What's the best light guns to use for MAME?

[mtarcade]

I'm sure this thread has been started many o' times before but, I know that with all the digging around I've been doing on the web that guns get discontinued, are out of stock, AND most importantly become more compatible and better as new versions of Mame come out. 

Any opinions out there on experiences with what light guns work best and are most compatible for MAME?

I'm running a CRT monitor myself but, am just curious how far light gun compatibility has come.  I know lots of people from my research have just got frustrated and walked away from the idea of being able to use light guns on their arcade machines.

I just got in a pair of Act Labs GS light guns off ebay and am waiting on a gameport dongle to see how these things work. 

As far as I gather, the only guns i can seem to get my hands on right now are the EMS top gun3, and the Aimtrak light guns.  Any advice out there?

[Wade007]

Just my opinion, but I like Arcade Guns. See my full review below along with some tidbits on the competitors (ie: I tried Act Labs):
http://www.cheapskategamer.com/pc_game_stories_and_news/true-light-gun-support-for-pc-gaming-the-arcade-guns%E2%84%A2-product-review/

My You Tube demo video here:


Arcade Guns are essentially AimTrak lightguns with different (better) default settings. I too use a CRT in my MAME cabinet. These guns have been great for me. I hope this helps.

[BadMouth]

Aim Traks are as good as it gets for currently produced light guns, but that's not saying much IMO.
All IR guns are like wii controllers. 
They are ok to aim in the general area and use the on-screen crosshairs, but they fall short if you expect to use the gun sights like a real gun.
On the upside, they'll work with all the positional gun games (terminator 2, revolution x) whereas true light guns can't.

I have old Act Labs ray gun style USB s-video guns and like them.
They look funny, but they're comfortable to hold and accurate to within 3 pixels.
They work like I expect based on the arcade and console games I played growing up.

I also have a set of the newer smaller silver pistols.  Those are horribly uncomfortable and the y axis is off by a bit in Windows.
I think it can be adjusted by bending the sensor, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  I plan to put them in Happ recoil shells someday.

[mtarcade]

Thanks for the feedback guys!  I might just pull the trigger and pick up the arcade guns or Aimtraks