2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 19, 2019 2:32:36 GMT -5
No matter how powerful the upgrades its impossible to achieve significant stand off ranges where your airsoft gun has pronounced additional range or accuracy over your opponents and given the abbreviated ranges of airsoft human targets are pretty big. Obviously with a bolt action your rate of fire is way less than a semi automatic and way way less than the predominent full automatics we're likely to encounter. In addition bolt actions tend to have smaller magazine capacities and are slower to reload. Adding to the challenge the cocking action requires motions that make you easier to spot than a semi auto. In addition a single hit often goes unnoticed especially at long range. With all that said for those who enjoy a challenge, skirmishing with a boltie can be great fun. So factoring in all the downsides, what are your tips for bolty players? Lets share our collective wisdom.
Post your strategies, tactics and training regiment that spikes your results and improves your survivability.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 19, 2019 23:30:23 GMT -5
Most of my tips would be applicable for any airsoft player but because using a bolt action leaves you especially vulnerable the skills, techniques and tactics are especially vital.
First know your weapon intimately, practice guaging its range accuracy and really get good at estimating ranges. Have the hop up honed precisely to the Bbs you'll use. pracice cocking and loading so that it can be done seamlessly while looking downrange. If you need to glance at your weapon you havent practiced enougb. Practice shootinv while prone, standing, kneeling and sitting.
Camouflage yourself with deliberate purpose. Use local foliage or colors/ patterns that blend. Do not select locations or movement routes that will silouette you. This is especially challenginv if you position yourself with the sun in your opponents eyes (which has many upsides).
Establish likely avenues of approach and take some practice shots at reference points so you can get a sense for Bb flight and windage at these assorted target reference points. Have a plan of movement to alternate firing positions and do not linger in a given position. Coordinate with team mates for cover, flank security and support. If possible use their fire to draw your opponents into your kill zones. With a bolty you have to have greater patience and far greater fire discipline. Fire only with clear shots or when providing cover fire for a teammate (not a great use of a bolty)! Your alternative firing position might be just 10 feet away or even from the other side of a large stump!
Try to refrain from a position that has a broad sweeping forward view except with your initial shots where stealth typicallt dictates that you will initiate the contact. Move almost immediately after this initial 1 or 2 shots. (3 at the very most). After that select a position where your primary target focus is in the oblique with cover to your immediate front or you are on a reverse slope. They cant see you at all until they crest the terrain. Most airsofters focus almost entirely to their direct line of movement. As they move forward they become in line with your angled shot. You can thus engage them singularly. If your shots are 180 to your front you are typically exposed to numerous enemy weapons. Not healthy. Naturally if your complete cover is to your front the enemy can move straight into you without you seeing them. Hence you have to rely on a teamate (perhaps also in an oblique defensive position) to be positioned to cover your front. Ideally at the same time your narrow target line covers his. If possible be so well hidden and patient that your opponent passes your position. Perhaps you set up in a rear facing position. When this works its incredibly effective as airsofters rarely focus to their rear and get very sloppy about security once they have safely crossed an area without being engaged.
Always fire from the side of your cover not the top. When moving take a knee when briefly halting and go prone if you halt for more than a few seconds. Periodically when moving halt, stay perfectly still and focus your sense of hearing and even smell along with your eye sight. When movingbutton hook and focus to your rear periodically. If in a group have everyone assigned a primary direction of focus especially rear security. Bolt actions are highly effective as flank security to a stationary position if they take advantage of stealth and fire discipline. With a bolty surprise is your friend. Be where they dont expect you. Use a running password with your team mates to avoid friendly fire.
Expect that sometimes your opponent wont register that a single random hit at long range was a BB expect to have a second round in the mail even if you're confident your first shot will land.
Hopefully more and more players will see that bolt actions and semi auto fire with limited ammo makes for a more enjoyable and realistic experience.
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Kipp
Private
Posts: 86
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Post by Kipp on Jun 20, 2019 15:42:49 GMT -5
As someone who has always preferred a rifle or a carbine, I center my tactics around the weaponry that is presented on the battlefield. I am very much a supporter of precision and accurate firepower rather than the "spray and pray" technique (don't get me wrong that has its purpose on the field too). This all being noted I usually run my trustworthy ICS M1 Garand, but since this is focused on bolt action rifles, I will detail my experience as a radioman with my personally upgraded Springer M1 Carbine. The tactics I implement in the beginning are largely on the rear echelon side of battle, but overall when the whistle is blow for the battle to begin I like to survey the battlefield and the strong points the enemy has setup. The main goal of this process is to understand the odds and not "bite off more than I can chew" simultaneously. Once I have identified the weakest point I plan a route I can follow (RADIOMAN NOTE: Relay all identified strong points and keep note of their redeployment, this also helps with your mapping of travel). Deep flanks are the best possible tactic to this concept and to travel solo or in a squad of 2-3 is also very helpful as it minimizes the chances of being spotted. If successful in my route, this tactic now allows the terrain and time to setup a defensive position on the battlefield to go in my favor.
Advancement comes at a slow and steady pace. Understand your magazine capacity and make sure of your targets. Do not fire until you are sure of your shot, and treat each shot as if it was your last round. Keep a mental note of where key positions and objectives are located and if they changed throughout the course of the battle. This concept of battle is a strategy game that requires patience, concealment and accuracy to give success. You did not necessarily have to be a sniper, but being a marksman with iron sights can go a long way.
I do not serve as an important shooter in means of "most lead down range", but I have given myself a lot of fun by making WWII airsoft more of a strategy game that can also provide a historical understanding of warfare in the mid 20th century. My vitality was as a reconnaissance troop. Surveying, reporting to fellow squad memebers, and conforming/following the progression of the battle proved to be a useful concept to the game and did contribute to the victory of the team.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 20, 2019 22:53:15 GMT -5
I am intrigued to learn more about your upgraded springer carbine. I tried installing a beefier spring and it worked great for about 200 rounds and then the trigger seer broke. While very happy with my many owned CYMA springers I'd love to learn of a reliable and durable way to step up the power a biut. Perhaps 30 to 50 FPS more oooompffff.
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Kipp
Private
Posts: 86
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Post by Kipp on Jun 21, 2019 15:31:39 GMT -5
I have noticed that the springer carbine gets a better velocity when the barrel is oiled (silicone) and given a oiled cotton swab before and after use. In addition, I only use 28g bb's for my carbine and personally like the velocity that comes out from that weight. For my modifications, I have only done minor improvements and honestly spend many days imagining and thinking on how to beef it up.
The mods I have done is taking the outer barrel off and place electrical tape around the brass inner barrel preventing vibration to effect the barrel when firing and makes the shots consistently accurate. In doing so, be sure to wrap the tape enough to be snug, but not too much that you can reassemble the carbine; also space them out at 1" per wrap, I managed to put 4 of these stabilizers on the carbine.
I have never had any trouble with the stock and durability of my carbines (I have 4 and sold 2) but to be extra cautious I took the internals out and used a very strong plastic glue made by Loctite and I glued the seams inside the stock to reinforce the strength of the stock.
I also have done some cosmetic design to it by using oil paints and a rag to make a wood grain finish, using a gray engine enamel for the parkerization of the metal parts, and shortening the banana mags to be the 15 round magazine (which I have also found that the banana mags wobble in the mag weld and it does effect the carbine to shoot inaccurately).
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 22, 2019 12:17:35 GMT -5
I did similar mods to all of mine (I have over time bought 3 dozen or so?) The barrel cleaning helps velocity a little bit and the barrel shimming helps accuracy but I havent tried heavier BBs. I am surprised to hear .28s work so well in these guns. My experience was the hopup handled .23 but nothing heavier. I will have to give that a try.
Contrary to most peoples expectations in most airsoft guns .25s out of the same gun inspite of lower velocity will fly farther (due to inertia) but at some point heavier presents diminishing returns for range. Heavier BBs are much more stable through the air and seem to be more likely to be felt although mathematically the jouelles of energy are the same.
The rate of fire and ability to keep the muzzle on target witb the carbines makes them quite skirmishable for springers.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Jun 22, 2019 12:21:58 GMT -5
Although not mentioned in earlier posts its best to fire from the side of your cover not over the top. Over the top provides greater and widerspread awareness of the terr ain to your front but also exposes you to fire from more potential opponents.
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Kipp
Private
Posts: 86
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Post by Kipp on Jun 22, 2019 16:31:02 GMT -5
In addition to the .28s, I valued the consistency of accuracy more than the velocity, but the velocity is still respective. As far as the .25s I also on occasion use them and sometimes prefer them in ideal conditions (no humidity or wind).
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Kipp
Private
Posts: 86
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Post by Kipp on Jun 22, 2019 16:34:08 GMT -5
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Jan 19, 2021 16:08:35 GMT -5
This thread merited a re visit for both new and seasoned airsofters. One additional observation to add. Players armed with less dominant weapons tend to emphasize stealth, team work and since they are shooting less Often can often turn up in surprisingly advantages positions on the field. There is nothing cooler than seeing your opponents by -pass your position as they focus on "all the shooting". Only to find yourself on an exposed flank or behind a small enemy group with their eyes focused away from you. When that happens, target the one further back or more isolated first. Go for head/ helmet shots as you won't have the luxury of multiple hits.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Jan 20, 2022 2:11:33 GMT -5
One more tip that occured to me since lately I have been working extensively with springers with low capacity magazines is get really good at quick reloads. Practice until you can do it seamlessly without taking your eyes off what's going on around you. Another tip that harkens back to my Army days is load a couple tracer rounds in the bottom of your magazine. In this case load white BbS first then top off the magazine with black or green BBs. These cant readily be seen by your opponents which can give you a little longer to remain hidden. The white rounds at the bottom when fired will let you know you're going to need to change magazines. Nothing worse with a bolt action than to shoot an opponent when you're empty.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Jan 20, 2022 20:47:43 GMT -5
I had some PMs asking about the use of green or black BBs. The concern is that its harder for you as the shooter to trace the BB and that is absolutely true. I find like all things there are upsides and downsides. Often times in the forest it is very hard to see each round but far far easier for you as the shooter to see them than your opponents. Sometimes while you cant see your BBs in flight you can see and hear impacts. Naturally when adjusting your hopup or guaging wind and flight characteristics you'll want to use white BBs. Another strategy is to use a white round every 3rd round with 2 in a row at the base of your mag. If you use this tactic BE SURE your BB weights are the same.
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