Snipers on Z day

[JakAttak]

I've been getting flak about my sniper fetish since I joined so just so we can all be adults just say what you think about them and there uses after Zombpocalypse( thats zombie apocalypse).

[Firedude]

From a fortified position they would work excellent and would be an effective way of eliminating the dead from your area. Something that Andy, in Andy's gun shop should have done in DOTD 2004 remake. He had a wide range of calibers and could have been doing head shots while waiting to starve or for the group in the mall to come get him and be removing the opposition at the same time.

If you’re running and gunning, you would be better off having a dual purpose semi-auto rifle (AR type etc) with QD rings were you could switch back and forth between your CQB sight system and an optic with more magnification. I've shot priarie dogs out to 300 yards and a bit beyond with mine and feel head shots are definetly doable (guaranteed at closer ranges). A bolt rifle, though generally more accurate then a semi, would be a bit to slow.

Probably not much reason to have a 1000 yard rifle, unless you were protecting your perimeter from the occasional ZED walking into it.

[Faran Brigo]

Originally Posted by JakAttak

I've been getting flak about my sniper fetish since I joined so just so we can all be adults just say what you think about them and there uses after Zombpocalypse( thats zombie apocalypse).

Snipers are good, they're great, just that they have strenghts and weaknesses like any other weapon or tactic. Mostly that while you can find or train marksmen it's going to be much harder to do the same with snipers. They're basically going to do the same functions they do now, assasination of personnel, reconnaisance and overwatch, minus antimateriel missions. They're going to be especially useful against marauders and such.

[bandits1]

First of all: "snipers" and "marksmen/sharpshooters" are two different animals, correct? I think of marksmen as guys who are part of the normal unit/team/group who are more proficient at hitting targets at intermediate-to-long ranges than your average rifleman. I think of snipers as a highly-trained operative sneaking around by himself or with a spotter, covered in camoflage, with the intent on taking out a specific target(s) without ever being seen.

The marksman would be useful almost all the time. If there happens to be a group of infected advancing on your position, he can start taking them out at a range where it would be mostly a waste of bullets for the average shooter. They can take out targets at a distance at a location the group needs to get access to or pass through.

But an actual, real-life, military-trained sniper? Unless you plan on doing a lot of assassinating of other armed survivor groups' leaders and such, I don't think it would necessary to try and find a trained sniper.

I think JakAttak is actually talking about being a marksman or a sharpshooter. Unless you've already received the intense military training and subsequent official designation of "sniper", you'll never be one and you can't just call yourself one because you happen to be a pretty good shot and stuck some twigs in your hair. However - if I saw someone, military or not, able to take out targets reliably and consistantly @ 500+ meters, I wouldn't hesistate to call him a "marksman".

JakAttak - you should use the term "marksman" or "sharpshooter" instead of "sniper" to avoid getting hacked on by other members.

[Dave Of The Dead]

I think it would be a good idea to have a sniper in your group while at a defensive position. He would be a good watchman and could keep zombies at bay from a distance if he had to. It would be good if a huge mod of zeds were coming at your position, the sniper could warn the group for the attack or even to get the hell outta there, while taking out as many as he/she could.

In short, Defensively, the sniper would be great. I'm not so sure about an offensive use except for recon or even to watch over the group during a raid.

[JakAttak]

Oh my god people replied to this.

and I guess marksman would be a good term but I'm a terrible typist and it's so much than sniper and just doesn't resonate as well with people as "sniper"

[bandits1]

Calling yourself a "sniper" when you aren't trained and designated as a sniper by the military doesn't seem to resonate well with anyone.

You can't just call yourself a sniper because you like to wear camoflage, sneak around and hide in your backyard, and shoot stuff. If you shoot well enough, I doubt anyone would object to you calling yourself a "marksman" or "sharpshooter". You should use those terms instead.

[Faran Brigo]

A marksman is a regular infantryman with an accurized weapon usually converted from battle/assault rifles (M14, SDM-R) who's a better than average shot, works with an infantry squad and can engage targets up to 800 mts. Marksmen have basic training and have qualified for the position based on merit (I.E. they're good shots). They use semi auto rifles, because they're also supposed to lay down rapid fire.

A sniper is specialized infantry with a weapon specifically designed for sniping (Barret M82 .50 rifle, M24 bolt action .308), has gone to sniper school, has knowledge beyond the marksman, and operates on a two man team, away from the rest of the forces. They're not supposed to make many rapid shots, just crack one or two, then get back out.

So what you're doing is like saying "machine gun" resonates better than "assault rifle" and that's why you call your Bushmaster 17 semiauto 5.56 a "machine gun". Or saying you're a doctor because you know first aid.

[detpat]

a bushmaster M17 isn't an "assault rifle" either. the terms assault rifle and sniper ar roughly analogous in common usage, which is to say incorrect.

sniper is a position or designation as well as a job description. A police or other civilian sniper or designated marksman is significantly different than a military sniper. Just like a USMC or army sniper is different than a navy or air force designated marksman.

[JakAttak]

how about civilian sniper since I have been taught the basics by my dad who was a sniper I've been taught camouflage and long range target shooting and haw to hit moving targets.

[detpat]

you're a shooter, you need to have formal training and the position to have the title. you can think of yourself as anything you want, but you have to earn the title as with any other.

[Hitman]

just stick with sharpshooter . most police forces don't care for the term sniper anyway as thats not really thier job either. they don't go to a situation planning on taking a shot its mostly for intel and over watch . they will take a shot if needed but it is not always a killing shot .

[Ball Tripper]

People have been called sniper without ever having earned the title before. Just kill a few people from far away and the media will give you a title like the Beltway Sniper.

[Dave Of The Dead]

only because "beltway marksman" doesn't sound as menacing. Snipers have become infamous for being the silent killer whom nobody ever seems to kill and therefore comes with the infamy already associated with the name. Truth be told, nobody likes someone who sneakily kills people unless, of course, the person is on your side.

[Faran Brigo]

Originally Posted by Ball Tripper

People have been called sniper without ever having earned the title before. Just kill a few people from far away and the media will give you a title like the Beltway Sniper.

Calling a chicken a duck doesn't make it a duck.