Posted 29 March 2013 - 05:40 PM
I believe it to be a lag issue. With ballistics, it's my assumption that the server is tracking your crosshair location. So regardless of where your aiming reticle is showing on your screen, the server thinks it's somewhere else (in the past). When you press fire, there's a delay until the server responds with the target location, then your computer makes sure that it shoots that location. At close ranges, high speeds, and with a bit of lag the target location might be off-screen and hence the wonky graphics.
For medium to long range shots, letting your crosshair stabilize for a split-second (your ping time) allows the server to catch up and synchronize before firing. For short range, there's not a whole lot to be done at this point. Just take a guess and lead like crazy!
Ballistics and PPC's try my patience in a fast mech, so I rarely use them over 100kph. In a slower mech I find they work well once you get used to them.