SCAR-H vs. the Bulldog Assault Rifles in BF4

Super-fast reload time of the SCAR-H assault rifle.

The SCAR-H is the first rifle you unlock by playing the Assault Class in Battlefield 4, no special assignment to complete, just the regular progression through the game.  It was once unique in the assault rifles for having the highest damage output, but now it is tied with the Bulldog at 33 damage close range which drops off to 21.6.  All the other assault rifles start at 24.5 and drop off to 18.  Recoil is similar between the rifles with the Bulldog having more side to side recoil, but not much. 

With so many similarities between the Bulldog and the SCAR-H assault rifles what really separates them in BF4? For one the reload times the SCAR-H has supper fast short reload time of 1.9 and a long reload of 2.4.  The Bulldog on the other hand has a short reload of 2.5 and long of 3.2 seconds.  The SCAR-H’s long reload is shorter than the Bulldog’s short.  How many times do you get killed in the middle of a reload.  The other main difference between the Bulldog and the SCAR-H is the rpm.  The bulldog clocks in at 700 rmp or 80 higher than the SCAR-H.  That might make it better for close quarters, but the slow reload is going to pose a problem in the intense firefights that can take place in buildings.   Probably the best thing the SCAR-H has vs the Bulldog assault rifle is that you unlock it so early that you can get all the attachments you want before you come close to unlocking the Bulldog.  

SCAR-H Gameplay

The Bulldog must be unlocked by a weird, but easy Battlefield 4 assignment most players will complete without even trying as long as they have the Dragon’s Teeth DLC. 

Lions and Tigers and Bears Assignment

-          Dragon’s Teeth DLC

-          While on foot as assault, kill 10 support enemies who are also on foot.

-          While on foot as assault, kill 10 engineer enemies who are also on foot.

-          While on foot as assault, kill 10 recon enemies who are also on foot.

Shortly after I started playing Battlefield 4 the SCAR-H became my favorite assault rifle, indeed my favorite rifle in the game.  After I unlocked the carbines I used them much more frequently than any of the assault rifles, but now I am back to the good old SCAR H.  After I unlocked the Bulldog I immediately didn’t like it because it was unruly without the proper attachments, and I didn’t see a reason to grind out getting them when I already unlocked everything I could possibly use for the SCAR-H.  The Bulldog remains one of my orphan guns in Battlefield 4. 

Flipping the 2x magnifier on the SCAR-H Assault Rifle – BF4

I often run the SCAR-H with the coyote red dot, angled fore grip, flip up 2x magnifier and suppressor or muzzle brake.   

Bad Battlefield 1 Weapon Balance?

More details about Battlefield 1 continue to trickle in after the official announcement and trailer made their debut a few days ago.  One of the details that has come down has me a little concerned from a historical perspective rather than gameplay, and that is lack of information about bolt action rifles.  We know that there will be bolt action sniper rifles with telescopic optics, and those were certainly commonly used on the front lines of WW I.  However, there is no other mention of them in all the talk that I have heard on YouTube and read.  Bolt action rifles with open iron sights were more frequent than any other type of infantry weapon.  I would imagine that 99% of the primary weapons in the Great War were of this type.  Yet I have heard that the classes will work this way.

1. Medic - Semi-automatic rifle
2. Assault - Submachine guns
3. Support - Light Machine Guns
4. Scout (recon BF4) - Scoped bolt action rifles

• Semiautomatic rifles in WW I were very scarce as well because of their complexity and unreliability.
• In World War One the submachine gun (smg) was in its infancy and saw very little use on the battlefield.  The standard infantry rifle of the German army, the Gewehr 98 (G98, M98) had a production run of 5,000,000 1898-1918 (note: many were contracted to other countries).  In contrast the MP18 submachine gun did not reach full production until 1918 and only about 5,000 were produced, and saw action at the very end of the war. 

• The light machine gun (lmg) like the British Vickers gun would be very difficult to impossible use standing up against the shoulder for any period of time because its minimum weight was 33 lbs (15 kg)  Today the M60 machinegun is bad enough and weighs in at 23 lbs (10.5 kg). 

• Scoped Sniper Rifles were uncommon, but not rare, and very similar to their modern counterparts

• There was also mention of shotguns, which were uncommon compared to long rifles, but that doesn't trouble me. 

The No. 1 MK III Lee Enfield bolt action rifle was the main
infantry weapon of the British Army in World War I.

Because of the lack of discussion of bolt action rifles I'm worried that the historical infantry weapon balance will be way off.  I now this all speculation at this point, but I'm still concerned. What Dice may end up creating is an elite group of soldiers set in 1918.  I think that would be too bad from a historical, but it still can make a fantastic game.   For instance, in BF4 the number of aircraft and armor to the number of infantry is completely wrong, and it is an amazing game.  As primarily an infantry player I would like to see the number reduce, but I am satisfied with the current gameplay. 

I can see why DICE may have reduced the bolt actions role in the game.  Turn bolts are harder to use because of their low rate of fire.  To be successful against any enemy your aim as well as you tactics must be very good.  The big old clunky guns are less sexy then the massive firepower of the lmg, or somewhat steampunk looking smgs.  For those that decide to use a Mauser 98 or a Lee Enfield No. 1 Mk3 I hope they do an incredible amount of damage to make up for their slow fire rates.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this all plays out in the reality of the game.  DICE just have made the bolt action rifle a side note compared to all the other rifles because they are less cool.  I like the big old long guns a great deal, but on the video game battlefield they wouldn't be my first choice.

Production numbers were taken from Wikipedia.  My professors would not be proud...

Unlocking the RPK-74m In Battlefield 4

The RPK-74m is a cool weapon, but not because it is the best at anything, or the sum of its parts make it exceptional.

The RPK-74m is cool because it one of the few weapons in the game with a wood stock, and I like traditional weapons.  Because of its wooden furniture it looks more like a traditional AK-47.  I'm not sure why there are no AK-47s in Battlefield 4.  The AK-47 is one of the most widely used guns in the world, and that will continue for many decades. 

The RPK-74 isn't really much of a light machine gun in the game.   It is really just an assault rifle for the support class, but an assault rifle with a large 40+1 round magazine.  It pretty low rate of fire at 600 rounds per minute.  One nice thing about this gun in the game is the iron sights.  The front post is thin and really helps line up long range shots.  

Unlocking the SW40 Pistol in Battlefield 4

The SW40 pistol in Battlefield 4 is patterned after the real Chiappa Rhino is easy to unlock, and many have probably done it by accident.  To unlock the revolver you need to complete the Curve Ball assignment.  To do so kill ten enemies with impact grenades, and that's it.

 Once you completed the assignment you will be rewarded with a strange looking gun that has similar stats as the REX.  Both SW40 and the Rex do the same amount of damage, and have other similar stats.