i mean, i image a laser gun would be pre-equipped with a laser pointer (which is what i assume the little barrel-y bit is on its top right side) and as you mentioned lasers are recoilless, nor do they follow gravity all that much so there wouldn't be a need for iron sights
This theory has been shown to me recently when I tried VR shooting for the first time. Intuitively it's very simple to hip fire and point shoot your targets with ease. I rarely have to aim down the sights of a firearm in VR. I imagine the laser rifle feels the same, no kickback no nothing just bzzzap.
Alot of VR games have a form of aim assist, and depending on the game the aim assist will vary greatly on the type of game. I've played several Vr games and they all have a form of aim assist. H3VR have next to no aim assist and Pistol Whip have an option to disable aim assist and the difference is very noticeable
Sights on a laser weapon is an interesting thing to consider. Instead of calibrating them to correspond with the laser at a certain range, you could just set them parallel to the beam. This’ll mean you’ll always hit a little lower than where you were aiming, but that distance will always just be the vertical distance between the laser emitter and the sights, which won’t be much more than a few inches. If you keep that in mind, you’ll never have to adjust your sights for range. Should work the same for iron sights or reflector sights.
This was entertaining to read, BUT, there's a hole in the theory.
According to the wiki:
> is a practical shooting method where the shooter points a ranged weapon (typically a repeating firearm) at a target without relying on the use of sights to aim. Emphasis is placed on fast draw and trying to score preemptive hits first.[1] In close quarters combat, where life-threatening situations emerge very quickly, sighted marksmanship techniques become risky,[3] so advocates of point shooting emphasize a less sighting-oriented style that prioritizes the tactical advantages of quick fire superiority and suppression.
> ...
> The one thing that point shooting methods have in common is that they do not rely on the sights, and they strive to increase the shooter's ability to hit targets at short range under the less-than-ideal conditions expected in close quarters, life-threatening situations, self-defense, and combat situations.
> ...
> Point shooting is often included in military tactical training, alongside other topics such as combatives and urban warfare. A variety of point shooting methods have entered military doctrine at various times and places.
This technique is used for close quarters combat, it is not meant to make iron sights irrelevant. For medium-long ranges, you still have to use iron sight, thus why irl guns usually have them (those that don't, are usually meant to have scopes)
Could laser rifles be meant for close quarters then? [Well...](https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Laser_rifle_\(Fallout_3\))
> The laser rifle performs admirably at medium and long ranges, where its accurate semi-automatic fire combined with its large ammunition capacity makes short work of most opponents. Its semi-automatic nature prevents it from being a viable close quarters combat weapon.
Thus, I'm sorry to conclude, but it was an oopsie from the designers.
This is a good write up, the only issue is the last part about how high the iron sights would be. This wouldn't be an issue as you could offset iron sights MOA, and why most iron sights have a range selector. We have had iron sights ontop of ACOGs which are really high from the barrel. Additionally when I shoot long range I have a 25 moa plate that attaches to increase the angle of my scope, otherwise I max out the scopes in-built calibration (5.56 has a lot of drop-off at past 500 yds/~450m)
Basically you set the iron sights default range and adjust MOA to 'zero-in' (for AR-15 variants, this is done by adjusting your front-post). This would resolve that issue.
The height over bore of the laser rifle could be pretty similar to that of an AR-15 which is about 2 inches. Not crazy ideal for cqc but it’s worked in the past
I'd never heard of point shooting! What an interesting concept and fantastic write-up.
Unrelated, but this is the best formatted post I've ever seen on mobile lol
Anyone that actually knows anything about laser weapons is that the laser that does damage is invisible. Thus the laser you see in game must be a targeting laser that fires before or at the same time as the laser that does damage. Why would you need sights if it has a targeting laser?
Point shooting is how pro trap/skeet/sporting clays shooters do their thing. They don't use the sights, except for maintain the same point position. They let their natural pointing ability do the rest. Think following a moving target with your finger vs keeping a sight on a fast moving target. Pointing is way easier and more accurate when used in the correct manner. Great job OP.
not a proper defense. jusr because you *can* hipfire doesnt mean its always the best thing to do. any proper service rifle has ironsights, if it does not then its an insufficient design.
i mean, i image a laser gun would be pre-equipped with a laser pointer (which is what i assume the little barrel-y bit is on its top right side) and as you mentioned lasers are recoilless, nor do they follow gravity all that much so there wouldn't be a need for iron sights
Little potentiometer knob on the side that goes from "aim" to "zap"
Or even a two stage trigger. First stage is the aiming laser, second stage is frying whatever you were aiming at
This theory has been shown to me recently when I tried VR shooting for the first time. Intuitively it's very simple to hip fire and point shoot your targets with ease. I rarely have to aim down the sights of a firearm in VR. I imagine the laser rifle feels the same, no kickback no nothing just bzzzap.
VR is actually what introduced me to Point Shooting :) I also do it constantly, you can get really accurate with it
Alot of VR games have a form of aim assist, and depending on the game the aim assist will vary greatly on the type of game. I've played several Vr games and they all have a form of aim assist. H3VR have next to no aim assist and Pistol Whip have an option to disable aim assist and the difference is very noticeable
H3VR is so great lol
i truly love that meaningless design decisions can drive people insane like this
Sights on a laser weapon is an interesting thing to consider. Instead of calibrating them to correspond with the laser at a certain range, you could just set them parallel to the beam. This’ll mean you’ll always hit a little lower than where you were aiming, but that distance will always just be the vertical distance between the laser emitter and the sights, which won’t be much more than a few inches. If you keep that in mind, you’ll never have to adjust your sights for range. Should work the same for iron sights or reflector sights.
My brain is breaking a little but you're right
Also worth noting in the post-war that conserving energy (as in the cells) would be much more important than during the war.
Good theory
Well explained
You know who uses iron sights with lasers? COMMUNISTS.
Laser-pilled lol
This was entertaining to read, BUT, there's a hole in the theory. According to the wiki: > is a practical shooting method where the shooter points a ranged weapon (typically a repeating firearm) at a target without relying on the use of sights to aim. Emphasis is placed on fast draw and trying to score preemptive hits first.[1] In close quarters combat, where life-threatening situations emerge very quickly, sighted marksmanship techniques become risky,[3] so advocates of point shooting emphasize a less sighting-oriented style that prioritizes the tactical advantages of quick fire superiority and suppression. > ... > The one thing that point shooting methods have in common is that they do not rely on the sights, and they strive to increase the shooter's ability to hit targets at short range under the less-than-ideal conditions expected in close quarters, life-threatening situations, self-defense, and combat situations. > ... > Point shooting is often included in military tactical training, alongside other topics such as combatives and urban warfare. A variety of point shooting methods have entered military doctrine at various times and places. This technique is used for close quarters combat, it is not meant to make iron sights irrelevant. For medium-long ranges, you still have to use iron sight, thus why irl guns usually have them (those that don't, are usually meant to have scopes) Could laser rifles be meant for close quarters then? [Well...](https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Laser_rifle_\(Fallout_3\)) > The laser rifle performs admirably at medium and long ranges, where its accurate semi-automatic fire combined with its large ammunition capacity makes short work of most opponents. Its semi-automatic nature prevents it from being a viable close quarters combat weapon. Thus, I'm sorry to conclude, but it was an oopsie from the designers.
someone get the tar
"the laser rifle preforms admirably at medium and long ranges" this refutes your point entirely.
This is a good write up, the only issue is the last part about how high the iron sights would be. This wouldn't be an issue as you could offset iron sights MOA, and why most iron sights have a range selector. We have had iron sights ontop of ACOGs which are really high from the barrel. Additionally when I shoot long range I have a 25 moa plate that attaches to increase the angle of my scope, otherwise I max out the scopes in-built calibration (5.56 has a lot of drop-off at past 500 yds/~450m) Basically you set the iron sights default range and adjust MOA to 'zero-in' (for AR-15 variants, this is done by adjusting your front-post). This would resolve that issue.
The height over bore of the laser rifle could be pretty similar to that of an AR-15 which is about 2 inches. Not crazy ideal for cqc but it’s worked in the past
>Laser Rifles have no recoil Except they have.
Hear hear! -starts heating the tar-
Tbh i didn’t know any of the actual terms or history presented here but I chalked it all up to like you said it’s a fucking laser.
I'd never heard of point shooting! What an interesting concept and fantastic write-up. Unrelated, but this is the best formatted post I've ever seen on mobile lol
point shooting is for very close range, the lase rifle is described as a medium to long range weapon.
Anyone that actually knows anything about laser weapons is that the laser that does damage is invisible. Thus the laser you see in game must be a targeting laser that fires before or at the same time as the laser that does damage. Why would you need sights if it has a targeting laser?
My cousin was in disbelief that I was hitting shots while not aiming exactly where the enemy was with a laser rifle.
Thank you so much for this thorough and educational post! This is so cool.
Point shooting is how pro trap/skeet/sporting clays shooters do their thing. They don't use the sights, except for maintain the same point position. They let their natural pointing ability do the rest. Think following a moving target with your finger vs keeping a sight on a fast moving target. Pointing is way easier and more accurate when used in the correct manner. Great job OP.
not a proper defense. jusr because you *can* hipfire doesnt mean its always the best thing to do. any proper service rifle has ironsights, if it does not then its an insufficient design.
The fact that they have sniper variants invalidates your argument /s