Tactics AA-12 with Pump Action or Hunting?

[Temstar]

Shotguns, what like guns that fire shots?

Anyway AA-12, we all know what it does and how awesome it is (until it runs out of ammo). But which shotgun do you see AA-12 replace?

If you see it as a replacement for hunting shotgun - ie for taking down large targets, then you'll carry Pump Action and AA-12, which needs Support 4

If you see it as a full auto replacement of the pump action, you'll carry it and Hunting, this needs Support 5.

Can we get a show of hands on people's oppinion of AA-12's role?

 

[9_6]

It's a matter of taste as it in fact combines both the hunting- and the normal shotgun.
I prefer normal with aa12 simply because the HS and the aa12 share the same key which I dislike and because HS ammo costs a ton of money.

 

[brick_top1982]

I'm back an forth with combos on this:

AA12 + pump action

AA12 + Hunting (gotta love the spike damage)

or plain ol' school Pump action + Hunting shotgun + deagle(single)

I like using the AA12 sometimes as a replacement for the pump action simply because it has more shells. But there are two things that kind of make me not like it A) even in semi auto I get tempted to spam like crazy and find myself short on shells early and B) To me it seams like there is a lesser spread compared to the pump action.

When I do use the AA12 + Hunting combo, I have my specials bound to mouse wheel up instead of 4, so its a smooth and easy way to choose between the two.

AA12 + pump action, Works great for clearing out rooms, but again I feel that the AA12 doesn't have the same punch as a double Barrel Blast.

So I tend to use my last combo for a number of reasons. Deagle works great for decaping all the lone stuff (crawlers clots bloats etc) since the 9mm takes a few shots to decap any of the smaller guys on suicidal. Then when it gets to be more than 3 zeds, whip out the pump action and empty a few shells, then for the big ZED time and Blood shower Empty both shells into the crowd with the Hunting. I never.... EVER buy ammo for the hunting shotgun, always sell re-buy. The 46 shells is always more than enough to get you through a wave. And if I have the spare pounds I get some pipes.

 

[mamoo]

Normal and AA12 everyday.

 

[BEEEEEES]

For me, it depends largely on team makeup and the environment.

If you have someone else to crowd control while you reload the HS, or the environment is such that you can see zeds ahead of time and anticipate if you'll have enough time to reload the HS, I prefer the HS due to its superior stopping power and "room broom" effectiveness.

Whereas the shotgun is a more flexible choice, it won't help you much against a big zed. The HS demands more situational awareness, but its reward is that- when paired with the AA12, you have a larger supply of tank-buster firepower at your disposal. Again, it depends on team makeup. If you've got a trusted sharpshooter, there's less reason to pack the HS over the Shotgun.

Personally, though, I feel the HS is more dramatic and exciting than the shotgun.

 

[-[SiN]-bswearer]

i prefer the HS over the normal simply because you can reload much quicker than you can with the normal, and when i say that it's bullets + reload time + firepower. the HS can reload two shots in less time than the regular can load two shots plus those two HS shots are more powerful than two regular shotgun shells because you can fire both simultaniously. HOWEVER the normal will have a larger capacity which should mean less reloads.....but then again to reload it to full capacity it takes much longer.

i usually use the AA12 as i would a pump and only spam it if i've got FP/scrakes to worry about and usually end up finishing them off with the HS anyway.

 

[Temstar]

I'm been trying out the idea of replacing pump action with AA-12 and it does indeed work. Yes pump action shoots 7 pellets vs 5 from AA-12, so that's 40% more damage shell for shell. But fully loaded, AA-12 also always have 67% more ammo than pump action, so over all it's capable fo dishing out more damage in a round.

Also AA-12 punishes you less for shooting at singular targets. You know those situation where there's only 1 crawler or clot around and you take it down with a shot, then realise it's a waste? This hurts less with AA-12 since each shell does less damage and you have more of them. As long as you put AA-12 on semi and have good trigger discipline, it will last you a round if backed up by hunting.

 

[Logisticz]

I usually replace the Pumpaction with the AA12, since i Use the AA12 for standard Zeds and maybe a FP in emergency with the HS to blast Scrakes and FP's away or huge concentrated Zed mobs.

Mostly from Wave 6 (hard) and for sucidial i have no clue, since i havent tried it out yet

 

[Chaos_Effect]

For me the Hunting Shotgun is more of a novelty than anything. Sure it has good damage, but it seems even in Normal difficulty it takes a few double blasts to take down a Scrake and with that and the reload time there's a good chance of being hit.

Normally I just use the AA12 and Crossbow. That's a pretty meta-game setup >_>

 

[9_6]

For me the Hunting Shotgun is more of a novelty than anything. Sure it has good damage, but it seems even in Normal difficulty it takes a few double blasts to take down a Scrake and with that and the reload time there's a good chance of being hit.

Which is why you only blast them when they're charging at you.

 

[Cubensis]

I'm not positive but shouldnt you be able to carry a 30/30 rifle and an aa12? This seems like it would be a perfect combination. It will prevent wasted shells on distant targets.

 

[Temstar]

Support 6 can carry 23kg of additional gear, level action is only 6 weight, so 6+10 for AA-12 and you still have 7 weight left over, enough for say a bullpup or even a M32

 

[HaTeMe]

Ive been using AA12 with the hunting shotgun lately, simply for the power.

 

[Colonel Panic]

sell and repurchase hunting shotty, don't reload.

anyway, depending on how my team is performing, it varies for me. If they're having a harder time taking out big targets, I use the hunting shotty and AA12, and if they're having a harder time with the smaller targets, the pump and AA12. In either scenario, I use the OTHER shotgun as my primary weapon, then quick switch to the AA-12 in a pinch, rather than wasting AA12 ammo early in the wave.

pump shotty is also best in dark areas, for the obvious reason.

 

[SMIFF]

The classic support set up.

Shotgun and Hunting shotgun,

i dont like the AA12, its not that good imo.

 

[YFGHNG]

Lol. I just played Poundamonium in KF-Survival with 2 demos today. When them Pounders all line up at the door, it's ****ing amazing damage.

 

[slavek]

I see the AA12 replacement a matter of personal choice. I prefer reg shotty over AA12 simply because I can interrupt the reload in case things get close. If I do use AA12, I use it with HS.

 

[Rhenna]

I haven't reached Level 5 on Support Specialist as yet, so the personal experience of simultaneously having both the AA12 and the Hunting Shotgun isn't something I can comment on. (I'm currently at 4.) In any case, for me, the non-expendable member of our trio of shotguns would be the HS. This weapon has the potential of pulling victory, (however fleeting), from the jaws of defeat more than the AA12, at least in my experience. And, make no mistake, I really like the AA12.

The HS can deliver that much-needed "see 'ya!" dynamic to a marauding scrake or fleshpound, after a bit of abuse being delivered by others. (The Sharpie can't be everywhere, after all...) No, it isn't ideal for this application, and big-game hunting doesn't supersede keeping doors welded in certain maps. But, from what I've experienced thus far, it goes a long way towards leveling the odds against the heavyweights, and I like the feeling of confidence that having it brings. Which brings up another aspect of this discussion; the cost of the AA12 versus the HS.

If, as a Support-type you opt for the pump shotgun ASAP, the HS will be available, price-wise, long before the AA12. Yes, the HS ammunition is horribly expensive, but if used only in those "special moments," (you know the ones I mean ), the cost is manageable. Especially if you're lucky enough to come across the odd ammo box here and there. This assumes the handgun/pump shotgun combo is also being actively employed.

I'd say that you're likely to completely exhaust the AA12 ammo during a large wave, even on semi-auto and using good fire discipline. If you've sold your pump and your HS to get your mitts on the AA12, you could then have an embarrassing moment. While the HS ammo loadout is just roughly half of the AA12, I think it often yields more dead zeds overall. I also like the flashlight option on the pump, and I would be reluctant to part with it. I've had good success simply illuminating dim targets for the benefit of Sharpies and others, firing only if necessary. Yeah, the 9mm can accomplish this, but then, you're just holding a handgun vs. holding a 12 gauge. Either way, it's something that must be used with discretion, because you don't want everyone's eyes drawn to the same zed.

I do prefer the AA12 for Patriarch disposal; 20 rounds delivered as quickly as possible isn't as elegant as a crossbow bolt, but it can be effective. A bit of vulgarity is standard issue in the Support class; after all, it's about shotguns and welders... (Where are the cigars?)

 

[Olivier]

Regular shotty FTW. Cost less money than the HS, so you can fill the sky with green cubes

Money rain... (say this in your head just like Chocolate rain...)

 

[CandleJack]

As support L5, i can carry a fair amount, with shotgun/AA12 and whatever else fits as my loadout. Shotgun is my main weapon, and i usually start out Shotgun/HS because of the AA12's price.

That and this combo can eliminate scrakes rather quickly, sometimes without hurting yourself.
But i found that this combo runs out of ammo on my main shotgun way too fast, and then i'm required the use the HS single shot, which isn't efficient.

Which is why my favourite combo still remains Shotgun/AA12.
AA12 can be used as a regular shotgun, with a faster fire rate when my shotgun is empty.