Transitioning from a decent sniper to a skilled sniper...

[Sgt-Miller]

Here's my opinion of a way to make that transition from having decent skills as a sniper to being a truly skilled sniper (this is geared toward being on the SEAL team):

Note: This will only work if you already have the Medium Scope available in your inventory.

1. Start off using an M-87 ELR with a Medium Scope. Begin by practicing on stationary targets. Once you feel that you can engage stationary targets well enough, move on to engaging moving targets. Don't worry about headshots, as this rifle is an OSOK (One Shot One Kill), so it won't matter where you hit the target.

2. After getting comfortable with the M-87 ELR, move on to the SR-25 with a Medium Scope. Once again, begin by concentrating on stationary targets, but try to make each shot a headshot. After you are comfortable scoring consistent headshots on stationary targets, move on to moving targets. Again, try as much as possible to make each shot a headshot.

3. Finally, transition over to the M-40 A1 with the Medium Scope. Start the process again by concentrating on getting headshots on stationary targets, then moving on to moving targets once you are comfortable. The key is to be able to confidentally hit moving targets in the head from ranges of 100+ meters. Due to the slow fire rate of this weapon, you will have to pay attention to each shot.

Everybody has their own definition of what a skilled sniper is, but if you can get skilled enough to score headshots on moving targets at least 95% of the time with an M-40 A1 at long ranges, you can consider yourself a skilled sniper. Keep in mind, I'm not talking about "quick-sniping". Although an equally skilled tactic to learn, I feel this falls into a totally different catagory. I'm talking about the "true" sniping.

The goal: No matter what the range, you should be able to track/engage/take down a target in no longer then 5 seconds.

Again, this is just my opinion. Use whatever works the best for you to learn.

[Cylon]

Sticky: ~SNIPING TIPS AND TACTICS OF SOCOM 3~

Nice tips :D You should also add this that sticky so we get a nice list of tips and tactics. Curious though, why the medium scope on the OSOK snipers?

[Erg]

Originally Posted by XCylonX

Sticky: ~SNIPING TIPS AND TACTICS OF SOCOM 3~

Nice tips :D You should also add this that sticky so we get a nice list of tips and tactics. Curious though, why the medium scope on the OSOK snipers?

Probably to ease the transition to the SR's since the high scope cannot be used on the SRs

[Crimson_Samurai]

l watch people for more than 5 seconds so they think there fine then bam!
right in the kisser.
l actually learned how to use the Sr-25 frst then moved up to the M87.

[.V.I.P.E.R.]

very nice tips, but what about the terrorists. since they do not have the medium scope for the sasr and such so what tips can you give with the terr. in becoming an efficiant sniper

[Erg]

Originally Posted by .V.I.P.E.R.

very nice tips, but what about the terrorists. since they do not have the medium scope for the sasr and such so what tips can you give with the terr. in becoming an efficiant sniper

Originally Posted by Sgt-Miller

(this is geared toward being on the SEAL team):

[Sgt-Miller]

If you are trying to do the same thing on the terrorists side you can go from the M-82 with a Medium Scope down to an L-96 with a Medium Scope. I only say this because I'm not a huge fan of the SASR. The L-96 also has a quicker fire rate then the M-40 A1 (not by much though), plus if you want, you can still use it on the SEALs side. Another benefit is you get used to being more precise with the Medium Scope. If you are an avid SASR user, it'll seem easy for you to score headshots with the 12x Scope after practicing so much with the medium scope ( If only the SASR had the option of using a Medium Scope :( ).

[Sgt-Miller]

Another tip that goes along with this, which works for me, is learning exactly when to press R1 to fire off a shot.

When engaging moving targets from long distances, you'll notice that you won't have to much room for error due to the limited magnification of the Medium Scope (especially when you are aiming for headshots).

Instead of trying to move your crosshairs with the target, try to anticipate the targets next move. Surprisingly, when people are running around in the open they tend to just run in a straight line. Most likely, this is because people have a natural tendancy to get impatient, and take the quickest route when they spawn at a rear spawn point on a big level.

When you see a potential target, look at where the target is running. Once you think you figured out where he is going, line up your crosshairs about 10-20 meters in front of his running path. Once his head gets to the point to touching the red dot of your crosshairs, press the R1. Once you get the timing down, you'll score a headshot every time.

This is a tactic used by snipers/machine gunners in the military, and is sometimes referred to as "trap shooting" (not the sport, mind you). It's usually the best way to engage a target that is running left or right across your field of fire. The mindset is why constantly move your crosshairs to catch up to the target? When most of the time, with proper anticipation, the target will walk right into your crosshairs with little effort on your part.

Note: Although slightly a little more difficult, this can work on vehicles too (Especially on what I call "Doughnut Wonders". Anybody who has played respawns for a while knows how often the opposing team will get to your spawn and proceed to perform doughnuts right on your spawn area in an attempt to get more kills).

I use this all the time while playing Devil's Road sniping maps to deny the crossers their opportunity to cross.

Like I said before, people can always make excuses that sniping is easy in SOCOM 3, and in some aspects it is. If you can get to the point of nailing headshots on moving targets/vehicles with a rifle like the M-40 A1/L-96 AW, you are very skilled in my book.

[GreenStreak]

Originally Posted by Sgt-Miller

I use this all the time while playing Devil's Road sniping maps to deny the crossers their opportunity to cross.

w3rd.

As a Seal, take the path through the mountains behind you over to the right side of the lake. You can prone behind the rocks to avoid snipers in the terrorist village, and you can try to snipe the crossers trying to go up the path on the left side of the lake. You're also at a distance, which makes it a bit tougher since the target will be smaller.

[domcom64]

if any of you guys are former military like me, usmc, then youll know a sniper never fires more than 2x without changing position

they can see your flash

if you cant kill in 2 shots then creepy crawl out of there and find another spot