How do you snipe? (Finding ranges, positions, tactics.) Discussion.

[knyghtfalcon 10]

Playing SA from day one, I've had a blast doing so. I kept a sniper character alive for almost a week, and my friend for two. Now, the term sniper might be different from what you think. Most might assume just a KOS sniper, but that is not the case(At least for me). I typically try to take out players trying to kill others, diffusing fights and keep people pinned down until they cooperate. I often provide over watch for friends entering potentially dangerous areas, removing players and zombies alike from their path and keeping them safe. I often help newly spawned players(If friendly, of course) move through possibly dangerous or populated areas, giving them over watch and helping them along their way.

 

Usually my tactics and positions vary, I do prefer to stay hidden and a decent distance away from where my targets are, but I'm interested in how others play. So, discuss here I suppose. One problem I do have is judging the range, I can usually find it after a few test shots, but it gives away my position obviously. Does anyone have any sort of tips or tricks for that?

[crazykage 1063]

I like to hunt. Prefer the moisin with PU or long range scope.

 

The other day I, like any good hunter, scouted the territory before hand by joining an empty server, and looked around for a good hide to use. Found one, popped a few zeds from it to find my range, and left the area before logging out.

 

Logged into a high pop server, and infiltrated my way back in to the area (didn't just server hop into the spot. that would be un-sporting), made it to my hide without incident. Waited patiently for my prey. After about 30 minutes, I saw him pass by beneath my hide. He wasn't no rabbit either. This guy was big game. Fully kitted.

 

I waited until he had run farther down away from me, and at about 300 meters, took the shot. Clean kill. The beast didn't suffer....

[-DMG-Jonesy 226]

Log into a lowly populated server.

Find a spot.  

Pick out distant waypoints of equal intervals.

 

Take a few ranging shots to acquire rough distances.  Make note.

Log out, and log back into a populated server.

[crazykage 1063]

sorry jonesy, but unless you LEAVE the location first, then join your "hunting grounds" (server) and infiltrate back in, its unsporting....

[knyghtfalcon 10]

Log into a lowly populated server.

Find a spot.  

Pick out distant waypoints of equal intervals.

 

Take a few ranging shots to acquire rough distances.  Make note.

Log out, and log back into a populated server.

 

Valid enough tactic, although I'm probably one of the few players that doesn't 'server hop' for most functions. I usually stick to one server at a time (Usually medium population, 15-25 players) and take what I can get. I guess its just my preference.

[S0UTHPAW 12]

I like to move really slowly around any area that may have players nearby. I will even crawl in prone position for long periods of time. It's worth knowing that players don't see grass past 100-200 metres, so if you're just hiding in grass, you will probably stick out to anyone at a distance. The forests that surround NW airfield are a good place to go prone in, because it's quite common to run into other players there, and it'll often be very close range. This means that hiding in the grass will actually work, as the enemy will have the grass rendered on their screen.

I use a lot of real life sniper/military tactics when it comes to moving around. Moving slowly means that you're less likely to be spotted by other players. Think of every time you've spotted another player: Has he been running around, fully upright? Most players are usually doing something like that. It pays to take things slow. This isn't counter-strike, or COD. Use cover, take the long route if it means having a few bushes or trees to hide behind on your way there. Always think of where you're going to run to if you were to start getting shot at.

I like to snipe from a prone position, under a tree, or bush (trees and bushes render at any distance). Sniping from rooftops is risky, because before entering a city/town, I always scan the rooftops, as well as everything else I can see. Players stick out like sore thumbs if they're on a rooftop, and you're on a hill/ elevated position. Windows and rooftops give the sniper's victim a quick place to look to if they hear gunshots, or suspect a sniper. If a sniper fires from a forest, his position will be less obvious. The opponent will have to look at a bunch of trees, rather than a building with windows that might as well be bullseye targets.

I like to stay as still as possible once I'm in position, and patiently wait-- just like a real sniper. Any movement could potentially give away your position. Another smart thing to do is find a spot where you will only be able to be seen/shot at from a limited number of angles. Sniping from a position where you can see and shoot from all angles may seem good at first, but it leaves you open to being flanked. I'm currently stationed under a tree. The tree branches conceal me from nearly every angle, except the direction I'm aiming, which is fine, because from that angle, I'll see my enemy before they see me. I'm not saying where on the map, but I'm about 300 metres from where I'm aiming I'm not on a hill or anything. I am only slightly elevated, on a small slope. So far in this spot, I've killed one fully-armed guy, and missed 2 guys who combat logged immediately after I fired. I don't think I'll be easily found.

I hope that helps! And I really like your ethics, ie. helping others, and not just KoSing. I would try to only kill bandits, but I've found that trying to help or police other players by killing bandits often gets me mistaken for a bandit. Unfortunately, in the game's current state, there isn't much to do other than kill other players. There aren't anywhere near enough zombies to pose a threat.

[-DMG-Jonesy 226]

Valid enough tactic, although I'm probably one of the few players that doesn't 'server hop' for most functions. I usually stick to one server at a time (Usually medium population, 15-25 players) and take what I can get. I guess its just my preference.

Your prerogative.  You could also take a few shots, make notes, and move on.  Come back to the spot after a spell, and take it up again.  You can scout multiple locations and acquire a lot of data in a short period of time, depending on how quickly you're willing to move.  

 

 

sorry jonesy, but unless you LEAVE the location first, then join your "hunting grounds" (server) and infiltrate back in, its unsporting....

 

I'm not in the business of being sporting.  Check out my sigged youtube videos.  I like to hunt with bait.

As Arthur Miller so artfully put it:  "Never fight fair with a stranger, boy.  You'll never get out of the jungle that way."

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

Regardless, most of the time the spot I'd be observing from doesn't require infiltration.  I'm talking about hill, bush, or other concealed- but out of the way spots.    

Edited January 15, 2014 by -DMG-Jonesy

[Brofessional 9]

The dayzdb.com map let's you measure distances now.  If you know your position and your target's position, it's pretty easy to get an estimate of the range.

[knyghtfalcon 10]

The dayzdb.com map let's you measure distances now.  If you know your position and your target's position, it's pretty easy to get an estimate of the range.

 

Interesting, I'll check that out. Although I was referring to a more 'Quick' use actually in the game. I'd rather have some way of judging distance quickly and somewhat efficiently without having to tab out to a website.

[crazykage 1063]

Southpaw. I like you. Id like to go hunting with you someday...

 

And jonesy, don't take this the wrong way, but when I say "unsporting", what I MEAN is that you are abusing a game mechanic.

 

By LEAVING, then hoping servers, and then Infiltrating back in, I run the risk that my prey will see me on the way in. I have to be careful not to give myself away as I reach my hide.

 

And, on the same hand, another player in the area, who is being sneaky, checking his corners, etc., has a chance to see me, and is rewarded for playing the game smart.

 

But if, instead, I just hop right in at the hide, that same player, who might have checked that spot moments ago, is now at an unfair disadvantage...

 

Do you get my meaning? Im all for putting one's self in the more advantageous position. That's how you win. But not by abusing a mechanic in a manner that gives you an unfair and unrealistic advantage.

 

I don't mean to offend you man, but in my opinion, this is only maybe one step above ghosting...

[crazykage 1063]

something I would LOVE to be able to do?

 

print out a physical map of chernarus. Maybe at a print shop, so it could be big.

 

Then, using that, create a sort of field of fire map, with ranges marked out in a radius, which would make an excellent quick reference while playing....

[okami (DayZ) 129]

something I would LOVE to be able to do?

 

print out a physical map of chernarus. Maybe at a print shop, so it could be big.

 

Then, using that, create a sort of field of fire map, with ranges marked out in a radius, which would make an excellent quick reference while playing....

 

You can buy them (old chernarus not chernarus plus) from bi

 

https://store.bistudio.com/chernarus-map-collection/

 

I have one, its the same design they used for the new ingame maps, nice detail

[terminal_boy 860]

That's called making a Range Card...

 

Draw a sketch of the view from your firing position showing approx ranges to key landmarks such as lone trees, buildings, road junctions etc.

 

Top sniping tip for SA/ArmA (due to grass only rendering to middle distance):

 

Choose your firing position so that you have a narrow "firing lane" to your intended target area, such as shooting through a building with missing/open windows or by being deep in the woods.

 

This will mean your target will find it very difficult to spot you if your shot misses and they move position even by a few metres.

[crazykage 1063]

RANGE CARD....

 

Thank you. I couldn't remember the term. Was right on the tip of my tounge..

[klassent 28]

Well, the only tried-and-true rangefinding mechanisms that I know about all boil down to visual recognition in some form or another. Depending on your preferred optics, your experience may vary, but if you have a hard time eyeballing raw distance to target, you can make some quick-and-dirty adjustments once you have target acquisition. General approaches involve getting a feel for a target's size profile in relation to varying stages of magnification. This isn't quite as easy given the way the LRS is currently modelled, and most of my sniping experience from other games utilizes discrete magnification steps: 4x -> 8x -> 16x and the like. The 'infinite' precision on the LRS means that unless there are some hotkeys I don't know about, it's difficult to know when you're at precisely 10x zoom for example, but you can still compare target profile with minimum and maximum zoom for a relatively reproducible result.

 

Sit down with a buddy at some point, and bring a load of ammo with you, 'cause you're gonna put plenty of lead downrange to test. Have your trusty assistant stand near a wall at such a distance so that his shoulder width takes up 1/4-width of the optics, try out your best-guess on a zero range, and pop the wall a couple feet to the left at head height. Once you get it properly zeroed for that range, you then have a fairly reliable range estimation whenever your target width fills that portion of the scope. Rinse 'n' repeat for 1/2 width, etc. at varying zoom levels. At this point, you can probably see where having discrete magnification stages really helps to give you a concrete starting point and a little more variety/precision for range estimation, but the underlying procedure remains the same.

 

Also note there are varying schools of thought between using target width vs. target height, and it all comes down to the targets you reasonably expect to engage. I personally don't care for using height as much, because most of the time I'm behind a long rifle, I'm on counter-sniping duty. As such, I might expect to see a variety of positions, anything from standing/crouched/prone/leaning and any combination thereof. On the other hand, if you're lying in wait to ambush someone plodding down a lonesome road, it may be a much more useful measurement in your case. Adjust procedure alongside common sense and you'll be fine.

 

One last parting word of advice, if your target is partially silhouetted or you otherwise can't get a good read on their profile, you can cheat and use a nearby residential door for reference. Just remember that people are slightly smaller than doors, so try and visualize that inner 80-90% as your reference target, but I generally recommend aiming center-of-mass whenever you introduce even more inconsistency than the usual estimation errors.

 

Happy hunting! :D

[xRann 126]

If you're using the LRS get used to the scale of your target and the environment. I usually move from site to site so a static hide and range isn't something I rely on. Being able to ruff out the difference between 4, 5, and 600 meters to target means a lot when you can eyeball the size of a door, window, fence, human, or zombie on the fly and dial it in.

I usually find my spots by putting myself in the killbox and working backward from there, knowing the terrain is really the biggest checkbox to fill. Avenues of approach, flanks, bug out plan and exit routes, then work out the ranges of your box and set holds for targets of oppourtinity.

If you're working out past 400m, make sure you can fire from prone. I just tested out 50 rounds last night from kneeling and standing between 3-700m on stationary and moving targets and it was a complete crap shoot. Drop prone, bipod out, send it.

[Window Licker 504]

Okay I just looked for a half hour and couldn't find it....

 

There is a image somewhere on the internet which shows how tall a person is in the scope (maginified) and what range they are standing at, It would take some practice but once done you'd be zeroing on the fly which would be amazing.

 

(my first sniping attempt was on a zombie, I spent about 10-15 rounds before having a good look and finding it was 500 m away not 800)

[unicornsmustdie 32]

something I would LOVE to be able to do?

 

print out a physical map of chernarus. Maybe at a print shop, so it could be big.

 

Then, using that, create a sort of field of fire map, with ranges marked out in a radius, which would make an excellent quick reference while playing....

I would love for someone to make a 3d zoomable model of chernarus, so we can get a good feel of the elevations, find the ´alleys´ and so on...

[Tizzle 90]

Obviously my preferred set up is a mosin with LR and bipod. I prefer sniping from an elevated position, such as buildings and mountains, although this can make range finding more difficult. I also make sure i have an in-game map with me, which i use to calculate the distance between my location and my soon-to-be target's (measuring the map's scale and setting up a ratio with my own). Sometime's i have to use a little trigonometry or pythagorean theorem to get the distance if i'm at a high elevation. 

Zeroing is pretty easy once you have the distance, or you could just take a few shots and feel it out.

 Some people probably have different practices, but that's what i do, and i feel pretty comfortable taking shots anywhere from 600-800. 

[-Gews- 7443]

There is a image somewhere on the internet which shows how tall a person is in the scope (maginified) and what range they are standing at, It would take some practice but once done you'd be zeroing on the fly which would be amazing.

With the new EasyFoV™ this only works with 2D scopes if you keep your FoV at the same level every time.

[xRann 126]

Okay I just looked for a half hour and couldn't find it....

 

There is a image somewhere on the internet which shows how tall a person is in the scope (maginified) and what range they are standing at, It would take some practice but once done you'd be zeroing on the fly which would be amazing.

 

(my first sniping attempt was on a zombie, I spent about 10-15 rounds before having a good look and finding it was 500 m away not 800)

I'm not sure anyone has done a scale chart for the LRS or PU, I know there were a bunch for the different scopes in the mod.

Just keep at it. Man sized targets are great but windows and door or pretty much any static environmental feature can be used. If you're out in BFE Chern and spot a farm house or two, sight 'em up and drop some rounds. Do it enough and you start judging distance just walking around before you even get behind the scope. No need to look at a map, alttab, or grab pen and paper.

[crazykage 1063]

EDIT: In order to get better exposure, and to not derail THIS topic with promotion of my idea, I have taken my proposal and created a separate thread for it....

Edited January 15, 2014 by Crazykage

[-Gews- 7443]

I'm not sure anyone has done a scale chart for the LRS or PU, I know there were a bunch for the different scopes in the mod.

http://forums.dayzgame.com/index.php?/topic/161758-pu-scope-bullet-drop-and-ranging/

[xRann 126]

http://forums.dayzgame.com/index.php?/topic/161758-pu-scope-bullet-drop-and-ranging/

I stand corrected for the PU, very handy, thank you.

 

 

I hereby propose a "North West Airfield Sniper's Convention" party.

.

.

.

What say you people?

I'm game but I burnt almost all my 762, have a bunch of 56 and a few coupled mags. Static point for the target would be best against the wall of the north side of the ATC, additional points of reference, and plenty of space north along the field to use as a range.

[gibonez 3633]

You don't it's impossible to "snipe" anything in the game. The game is far too random at the moment everything from the idiotic accuracy based on accessories to the lack of any range finding reticles on optics making finding the range to a target nothing more than a guess.