To me this is not really a complete question or has one definite answer.

It all depends on a number of factors; which include (but are not limited to) weather, environment (woods, city/town, mix, brush, etc.), situation (what your intent in the mission is as well as conditions at the moment concerning that mission), opponent numbers (immediate and reserve), etc.

Given any mix of differences of the listed factors the distance could very well change, and SHOULD change IMHO.

I had written out a number of examples of how changing these factors would change your choice of distances, but for the sake of involvement (and discussion) I would like members to take that idea and run with it and give examples that show the need for different ranges.

__________________
“It is easier to blow out a match than it is to control a forest fire.” - Me
NE OSF COMMANDER / OPERATOR STRIKE FORCE
POG #934 / CPPA #2157 / LPPC #1 / BLACKLEAF OUTFITTERS / UMS / My MySpace Account

Well, example

When I ''flank-hide'' I usually wait till the player is really close... that is pretty much a given IMO

But in a normal game I usually don't shoot alot if the player is to far.. don't want to waist paintballs.. unless that day I feel like it.. so its always different

__________________

I used to play alot of stock pump, and the closer they are the less likely you miss and the more likely your ball breaks. I usualy open up at 20-30yards.

__________________

Curse you, Sam. I had started this, saw your post, and abandoned my own long dissertation on this subject.

Now I'm gonna have to resurrect it.

__________________
JackRock

Whether helping my team take a hill, a new player with equipment failure, or helping you to the dead zone.
I hear the call to service and I answer: I am an Operator.
Check out my paintball YouTube Videos.

Roger that, given the fact of size and strength of OPFOR in one group or other factors.
Are you ambushing, alone and taking cover, bieng assualted, sometimes the trigger dosn't even get pulled, sometimes out comes the rubber knife or the barrel tagging.
That being said I engage the enemy not at any distance really but when the opportunity preseants itself in the proppper manner whether that be 10 ft or more, one shot or a an RT burst.
Consequently though w/ a 3" barrel most my kills are usally eyeball to eyeball so to speak.

__________________

From reading this I gather that you are asking the "snipers" at what range they like shooting. I myself am not a sniper by any means I shoot to much for that. But I like to keep them as far away as humanly possible.

I have seen my team commander standing up behind experienced players and offering them a surrender. Their reactions were always priceless.

__________________

Okay, so here's my take on the optimal range at which to fire upon an opponent.


Now, the original post makes it clear the poll is generally about shooting from a concealed position (we will use the terms “sniper” and “snipe” from here on out to reduce confusion....any argument about the validity of these terms will be reported and I will ask the mods to remove such posts outright).




When sniping, I have spent much of my time to get into a position well ahead of my own side, well concealed, and generally I'm prepared to be patient. VERY patient. It also means I'm not willing to give up all that effort on a wasted shot. So I'm going to use the effort and energy to maximize the effect my ambush will have, as well as the effect for my side/team. So I'm first going to select a spot that fills two criteria: a likely avenue of approach and limited dispersal for my target group.


A likely avenue of approach is necessary for a sniper's job, just as it is for any major defensive force at a base or critical objective. Paintball players, for the most part, are still lazy. They take the easy way through the terrain. Very often multiple times until the defensive force makes the attackers realize that the easy way through is now the impossible way through. So, by picking the place that a large group is going to pass through, I can maximize my chances of getting a kill at all.


By making sure my target area has a chance for minimal dispersal, I can group my target bunch closer together. So I need a place that's narrow, or where I can quickly unload a large amount of paint. So this means I have to consider inverses. The narrowness of my target area is inversely proportionate to the amount of firepower I can utilize. So, in simplistic terms, the more firepower me (or my teammates) can unload on to the target playrs, the wider the area is allowed to be and still maintain effectiveness.


To further illustrate my optimal engagement range, I have to consider the specific terrain through which my target is travelling, and the terrain and concealment I place myself. For example, is the target to come around a berm or thick copse of trees, and I'm waiting on the other side? How much space do they have before they leave my target area once they enter it? Is my concealment good enough that I can engage them after they pass me, or must I fire upon the first appearance?


Also, the formation of the opposing players makes a difference, as does my intel on them. Do I have radio/visual contact with a spotter who relays to me that there are six players moving into my kill zone? Do I have ten, or maybe just one? If one, I might just engage immediately and let him be on his merry to the DZ. Or if one is coming, and I know a larger group is behind him/her, I may let that one pass and engage the large group when it is almost entirely in the kill zone. Or, if the large group is spread out, I may engage when only two are visible, and let the others come to find me, usually winding up in my kill zone in the process. Smart ones will find more difficult flanking routes...but, by that time, I've already caused more damage than I need to, and mission accomplished. The large player groups are now slowed down due to one sniper. Even after eliminating me, they are now on the lookout, and realize they have to move slower to keep a sharp eye.


But the team composition itself makes a big difference. For example, my team, Blacklight Company, is actually quite good at routing out snipers and ambushes. So, when I am sniping against the other side, and I recognize that the team coming my way is similarly good at noticing snipers, I have to make a decision. Do I try to wait it out and hope they screw up this time? Not likely. Once I recognize them, I'll probably try to engage them at the maximum range of my marker, with an effort to keep them at bay, then spam my radio to get some reinforcements to the area. Such teams are often employed to take positions....that means I'm probably keeping them from obtaining their objectives....and therefore denying them important points.


Of course, one major consideration is my own equipment. Do I have a flatline, and my maximum range is increased? Am I shooting a high-ROF marker that allows me many kills in a short time (which means the lead player is much closer to me when I open fire). Am I shooting a loud-as-a-cherry-bomb Tippmann, or am I shooting an ultra-quiet Impulse or Matix? With the former, I'm likely to engage more quickly at a larger range, since I want to keep the other players at bay. This makes it more difficult to extract my precise location and make them waste precious paint. With the latter, I can shoot many times, and the players may not know they're being shot at until they're hit with a nice blotch of blue/white/yellow/orange/pink paint on their immaculate tac-vest.




So, as Shartley and I have said...this is not an easy one-answer question. Care to paint a more precise picture with drawings?

__________________
JackRock

Whether helping my team take a hill, a new player with equipment failure, or helping you to the dead zone.
I hear the call to service and I answer: I am an Operator.
Check out my paintball YouTube Videos.

that explains a lot JackRock, great job!

__________________
Proud Canadian Baller
Kit: A5, camo job, polished internals, 14" Smart Parts Progressive barrel. Borrowed Opsgear G36 stock. 24oz CO2 w/ remote and slide check. Neat homemade sling. MORE TO COME
Vents Goggles and Multicam

I'm personally a very aggressive player. There's very few times I move into a concealed position with the intent of allowing a player to walk towards me. Usually I'm focused on moving to the opposition, not allowing it to approach me.

When I do decide to engage the OpFor from a concealed position it is usually because I'm playing pump and bereft of the firepower needed to engage a group of players. When I choose to fire on an opponent depends on the number of opponents, the terrain/ environment, and how they advance on me.

A good example of this was a game I played at CPX a year ago. We were being forced back and withdrew into an area of dense brush. I took cover behind some bushes and watched. I knew I had to bring the OpFor in close to make sure the ball made it past the leaves and shrubbery and still broke on my opponent. I had to withdraw a few times to new cover because the OpFor were too close together for me to be able to take them one at a time with my pump marker. I finally found a part of the field that they would have to take one at a time, through a narrow trail (Or try to claw through very dense brush). I waited just off the side for them to approach. I let the first player get to point blank range, to ensure the ball would break. I continued this for each player until I was eliminated, but it was very effective. In less dense brush however, it would have been suicide.

__________________

Team WOW My YouTube Operator Strike Force Brigade Page

You know, people like Jackrock and Shartley provide such good answers it just totally ruins the thread for anyone else. INHO you guys should just write a book and then we'll disband the forum.

As for me, it does depend on a lot of things, but as long as they are not aware of your presence, you should wait until they are as close as possible before opening fire or attempting to get a surrender. This'll increase your chances of a hit, unless your paint and barrel are having a good day and you want to open up when they're a little farther out.

You'll also want to open up as soon as they look like they might know something's up. The last thing you want is a firefight without backup. However, if conditions allow and you are beside a trail [and hopefully you have a buddy or two as well] and a group is approaching, you will want to let the first guy or two pass before firing on the rest. That would be an ideal ambush.

__________________

New members please read this first and use this as required. Thank you.