Semi or Auto, Which Works Best?

     The subject comes up all too often amongst teammates and fellow players. Which is more effective, semi or automatic shooting? I notice that it is often a matter of personality that decides which side a person takes in this argument. Most of the time the more, "milsim" players say "Semi auto!", "Double taps!". While the less serious players pretty much keep their guns on full auto throughout every game. I've have always leaned towards the full auto side of the argument, because I've noticed that when it comes down to who's getting the kills, it's the players using auto, whether they like it or not, that really rack up the points.

     One thing that can be considered to decide which is better, is the physical aspects of an airsoft BB in flight. Airsoft BBs are small, light, and easily swayed off course by wind and even the smallest of tree branches. On a windy day I've seen BBs fly off course by several meters making it almost impossible to get a hit at certain ranges. Not to mention their size means in the heat of battle, a single BB bouncing off a players vest can easily be missed. As a result, most players know that if they really want to be sure they are going to nail that guy in their sights; they need to let out at least five shots, preferably ten. I have very rarely seen a player get a good opportunity to make a hit, and only fire one or two shots (besides snipers, but that's a whole different discussion). Because BBs are smaller and lighter than real bullets, it is obvious that a double tap like a soldier would use with real assault rifles is not going to be nearly as effective. In order to hit your target with greater certainty, you need to put at least five BBs downrange. That is simply the physical nature of airsoft BBs in flight.

     Ammo conservation is obviously another important part of the issue. Semi being the obvious choice to extend the time between mag changes. Depending on the intensity of the game, in half an hour a player can use up to, or over, a thousand rounds! That is if they are using mostly full auto. As I began to play more and more often, I found ammo was becoming more and more expensive. But it's hard to change your ways and use semi more often, especially when the players shooting at you like to put out a fifteen round burst just for kicks. However my habits began to change when I played a free for all with the team. Instead of using my usual, aggressive, guts and glory tactics, I utilized my camouflage and kept my gun on semi throughout the game. There were only three other players and I managed eight kills in a row before the game ended! All of this was done with semi shooting three to five rounds in quick succession. This, of course, meant I only used a few mags. Keep in mind I wasn't getting shot back at, because I was shooting them before they even saw me. This, however, taught me a valuable lesson on ammo conservation. Since then I've changed from using auto most of the time. Now I keep my gun on semi, and simply fire off five rounds at a time. It's been very effective as I am not getting any less kills, but I am saving money on ammo. I sure as hell don't use double taps; except maybe to keep a player pinned. But I am starting to prove to myself, auto isn't the only way to make sure the guy shooting at you keeps his head down. So when it comes to ammo conservation, semi is the clear winner.

     Sometimes the situation you are in means semi isn't an option. I have found myself in positions where the only way to be effective, is to blast out waves off BBs across countless opposing players. More than a couple times, I've gone up into a tower at my local field and begun relentlessly burning through mags to stop advancing players. There is no way you can effectively suppress three players at once with semi. Unless maybe those players are the kind that hide for five minutes at the sound of a single BB bouncing off their fort. When most of your team is at the respawn and you're outnumbered three to one: AUTO. Without a doubt there are situations when semi just will not do.

     Often times I here a player saying, "I use double taps all the time, I never have a problem!" or, "Full auto isn't sneaky enough". Ninety percent of the time, those players, simply put, are useless. They hide behind their team and spend more time sitting in the corner, "defogging", than getting into the thick of it. If you only use 50 shots in a half hour game, with more than 3 players one each side, you are doing it wrong. Players who think they can get away with some kind of stealthy ninja style gaming, generally have no idea what they are doing. Don't get me wrong, it's completely possible to play an entire game on semi and be just as good as any other player. But if your reason and method of using semi is based off some assassin type fantasy, you may be playing the wrong game.

     That being said, trigger happy players are just as useless. If you find yourself holding your trigger down for more than three seconds every time you shoot: Stop! It's actually dangerous to be one of those players who just empty mags like dump trucks. Mainly because, while the oh so satisfying sound of your AEG rattling in your hands is nice, you can't here the other player calling hit! It's a waste of perfectly useful BBs. Especially if you're not hitting your target. The only time using mass amounts of ammo is useful, is in a situation where you are really outnumber as previously described; or if you have an LMG. When shooting in full auto, five to ten round bursts are all that's necessary.

     I will not say semi is better than auto or the opposite. They both have clear advantages and differences. However, I have found that effectiveness between the two is equal on one condition: Five to ten round burst. No matter what mode you use, a five round burst can be done quickly, and they put enough BBs downrange to effectively hit most targets. So pick whichever mode you like. Because it's not the mode, it's the number that counts.

A private game

Just played last weekend, all with members of Task Force Diamondback. We're making plans for next season and considering starting up our own club!

We split up into teams of four and played some team death matches. I, of course, had my team split into two fire squads.  In the first round, my team emerged victorious as we caught the opposing team by surprise. They also split into fire squads but a miscommunication meant they were uncoordinated. As a result, two of their player walked right into our positions with no one to save them. We quickly located the second pair of players and took them down just as easily with plenty of yelling and suppressing fire.

The second round went much the opposite. My team moved into an area we knew the opposing team would soon enter. I had the other fire squad hold an intersection in some paths while I moved with my buddy on a separate path along the right flank. As I was moving down the path I quickly spotted and opposing player so I cracked off a series of semi shots and ducked off the path. The enemy player returning fire the whole time. I was discussing a plan of action with my fire team buddy when suddenly we heard a viscous sound coming from the area we left our other two brethren. It was the dreaded CA M249, and it was not on our side. We heard the other squad yell out "Hit!" and we knew it was about to get tough. Then, after taking a few shots at the player we bumped into, I realized my sorbo pad had come off and my barrel was jammed. So I called myself out and made my way back to fix the gun (ICS top end work is nice and quick thanks to the split gearbox). While I was gone my buddy apparently manged to revive our teammates only for all three of them to be taken out soon after.

Here are a few photo's from between games: