Muzzle Velocity

[Panzer Jager]

One thing that bothers me in this realism simulator is that weapons with very short barrels, such as the G36C and XM8 Compact, produce the same velocity as an M16A4.

The game features differening velocities based on what magazine is loaded, as opposed to a more realistic solution of basing it off of what weapon is being fired and what ammo it is firing. This is represented properly in ACE, but I think the system should be represented in ArmA 2 or Operation Arrowhead as well.

Example:
30-Round Stanag, 5.56x45 M855 Ball
M16A4 Velocity = 945ms
M4A1 Velocity = 885ms

30-Round G36, 5.56x45 M855 Ball
G36K + XM8 Velocity = 850ms
G36C and XM8 Compact Velocity = 770ms

20-Round Stanag, 5.56x45 Mk262 OTM
Mk12 SPR Velocity = 850ms

That's another point I want to bring up - it is unsafe to fire the Mk12 SPR with standard M855 Ball or any other ammo that is not Mk.262 OTM. However, in ArmA 2, it fires M855, which not only makes it unrealistic but also much less lethal and less accurate than it should be.

Anyhow, what with Operation Arrowhead including many more short-barrel weapons (SCAR CQC) I think it'd be a good step in the right direction to simulate varying muzzle velocities with changes in barrel length, just like in real life.

Here are some numbers on 5.56x45 just for reference. Obviously barrel length also affects velocities of other cartridges.

M855
M16A4 + XM8 Sharpshooter + XM8 LMG = 945ms
M4A1 = 885ms
G36 + MG36 = 930ms
G36K + XM8 = 850ms
G36C + XM8 Compact = 770ms
Mk.16 Standard = 870ms
Mk.16 CQC = 800ms
M249 SAW = 970ms

Mk262
Mk12 SPR + Mk.16 Long = 850ms
XM8 Sharpshooter = ~875ms

[Evil_Echo]

That is already done by one hugely popular mod.

[Q1184]

For what it's worth, here is the corresponding ticket at CIT.

[Celery]

That is already done by one hugely popular mod.

ACE is not an answer to every problem overlooked by BIS. In many cases it's a problem in itself due to its certain all-or-nothing features and fanbase.

[Big Dawg KS]

ACE is not an answer to every problem overlooked by BIS. In many cases it's a problem in itself due to its certain all-or-nothing features and fanbase.

This. ACE is not the be-all end-all mod everyone seems to think it is. The things it improves/fixes are outweighed by the things that it "fixed" that weren't broken or needed in the first place, at least IMO. For this, I will never use it.

[Beagle]

This. ACE is not the be-all end-all mod everyone seems to think it is. The things it improves/fixes are outweighed by the things that it "fixed" that weren't broken or needed in the first place, at least IMO. For this, I will never use it.

I can only second this. In my opinion ACE breaks the game even more and makes it twice as complicated as it should be.

[Evil_Echo]

For what it's worth - I was just pointing out that at least one group had solved this issue, not insisting that anyone use that mod.

So how about discussing the technique used by them instead of going off-topic with tirades about how much you either love or hate ACE?

[CarlGustaffa]

Well I love what ACE does to MP in terms of providing a more realistic gaming platform than vanilla. But as it has serious issues with singleplayer (and frankly, it doesn't really matter, to me anyways), I do anything SP related without ACE.

So certain fixes should not have to be relying on ACE or any other heavy realism mod. Hence I support OPs idea in full.

Another thing that has problem to be a problem, are the drum ammo for G36s and XM8s automatic rifle variants. Although in real life they would be "compatible" with any variants, they are just not used due to the problems with these magazines. These problems don't exist in the game. So why would someone choose not to use them if they were available? We can't create mission player squads based on these weapons where some are ammo bearers for the automatic weapon, because we know it will be vastly exploited by the "action players". Mixing G36s with SAW's in a squad tend to "break the feeling" as well.

So I think drum mags should be made incompatible with weapons not intended to use them, even if they are technically suited for it. Maybe then we can see some missions not being M4/M16 based. "Select weapon family" as a difficulty option sounds like fun, but nobody does it because it will be exploited. At least I think like that.

[Panzer Jager]

That is already done by one hugely popular mod.

Actually I know that, I even said it in my first post.

Here:

This is represented properly in ACE, but I think the system should be represented in ArmA 2 or Operation Arrowhead as well.

Another thing that has problem to be a problem, are the drum ammo for G36s and XM8s automatic rifle variants. Although in real life they would be "compatible" with any variants, they are just not used due to the problems with these magazines. Although in real life they would be "compatible" with any variants, they are just not used due to the problems with these magazines.

Along with that, it is debatable as to whether special forces use subsonic 5.56x45 as well, since subsonic ammo cannot fragment it would create really small wounds and deliver very little energy - even 9mm subsonic would be superior. So I don't know why the game has two different types of magazines for subsonic and ball 5.56, as subsonic 5.56 is pratically pointless.

[NkEnNy]

@OP
Sure. Why would anyone carry short barreled weapons though?

-k