dot $40, True Glo Red Dot Camo $40.

Now put on your glasses and go look again. And the next time you think you want to take a bite out of me, get your darn facts straight!!!

Tippyprouser wrote: ya except those are either some of those that you named are either scopes...or they are sights, but they are like a scope and would give the person tunnel vision...i wasn't looking at those ones because those aren't the ones you want...you want the kind that are like the one in the picture rmorey posted

Whoa, you sure told me. Really set me straight. Man oh man, I didn't even realize that one could get tunnel vision with both eyes open looking through a non-magnifying sight. My goodness, I have been hunting, shooting sporting clays and even played a little paintball with Red Dot "Scopes" for almost 30 years. I never knew that with both eyes open I was setting myself up to get blind sided by a rogue buck. Or that I was unable to see the range well enough to know that a second or third clay pigeon was just released from the high tower. And I must have missed that guy who shot me from the snake because I had developed tunnel vision while looking  through my non-magnifying goggles (I must have had one eye closed)

I would explain "tunnel vision" but your comments make it abundantly clear that you do not understand the topic, miss-understand the common use of the word "scope" and can't even read the data provided on the Cabelas web site to compare it to the info in the link cbrad posted.