How can people just run around town with rifles?

[trunkz jr 61]

I use one of two methods. I either clear out a town from a few hundred meters away with a scoped rifle(usually CZ550, I find lots of them),

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

[JIJOK 49]

zombies are kids now :P all u need to do is run into a big space building with at least 2 exits, zombies walk inside buildings so u can just wait until get them all to enter with u and just run to the other door , red houses 2 exits makets , hospital its a BIG door ( broken windows ) , barn

[applejaxc 2500]

I see people running around with their rifles drawn at all time..and i don't understand how they manage. I mean, i always have my axe equipped because the few times i've tried using a rifle, of any sound level, i end up attracting 15 other zombies, not to mention players. Yet i see people with their rifles going through cities like nothing..which is also a problem for me since i only have my axe equipped which makes me an easy prey. I suppose i could keep a rifle in my backpack and take it out when a survivor is near, but i could still be caught of guard and putting back my axe in my toolbelt, opening my back and equpping a rifle takes quite alot of time..and using it against zombies would still be out of question.

So my conclusion to all this is that i must be doing something very wrong and i would like to know what exactly. So here i am asking you, what am i doing wrong?

Regards,

a DayZ noobie.

How I play:

I equip my axe until I find a rifle with at least 2 magazines (hopefully around 60 bullets). When I have said ammo, I keep it on semi-auto and don't shoot unless it's a player; running away from zombies is OKAY; we all do it. All of us. Even me, Applejaxc, who got a headshot at 500 meters on a running bandit during a gunfight of 30+ players in the bandit-ridden town of Elektro while fighting the shakes of pain and a cold run away from zombies. :)

For the most part, you shouldn't be killing zombies at all. If you're being chased, learn which buildings in the popular cities have an exit and entrance door, that are on opposite sides. If needed, play ArmA 2 on singleplayer/in the mission editor to explore Chernogorsk and Elektrovodsk. If a zombie chases you, run into a building and let the zombie slow to a crawl, then hide out the other door; they'll get bored, turn around, and go the other way... or they'll keep chasing you, but by the time they leave the building, you'll be far away. Avoid sprinting if you can. Taking the extra 10 minutes to crawl across a field is a good idea as long as there aren't any players around. If you absolutely need to, hit "X" to crouch and run in that stance (with shift, not double-tap W; DTW makes you stand up for a full sprint)

Never be ashamed of what you do to survive, lad...

Unless it's rape, cannibalism, or unjustified murder.

[_Anubis_ (DayZ) 139]

Run with primary: players are far more dangerous than Z.

I never need to kill Z except with the hatchet. I know for experience the biggest fear is not being able to switch from primary to hatchet (open inventory, drop primary, equip hatchet, close inventory) in time: don't panic, remember you have all the time in the world in ANY building.

_Anubis_

Edited March 16, 2013 by _Anubis_

[Shakis 33]

You could also try staying away from bigger cities during the day, and only hit them at night... you can lose zombies much eaiser in the dark.

[rossums 2190]

The easiest way is to run with your primary weapon, it has the power to stop anything dead in its tracks, player or zombie.

After you are more comfortable with being around zeds you'll find it easy to run from building to building and looting in the time when the zombies are hobbling through the building towards you, leaving you to just stroll out leaving them behind.