I'm OK with the US .50s now. What do others think?

[BCI-Nazgul]

I don't want to start another lock fest, so just keep it simple.

[ShamrockOneFive]

I can feel the difference more than I expected. I'm seeing more radiator hits, more fuel tank leaks, and a slightly higher amount of control surface losses. Glad to see the corrections in place and happy that they seem to be offering up a little extra lethality for the .50cal. I didn't find them as troublesome as others had but great to see some fixes in place too.

 

I wrote a full editorial on the changes here: https://stormbirds.blog/2021/09/27/first-impressions-of-the-50cal-change-in-il-2/

[silvergun]

For me this small changes / fine-tuning make a big difference:

 

Quote

@Han

 

Mass increased from 42g to correct 46g.

Muzzle speed - from 840m/s to correct 864m/s.

So muzzle energy have increased ONLY for 16%.

Bullet armour penetration at 500m increased from 15mm to 17.5mm.

 

They are much more deadly now, thanks to the team.

Edited September 28, 2021 by silvergun

[Varibraun]

17 minutes ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

I wrote a full editorial on the changes here: https://stormbirds.blog/2021/09/27/first-impressions-of-the-50cal-change-in-il-2/

 

Really nice write up Shamrock, seems spot on to what I have also been seeing in a P-51 stock Career I have been flying before and after this update.    

[Mtnbiker1998]

me and my little coop group have all noticed a big improvement, lots of arguments were had over "anecdotal evidence" but in the end we all agree they feel much improved.

 

Amazing what a 16% increase will do!

[AKA_Hollywood]

When strafing ground targets the new dispersion modeling is a nice new addition. Aiming at one, kills one nearby from time to time.

 

109s and 190s engines catch fire more readily now.

Edited September 28, 2021 by AH_Hollywood

[Noisemaker]

I found flying today, that my accuracy has gone to s**t with the 50's.  Then again, I haven't had a chance to fly for a month, so I could just be rusty.

[Krisu]

2 hours ago, Noisemaker said:

I found flying today, that my accuracy has gone to s**t with the 50's.  Then again, I haven't had a chance to fly for a month, so I could just be rusty.

 

Canadian ace in the profile pic, nice have you read much about him ? Interesting guy  

[schurem]

4 hours ago, BCI-Nazgul said:

I'm OK with the US .50s now. What do others think?

They effin' ROCK nowadays! I finally see how a wing full of ma deuce is actually preferable to the British .303 / 20mm mix.

[Rjel]

2 hours ago, Noisemaker said:

I found flying today, that my accuracy has gone to s**t with the 50's.  Then again, I haven't had a chance to fly for a month, so I could just be rusty.

I'm finding myself in the same boat. I'm struggling a bit with them right now but last night I did set fire to a couple of 109s. Fw-190s still light up with engine fires for me like they always have. I'll echo what ShamrockOneFive said, I didn't have much issue with the previous version of the .50s. I thought I was pretty deadly with them most of the time. Outside of the lack of APIs, which I'm confident will still become a reality in game, I thought the older .50s hitting power mirrored what I've read. Right now, I'm not feeling that but I'll give them time to grow on me. A month from now they'll seem perfectly normal I'm sure.

[Noisemaker]

26 minutes ago, Krisu said:

 

Canadian ace in the profile pic, nice have you read much about him ? Interesting guy  

Total psychopath post (and possibly pre) war, but yeah, interesting...

I'm a Canuck, by the way, despite my current location.

17 minutes ago, Rjel said:

I'm finding myself in the same boat. I'm struggling a bit with them right now but last night I did set fire to a couple of 109s. Fw-190s still light up with engine fires for me like they always have. I'll echo what ShamrockOneFive said, I didn't have much issue with the previous version of the .50s. I thought I was pretty deadly with them most of the time. Outside of the lack of APIs, which I'm confident will still become a reality in game, I thought the older .50s hitting power mirrored what I've read. Right now, I'm not feeling that but I'll give them time to grow on me. A month from now they'll seem perfectly normal I'm sure.

I didn't have an issue with them before, but based on my flight this evening, the sniper rifle at convergence has been turned into a shotgun.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or something I'm just going to have to get used to.

 

[Rjel]

18 minutes ago, Noisemaker said:

I didn't have an issue with them before, but based on my flight this evening, the sniper rifle at convergence has been turned into a shotgun.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or something I'm just going to have to get used to.

 

Shotgun is how I described my feeling in a post too. I'd like to see how spread the actual pattern is before I judge too harshly.

[Cpt_Siddy]

Go swap the us 50 cals ammo to Russia UB 50 cals and all your "oh it feels better now" feelings will evaporate. 

[Reggie_Mental]

Yeah I concur. Definite improvement.

 

Might actually be able to kill something air to air in a P40 now. 

[Charlo-VR]

I am so much more accurate with wing-mounted guns now. I used to prefer the Russian birds when I flew Allied since they had their guns in the nose. Now I have a greater range of aircraft I choose to fly on Finnish.

 

I now also fear the .50s more when I fly German

[Hanu]

Had no problems earlier, even easier time now with P-38 which I fly the most on allied side. Especially with G-blackout changes.

 

Cpt_Siddy has a good point too.

[LuftManu]

Great!

[jollyjack]

Seems better, i like the p51d more now ..

[Feathered_IV]

17 hours ago, BCI-Nazgul said:

I don't want to start another lock fest, so just keep it simple.

 

Stupid Tigers still won't flip over..  sheesh

[Diggun]

1 hour ago, Feathered_IV said:

Stupid Tigers still won't flip over..  sheesh

You sure you're bouncing the rounds off the road right?

[CountZero]

they do same as before, i dont see differance, only way to kill enemy airplane is kill pilot or engine, no effect on airplanes speed when you hit him with AP.50, its same like it was before.

Compared to same cal german or russian mg they are clearly lacking and thats because other HMG have HE ammo. i wait for their DM revison to see if things gona get improved betwen AP and HE HMG.

[ShamrockOneFive]

27 minutes ago, CountZero said:

they do same as before, i dont see differance, only way to kill enemy airplane is kill pilot or engine, no effect on airplanes speed when you hit him with AP.50, its same like it was before.

Compared to same cal german or russian mg they are clearly lacking and thats because other HMG have HE ammo. i wait for their DM revison to see if things gona get improved betwen AP and HE HMG.

 

One step at a time.

[Cpt_Siddy]

2 hours ago, CountZero said:

they do same as before, i dont see differance, only way to kill enemy airplane is kill pilot or engine, no effect on airplanes speed when you hit him with AP.50, its same like it was before.

Compared to same cal german or russian mg they are clearly lacking and thats because other HMG have HE ammo. i wait for their DM revison to see if things gona get improved betwen AP and HE HMG.

Anything in this game that has even a nano-gram of HE filler outperform AP as far it goes to damaging air frames aerodynamic surfaces. 

[Psyrion]

Pretty good now. Very effective in combat. I like them 

Edited September 29, 2021 by Psyrion

[Denum]

For what they are. 

 

I'm quite pleased. 

 

Would love API but until then this is just fine. 

 

I slid in behind two E7s on FvP with my P40, smoked the wingman and was able to dogfight the flight lead. Prior to this that would have been stupid risky! 

 

[69TD_Hajo_Garlic]

I didn’t have a problem before for air to air, but they feel better now and I think they are in a good place. Before my main criticisms were for using them to strafe. Now for air to ground they are great for anything up to and including a Sd.Kfz. 251.

Edited September 29, 2021 by Hajo_Garlic

[BCI-Nazgul]

8 hours ago, Feathered_IV said:

 

Stupid Tigers still won't flip over..  sheesh

No, but my friend did kill a Pz IVg with them the other day.   They can penetrate the top armor if you dive nearly straight down.   It took several attacks and about 400 hits, but it can be done.

3 hours ago, Cpt_Siddy said:

Anything in this game that has even a nano-gram of HE filler outperform AP as far it goes to damaging air frames aerodynamic surfaces. 

That is still the case.   However, we did some testing after the patch and the .50s are causing a small but noticeable amount of aero damage now.    So, even if you don't kill the enemy with PK or engine hits, you're going to reduce his combat effectiveness.   Nowhere near as much as HE hits, but it will definitely reduce their speed and cause the wing to get "heavy".   They also tend to remove control surfaces much more now.

Edited September 29, 2021 by BCI-Nazgul

[Rjel]

11 hours ago, Feathered_IV said:

 

Stupid Tigers still won't flip over..  sheesh

You've got to scratch their belly. I know at least a .50 can do that.

[Gambit21]

The .50’s are missing an A-20G and Wildcat to attach to them...other than that they’re fine.

 

[Lusekofte]

7 hours ago, Cpt_Siddy said:

Anything in this game that has even a nano-gram of HE filler outperform AP as far it goes to damaging air frames aerodynamic surfaces. 

This is a bit annoying when it comes to the Typhoon. Flying coop and know you going to attack tanks and still got to choose HE rockets. 

[Rjel]

15 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

The .50’s are missing an A-20G and Wildcat to attach to them...other than that they’re fine.

 

Not to mention an 8 gun nosed B-25. 

[ShamrockOneFive]

1 hour ago, Gambit21 said:

The .50’s are missing an A-20G and Wildcat to attach to them...other than that they’re fine.

 

 

All of that please

[Gambit21]

2 hours ago, Rjel said:

Not to mention an 8 gun nosed B-25. 

 

Oh yeah, the J - that would be epic.

[Imperator_TFD]

8 hours ago, Hajo_Garlic said:

I didn’t have a problem before for air to air, but they feel better now and I think they are in a good place. Before my main criticisms were for using them to strafe. Now for air to ground they are great for anything up to and including a Sd.Kfz. 251.

 

Tried them on a train engine yet?  Great fun!

[[DBS]TH0R]

18 hours ago, Rjel said:

Not to mention an 8 gun nosed B-25. 

 

That would be instant purchase for me + few more for gifting purposes. ?

[Mac_Messer]

.50cal as it is now made all 20mm obsolete with exception of Hispano and Vya 23mm. It is much better in sub 200m engagements than any other HMG or 20mm. Close in sub 200m range PK or EK is 100% probable, no aero damage needed at all.  No need to equip 6 guns when 4 is all you need now.

 

I very much like the spread though.

Edited September 30, 2021 by Mac_Messer

[cardboard_killer]

If my six fidies cannot blow up Alderaan, that monarchy pussy planet with no weapons, than I want a recount!

 

 

[Zeev]

Makes me want to update the game and play it again, did not play for a lot of months.

Thanks for this thread.

[Cpt_Siddy]

 

 

[Spidey002]

Love it! Finally feel like the Mustang can do some damage.