tracers

[TwinBoom]

Tracers on/off don't matter much for a vultch-tard like vans....

Amen!!!! but its all about the score as if it realy matters how u rank

[Saxman]

Mtn,

I think it should be pointed out a LOT may depend on gunsight, used too. While none of our aircraft have much in the way of a true HUD, there's a lot more valuable information you can get from the right sight that can help you aim without tracers. Some sights IMO are just better than others. They'll all do the job, but some, especially the simple pipper-only or ring-and-pipper leave you with a lot of guesswork, while others give you a LOT of information.



This is my favorite sight. At a glance you can get your wing attitude and lift vector which gives you a rough estimate of the path of your bullet stream during maneuvers; basic ranging if you know your target's approximate wingspan; and rough lead-computing using the notches above and below the cross (plus ordinance aiming if you REALLY want to get technical with your dive angle, altitude and airspeed during bombing and rocket attacks). I'm not sure what the two angled lines mean, but this seems to match up with the K-14 sight's ground attack mode, so may have an application in ground attack (range finding?). However above the cross there's gaps in the rings at the same angles, so they may work with the vertical and horizontal cross-hair as a rough bank indicator.

[RTGorkle]

Off.

To me, the smoke and lights from tracer are distracting and can be a visual obstruction to my view of the target. I find them a tactical disadvantage - I don't want anybody to know they are being shot at until I'm landing a stream of hits. If I want to frighten somebody, I'll ping them.

Fly enough with them off and (hopefully) everything becomes very instinctive. It's very satisfying when you seem to consistantly squeeze off the perfect, one second deflection burst and watch them all land home.

Unfortunately, AH films look very boring without tracer.

[mtnman]

Mtn,

I think it should be pointed out a LOT may depend on gunsight, used too. While none of our aircraft have much in the way of a true HUD, there's a lot more valuable information you can get from the right sight that can help you aim without tracers. Some sights IMO are just better than others. They'll all do the job, but some, especially the simple pipper-only or ring-and-pipper leave you with a lot of guesswork, while others give you a LOT of information.

(Image removed from quote.)

This is my favorite sight. At a glance you can get your wing attitude and lift vector which gives you a rough estimate of the path of your bullet stream during maneuvers; basic ranging if you know your target's approximate wingspan; and rough lead-computing using the notches above and below the cross (plus ordinance aiming if you REALLY want to get technical with your dive angle, altitude and airspeed during bombing and rocket attacks). I'm not sure what the two angled lines mean, but this seems to match up with the K-14 sight's ground attack mode, so may have an application in ground attack (range finding?). However above the cross there's gaps in the rings at the same angles, so they may work with the vertical and horizontal cross-hair as a rough bank indicator.

I'll agree that those fancy sights may help with ground attack, but for AvA the best I've found is the simple little dot.  The rangefinding idea is neat, but in reality at the ranges I shoot rangefinding ability isn't of any real benefit to me.  I get close, and then a bit closer.  When the target's big I shoot.

[BaldEagl]

Regarding the element of surprise, if you actually HIT on the first burst with tracers on their done anyway.  All it takes is a little patience.

[Noir]

large sights just get in the way IMO, I use a small dot as default with tracers on, but I'm no reference.

[Simba]

Didn't know we had a gyro lead-computing gunsight in AH - where can I get it?

 

[Bruv119]

only can be enabled offline or in the training arena,

I'm same as nuke use the borsight for everything with tracers on.   Only shoot when I know they are dead.

If you would like saxman's US one PM me your email and i'll send you the whole "extra" pack.

[SlapShot]

Didn't know we had a gyro lead-computing gunsight in AH - where can I get it?

 

In the Training Arena or Offline ... it's not available in the Main Arenas.

[RTHolmes]

Why should tracer ammo have been "not useful" ?

"not as useful", and 25% is waay overstating it for a few reasons.

I was basing this on 4:1 HE:AP-T. against a soft-skinned target (fighter) HE rounds are surely more effective than AP, so 5xHE rounds will be better than 4xHE + 1xAP-T. I forgot that the usual mix was 50:50 HE/AP, so without tracers you get 12.5% more HE rounds, a useful increase (although not a 12.5% increase in hitting power.) also AP-T rounds will be less effective than straight AP rounds because they are depleted to some degree (fully at 800yd?) so will have less KE when they hit the target, pretty marginal though.

so IRL removing tracers should improve the cannons effectiveness against fighters. IIRC AH models shells as an average of their damage capability (ie if the mix is 50:50 HE/AP each round is effectively 50%HE 50%AP.) by "modelled correctly" I mean that removing tracers should improve the average damage capability of the shells.

[RumbleB]

imo the less junk you have on your screen in air vs air the better.

my fav gunsight for ava is

[Lusche]

Using a simple dot myself, only the 190F and B-25H are using a special gunsight for PB-1 rockets and long range 75mm gun shooting.

[betty]

i had mine off for long time...but seeming how i dont play as much as i used to my gunnery is off. so till i get it back i have turned them back on. i hate it though. with them off i get less stick stirring goin on when i'm on someones 6.

[Soulyss]

No.
Without the tracers I will gradually lose my feel, until I cant't hit anything anymore after a week.

YRMV of course, I'm speaking from my experience, which I know I wasn't a unique one.  I've talked to other people who described the conversion in similar fashion.  Just as I'm sure if this thread keeps going someone will pipe up with similar experiences to you. 

Like I said when it's all said and done it's really just personal preference.

Have to agree on the gun sight choice though, simple dot on the plexiglass for most planes. 

[Krusty]

Haven't read this whole thread. Skimmed.

Seems to be a recurring comment about tracers not even firing where the rest of the bullets do.

I think that's a gross over-statement of the facts. Tracers were a little different, but not to the point THEY would fly higher than the rest of the bullets. We're talking a % of difference small enough that even the random dispersion of same-type rounds would have the same variation.

In-game there is no difference between tracers on and off. Practically, in real life, there wasn't much difference. If you aimed properly, the rounds hit the target.