Use of Binoculars and other optics

kkoerber wrote:

i lay on the ground and don't prop my gun up i just hod it up when needed

that would require movement though. It is better to arrive with your gun already pointing at target to give you more time to line up a confident shot. any kind of quick movement is your enemy. For example, a grassy field. these tend to have grass waist high. Maneuvering through it under your enemies noses would mean moving when there is other movement, like wind. But standing up to take a shot, you may have a point.

but i have the gun pointing in the right direction. and when i lay it down the enemy can't see the reflection off my scope.

To avoid scope flash all you have to do is point the gun a few degrees left or right of the OPFOR's position. ie. if the OPFOR is straight ahead all you have to do is look at the tree next to them or the cloud above them. You can still see them but there not exactly in your crosshairs.

Binos are more useful when you have limited space to maneuver(in a MOUT, a small hide, or even in over of those buildings at strikers field). Before I had mounted optics(looong time ago), I had to use binos alot for target identification(stupid armbands ). After that I only used them in the instances above or in places where I knew I wasn't going to be moving for a long time.

1 thing I haven't seen in the whole thread is someone talking about the weight of the gun vs the weight of the binos. After a few hours of play your 10lb gun feels like a 30lb gun, Binos are a great tool to use at these times. Youll get a better sight picture, alot less optic movement, and alot better field of view. Plus when you use a scope you have to move the whole gun around, which in turn makes alot of movement, which makes you easier to spot!

sticks

I never use binco's and rarly spot with my scope because at the most wee are shooting 250 ft. and this is relativly close compared to the real thing.

I strongy disagree with admin useing the scope for me its a natural habit from real weapons that you never use your scope as binoculars. As for m14doubletaps why don't you get a chest strap it hold the binocs close to your chest and they never swing and when you need them you stretch them away look and let them fall back. Sticks I use a special cover for my scope its a special sun shade that lets light in but stops the sun from relfecting off my scope. I have monola binoculars that can see for about 5 to 4 miles I used them as a commander to see all around the entire field and when me or my spotter is useing them we have it tuned down so we can see whats a ahead and when were ready to take the shot he has an abosultly clear beautiful picture of the guy and he can even see black bbs. The downside is that they wheigh about 15 to 18 pounds so I have a huge framed spotter so he carrys that and he m4 and the rest of the equipment but when I bring em I bring only my sniper rifle and nothing else but my monolas cause there so ****** heavy.

EDIT: By Admin. Please watch your language.

Satan wrote:

I strongy disagree with admin useing the scope for me its a natural habit from real weapons that you never use your scope as binoculars.

Okay, I normally couldn't care less if someone disagrees with me, but I have to give a rebuttal in this instance.

Binoculars:
- They must be waterproof and shockproof b/c of the rigorous environment of airsoft - equals $$$$
- They must have large enough lenses you can look through them with your goggles ON. I'm sick and tired of seeing newbs taking their goggles off to look through their tiny, cheap binocs.
- A pair of binoculars with large enough lenses means we're talking a big pair of binoculars. A big pair of binoculars means added weight and less space to carry more important things like Ammo, Mags, Water, etc. One thing I've learned in playing so many all-day events is to pack very light, and only focus on the essentials (like previously mentioned).

Scope:
- Readily available on gun. There is no need to take the time, effort, and risk of being seen by the extra movement that comes with getting out binoculars, using, and putting back away. (It's very annoying)
- Comes with a larger lens for a lower price. My scope has a 40mm lens, with a zoom adjustment from 3-9X. It's easy to switch between my shooting zoom (3-4X) to my recon zoom (8-9X).
- The large lens allows me to keep BOTH eyes open during recon. This way my focus is on the distant image through my lens, but my left eye (the one not looking through the scope) is still open allowing me to notice movement at closer, more dangerous distances. It's the perfect setup.
- I already have a scope, why spend $100+ on a nice pair of binoculars?

My point is, if you use a pair of binoculars effectively AND without taking off your goggles or struggling to see through them, through your goggles, then great. However, I've found through my own experience that the benefits don't outweigh the costs.

Now thats good info.

I got mine right before dove season and they were originally 200 dollars and i got the for 30 and there is nothin wrong with them. just check your local store for sales and such!

Admin wrote:

Okay, I normally couldn't care less if someone disagrees with me, but I have to give a rebuttal in this instance.

Binoculars:
- They must be waterproof and shockproof b/c of the rigorous environment of airsoft - equals $$$$
- They must have large enough lenses you can look through them with your goggles ON. I'm sick and tired of seeing newbs taking their goggles off to look through their tiny, cheap binocs.
- A pair of binoculars with large enough lenses means we're talking a big pair of binoculars. A big pair of binoculars means added weight and less space to carry more important things like Ammo, Mags, Water, etc. One thing I've learned in playing so many all-day events is to pack very light, and only focus on the essentials (like previously mentioned).

Scope:
- Readily available on gun. There is no need to take the time, effort, and risk of being seen by the extra movement that comes with getting out binoculars, using, and putting back away. (It's very annoying)
- Comes with a larger lens for a lower price. My scope has a 40mm lens, with a zoom adjustment from 3-9X. It's easy to switch between my shooting zoom (3-4X) to my recon zoom (8-9X).
- The large lens allows me to keep BOTH eyes open during recon. This way my focus is on the distant image through my lens, but my left eye (the one not looking through the scope) is still open allowing me to notice movement at closer, more dangerous distances. It's the perfect setup.
- I already have a scope, why spend $100+ on a nice pair of binoculars?

Uh-oh....ADMIN just BROUGHT DA HEAT!!

anyways, as you can see in my KY airsoft vid, I have small binocs, but I can still use them with my gogs on, it just takes a little bit of adjustment and some wierd angles, witch I agree can be dangerous in the field.

IMHO;
The use of Bino´s, Scopes, Monocular is all going to based on what type of game/games you play. If you are strictly into CQB, can´t really see anybody using any kind of Optic, games are just to fast and the action to quick, be funny to get hit because you are in a building looking out the window with Bino´s . Overwhelming Firepower, Secure a Toe Hold, In you Go !!

If your into Speed or Fun Games, then Optics would be useful, but only at the start, after that I find that they are in the way more than being a help. Speed, Violence of Action, Communication are the Keys here.

Mil/Real-Sim, Now we are talking , I have found that optics are priceless in such games, when you spend hours just trying to move forward 200 meters, Bino´s make the job alot easier, nothing will burn your tail more than spending 12 hours just moving to get into range of your target, and then getting popped by some lucky player that was just roaming around chasing butterflies .

But then again, it comes down to a mater of Taste, just like all things in the Airsoft world. If it works, use it, if its just for show, lose it!!

Well right now I don't have a spotter I am still deciding if I should get one but right now I use them.

I can never get a good sight pattern with bino's. Stupid goggles. I however, like a scope to get a better sight of those things i think i may have seen, but am not sure if i did or not. lol. I however don't use the scope for shooting much. Just to get a bead on stuff.


DK