Snipers Unite

Silent Death

Im an airsoft sniper and the most awkward thing is that there are no real tactics when it comes to being at the same power limit as all the other players with there rapid fire capability. Our main tool is stealth and the quiet bolt action. Most of us have been riddled out of our spots with overwhelming fire.
This page is hear i hope for people to post tactics suited for our unique game style. We really have to be one shot one kill players in this game but that is what makes it great to play as the sniper.:cool:
My motto as a sniper is 'relocation,relocation, relocation'
Let the posting begin

andy_g

good thinkin man. loads of info is found on the sniper club website if ya wanna use some of it. andy

swiftblade

Im not really a "sniper" but i do use a bolt action from time to time. When "Game on!" is shouted hang back. Watch from a distance where the enemy is moving to. Then simply flank. I tend to spot more than actully engage the enemy.

Radios are must for being a sniper.

Silent Death

andy_g wrote: »

good thinkin man. loads of info is found on the sniper club website if ya wanna use some of it. andy

Thank you, ill link or quote some text,

@Firekitten:if your still around post up you 'book' if you want

swiftblade wrote: »

Im not really a "sniper" but i do use a bolt action from time to time. When "Game on!" is shouted hang back. Watch from a distance where the enemy is moving to. Then simply flank. I tend to spot more than actully engage the enemy.

Radios are must for being a sniper.

But thats boring, you can spot and kill you know, but so long as the radio doesnt go Bleep Bleep Bleep when you talk

swiftblade

Obviously use a headset with the radio. I just mean, being a sniper dosent mean ranking up the kills. You tend to just sit somewhere and observe. But when someone does wander into your crosshairs, it makes it all worth while

andy_g

Shoot and move/scoot
also remember the three S's shape, silouett and shadow even in airsoft ya use them. its about stealth forward operating and recon. i could add to this list but it would be endless. just work on your fieldcraft

MagicIRL

Make your own ghillie or go home.

Every site has key overwatching positions for the Sniper - you just have to find them. Once you know where to sit its a waiting game.

Silent Death

Yea, doing up mine this month, ill post some pics with it when its done

andy_g

always have a spotter with you to get you into position and out.
Also its not about sit and wait for the kill. although i do agree make your own ghillie or if ya do buy one adapt it to your surroundings

Masada

Theres 5 S's, not 3.

Growler!!!

Hi Silent great idea for a thread - if it takes off it should be stickied.

Tried sniping with my M14 before but as a previous poster said you get riddled out of your spot. Have to admit i joined them now with my 9.6 and large hi-cap.

Shape.
Shine.
Shadow.
Silhouette.
Spacing.
Movement.

Basics of personal camo - I'll try to find my scan of a uk manual that explained these very well in a pictorial format - Standby...

Silent Death

Masada wrote: »

Theres 5 S's, not 3.

Thanks Growler

andy_g

Masada wrote: »

Theres 5 S's, not 3.

yeah couldnt remember them off the top of y head as im in work

Silent Death

Ok, attached is Firekittens documents, slightly edited by myself. All credit to her, she put all the leg work on it.
Also linked below is another forum with a few relivant documents just look through the links, tactics is near the bottom of the links

http://www.airsoftforum.com/board/lofiversion/index.php/f141.html

Note the document has 9850 words and 16 pages

Also linked is the Airsoft Sniper club web page, join to access any materials

http://airsoftsniperclub.webs.com/

And finaly after much routing around a 9 part video to making a ghillie suit, very helpful and in step by step

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sULe0Sc4-Gw

J.D.R

Growler!!! wrote: »

Shape.
Shine.
Shadow.
Silhouette.
Spacing.
Movement.

And Sound.

It's no good being invisible if aren't quite. I tried to be a sniper, and was practically invisible, but if you don't get your target in the first couple of shots (wasn't good enough for a one shot one kill unfortunately) then more often then not the target will just open up on the general direction of where the sound came from.

This also applies for when you are flanking into position. I have often been in deep brush, only to have either me or my spotter (more usefull then you would think) step on a branch, or brush too many leaves, and have a sheet of pellets in our direction because of the sound.

kevinhalvey

i have seen countless amount of people playing call of duty and being a good sniper and the first thing they do is buy a sniper rifle number one they cant snipe and call of duty sniping is so stupid this thing of "quick scoping" is bulls arse . i find when im sniping the 3 best things you can have is

1. some cover eg home made ghuille out of anything and full camo
2. a side arm i currently use a sig p226 and have an uzi and a claymore for sniping
3. relocation have a bug out route so if theres a patrol and you take one or two out and the rest of the team spot you use your bug out and rv to help you and relocate after every one or two shots

there my top tips to sniping

ps i detest call of duty i abtolutly hate it with vengance

.22 Lover

Whats your view on scout snipers or Designated marksman?

kevinhalvey

i sometimes like to bring a scout but sometimes they get trigger itiche and try and shoot but i hate when they do i only let them shoot if there whole team have spotted us and are firing at us but usually i go solo i have fith in the claymore for behind me and have the sig cocked

Silent Death

Very true, spotters job can get dull, Im a solo sniper with claymore etc but have a few guys on hand to pull me out if needs be

kevinhalvey

what sniper you using ?

Silent Death

L96, with PPK + 24/7 as back ups and maybe throw a Glock in if my brother will let me borrow it. And finaly the claymore all stowed in a PLCE giving me a low profile. Covered in my ghillie which in doing up as well
Hopefully geting the SX9 in a few weeks

kevinhalvey

i have an well l96 and i love the gun its a good weight as well

the one thing i find wrong with sniping is that i personally think snipers should have a bit more fps then aeg for example aeg=329fps sniper should be = 370-80 fps as they only have one shot and i think someone should try and get this done

Silent Death

Doesnt everyone . We are as luck as it is that we have 1 joule for AEG's
But yea, love to have that but ah well. Gotta deal with what we have thus this thread

Silent Death

One tactic i have found that works is what i call double bluffing.

For example; you are in your location, you hit your target, he may now know where you are, you move to another spot near that you have set up. Wait, i find that they return for revenge ( alone or with others ) chose your moment carefully and take the out and then rveal yourself, let them know you were there, dont be to obvious. Now move back to the 1st position and where do you think they will be looking at. Bingo your second hide. Mind games are great, they dishearten your enemy.
I find if you move often and in an a random pattern you improve your odds tenfold. Often going back to old spots once or twice only in a game to mess with a target works wonders. The best bit is that once they get whats going on you sit in the hide, wait, they attack the one you should have gone for Or really annoy them if you have really really good camo, let them believe you have gone let them go bye and go for the kill. I find people generally give up at that point

TheDoc

andy_g wrote: »

always have a spotter with you to get you into position and out.

I think theres too much transition from movies and real world into airsoft when it comes to snipers.

Spotters are great...for shooting hostile targets hundreds of meters away.

Your airsoft rifle shoots what, less then 100 yards, maybe just about that? ( thinking bout it, it definitely doesn't shoot 100 yards)

If you cant manage to locate a target, and keep bearing on your surrounding dealing at those distances, you really shouldn't be a sniper.

Too much emphasis is put on real world stuff, trying to learn the real deal. Too much emphasis on equipment and ghilie suits. A ghuilie suit is tremendous is you are in position ahead of the rest of the players, and are hundreds of yards away. Unfortunately in airsoft your not.

I wont lie, airsoft snipers are such easy prey its not fair. Its always an easy kill. Its kinda hard to miss a massive green thing moving around, when you leave position to relocate your at your weakest....cause your a giant chewbacca running around.

If you want to get decent at sniping I'd advise working on the following.

Aim
The amount of you that cant shoot **** is shocking. "Snipers" are supposed to be the sharpshooters. Theres too many occasions where I hear a bolt go off, locate the target and drill them, and it turns out they are less then 50 feet away. Work with your rifle and get it zerod properly and learn how to hit your target every time.

Field craft
Learn when to move, and when to stay still. You dont move after every shot, you stop look have a nosey and see if your good shape to move, sometimes you don't have too. Sometimes moving is what will get you killed.

Learn how to hide. Good spots. Up in the window of the only two storey building isnt you being a sniper, its you being a muppet, cause its the first place thats going to grab my attention. And if you do pick a window, for **** sake dont put the rifle through it, so I see a massive black barell sticking out.

Have a look at where you are going to take position before you get there, have a look from where the enemy is going to look. If its dark and shadowy and hard to see through, brilliant.

If it has a big beam of sunshine hitting it, best of moving.

Weapon transition
Learn to drop your rifle and hit your sidearm quickly. When your in a jam you want to crack out the constant fire quickly. Carry an mp5k and all these smg's if you want, either way , your positions gone once your down to it, so it really doesnt matter. I'd prefer a sidearm due to the lightweight adaptability it gives, and the fact its so small.

I do have a lol at the "snipers" I see rocking with mp5ks etc, cause you know for a fact that when they are around branches, trees or whatever, that the sling is going to get stuck on something.

Learn your gun
Just take the time to fine tune your rifle. Get your scope up properly and working the way best suits you. Theres no handbook to do it, its trial and error. Have a nosey and see if you can make your rifle quiter, the more silent, the more deadly. Get yourself adjusted to what bb weight you want to use that gives maximum range and accuracy.

Get a radio
Get a radio that works, make sure you can use transmit through any awkard position you may be lieing. This is pretty much, all your good for.

I know it sounds like a condescending lecture and to be pretty honest, it is. Playing as a sniper you are extra baggage. Your not useful in anyway shape or form in my book. Out of 100 airsoft irish snipers you meet, you will come across maybe 2 or 3 that will come in handy.

Real world a sniper should be a commanders wet dream. In airsoft its just a burden, they assume they can be well utilised when in reality they cant. The best use a sniper has in our game, is spotting, thats really it. And unfortunately I'm yet to come across a sniper that can do it effectively and properly and be an asset, its always a burden. When they try it, they just jam radio space and cause a mess.

Don't mean to be negative just wanted to have a rant and voice my opinion. I read all these threads ( every ****ing week) and I can't help but feel its a game role thats been inspired by call of duty. And the advice and things that are spoken about are completely unnecessary, non feasible , non practical and useless.

Lets look at some facts.
If I'm looking at a section setup, it may look something like this.

1 Medic
1 Sniper
1 LMG
6 Riflemen
1 CO

The Medic is essential and explains it for himself. He carries a fully automatic weapon and can be useful and tangible in firefights giving a good offensive aggression when required.

The LMG is all firepower. In airsoft its another class thats completely misused and wasted. I dont see a LMG as someone who lays down sporadic fire and cover, LMG's in airsoft are accurate enough to be used as a front line offensive weapon, with a **** load off ammo. I want that up front causing casualties.

The rifleman are bread and butter. They do exactly what they say on the tin, versatile, fast adapting, offensive or defensive. The essential cog in the war machine.

CO. Driving the machine to where it needs to go. Depending on the personality can be defensive or offensive by nature. Still carries a rifle to bring firepower.

Sniper. Has a single shot 20-30 round rifle. Supposedly, to be effective, needs to be set into a position, making flexibility and quick maneuvering, non existent. Cannot be deployed into offensive maneuvers due to the all round poor firepower. Brings the same range as a rifleman, but seriously less ammo and flexibility. The weakest part of the section.

To be brutally honest if I'm ever rockin command and see a sniper in my unit, I'll tell them to do their own trick, cause they will be pretty useless in any offensive tactic I'm deploying, and dont boast enough firepower to be useful in a defensive tactic. Or if I want to make them feel involved give them a spotting task, which usually ends in a disaster, poor info relay and total gridlock of the network. ( I do notice this isnt reserved to snipers, general enemy location and targeting over radios is poor, and I include myself in that)

In regards to sniper positions? For example, tomorrow I'm going to Red Barn, and there will be a game in the courtyard, and there will be someone with a sniper rifle, and they will, inevitably go up into the top window of that building.
I'll bet any money with anyone, if theres a sniper there tomorrow, thats where he is. Its funny cause every single person that goes by on the oposite side will say " Lads make sure to hose the window, sniper in there" and you can get your bollox there will be.

And I'll get infuriated...why? Because that window is a nice vantage point. It provides solid cover on the corner, which if done properly ( refer to the Stephen Fay handbook on " your not getting past that corner pal) stiffles the enemy hit after hit and they will just get so annoyed they will stop.

You put a sniper up there, and I'm turning the corner, I start rubbing my hands. Cause I'll also bet any amount of money, that if I start running, that sniper wont hit me, or get close. A rifleman however, or lmg, will put constant pressure on that point.

Point I'm making is, that for "vantage " points and critical positions. Yeah, the films show a sniper there, and hes lethal...thats cause hes bullet goes on target everytime.... In airsoft, its a nightmare. A snier, should never, ever go to the vantage points. Ever. Let someone with a decent AEG take it up, to provide real suppresion and devastation.

The "sniper tower" in the landing zone is another example. I'll never forget the day we were waiting to cross, and one of the lads said " sniper in the tower, semi auto weapon", I think about 4 of us lol'd simultaneously and went running. That bridge makes me cry when an AEG is there, but makes me laugh so hard when a snipers there.


I'm not discouraging snipers. But I think yall need a reality check, especially when you come to these sort of threads discussing what you need to look at and work on to be effective. If you want to be a lone sniper, enjoy your skirmish and enjoy being useless.

If you want to be an airsoft sniper, and be effective to your team on the day, you need to learn some things that you probably didnt even think off, and you need to stop worrying about things that dont matter.

Your guillie suit DOES NOT MATTER
Ozcam laid dead still in a field for 6 hours and had numerous people walk over him during a Jebrovia game, wearing brit dpm. Best bit of field craft from a sniper I'd seen in years. For hours...not budging, relaying critical information on positions. The lad is so old he could of not being able to get back up, you young lads are up and scarpering after 10 minutes ( soz bout calling you old B, hearts)
Get used to waiting, be patient, dont move, if you cant stay still for longer then ten minutes without wanting to brap something get an AEG.

Your spotter doesnt matter
Its hard enough to get one lad who can keep concealed properly, let alone two. Bringing someone else is a liability. If you cant spot targets within 90 yards and be aware of whats going on around you, drop your botly, grab an AEG.

Learn how to call targets
Get a radio, get wired into your units network, and relay targets properly, otherwise your useless. Your CO doesnt need to know what manafacturer of AEG they have. They initialy dont even need to know theres someone there. They only need to know if theres someone you see, that causes and immediate threat, or is moving into the potential position of offense.

***NOTE*****

If your CO is leading a squad assault on a position and your location is on the other side of a site, your co doesnt need to know if you see someone there. It means his mind is off the problem at hand, he doesnt need it.

Take it or leave it. I think it needed to be said. Its a perspective from the other side of your scope. Get innovative and creative. Find ways to best utilise yourself for your team, become the animal you need to be.

At the moment the vast majority of yall are mice, you need to become lions.



***

I'd like to point out when I say things like "you" I'm not refering to anyone here in specific, I'm referring to snipers, in Ireland ( cause **** you could learn a thing or two abroad) in general.

After this rant , guarantee you one of two things
1) Tomorrow someone has a moan at me about how snipers are win
2) I get dominated by a sniper all day long

TheDoc

kevinhalvey wrote: »

i have seen countless amount of people playing call of duty and being a good sniper and the first thing they do is buy a sniper rifle number one they cant snipe and call of duty sniping is so stupid this thing of "quick scoping" is bulls arse .

I have to admit this is what got me my JG bar 10 originally. And when I had it, I didn't sit in positions for hours on end. On occasions yes, but I plenty of times went on assaulting movements with it to decent effect. In all honesty, you have too. You cant sit behind your squad as they move forward, you cant target anything.

So as I found myself week in week our in HRTA running on the front line like I was fighting for Napoleon, I decided enough was enough and to ditch the sniper. Granted it is not a sniper friendly site, I'm still unconvinced how snipers are any way useful in this game.

Just felt the urge to comment cause i see alot of the " call of duty ****ters" and well its what made me buy my one, I used to use it crouching or standing up, part of offensive assaults.

And I'm pretty sure I'd rack up more kills then Andy there >:P

roryk1

russian army considers 1 in 4 kils a good hit ratio for sniper(real world) due to wind effects distance ect it only gets harder for airsofters as we arent shooting bullets but theres the challenge;):D

Silent Death

Im now waiting for andys book to contradict Doc's.
I think that Doc is right on one point, 1 sniper is loads in a team. But i do think he provides an essential role if he is half decent. Most sites are too small to get the proper benifit of the sniper. But that isnt to say hecant be well deployed. I had a game of sniper hunt in a friends garden, fairly big but not what you call sniper friendly. I won, i was sneaky, quick, random and i didnt miss. I had 20 shots, i still had rounds left over. If a sniper can do that in a tight enough area he can be effetive in a game, either as a spotter or going solo in VIP games to knock the VIP out.
Like you said, real world tactics cant be employed, i said that when i opened the thread, thats why i made it. In the real world only a handfull are acceptable as snipers, they have hugh numbers to choose from, airsoft is a lot smaller so it stands to reason that there are few very good snipers. The thread was posted to give both the good and bad a chance to discuss how to improve in there game and make a more pivotal role out of our chosen loadouts. The fact that you havnt seen a good sniper doesnt mean they havnt seen you

flashinbluelite

i have the pleasure of being friends with ex-royal marine sniper, i have had many conversations with him in relation to sniping and every now and again i bring up airsoft and my love for sniping.

two things always seem to come out of my conversations...

1) location
2)equipment

both quite general... location doesnt just mean where you are or where you going but learn the site.
equipment means everything , rifle, bb's, comms, loadout, YOU...
rifle: zeroed and learn its quirks
bb's: heavy and dark,
comms: tell your team what you see (you cant take on the entire enemy team)
loadout: keep it light....
YOU:are you patient? you will need to be.....

airsoft sniping is NOTHING like real life. sure you might be able to us some real life tactics and they MIGHT work, but dont expect to be taking out the leader of the enemy unit and winning the game.

personal experience would have me advising you to hold back and scope the whole field and feed the info to your team. i have been more useful as a spotter then i ever will be as a sniper. If you play with a team that will use your information about field layout of targets you will be an invaluable member of the team.

and to anyone that thinks call of duty or any FPS game doesnt help your airsoft is wrong, i dont mean cause your any good at sniping online your going to be any good on the airsoft field, but i have learned quite abit about human nature while "under fire" . you know the situation, someone sticks there head up and you shoot at them , then you drop down and they shoot at you , then you pop up to shoot them and this sort of "mercat" antics. my motto "shoot,relocate...you will dominate"

Kiwi level 80 night elf hunter, 10th prestige COD , chess master and level 16 sheep wool knitter.....you have been Pwned!!!!!! hahahahahahaha:D

TheDoc

flashinbluelite wrote: »

Kiwi level 80 night elf hunter,

....self pwnage tbh.....


Saw two snipers out today in Red Barn.....I still stick with what I said above
.

flashinbluelite

TheDoc wrote: »

....self pwnage tbh......

i was taking the pi$$ , (only the knitting was true)

combat5

throut mics are thay any good for a sniper or is there anything better

fayer

TheDoc wrote: »

Ozcam laid dead still in a field for 6 hours and had numerous people walk over him during a Jebrovia game, wearing brit dpm. Best bit of field craft from a sniper I'd seen in years. For hours...not budging, relaying critical information on positions. The lad is so old he could of not being able to get back up, you young lads are up and scarpering after 10 minutes ( soz bout calling you old B, hearts)
Get used to waiting, be patient, dont move, if you cant stay still for longer then ten minutes without wanting to brap something get an AEG.

Jesus, I remember that, really wanted to bring him a sandwich or something, must say Oz is prob one of the best snipers I've seen in the game, plays the role for Airsoft and its limitations, not real world sniping.

kevinhalvey

combat5 wrote: »

throut mics are thay any good for a sniper or is there anything better

I USE A €20 LIDIL walkie talkie and came with ear pieces and its better then a lot more expensive ones i seen

Beano7

when the **** hits the fan lways keep the Hi-Capa unbuttoned in the holster!:P

Beano7

kevinhalvey wrote: »

I USE A €20 LIDIL walkie talkie and came with ear pieces and its better then a lot more expensive ones i seen

yeah they do well but if you want you can get a throat mic for x-box(MW2 ones) and it fits the walkie:)

MagicIRL

Beano7 wrote: »

when the **** hits the fan lways keep the Hi-Capa unbuttoned in the holster!:P

No, Always keep your cool no matter how close the enemy gets. You have to pick and choose your kills. That means sitting and letting people pass you if you know you'll be spotted when shooting.

kevinhalvey

when it goes bad when your sniping the only two things that will get you out is 600000 bbs and a mini gun

Silent Death

kevinhalvey wrote: »

when it goes bad when your sniping the only two things that will get you out is 600000 bbs and a mini gun

Defeatist attitude, a couple of M60's and 10000 shout do it

If it goes bad for a sniper its either due to a premature fireing or youve gone and gotten yourself seen. Thats why you want to have an escape route and a few guys on call if it happens

Inari

Doc's post hits a lot of nails sharply on the head.

Personally I love the idea of sniping...but I think too many people have the idea that when they pick up a rifle that they're Riggs and can hit a nickle at 1000yards in high wind.

The best way to be of any use in sniping is to have a normal AEG, to learn the game of airsoft itself, figure out effective range, be a functioning member of a team. To realise what works, and what doesn't. After clocking a bit of experience, start to employ some sniper-esque tactics and limit yourself to semi (personally, I abhore FA). For those that still enjoy themselves, pick up that rifle, and practise like hell. Know it well, and figure out what's what with it. Then, and only then will you be of some use.

Too many people when starting think that they can buy a rifle, attach a scope (not even knowing what "Zero-ing" is) and become the best marksman in the world...also forgetting that they're now using a bolt action musket

TheDoc

Silent Death wrote: »

Thats why you want to have an escape route and a few guys on call if it happens

A sniepr would be hard pushed to have me sit there to cover his escape route.

And as a CO if I walked by and saw a sniper had taken some of my resources to cover his escape route, I'd pollitely ask him to leave the vacinity while I cry...

Dont take this the wrong way, but would people here be willing to post their age ?

I think I have a fair idea, but I'm going to assume most of the posters, and "snipers" in general, are in the 15-18 age bracket.

I'm probably going to stop following the thread at this stage, I made a lengthy post on my feelings bout it, thenwithin ten posts later I read more of the same stuff, completely un-airsoft related.

I'm not saying I'm right thats not what I'm getting at. Just feel theres alot of people wasting their time and worrying about **** that has no importance, what so ever...

fleecymanager

I'm not saying I'm right thats not what I'm getting at. Just feel theres alot of people wasting their time and worrying about **** that has no importance, what so ever...[/QUOTE]


your right me thinks to much worry for no reason,(the youth of today) in senny two weeks ago i took out a sniper in the woods with a galaxy mp5k, i had waited about and watched him and his team for about 10 min ,he came out into a small clearing and i got him, but had i been able to control my trigger finger for another few min i could have taken out two or three of them but i couldn't help myself........you live and learn

Silent Death

TheDoc wrote: »

A sniepr would be hard pushed to have me sit there to cover his escape route.

And as a CO if I walked by and saw a sniper had taken some of my resources to cover his escape route, I'd pollitely ask him to leave the vacinity while I cry...

No, just a few guys who i can give a call to, they may or maynot be there but its nice to have some people on standby

MagicIRL

I must admit - Its very annoying when you see alot of COD fanboys jumping around with their Snipers thinking they're the business but when you have a good sniper then they're far from useless.

People really should read and re-read Docs post on the previous page. It sums up basically everything that gives the Airsoft Sniper its bad name.

kevinhalvey

MagicIRL wrote: »

I must admit - Its very annoying when you see alot of COD fanboys jumping around with their Snipers thinking they're the business but when you have a good sniper then they're far from useful.

i couldnt agree more its so off you can have a barret 50 cal a run and jump off buildings eh not likely

Masada

To be honest i think ive only ever witnessed one example of a really good sniper in the field. Aul liamo from back in the early airsoft days here was only 15 yet nobody could touch him. A real slithery fecker and the benchmark for all other snipers to reach. most who play the role are in love with the idea of sniping from its movie/game appeal and are actually pretty useless at it.

kevinhalvey

Masada wrote: »

To be honest i think ive only ever witnessed one example of a really good sniper in the field. Aul liamo from back in the early airsoft days here was only 15 yet nobody could touch him. A real slithery fecker and the benchmark for all other snipers to reach. most who play the role are in love with the idea of sniping from its movie/game appeal and are actually pretty useless at it.

you have not met me and my l96 yet :D:p:p

Masada

kevinhalvey wrote: »

you have not met me and my l96 yet :D:p:p

Yeah... don't that all say that though...

kevinhalvey

when i have my sniper face on nothing will spot me :eek:

Silent Death

That face could break mirrors how do manage to hide with such a hanicap??????

J.D.R

Everyone looks away in horror;)