Re: (1509) Pistols vs. Rifles

 In message 1509 [email removed] (Mark F. Cook) writes:
 >
 >Yah.  I think so too.  It seems a little like arguing apples and oranges,
 >but I just can't imagine a high-TL laser pistol having "iron sights".
 >This would be analogous to a modern fighter pilot having to aim all of
 >his on-board weapons just by looking out the window (without the HUD).

     I'm rather surprised that I never thought about it before.  Now,
what's the most obvious type of (simple) sight for a laser weapon?
Laser sights, right?  Heck, the laser's already there, right?  Just
point the weapon and look for the little red (or whatever color) dot.
Pretty much guarantees where the weapon will hit, doesn't it?

     Hmm.  Further thought--use sparingly in dusty environments...

 >>I'm a pretty good marksman, too, if I do say so myself...  :-)
 >
 >I, too, think of myself as "a pretty good marksman" (even though I
          ^^^^^
 >haven't shot competition in many years).

     I can show you my targets.  Honest.  I killed them all fair and
square...  ;-)

 >Again, all of this is moot if you assume a sophisticated, gyro-stabilized
 >sighting system associated with the pistol (which we do).
 >
 >> >Personally, my feeling is that by the time laser weapons come into
 >> >wide use as individual defense weapons, they will include advanced
 >> >aiming devices (i.e. gyro-stablized scopes with electronically
 >> >enhanced imaging capablities).  Once this happens, then there WILL be
 >> >no different between aiming a pistol vs. a rifle.  IMPORTANT NOTE: if
 >> >you assume that this IS, in fact, the way lasers are rigged, then
 >> >Brent is right and Adrian is wrong.
 >>
 >>     I do, in fact, make that assumption (no surprise, right?).
 >
 >Me too.  In fact, I have a general gripe about the breakdown of personal
 >weapon skills in MT anyway.  I plan to post something in a few days.
 >This particular discussion is going to be a great lead-in to that
 >topic.

     Really?  Outstanding.  I'm looking forward to seeing it.  I have
my minor irks about the skills myself.

 >>>plus a stint in the U.S. Marines.  I've had the opportunity
 >>
 >>     Jarhead training, eh?  ;-)  ;-)
 >
 >As a former member of an Elite Fighting Force, consisting mostly of
 >highly-trained, knuckle-dragging men with no neck and one eye-brow,
 >I feel I must warn you that ANY derogatory or disparraging remarks
 >you make, containing words of more than one syllable, will almost
 >certainly be mis-understood :-).

     Shame on you.  Damn' near fell out of chair from that one.

     Seriously, though, I have a lot of respect for the Corps.  One
of my best and oldest friends is a Marine (I've been giving him a hard
time about it for years, and I'm still healthy--it's good-natured:

          My friend:  It's pronounced "Leatherneck."  Read my lips.
                      "Leatherneck."  Now you try it...

          Me:  "Jarhead.").

     Aw...  Life's too important to take seriously.  ;-)  No 'fence,
eh?  ;-)  I'm entitled--I'm one of them Navy types...


- --
     Brent

INTERNET:  [email removed]
[address removed]
PHONE:  [phone removed] (voice)