Author Topic: Tracers (Read 950 times)

edge12674 · « **on:** June 26, 2003, 06:36:38 PM »

If you turn tracers off, do others still see them on their FE?

Just wondering.

_Schadenfreude_ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2003, 06:47:01 PM »

Ramesis · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2003, 07:26:44 PM »

No they do not and in a sense it is an advantage for the BNZer like myself...however I have found that I also shoot much better without tracers...can't explain it

MaddogJoe · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2003, 07:44:54 PM »

With out tracers on is the ONLY way to fly! I think its because you are concintrating so much on getting the right lead, that you hit more often. After flying for a year with tracers on the best I could do was in the 5% range. Now that I fly with out tracers I am ussally in the 10-15 % range, and that in just a few weeks

Also I had trouble seeing the "hits" with all those tracers in the way !! LOL!!

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2003, 09:14:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MaddogJoe
With out tracers on is the ONLY way to fly! I think its because you are concintrating so much on getting the right lead, that you hit more often.

That's the reason why it's recommended to turn off the tracers if you wish to become a better marksman. With tracers on, one tends to use the tracers to guide them to the target, often resulting in wasted ammo and no kill. With the tracers off, like you said, it makes you learn how to properly lead the target. You'll also notice that when you do hit after you've had tracers off for a bit, you'll hit in more critical areas, often doing serious or fatal damage with the first burst.

Of course there is a side benefit in that you won't alert an unsuspecting bogie you're sneaking up on if you miss with the first few bursts.

Ack-Ack

Blue Mako · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2003, 09:34:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Of course there is a side benefit in that you won't alert an unsuspecting bogie you're sneaking up on if you miss with the first few bursts.

The downside is if you are ever planning on getting a con off the tail off a friendly, having your tracers off makes it very difficult. Bad guys tend to stick to someones tail unless they see tracers flying past their cockpit, even if they are taking hits. It is for precisely this reason that I fly with tracers on.

Ghosth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2003, 07:11:29 AM »

All it takes is a single 30 cal ping to make a bogey change his mind about killing your teammate.

Thats the ONLY drawback to no tracers IMO and there are several positive points.

Shoot tracers off, learn to get in close at first. Watch for hit sprites, learn the lead.
Learn to deflection shoot accuratly.

Hammerhead · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2003, 09:15:08 AM »

I agree with all that has been said above......
Also I sometimes find tht i can shoot at an nme during ACM(knowing tht i am way off with my aim and will never hit him) just so that he makes either a more tighter manoever or bleeds his E quicker or just does something stupid, (u will be surprised with what I have been able to do, from discouraging temp HOs to making ponies turn

) however i think that tracers off is better because it dramatically improves gunnery.

Just a question about tracers though, in real world they replaced bullets at regular intervals in the gun belt with special "tracer" ammunition, right? Did this tracer ammunition, on hitting target do any damage? Also if not is tht modelled in AH?

Murdr · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2003, 01:00:22 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hammerhead
Did this tracer ammunition, on hitting target do any damage?

Yes

gofaster · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2003, 01:34:35 PM »

The only time I use tracers is when I'm in an Ostwind, or maybe one of the ship gun positions, and that's because I haven't figured out the trajectory of those shells yet. I need the shell tracers to guide me in.

For air to air or air to ground, I leave the tracers off. I find the bullet stream to be a distraction when trying to track the enemy plane's position in space.

edge12674 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2003, 04:22:29 PM »

Thanks gang!

I chose to fly with tracers off as soon as I found out I had the option. When Warbirds used to allow that option I always turned them off for the same reasons you all cited.

Thanks again!

Montezuma · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2003, 04:37:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by gofaster
For air to air or air to ground, I leave the tracers off. I find the bullet stream to be a distraction when trying to track the enemy plane's position in space.

Someone who is good at manned field guns can be very deadly with no tracers on.

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2003, 06:15:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Blue Mako
The downside is if you are ever planning on getting a con off the tail off a friendly, having your tracers off makes it very difficult. Bad guys tend to stick to someones tail unless they see tracers flying past their cockpit, even if they are taking hits. It is for precisely this reason that I fly with tracers on.

In cases like that, the friendly is more bait than friendly

ack-ack

rogerdee · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2003, 09:58:46 AM »

tracer was useually added some rounds near the end so the pilot new he was low on ammo.un like our aircraft which have bullet counters ,they didn't.

I now fly with tracers off and am getting better at hiting a shed,but still cant shoot down a damn rook or knight c47 lol:mad:

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2003, 05:33:31 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rogerdee
tracer was useually added some rounds near the end so the pilot new he was low on ammo.un like our aircraft which have bullet counters ,they didn't.

I now fly with tracers off and am getting better at hiting a shed,but still cant shoot down a damn rook or knight c47 lol:mad:

But in planes there were added to the 5th or 6th link in the belt to aid in showing the pilot where his rounds were going, not just as an indicator when the ammo was running low.

ack-ack