Best light gun for MAME? (...and SNES/NES compatibility would be nice)

[sofakng]

Well, it's been a while since I've posted on the forums but I'm now looking to add lightguns to my MAME cabinet.

The last I knew, Act Labs was one of the few companies making PC USB (w/TV compatiblity) light guns.  However, lots of reviews say they don't like these guns (eg. you have to recalibrate every time you use them, etc, etc).

Are these still the best light guns?  Are they worth buying?

Any opinions would be greatly appriciated.

[Flinkly]

i don't have any because i'm not willing to pay over 100 dollars on ebay for one, but the calibration thing is a godsend rather than a bad thing.  each game you play in mame is going to be different in one way or another, so recalibration is awesome, and they stick the recalibration button on the side of the gun, so no reaching into your cab to get at it.  also, i hear it's the most mega precise one out there.  i'm waiting around for a month or so for them to start selling their next version.  i hear it's even going to look and feel like a real gun (instead of some sort of science fiction phaser). go over to retroblast (website) and check out the review there if you need any more convincing.

[sofakng]

Thanks for the reply...

Did you mean for me to check out the review of the current Act Labs gun at RetroBlast?  ...or do they have a review of the newer version gun?  (I've read the review of the current gun, but I'd love to see the newer gun...)

Also, the Act Labs gun is only $40 (per gun), not $100.  However if there is a newer gun coming out I might as well wait for that.  Do you have any links to it?

[DaemonCollector]

Act labs no longer sells the current version gun, and people are selling em for 100ish on ebay.

[sofakng]

Oh, you mean the PC USB (MONITOR) light gun?  It looks like they are still selling the PC USB (TV) light gun for $39.99.  My cabinet uses a TV so that's the gun I'm assuming thats the gun that I'd need.

Thats interesting that they discontinued the monitor-style light gun though.  Are they really releasing newer versions of their guns soon?

[The Jerk]

I'm interested in light guns for my WIP cab.  I would also like to see the new gun from ACT labs.  Didnt like the space phaser syle at all.  Give me a good old heavy, darn near indestructible, arcade style version.  
Good information about the calibration button.  I did not know that.

Now Ive got to search for information about how well they work with the arcadeVGA cards and a Wells/gardner arcade monitor.  Dont want to buy one if I cant use it.

[ften]

I have the older gun, the one they stopped selling. Works fine in MAME. From all reviews I read ACT Labs USB gun was the best. Besides being a little less accurate then an arcade light gun I have no complaints. I've use it all the time in FCEU (nes emulator) and it works great. Everyone getting double what I paid for the gun on Ebay is tempting me to sell mine.

-FTen.

[clanggedin]

I have 2 of the TV out guns and they are great guns. I have had no problems with them and I only have to calibrate them once or twice not everytime I want to play a gun game. You only have to recalibrate if the game is at a different resolution than what you calibrated it at. I also use the guns for PC games like House of the Dead and Virtua Cop 2. They work better for those games, but in MAME they are good also. There is not another gun that works as good for the money you pay. I am getting some USB recoil guns from a cource in China. I am going to try and use these in MAME once I get them.