Does anyone use the hunting rifles?

[Actionjackson]

The 5.56 and 7.62 rifles i mean... I dont see what they could be good for. From what i find they are more rare than the M14 and they are worse. I tried these weapons a few times, and i just dont see a good reason to use them, like they have no real advantage in anything.

[Armagenesis]

Pretty sure there are only .308 and .223 rounds for lever-action rifles. Unless we are talking about modded rifles as well. And I find MSR700 and MSR788 more often than M14.

I don't use 788 because it shares the same ammo with M14, but I use 700 when playing against low population just for the lols.

[Nijo]

I tried a bolt action hunting rifle once that I think was 7.62. It was very slow to use and not great if you spawn in Louisville.

[Shenji]

They are good for shooting human. Like in PvP.

[Actionjackson]

Originally posted by Beltneck:

https://pzwiki.net/wiki/Weapons#Rifles can show you the stats for each of them. They are not starter weapons - shotguns are the best to train with because of multihit.

Rifles start becoming more useful once you've got your aiming skill at 5 or 6. The M14 is the easiest rifle to start with because it's base accuracy is 50%, and that 20 round magazine really lets you put out some damage. The M16 has the best knockback of the rifles, and automatic fire.

There are a couple guaranteed spawn locations for the M16 and M14, but if you wait 3 months to loot the military checkpoint and police stations you can get more. Just like Katanas, they don't start turning up until the 3rd month.

I get that you hit better with higher levels but the same is true for the other weapons. So at level 5 or 6 the shotguns(double, regular or sawed off) still rock and the M14 still rocks too... it like there is no reason to use the hunting rifles at all, no matter what level you are. That is in PvE as that is what i play.

Originally posted by Shenji:

They are good for shooting human. Like in PvP.

That is a very good point, i guess in that context they can be usefull if you want to maximize range advantage. Since i dont play PvP i did not think about that.

[Lokaror]

Yeah, they are just too slow currently. I had a character where i used them quite a bit on to do stuff like thin herds on, but i had escape plans and a car ready. When the m14 is there they are pretty much defunct from that point on as long as ammo isnt the question. Its a shame, because i do quite like them.

[Shenji]

I guess hunting rifles also working better after v42, for hunting dangerous animals, if there's any.

[Animalman]

Yeah teh 223 can be pretty good out and around with a sling. Yeah its not amazing, but you are getting the chance for a 2 kill one bullet. The attachments make a difference

Imagine you had a stock of ammo and you sheet roped yourself in to an upstairs, and had a balcony with a farm on it etc. You can snipe zombies all day long with those guns. M14 hasnt got amazing range, while the 308 rifle has a nice range. The 5.56 is not good but it is the only weapon that represents its class with two firing modes. And its only worth using for its alternate fire mode. As other more accurate rifle exist.

The m14 will reach around the average distance from Front Door or Window, to the Garden Fence, front or back. But the 308 can reach beyond this. Say to the garden fence across the road. M14 staggers with its sometimes taking up to 5 shots to down a zombie when near use at optimal range. While the 308 is likely to do it in 2 or 3. But the m14 advantage of huge magazine means that it can reasonbly substitute for a shotgun when you are getting 5-6 aiming or beyond. So the ammo is worth saving for the m14 over the 308, but the 308 has a range niche that it occupy quite nicely, with its penetrative shot, potential for the double kill. Which i believe taking a double kill shot generate more aiming XP than taking a single shot. As i noticed recently i was gaining aiming xp for simple shooting at zombies, not only for the kill.

[Quill]

I primarily use the 223 Rifle for long range combat. Base Defense and Horde sniping from a Rooftop. Since 223 rounds are only used by that Hunting Rifle it doesn't hurt to use it but once the zombies close the distance I swap it out for a different rifle.

I don't use the 308 Hunting Rifle as the 308 rounds are better used with the M14.