1)Happend on just one map/skirmish (Lakeside)
2)Yup, it did - it functioned, but I can't rememer was I able to see the ray coming from it, or was that invisible too (gun did not reappear after cycling through.
ETA: 3) About performance - i have textures only on ultra, detailes, mesh LOD, effects LOD on very high - everything else is cranked down/turned off