DM loadouts

[Prophet]

Pacific NW is mostly green, so you guessed right. You should probably go for the MAV concept, like Quigly said.

[Falcon7]

IMO, light chest rig to hold a couple mags, maybe a MOLLE belt for speed loaders and such, and a drop leg holster with a pistol for close quarters kills would be optimal. Depends on your preferences though. OD is sexy, unless you wanted to go muticam or MARPAT or something. MARPAT is very sexy.

[quigly]

The exact gear you need depends on a lot of stuff. How many mags of what type are you wanting to carry? Do you want/need to carry any tools with you(and what size)? Do you need to carry a radio? Do you want to have a hydro pack on you? Are you going to carry small items that you will need every once in a while(tape, 550 cord, ect.)? And possibly the most important, how bulky do you think you can stand? A PC is obviously bulkier and has more molle room, but some thing like a battle belt is much lighter but can't hold nearly as much stuff. I would say go to a few different places and try on different style vest/rigs. There is no set list of what you need, just what you think you will need.

Also, if you plan on wearing a ghillie at all, I would say go for a molle holster for obvious reasons. A mag pouch will even work depending on what side arm you run.

[Strikerz]

Well i weight 204 so i can carry a lot. I plan on carrying 4 mags for whichever gun i get. I will most likely carry tools and if i was going to wear a ghillie suit id just get the one that goes on like a jacket for you upper body. And i planned and waering OD gear over MARPAT. I do so with my normal gear and is looks really sexy.

[Steve]

Have you done any research into what it means to be a DM? The role of a DM? This research would probably have answered more of your question than this thread has.

[Strikerz]

Yes i have, I just make sure i know what to get before i get it. An info page on a DM for the army cannot tell me everything about a DM for airsoft, if you know what i mean.

[Steve]

Yes i have, I just make sure i know what to get before i get it. An info page on a DM for the army cannot tell me everything about a DM for airsoft, if you know what i mean.

I call bullshit.

Well i was planning on purchasing a bolt action...

If you'd done even the most cursory research, you'd see that DMs don't use bolt guns. They use accuratized (generally semi-auto) battle rifles. They move as part of the fire team, and lay down accurate fire as needed to eliminate threats at ranges greater than can be easily engaged by the rest of the squad.

You need an optic, a tightbore, and a AEG to be a DM. Your loadout should match the rest of your element. Looking different than everyone else gets you downed. The number one priority of work of an enemy sniper is to eliminate the counter-sniper asset. That's you, as the DM.

kthxbai.

[quigly]

Here comes steve with the info hammer!

[ogrejager]

I agree with Steve. In airsoft, the DM is the guy in your fireteam who works alongside you just like everybody else. But when that guy is just a touch out of range for your average AEG, he's the guy you yell to, "Fred, come over here and hit this guy!" He's the guy with the tightbore barrel pushing the edge of the velocity curve who's spent the time (practice) and money to have an AEG that goes just a bit further a bit more accurately.

[LiberalPacifist]

The main element to a DM is the loadout and role, not gun. The role is obvious and explained well by those who have posted in this and other threads. Essentially he is a squad based sharpshooter, not a sniper.

The loadout should be about the same as the guys you roll with, so you are all uniform, as Steve said.

The gun, however could theoretically be anything accurate over range, when compared to your squad's standard weapon. The most common kind seen today is an old battle rifle modded for accuracy, such as an M14DMR or a G3SG1. However, back in WWII when the Germans and Soviets invented the DM concept, their marksman were just using standard issue bolt action rifles with scopes, and most importantly, skilled shooters.

So really, it just comes down to what gun you are most effective with when DMing, whether its an M700, M14, SVD, K98K, etc...

[Strikerz]

Well i was quickly corrected on that if you guys didnt see any of the previous posts

[Snowman]

The issue is that in airsoft, a lot of people have very accurate, very high-range upgrades in their guns, so the DM is kinda rendered obsolete/pointless.

[Steve]

The issue is that in airsoft, a lot of people have very accurate, very high-range upgrades in their guns, so the DM is kinda rendered obsolete/pointless.

I disagree.

The issue is that a chunk of airsoft players are unable or unwilling to assault through an objective. Folks seem comfortable hunkering back at the extreme edge of their platform's range and trading shots with each other for 6-8 months at a go rather than working together and running battle drill 1-A.

The DM only really comes into their own when they are working with an element that is willing to find, close with, and destroy their enemy. The DM is not some super-elite tier-1 operator. The DM is the guy that is just a hair better behind a trigger than the rest of his buddies, sitting behind a rifle that is as accurate as it can be without becoming maintenace-prone, looking through decent optics, and making the important shots in the heat of battle. He's J-A-R, but slightly better than most.

[Snowman]

Point. But wouldn't you say that there's more to being a DM than slapping a 4x scope on your rifle and modding your selector switch?

[Steve]

Point. But wouldn't you say that there's more to being a DM than slapping a 4x scope on your rifle and modding your selector switch?

I would start with a competent rifleman. I'd give them an accuratized weapon. Then, I would add an optic, bipod, and maybe suppressor.

But it all starts with the rifleman. The core of the DM is their ability to perform common soldier tasks as a member of a fire team. If they can't do these things, if they do not already understand, bone-deep, what the other guys in their element are going to do, their team is better off with them carrying a carbine and acting as a rifleman. Aimed, accurate, fire is great as part of an assault but isn't really the way to go as a standalone means.

A DM acting alone isn't really a DM. He's a WWI infantryman with some nifty bits of kit. And generally, the loss of throw weight overcomes most of the benefits gained by the optics. Dm's cannot effectively lay down suppressive fire. They are less successful at assaulting buildings than standard infantrymen. DMs only shine when they are supporting their infantry brethren. The DM is the guy who hangs out at the back of the crowd, not really saying all that much.

If you're looking for glory, you'll find it elsewhere.