Not that my convergence settings are any better than anyone elses, but I'll throw them in here just as a comparison, and explain why I like them there.
I only fly the F4U's, and of course that limits me to the .50's and the 20mm in the Chog.
In the .50 cal planes (wing mounted) I put them all at 275. In the Chog I have them at 400.
My understanding is that the 200 range indicator encompasses the range from 100-300 yrds. The 400 indication encompasses the yardage from 301-500yds.
Assuming closure on the target in front of you, if you wait until the instant the target counter reads 200, and then fire, the target will be right around 275 yds.
My hit percentage is generally in the 12-13% range. I get LOTS of kills from 1/2 second bursts. Wings sawed off, pilot-kill explosions, etc. The .50s at that range are absolutely lethal.
My hit % would be even better, but I do use the guns and tracers to "steer" enemies that would otherwise get away. A few hits on them often instills just the correct amount of panic to cause them to "cooperate" and see things my way. If they insist on leaving, I can still kill them at 600 by aiming at one of their wingtips. I leave tracers on, because at the close ranges I normally shoot, it doesn't matter whether they see the tracers or not, and at longer range I want them to see the tracers, hoping they will turn.
I only shoot at long range (400 or 600 on the icon) if I am trying to scare the enemy into turning. Otherwise I wait patiently until I feel I can't miss before shooting. Normally that means my shots are very close, at a target the size of a barn. Shooting earlier takes my concentration away from manuevering for a kill shot, and puts it on hoping for a few pings. I use less ammo and get quicker kills waiting for a nice shot. I overshoot fewer planes too, as I'm not in lead-pursuit trying for a hit, but almost always in lag pursuit until the very end.
Personally, I think the majority of the people who have trouble killing with the .50s either are shooting too far away, or have their convergence set wrong, or just aren't aiming well enough. I don't like spreading my convergence out, but if it works for others, fine!
One little hint though, from someone who shoots competitively with a flintlock rifle. Aim small!!! If you aim at the deer, it's hard to believe how easy it is to miss! Aim at a hair on the deer, and the deer is done. I regularly shoot pieces of dental floss stretched betwwen nails, toothpicks, or the EDGE of poker cards from 50 ft, standing with no rest. I don't aim at the target though, or I'd miss. I aim at the CENTER of the target.
I don't aim at planes, I aim at plane parts. Or rather attempt to HIT certain parts, as my gunsight is almost never actually on the enemy plane. I shoot for the space between the cowl and the cockpit on fighters ( this gives me a cockpit hit if my lead is off), and for the wingtip, wingroot, or engine on bombers. Pick a smaller target, and even if you miss it a bit, you'll still kill the plane attached to that little target.
MtnMan
