Added 22-12-2023
Looking through the settings of my computer, I find an option to “invert my cursor”. White on dark backgrounds, black on light. Might be useful, I think, so I give it a try.
I soon discover this option does more than white on dark and black on light.
The invert works on colours too. If over a red object it takes a blue-green hue. Over a blue object, a reddish colour and so on. Form of the cursor changes depending on what it is over. If it is over somewhere I can type it forms an “Ɪ”. If over a clickable link or button, a hand with a pointed finger.
Would something similar for the aiming point of a weapon be possible?
This would be a pretty easy option for sighting systems that use a video display, such as vehicle mounted weapons . Many of these are computer generated already in order to display correct target lead. Similarly, an easy feature to put in the CLU of a missile launcher.
Could this be used for an optic or reflex sight on a rifle?
We can make most colours by just mixing three primaries. Our eyes use red, green, blue cones, and these colours are used in televisions and computer monitors. Our printers cyan, magenta and yellow.
If an aiming point is made by a reflection or projection of light, it could be generated from a triplet of LEDs or similar.
Changing automatically between colours may be beyond a compact rifle sight, but a manual system using simple controls is possible
Three colours may be unnecessary for this application. An aiming point that can be switched between green and red should suffice, needing only two different LED types.
A simple push-button on the scope could cycle between the colours. An other control could cycle between low and high intensity.
Iron sights on a combat rifle are generally regarded as a back-up these days. Such sighting systems should be simple, effective and easy to operate.
Recently, I noticed in an old article on the AR-18/180 that the sights were described as being set for 200 and 400 metres.
As has been discussed elsewhere, 97% of combat rifle shooting is at 400 metres or less, with 72% being at 200 metres or less.
A simple L-shaped flip sight set for 200 metre and 400 metre shooting would be an excellent configuration for iron sights on a combat rifle.
The 200 metre aperture would be around 4.5 to 5mm diameter for a good target view and use in low-light conditions. The 400 metre aperture would of around 1.75mm diameter.
The 200 metre sight would have the top cut as a shallow V, or possibly a shallow V with a notch. This feature allows the shooter to distinguish which aperture is in place by touch alone, useful in low-light conditions.
During hasty aimed fire, the V acts like that of an express sight. While this will tend to make the rifle shoot higher than the point of aim, this will not be likely to be significant at the conditions that such hasty shooting will occur, particularly if a low aim point is used. This shallow V may also see applications for aiming rifle grenades and DGLs.
If the 400 metre sight is used at shorter ranges, aim should be taken at a point 30 to 40 centimetres below intended point of impact unless the target is within 75 metres. Aiming at belt-buckle level should produce a torso hit in most situations.
By the Author of the Scrapboard : | |
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 | Attack, Avoid, Survive: Essential Principles of Self Defence Available in Handy A5 and US Trade Formats. |
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 | Crash Combat Fourth Edition Epub edition Fourth Edition. |
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