Sniper Rifles - Silenced or not...

shawpower

I'm wondering what people think of using the Silencer with the Sniper rifles. I was using this attachment for a while, but found that it meant I wasn't getting kills quick enough. It was taking at least 2 shots to take the guy down. This was leaving me seriously exposed as people who had been hit now knew I was out there somewhere, and with their Assault Rifles now had the upper hand unless I could either pull off a super no scope, or quick switch to sidearm to finish the job.

After doing some research on it I realised why i was struggling to get one kill shots.

All the sniper rifles deal 70 points of damage per bullet, with a kill requiring 100 points. In addition to this 70 points of damage, you also get a hit bonus depending on where the bullet strikes. All leg area just gives a 1.0x multiplier which means no difference. Lower Torso (groin & waist up to rib area) deals a multiplier of 1.1x. Upper Torso (ribs upwards) and Neck deal 1.4x extra. Head is a 1.5x multiplier.

This means that a Lower torso shot actually deals 77 damage, Upper Torso deals 98 while Head is a straight kill with 105 damage.

Next there is the Stopping power boost of 1.4 to factor in.

Lower Torso: 70 * 1.1 * 1.4 = 107.8
Upper Torso: 70 * 1.4 * 1.4 = 137.2
Head: 70 * 1.5 * 1.4 = 147

So basically, everything above the Waist is a One Shot Kill when you have Stopping Power perk in use. Nice.

However...

When you suppress these weapons with a Silencer, the base damage falls to 50. This means the following:

Lower Torso: 50 * 1.1 * 1.4 = 77 - No kill.
Upper Torso/Neck: 50 * 1.4 * 1.4 = 98 - Still no kill!!
Head: 50 * 1.5 * 1.4 = 105 - Finally a kill.

This is where I kept falling down, with a higher number of body shots than head shots. So the choice is quite clear I guess when it comes to silencing sniper rifles..

• Go with Silencer and know that realistically you will need two shots a lot of the time*, unless of course you are a headshot God!! On the plus side, you have the benefit of knowing that you are not a red dot on the map.

• Or go unsurpressed for quicker kills but have the downside that you need to keep moving more to make sure people don't track you down. This would depend on the map I guess, and might also go against the idea of sniping in secluded defensible area (not camping!! ). Also, those that like to "quick/no scope kill" can't really go with silenced as an option.

* One other point is that maybe the Intervention would really suffer here due to slower Bolt Action reload.

Personally I tend to use Silencers a lot of the time for the hidden sneaky benefits, but think there is a big downside to using it with the Sniper rifles. Which is one of the reasons I don't snipe as much as I might otherwise.

Anyone else any thoughts?

robz18

I used to have a silencer on my sniper, but I soon realized its really not worth it, its much much harder to get one shot kills, so I just snipe loud, it often causes lads to run towards you, and on levels like Wasteland, makes it easier for you to snipe them. Oh and thermal sight ftw.

zero86r

Not a fan of silencers on sniper rifles, prefer to use FMJ with em

Praetor

I agree

I tend not to use the silencer, maybe on small maps but is true that if you dont get a 1 shot kill they will spot you and kill you quickly!!

sabre0002

You have to keep moving anyway unless you're playing Hardcore because people can watch the killcam if you're picking them off. If you're unsure about hitting headshots all the time, I'd go unsilenced because of this drawback. Better to get the kill first time and be seen...

papajimsmooth

Does FMJ increase the base damage above 70?

shanec1928

never!!!

Seifer

papajimsmooth wrote: »

Does FMJ increase the base damage above 70?

No.

I only put silencers on my snipers to unlock the heartbeat sensors for them. It kinda defeats the purpose if takes more than one shot to kill.
Saying that, I've gone completely off snipers in MW2 because even without a silencer and with stopping power you get a frustrating amount of shots not one-shotting. Even when I'm 100% sure I hit above the waist. I can only guess that the bullet is doing things like hitting their arm first and then continuing into the chest but still using the lower multiplier.

Silenced snipers are fun in hardcore though.

robz18

papajimsmooth wrote: »

Does FMJ increase the base damage above 70?

It only increases damage through walls etc. apparently.

shanec1928

why would any one use a heart beat sensor,if you obviously cant play the game if your relying on this.

brian plank

forza rovers wrote: »

why would any one use a heart beat sensor,if you obviously cant play the game if your relying on this.

ha yeah, obviously :rolleyes:. as for sniper rifles i prefer to show up on the radar when sniping. theres more chance of someone moving towards the red dot and if they rush in theres always the trusty shotgun.

Useful.Idiot

Silenced for hardcore on some maps, otherwise no.

Jet Black

Only use it in hardcore or to unlock the heartbeat sensor.

Seifer

forza rovers wrote: »

why would any one use a heart beat sensor,if you obviously cant play the game if your relying on this.

You can use something without relying on it. And to be honest there isn't a more useful attachment for a sniper rifle imo but as I said, I don't play sniper that often in MW2 since they made the assault rifles so powerful.

naughto

brian plank wrote: »

ha yeah, obviously :rolleyes:. as for sniper rifles i prefer to show up on the radar when sniping. theres more chance of someone moving towards the red dot and if they rush in theres always the trusty shotgun.

my thoughts exactly silencer is ****e better to show up on the map and pull your secondary weapon if they come looking.

i usually get 3 kills in before i move as they will be all over you ass if u dont

thekid9

If you had bling pro on, would the fmj cancel out the silencer as in would you still get a 1 shot kill?

thecornflake

I find when i used to use silencers , that the m21 is the best , quickly tap two bullets into them and its pretty much a sure kill. The 50cal simply doesn't have as high a rate of fire and the recoil is huge.

Seifer

thekid9 wrote: »

If you had bling pro on, would the fmj cancel out the silencer as in would you still get a 1 shot kill?

FMJ does not affect base damage, it only reduces the penalty for firing through surfaces so no.

GavRedKing

I go un-silenced in MW2, I generally use the ACOG or FMJ.