To DMR or not to DMR

[Dan Robinson]

As mentioned in another thread, I'm steering my towards a DMR for my next major purchase. 

I don't have the patience for bolt actions and gillie suits, but I quite like the thought out approach to cover and picking sight lines. 

Also quite happy to be limited to one-ish shot at a time. 

I suppose the main thing putting me off is the price of the heavier BBs which I also appreciate should be proportional to the ROF.  I can't help thinking theres a certain amount of piss taking though with the price almost doubling. 

Comments appreciated on the roll versus regular AEGs.  Or is it worth investing in a regular aeg with decent range, albeit with less accuracy? 

 

[Tackle]

Cyma m14 socom, stock they're pretty much as good as TM's version, for half the price, maybe even less, but are 100% compatible, even for upgrade parts. 

Then take it out, set it to semi & use it for a few games to get in to the dmr mindset, I'll be very surprised if you don't love it, & then consider a couple of upgrades to get it close to 450fps, it won't take much to get it there, & at the same time set it to semi, I'd consider a programmable mosfet & remove the selector knob, just til you see how it is for lockups (my old one never did?), if alls good then permanently mod the selector plate. 

Simples

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

Defo what Tackle said!

The trigger contacts are not perfect on them, so a 'fet makes perfect sense.

 

[concretesnail]

Dmr to whether you'll get the most from the dmr role will depend on what the sites you play are like in terms of dmr rule sets (most of my locals dmr has to be dmr calibre, not long m4 etc) and the terrain. The way that some sites grow up in the summer; the loss of longer sight lines and the MED meant it is so much harder to be effective.

In regards to the heavier bbs, it's a must; limited shots and controlled MED means rounds need to have a better chance of getting to and of being felt by the target, so a bb that will hold on to its energy better and be less effected by wind etc makes sense. Cost wise I dont find it too bad. Yes they dearer, but I'm using low and mid caps only, even running all my midcaps I'd still be carrying less rounds than a single high cap mag so 3000 geoffs last a couple of days at least.

Before sinking a pile of funds into a dmr use an aeg as a dmr for a few  days. By that i mean play in that dmr manner; only use single shot, give yourself a MED, force yourself to either not take the shot or transition to a sidearm.

If you are comfortable after that then the extra range you can get with the dmr will just be a bonus.

If you find it too frustrating then as your still effectivly an aeg, you flick the fun switch and charge back in.

Personally I play dmr-esque anyway, having only recently returned to aegs from exclusive gbbr use. Low cap mags and semi only was easy but I've recently dropped a softer sping into the 308 to get back under the aeg limits and given myself a 3rnd burst. The reason being that with the sites I'm playing currently the range i have is more than enough with the rif well built and good ammo. I can help team mates more by being effective in the ranges the site has and I can still play my low cap, flanking style I like.

Long post I know but hopefully it's relevant.

 

[Impulse]

Depends on your local site, in my opinion. For me, DMRs are useless at Worthing, as 1.6J with a 30m MED just isn't worth it; even if you want to play marksman you're better off with a bolt action since 2.3J will get you significant range increases and the MED is the same at 30m (and it's incredibly thick with foliage 6 months of the year, making snipers useless too). Different sites tend to have different rules for DMRs and I've written basically a thesis on it in another thread on this forum somewhere since I used my m21 setup to experiment with different powers (HPA is useful like that), but TLR is this:

1.48J - totally useless. Stay at 1.1J for no MED. I saw no noticeable difference in effective range.

1.64J - mostly useless. Maybe consider if your local site is fairly open and your MED is only 20m. Even then I only really saw a difference of about 5m effective range over 1.1J.

1.88J - enough to be useful. Probably wouldn't consider with a 30m MED as I have a bolt action with a 30m MED at 2.3J and an effortless bolt pull so I can shoot it fairly fast (still might though) but would go for it with a 20m MED easy. Saw enough of a boost in effective range to make it worthwhile.

As a result of Worthing's DMR rules being craptastic, I've long since been honing the idea of a 1.1J "semi-auto sniper" build myself; the goal was to get the most range, consistency and silence while having no MED by keeping to 1.1J. I managed around 65m effective range (at least 9/10 shots hitting a man-sized target) and I find it to be more than enough for most engagements, though Worthing is not a very sniper rifle friendly site even in winter (but it's way better than the woodland CQB of summer). I am a big advocate of the 1.1J DMR/Sniper build and think they're underestimated in the airsoft community for just how savage they can be. Plus people moaning "that's a bit close for a sniper/DMR" is always amusing.

Now that I've rambled enough, I'll actually get to my recommendation. Pick up your DMR rifle of choice, whether it's a Cyma m14 (they're nice...), SR-25 or something else. Then don't touch the gearbox, leave it at 1J and pick up a new hop rubber (I like 70 degree maple leaf macarons for AEG style rubbers), hop up nub and if you've got the cash a new inner barrel. Then simply play like a DMR as @Tackle suggested and see if you like the play style and get a feel for how much an MED might inconvenience you; remain mindful of your shots and the distances you're typically shooting at and experiment. Maybe play a game where you shoot only at targets over 20/30m, depending on the DMR MED at your site, then play the next game with no such limitation and see which you prefer. However, I will refute his point that they're 100% compatible and say they're about 95% compatible. There are tiny tolerances that are different, though you'll only encounter them if you work extensively on it. For example, TM magazines will fit in a Cyma m14, but they're really, REALLY picky about how you put them in and if you don't put them in right they'll fall out, while Cyma magazines in a TM will need to be forced in a little. Also, a Cyma stock won't fit on a TM gearbox and upper receiver. How do I know? Because I have both a Cyma and TM m14 and have discovered these while working on them

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

I'll echo the 1J bolty vibe.  I love shooting a no MED 'sniper.'

As for general play, it does depend on the site.  At Gunman Tuddenham I'll use the 1J bolty, as it is a small site.  For a larger site, I'll use the M14 DMR as I have space to pull back.  I NEVER take position without knowing where I'll go to next though.  I have never used my sidearm in years of playing.  Usually it gets left in the kit bag.  Playing DMR well takes a more measured playing style.  

TBH I usually play support gunner with about two milsims per year with a DMR (on large sites), so listen to Impulse and Concretesnail rather than me for experience.  I do what I do though, and an accurate 1J is a fun option.   A semi locked CYMA M14 works for me too.   It's worth a go I'd say.

Remember that repeatable accuracy is king though.  All the power in the world is no good if it's in the wrong place. 

 

[DestrO]

i would suggest getting a KC-02 and upgrading with Rogueworx parts, you'll have a DMR that will easily perform as well as a tuned BASR

 

[Tackle]

@Impulse, I too have owned tm & cyma m14's, & had no issues, not even with mags, possibly the manufacturers had made changes at some point to iron out any kinks ? 

 

[Dan Robinson]

Thanks for the advice chaps.  Lots to digest there...  Will keep an eye on @Asomodai's DMR sale when it pops up too. 

 

[Lozart]

Thanks for the advice chaps.  Lots to digest there...  Will keep an eye on @Asomodai's DMR sale when it pops up too. 

Just to chip in, I'd 100% back up the Cyma M14 route. I have a completely bog standard Cyma M14 Socom (albeit with some cosmetic tweaks) that regularly outranges its price! Last time out, using 0.28s it was getting sufficient range that even the marshals commented on just how far I was hitting with it.

They can be a bit heavy if you're used to M4s and the like, the SOCOM is probably the best balanced, the full length one can be a bit unwieldy and the EBR is heavier than a heavy thing and completely front end biased. Worth a try if you know someone that might give you a lend for a game though.

 

[RostokMcSpoons]

I've retained a strong hankering for an M14 variant, but they seem to be in short-ish supply at the moment.  Action Hobbies have the SOCOM version in stock for £200, are they still good value at that price?

(I'd have to invest in some more mags and appropriate mag pouches which is going to hold me back at least until I'm playing regularly again, what with Spec Ops still being on hiatus)

 

[Asomodai]

Thanks for the advice chaps.  Lots to digest there...  Will keep an eye on @Asomodai's DMR sale when it pops up too. 

It's up for sale now. 

Just to chip in, I'd 100% back up the Cyma M14 route. I have a completely bog standard Cyma M14 Socom (albeit with some cosmetic tweaks) that regularly outranges its price! Last time out, using 0.28s it was getting sufficient range that even the marshals commented on just how far I was hitting with it.

They can be a bit heavy if you're used to M4s and the like, the SOCOM is probably the best balanced, the full length one can be a bit unwieldy and the EBR is heavier than a heavy thing and completely front end biased. Worth a try if you know someone that might give you a lend for a game though.

It's why the SVU is perfect, it's a bullpup so balances very well

 

[Dan Robinson]

It's up for sale now. 

Yeah - just been looking at it....  and the JG36E as well... you git. LOL

 

[Keldon]

Just to throw something else into the mix I have recently DMR'd my G&G MBR 308 SR and it's really nice