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First of all, let me say that I love Tarkov. BSG has done a great job creating a game with a uniquely realistic feel. Having said that, here are some things that I would suggest the developers do to help bring the game in closer alignment with reality:
- M855 vs 7N39 vs 7.62 PS: Right now, the ammunition available doesn't really bear any resemblance to reality. M855 green tip is not 55 grains, it's 62 grain with lead tip penetrator (M193 ball is the 55 gr). Right now, it's considered to be useless, sh*t-tier ammo when its direct equivalent IRL, 7N39 Igolnik, is God tier. Having shot probably tens of thousands of rounds of M855 and thousands of rounds of Igolnik, there is really very little difference in penetrating power between them. The truth is, the difference in pen values between ammo is wildly overstated. There is no generally available 5.56 or 5.45 ammo that penetrates substantially better than M855 or 7N39, other than (perhaps) Mk 318 Mod 0.In fact, the criticism of M855 is that it overpenetrates without fragmentation, hence in Somalia that's why it was difficult to take down unarmored, physically thin opponents.With respect to 7.62, it does not penetrate better than 5.45 or 5.56. It does more flesh damage, being a bigger round. But IRL, penetration is primarily determined by velocity (higher is better), diameter (smaller is better), and only a distant third by bullet composition. The big, fat, slow 7.62 PS does not pen nearly as well as the faster, smaller, and steel-core modified M855/7N39.
- Penetration in general: right now, the whole meta is to buy more expensive, better penetration ammo. IRL, as illustrated in point #1, it's hard to find .22x ammo that penetrates much better than what is currently used (M855/SS193 and 7N39). The reality is that the IRL, more expensive ammo isn't to pen better, but to increase accuracy. The reason many shooters prefer the old US M193 ball to the NATO M855 is that M855 is known to be wildly inaccurate. It is generally considered to be at best 3 MOA ammo, only mildly better than 7.62 PS. The reason we use Mk 262 Mod 0 in special forces use isn't so much that the 77 gr ammo hits harder, but that it is match grade and is substantially more accurate and less susceptible to wind effect. In the game, better ammo should be more accurate and consistent. M855 and Igolnik should some times have "flyer" rounds that just don't hit where they're supposed to.
- Right now, my in-game AKs are generally 1 MOA modded, and my M4s are 2 MOA. That's reversed vs IRL. The reason a 5.56 M4 is more accurate than a 5.45 AK74 is that the barrel is better. In addition, while they fire generally similar ammo, the heavy full stroke piston makes the AK by nature creates more felt recoil, and the effect of the piston on barrel harmonics makes it less less accurate. Add in lower build tolerances and better magazine design, and the AK is slightly more reliable, but slightly less accurate. Likewise, the HK416 with its short stroke piston is NOT more accurate and soft-shooting than an M4 - by nature it is less accurate and heavier in terms of felt recoil. It's just more robust, particularly with short barrels and suppressors, which is why US SF uses it. In general, a realistic "military" M4 using mass produced ball ammo might be 2-3 MOA modded, and an equivalent AK maybe 3-4 MOA.
- Suppressors are very well implemented in the game, incomparably better than in any other game I've played. There is one effect, however, that is missing. The best reason to use a suppressor is to protect your hearing, particularly indoors.Have you tried firing a gun inside a narrow hallway without ears? (I'm kidding, don't try this at home). Just look at the chaos in the Tarkov Raid videos. Fighting indoors without ears and suppressors is a complete sh*tshow.Firing a gun inside a room is a good way to stun yourself, particularly with a muzzle brake. The sound is magnified by bouncing back off the walls, and can stun a person like a mini-flashbang. If you want to make fighting inside dorms realistic, the guy using a suppressor and ears should be able to fight normally, but the guy with a shotgun, artillery brake, and no ears should get at least minor flashbang effects when he pulls the trigger, and persistent tinnitus.
- Barrels: this is something that very few people get. Longer barrels DO NOT MAKE your weapon more accurate. They make them LESS accurate because of the barrel whip. Stiffer barrels make your gun more accurate, which is why marksmen use heavy barrels. You use longer barrels to gain velocity (up to a certain point), and heavier barrels to increase accuracy and lessen accuracy degradation due to barrel heating.
Like I said, I love Tarkov. But these issues break immersion for those of us who have combat experience and know guns. The changes I'm suggesting are relatively easy to make, and wouldn't impact playability.
EDIT: It turns out I had mixed up 7N39 with 7N6. Regardless, my other observations stand. For the poster who got all worked up, here is my 7N6 stock, ~12,000 rounds, plus another ~10,000 of Wolf non-corrosive 5.45.
EDIT #2: Also, my credentials are well known on bb.com, m4carbine.net and lightfighter.net. Here is some pictures I took from my desk, so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to things to go pow.
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