The basics –  Front sight, soft slow trigger squeeze, don’t hold your breath or you will shake. When in position use skelatal support not muscle support or you will shake. Do it the same everytime if you expect consistant results.

You have all heard of MOA but what is it really? It’s a minute size slice of an angle, 1/60^th of one degree.

M-minute O-of A-angle

1 MOA @ 100 yards is 1.0472 inches. You can estimate by saying 1 inch per 100 yards.

MOA (in) = [tan(1/60) X distance to target yards] X 36

Practial problem:

Some newbie zeroed my scope poorly. My scope has 1/4 MOA adjustments. I shoot a group at 500 yards and decide I want to bring my point of impact up 5 inches. How do I adjust my scope?

A= 4 clicks up.

I decide to play at 25 yards with my rifle. My group lands 4 inches up and 3 inches left. How do I zero it for 25 yards?

A= 64 clicks up, 48 clicks right.

I will give you some tips for shooting with the normal iron sights without bringing up target holds:

1.) Move the front sight opposite to how you want the impact to move. (If the impact is to high, then the front sight is to low.)

2.) Move the rear site in the direction of desired impact.

To determine how much change is needed in inches, multiply in inches the amount of correction needed at the target by the sight radius (the distance between the rear and fron sight in inches). Divide this by the inch distance to the target (100 yards = 3,600 inches.)

For example - If your rifle is shooting 10" high at 100 yards, and has a 20" sight radius, the math would be:

(10" X 20")/3600" = 0.056"

You would bring the front sight up or the rear sight down 0.056" to hit your target.

I covered the basics of sight adjustment, now holding for wind:

This is guesswork but there are methods. Remember, your projectile is more vulnerable to wind near the end of it's travel. This is because down range the projectile is moving slower, and also the wind has been acting on it longer. Wind is usually never constant - if you are shooting 1000 yards it may push your projectile left for the first 200, then towards you for the next 50, then the wind will curl and go right for the rest of your projectiles travel. Remember, the wind sock by you was reading left, but the last part of travel and most significant distance covered the wind was right. I say it is guesswork because it will shift.

So, to accurately correct for wind you need to make a little chart of how many inches your projectile gets shifted at a given range with a given wind speed. For wind direction you only need to memorise these shifts at anolog clock directions 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00. I would put data for 5 knot, 10 knot, 15 knot, 20 knot, 25 knot, and 30 knot winds. Wind coming from 9:00 will have the same effect as wind coming from 3:00, it will just push the projectile in the opposite direction.

So if I go to shoot and see that a wind sock down by the target reads a 15 knot wind coming from 7:00. I have to look in my notes or remember what 15 knots shifts the projectile at 1:00, say it moves point of impact 3" left at this distance, then correct the direction for the shift that pushes opposite 1:00 (the 7:00 wind sock). My POI is going to be 3" right.

Range estimation with MOA and mil-dot recticle.

Most weapons either scoped or iron sighted are graduated in the MOAs. I explained a MOA earlier in this thread... now we will take it further for range estimation. Really easy if you have a scope with stadia lines of 1MOA:

[(size of object in inches) X 100]/size of object in MOAs = range in yards

Now if you don't have that fancy scope you can use your front sight also. First calculate the MOA width of your front sight:

21600/[(sight radius in inches X 2pie)/front sight width in inches)] = MOA

Now to use it for estimating range. Say you calculated your front sight to be 8MOA with the second equation I gave you. How far away is your target? You want to shoot at a target with a 20 inch torso and your sight blanks it out perfectly. Use the first equation I gave you.

[(20" torso) X 100]/8MOA = 250 yards

Now for the scopes with mil-dots! Mils (3.6" @ 100 yards, or 36" @ 1000 yards). 1mil = 3.438MOA

Remember when measuring the length of a target in mils to go from the center of the dot or hash mark to the center of the next one, not the edges. They are 1/4mil wide and 3/4 mil apart. Heres your equation:

[(size of object in yards) X 1000]/size of object in mils = range in yards

If a 6' man (2 yards) is 4 mils in your scope then he is exactly 500yds away. 2 X 1000/4 = 500

MOAs are 3.438x more precise then mils, but if your shooting a cannon at a building or vehichle use mils.

I took a photo for you all, so that you may see some common calibers:

http://img187.echo.cx/my.php?image=dsc001703fl.jpg

http://img187.echo.cx/my.php?image=dsc001736tb.jpg

Even in paintball, you still want to aim. Anything beats only watching where you paint is landing and adjusting for that. If you look down your barrel and fire, see where your balls land, then lift your muzzle and memorize for a moment what that sight picture looks like, you can hold it on a target faster and easier when you know where your shots will land. Paintballs are not accurate, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to aim either, you have to make up for their inaccuracy. I would like to show you what a marker can do when you actually benchrest it with good paint/barrel, and consistant velocity and pressure. There is a difference on the paintball field between those who can hit a mask with their first couple shots at 30 feet and those who cannot.

At least you know what dirrection to move your sights. I said this wasn't all for paintball.

madpaintballer wrote: I suppose you shoot high power = ) Most of that info isn't to useful with paintball seeing as how must do not use sights and if they do the sights aren't good enough to zero in with and the paintballs do not hit the same point every time. By the way Small bore is better than high power = )

Read my whole post! you would see my small bore rifle photo! Also you would read that I did not say all of this is applicable to paintball.

borntopaint wrote: DBibeau855 wrote: No one here shoots by feel? I used to stick a bunch of medicine bottles on my fence, and peg paintballs at them. Not really aiming at all. Just going by feel. Its just like pointing your finger at something. I do. I used spots on a tree instead of medicine bottles though.

Instinctive point shooting is how I train combat shooting most of the time. It serves well in paintball, but sometimes you need finer brush strokes.

No one likes my sweet Anshutz-Savage MK12?   (.22L)

http://img187.echo.cx/my.php?image=dsc001736tb.jpg

cdacda13 wrote: paintballs shoot to un-predictaly to be aimed. Spay and pray baby

haha so true

Dang, he said it like a real trooper.  Dude, I love you.  This is only real dude that takes the time to make accurate shots like a trooper.  He's gonna be a kick A scenario player one day...

I thought that if you all new the science of shooting it would improve your game. Not all I posted is for paintball. Maybe I should have just posted on how to hold your marker steady and have a consistent sight picture - and go over running, standing, kneeling, and prone.

No one said anything about my bada Savage-Anshutz. Least powerful and most accurate firearm I own.

*instinctive point shooting only works if you are shooting at someone who isn't behind cover and aiming at you. It is for getting your marker up and your shots off first when you see each other at the same time.

I play mostly woodsball.  Aiming is still a waste of time.

I never said you must shoot one at a time. You don't think you aim a machine gun?  I aim and spray. Your balls innaccuracy will average out over your target. If you don't aim, you just have to get lucky with the amount of paint you throw out there.

Nickodemus wrote: No one said anything about my bada Savage-Anshutz. Least powerful and most accurate firearm I own.

Sweet .22. .22LR's are cheap to shoot, comfortable, and are perfect to learn your shooting technique with. I got started on those when I was like 10, and I still love to take them out. I can hit better with my Winchester lever-action (sweetest LA 22 on earth) than I can any gun in my arsenal. How 'bout that new .17 Nickodemus?

Some of you forgot that I never said paint markers are like firearms in almost all of the regards I mention. They are only similiar the few ways that I mentioned they are, for low speed projectiles coming out of a barrel.

You shoot by "feel" or "pointing" or however you misname the technique and you can get your paint onto a large target fast. What I want you to do is go set up a mask size target at 100 feet and hit it by only pointing. Remember, it will take me less then 3 seconds to get that shot by aiming.

While you are watching where your balls are landing and adjusting your aim, I know where my balls are going to go and I am looking for you.

I use my front sight, and vary the rear's picture on it for different elevations. I had the sights off for awhile but it is hard to look down the barrel of a 12" on a A-5... the frame is to high. I use the wings on the rear and the post on the front. If it is less then 50' and a decent size target you better believe I would be instictively point shooting.

DBibeau855 wrote: Do it long enough and distance doesnt matter, its just like pointing a finger at something.

Have you ever watched SWAT and SF people train with pistols? An experienced pistol shooter can aim a pistol like an extension of his body . For instance, if you hold a Colt .45, put your trigger finger and your middle finger along the side of the gun instead of on the grip and raise the gun up to line up with your eyes. By doing this you learn where to raise the gun to shoot where you're looking. The reason for this is obvious-you don't have time to aim in tactical situations. Do this a few times before you shoot, and then your hand will be automatically trained to your pistol. Not foolproof, but it's a good start to learning to aim without having everything lined up perfectly.

Nickodemus wrote: DBibeau855 wrote: Do it long enough and distance doesnt matter, its just like pointing a finger at something. No offense to you but that is about the dumbest thing I have heard all day.

Hardly.  That's how I "aim" my paintball gun.

That's also how basketball players aim their shots, how pitchers throw strikes, and quarterbacks throw passes.  There is no actual aiming with sights, there is only muscle memory.

You teach your body to behave in a certain way, and it behaves that way.

Nickodemus wrote: The problem is that I know the concept of point shooting better then you and you don't realize it's limitations.

Mighty bold statement from a complete stranger...

Point till the cows come home, you will not hit a 20" with your marker at 150' rapidly.

Very true.  And I also don't think I have taken more than a dozen 150' pot shots with a paintball gun in my entire life.  You are talking about something entirely different from the rest of us.

I see you guys at the rec field spraying at each other and not hitting because your groups open up so much.

Which "you guys" are you talking about?  More bold statements from a complete stranger...

Nickodemus, what's your history with the military? I've never heard anyone who knew quite as much with shooting as what you've posted. I know a couple of snipers, and I'd be willing to say they don't know half of the stuff you've just casually added to the forum. Appreciate the info, even if I'll never remember most of it.

Nickodemus wrote: Uhm Clark, my bold statements are referenced to anyone who thinks that distance doesn't matter with point shooting. I id you by the lack of knowledge you display on this topic in your posts. I thought I was quite clear, but glad you gave me an oppertunity to clarify. It can be a 20" target at 150' or a smaller target (mask/marker) closer up - same concept. Go to Thunder Ranch or Gun Sight then come and teach me something.

Yeah, yeah, you're a badass with a gun.

But if you actually read my post, you will note that I show no lack of knowledge on the topics I am actually addressing.  Before making generalizing statements about people it helps to actually understand their point.

Clark Kent wrote: Nickodemus wrote: DBibeau855 wrote: Do it long enough and distance doesnt matter, its just like pointing a finger at something. No offense to you but that is about the dumbest thing I have heard all day. Hardly.  That's how I "aim" my paintball gun. That's also how basketball players aim their shots, how pitchers throw strikes, and quarterbacks throw passes.  There is no actual aiming with sights, there is only muscle memory. You teach your body to behave in a certain way, and it behaves that way.

This is your post that says it all, Clark. I see that you don't know enough about point shooting to appreciate the things you don't know about point shooting. Otherwise Clark, I think you're a good guy, and I hate to rub your nose in it. Muscle memory is fundamental to just about everything. That is why we train.

Badass with a gun? I am actually very cool tempered and have a lot of patience.

You are still completely missing the point of my post (and DiBi's as well)...

You are so hung up on your shooting terminology that you are missing the much simpler issue at hand.

But enjoy anyway.

Reb said this thread would slowly degrade into a bickering match...I hate it when the mods are right

I'll keep my info short and sweet.

shoot with both eyes open and keep your eyes on the field as much as possible.

Hey!

Shut the  up with the whole sniper deal!

Who the cares!?

If someone wants to say that they're a sniper...fine!...let them!

If you want to fight the devil to his death over the idea that there's no such thing as snipers in paintball...fine!...do it!

But shut the up about it!

Stop fillin' up the forum with these useless threads flamin' "snipers"!

Don't show off your knowlege about real snipers...don't point out why there can't be snipers in paintball...just stop!

Everyone's been a noob...everyone has there own thoughts and opinions...but this whole sniper thing has gone way too far and has gotten really old.

*Edit*

And I don't want to sound rude...this isn't aimed in particular to this thread seeing that it actually is an informational thread giving advice...I'm just stating it for the rest of you flamers out there.

I just have a feel for my marker, if i ever have extrea paint left after i go speedballing i take it to my yard and practice snap-shooting and whatnot.  You shouldn't have to do all that math stuff in your head, if you paintball you should be able to say: "well, if im pointing it right here at this arch its going to land in that area."  You should know these things by instinct, you shouldn't have to think about it...

I think clark said it best: "Aiming is a waste of time."

I thought I was pretty direct, but if you all think I am confused help me out. Quote me, or yourselves.

Most of these comments are people who haven't read my stance and are unclear of my view on the issue. READ THE THREAD BEFORE BEING CRITICAL! I am tired of hammering home the same points and having to type the same things over and over but again:

This is not a sniper thread. Not all of this information pertains to paintball. Obviously, some of you think aiming is not important at all. That is what I am debating. You need more options in your tactical toolbox then point shooting to be a good player. Even newbies post up to get hits.

I am pretty much done contributing to this thread unless I see interest on topic instead of argument starters.