The last five rounds in a stanag 6.5 magazine are intended to be tracers. Is this what you're seeing, or are you seeing the whole magazine being tracers?

The last few rounds are intended to be tracers to show you are low on ammo.

Its the entire mag... Especially the 100rnd non-tracer mags. I load 100 rnd non-tracer mags and I get tracers. I load 100 rnd tracer mags and I get tracers. I load 30 rnd mags... ALL TRACERS! :P Its very annoying.

I just saw this happen myself. I'm not sure of the conditions, but it looked like it was a non-tracer 100 rnd stanag, and it appeared that the tracers appeared every other round, or so.

Here's the latest class for the 100 rnd stanag:

class 100Rnd_65x39_caseless_mag: CA_Magazine
{

		scope = 2;
		displayName = "$STR_A3_CfgMagazines_100Rnd_65x39_Belt0";
		picture = "\A3\Weapons_F\Data\UI\M_100Rnd_65x39_CA.paa";
		count = 100;
		type = "2*		256";
		ammo = "B_65x39_Caseless";
		initSpeed = 850;
		tracersEvery = 4;
		lastRoundsTracer = 4;
		nameSound = "mgun";
		descriptionShort = "$STR_A3_CfgMagazines_100Rnd_65x39_Belt1";
		mass = 20;

};

As you can see, it's set to tracersEvery = 4; That would account for the behavior I observed, but not sure about what the OP saw.

First round out, and pretty much every other round I pay attention to are tracers. Firing a single round ends up getting me killed.

I have actually never paid attention to that detail, but as Traxus points out, i would think that is almost a standard to have 1 tracer in between non tracer rounds, to aid with visually seeing where your rounds are going. It isn't always easy to judge where your rounds are landing, especially at long ranges when you have no scoped sight.

However, if it really is glitched like you say, with every round, then I would agree it needs looking into. I will try and verify it myself tomorrow perhaps.

"The last few rounds are intended to be tracers to show you are low on ammo."

I always thought there was a sound que that you could hear when your magazine starts running low. I never fired a real weapon, so can't say if it is true to realism, but I suppose visual aid would be usefull as well to inform you that you are low on rounds as well.

To me, it is misleading to place any tracer rounds in a mag that is not designated as having tracers. When I was in the service, a tracer was loaded every 5th round. However, this was for the guys that were actually issued tracer ammo... Typically machine gunners. After that, it was the operators choice.

For our M16's, the ammo we were issued was typically loaded on stripper clips. We would attach a load charger spoon to the mag and then attach the stripper clip and just push down. These rounds did not include tracers. So, to have a tracer magazine in the service would be something similar to the description posted by TraxusIV. Meaning that the magazine not designated as a tracer magazine (class 100Rnd_65x39_caseless_mag) in game, is pretty close to a tracer mag load-out in real life.

As Lighthammer said, the tracer mags in game would be straight-tracer mags in real life, and the non-tracer mags would be tracer mags in real life (with tracers every 5 and in the last 4-5).

Really it boils down to naming conventions in game compared to real life.

There should be mags with no tracers at all. One major negative about this system is, since its common, not only do you know that you are going low on ammo, but so does the enemy.

100 RND mags have 1 tracer every 4 or 5 shots, plus all tracers in the last 5 shots.

30 RND mags have just the last 4 shots as tracers.

Tested myself and my clan mates and noone can see the tracers when not expecting it

/downvoted

@Kid18120:

"Tested myself and my clan mates and noone can see the tracers when not expecting it"

That statement makes no sense AT ALL... The FACT is that they can be seen. The FACT is there are tracers in mags that are not designated as tracer mags. Your logic on this issue is flawed. Its not about seeing them or not seeing them because you are not paying attention. When you get some real world experience, then please come back and speak on this issue.

The reason why 100 rnd mag always has tracers is probably because it's obviously supposed to be used with a squad automatic weapon, despite being able to load into regular assault rifles with the same caliber.

Like the OP stated, tracers are usually issued for machine gunners, probably to correct the aim when firing bursts or full auto. So it's not surprising that this particular mag has tracers in such intervals.

Having few tracers as the last rounds in every regular mag could be some year 2035 NATO mandatory, while the full tracer 30rnd mags are for squad/team leaders for directing fire, as stated in Field Manual.

Back on the issue though, it might be good to have another magazine type that has no tracers at all for some stealth operations or such. Maybe they already have such things planned.

@Lighthammer2531
Think whatever you want but still, after testing STANDARD MAGS (non tracers) we only see tracers in the last 4 shots in 30rnd mags and every 5 shots in 100rnd mags which both are made ON PURPOSE by DEVS.

Last few bullets (5 I believe) of a 30rnd Stanag magazine are tracer rounds.

And by other comments I assume 100rnd Stanag mag shoots tracers each 5 bullets.

Both cases working as intended, downvote.

Wow... The children are out in full force... There are many things that are working as "intended" that contradict reality. The points being made you down voters are NOT VALID. You are not going to tell someone that served that tracers are common in all mags... THIS IS NOT THE CASE!

If the "devs" wanted mags with tracers then they should be labeled as such. The current system is MISLEADING. If you need tracers at the end of your mag to let you know you are getting low, then you shouldn't be playing. You sure as hell shouldn't enlist in the armed forces... If you dont have the fore-thoughtfulness to know when its time to change, then there are games out there for you. They are called "Call of Duty" and "Battlefield"...

I'm inclined to agree with hammer, it is rather misleading. To myself, i never thought of tracers as a means to inform you that you are low in ammo, I'm under the impression magazines have a more clunky sound as you near empty, but none the less, non tracer mags should have no tracers. Perhaps there are different standards, i don't know, i never served, but he has a point. Those last rounds will potentially give away your position, and at the worst time as well, when you have to reload, which would also give away your weakness to any other player.

Ok, so I was in an infantry company while deployed to Iraq, but I was a communications soldier. My experience was that for going out to the range for qualifications, etc, we just used regular ball ammo. When deployed, if I remember correctly, we were issued both ball and tracer ammo, and were instructed to load every fifth round as a tracer. This was in 30 rnd stanag magazines for an M16A2. I don't know what the infantry guys were carrying (many of them were rangers, so that obfuscates things even more). If I recall from my M249 qualifications, those belts also had a tracer every 5 rounds, I THINK. It would be nice to get some input on this from current service members, both infantry and non-infantry.

At any rate, for use in suppressed weapons, where stealth is important, there shouldn't be any tracers. That said, we don't have subsonic ammo yet, so I expect that when subsonic ammo is added, it will not have tracers in it.

These are not "non tracer" magazines but "normal" magazines. It is common practice to put a tracer round between every 3 or 4 normal rounds for machineguns/autorifles to help aiming, especially at larger ranges. Thus one would assume that the normal (not specially labeled) magazines have those tracers.
Soldiers not necessarily *need* them, but they help. And a experienced soldier will certainly use every trick that helps him being more effective. Same goes for the tracers at the end of a magazine.
Maybe add a feature-request for additional "non tracer" magazines?

Back when I was in, I served in a small boat unit (Small Craft Company) within the Marine Corps. We loaded tracers on our machine guns, but we had good reason... Ever try firing an M240 from a boat and using iron sights? I have... Tracers are your sights in that situation.

Tracers serve two main purposes. One purpose is directing fire... At that time it helps not to have too many people using tracers. The other main purpose is to find out where your bullets are landing... Some guys like the light shows because tracers are pretty cool, especially at night.

The down side is, ITS AN ANNOUNCEMENT! It lets the enemy know exactly where you are. When in a small unit, tracers can be a death sentence. When you are with the main force, or on a FOB, then its not that big of a deal. I have tested my stealth capability several times in TDM games. I do fine WHEN I do not fire, or when I am in a secluded spot and I fire on a nearby enemy. However, medium to longer range combat generates a ton of problems when the tracers come out. That's when I start taking incoming...

If these mags stay in the game then that fine. However, complete non-tracer mags need to be added in while the current improperly labeled tracer mags need to be re-designated. Its very misleading when you have mags that are labeled as being tracer mags and mags that are not labeled as tracer mags; only to find out that the non-tracer mag you picked up has tracers. Like I said before, the mags which appear to be non-tracer mags, fit the description of a tracer mag in real life.

The standard non-tracers magazines should not have tracers. Hence "non-tracer".

The standard magazines should have a tracer every 5 rounds or so.

A magazine full of tracers should fire a tracer every shot.

Tracers work both ways and if its a stealth mission you would not want the enemy seeing were the shots are coming from.

Cleaned up description according to discussion here.

While it might have been like it is now by design, it holds certainly some truth that if you do not have control over your own magazines, you should have a clear indication whether the magazines have tracers in or not.

I wish I could reset voting on this to give it another chance, but instead I just ask those who voted to reconsider.

While you may have a point, disrespecting fellow reporters won't really help the issue.

Real experience in armed forces may not fully apply here on futuristic armaverse where armed forces could have very different standards than what we are used to, even if those standards seem ineffective and confusing.

If 100rnd mags are not made to be restricted to support weapons only, the mags SHOULD have tracers every 5 round or so. This could limit their usage on regular assault rifles since they are obviously meant to be used in support weapons.

Other magazine sizes should have actual non-tracer variant for those stealth ops.

X makes a good point admittedly. I never thought of it that way... But that said, magazines should still be labelled correctly. And i believe that is the point of this complaint initially if i am correct?

@ XSnipa:
Why restrict 100 rnd drums/mags to support weapons?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAXEis5tckQ

You say:
"Real experience in armed forces may not fully apply here on futuristic armaverse where armed forces could have very different standards than what we are used to, even if those standards seem ineffective and confusing."

My response to that is:
STANAG's (Standardization Agreements) have have not changed much over the past several years. As far as future warfare goes, ARMA 3 takes place in 2025... Thats only 12 years from now. Look back over the past 12 years. Can you tell me how much has really changed as far as waging war? From my perspective, Not much... Maybe the increase in drone use.

From what I can tell, military equipment manufacturers have been working on increasing stealth capabilities and increasing the force multiplication aspect of combat units. Basically throwing up a sign that says "HEY HERE I AM!" does not help with stealth.

@ShotgunSheamuS:
One main point kinda grew into two... My first point was that mags not specifically labeled as tracers mags should not have tracers. The mags that appear to be non-tracer mags (Based on label designations) fit the profile of tracer mags in the real world.

The second point was that, if these mags remain in game, these mags should be relabeled as they are misleading. Someone see's a tracer option for a mag and then a mag that does not state that it has tracers... But then SURPRISE! Sure surprised me when I watched those red streaks fly out of a mag that was not labeled as being a tracer mag.

I bet you surprised your target too... SUPRISE MOTHERF#©%€R, red tracers of death in your face XD

Yeah, i get that too... I will say though, given the games utter shit sound for the time being, the tracers are useful for determining where shooter is. Who knows, maybe they did it on purpose to compensate for the crap sound?

I have no idea... The current sound issue is very annoying. Not because I cant locate the source of shots, but because projectile impacts in the distance sound like they are impacting near me. However, I know there is another topic about that. My main concern is the tracer issue.

@Lighthammer2531
"My response to that is:
STANAG's (Standardization Agreements) have have not changed much over the past several years. As far as future warfare goes, ARMA 3 takes place in 2025... Thats only 12 years from now. Look back over the past 12 years. Can you tell me how much has really changed as far as waging war? From my perspective, Not much... Maybe the increase in drone use."

30 RND 6.5 and 100 RND Belt 6.5 are NOT labeled as STANAG in game ;)
5.6 ARE. 6.5 are NOT.

@Kid18120:

WTF are you talking about? Did I EVER refer to STANAG Mags specifically? I said "STANAG's (Standardization Agreements)" and did not include mag. If you look at the context of my statement then you would understand that. STANAG's go WAY beyond just mags. If you bothered to do any research the you would know that.

@Lighthammer2531
I know perfectly what "STANAG" means and what it is.
The fact that some mags are labeled as STANAG and others aren't should suggest you that those who are not labeled as STANAG are not respecting the agreement.

I know that the STANAG goes way beyond mags only but in THIS context (the issue talks about mags, so...) the STANAG goes out of the window.

[OT]
I hate ppl feeling superiori because they know something and/or judging others without knownig them.
Next time avoid shit like
"If you bothered to do any research the you would know that."
because you don't know me and you don't know what my knowledge is.
[/OT]

Guys seriously, the subject is not about your knowledge. This is a game anyway, this isn't VBS that you are arguing about. This is getting personal now.

Ithink maybe BIS should consider allowing players to pack their own magazines, along with predefined mags. So a player can optionally choose how to pack a magazine based on requirements? This could work hand in hand with allowing to repack magazines after a battle to ensure you don't have any half empty mags, and always go into combat with a full mag.

@Lighthammer2531
While I do agree that the labeling is misleading and it would be nice with more alternatives regarding magazines (or custom magazines), really, ease up on the tone.
Btw A3 is not set in 2025, it's set in 2035.

@Kid18120:

You failed to understand the context. If you paid attention then you would have comprehended my statement. I said:

"STANAG's (Standardization Agreements) have have not changed much over the past several years. As far as future warfare goes, ARMA 3 takes place in 2025... Thats only 12 years from now. Look back over the past 12 years. Can you tell me how much has really changed as far as waging war? From my perspective, Not much... Maybe the increase in drone use."

Key statement:

"Look back over the past 12 years. Can you tell me how much has really changed as far as waging war?"

This was in response to XSnipa's statement:

"Real experience in armed forces may not fully apply here on futuristic armaverse where armed forces could have very different standards than what we are used to, even if those standards seem ineffective and confusing."

Did you look at that? If you did then you know that the discussion related to (NATO) combat "standards"... Not STANAG magazines. The fact that you said, "30 RND 6.5 and 100 RND Belt 6.5 are NOT labeled as STANAG in game ;)5.6 ARE. 6.5 are NOT.", tells me that you did quite comprehend the context. That was a discussion between myself and XSnipa... YOU decided to jump into the mix and add your (unrelated) $0.02 cents.

You go on to say:

"I know that the STANAG goes way beyond mags only but in THIS context (the issue talks about mags, so...) the STANAG goes out of the window."

This reinforces your lack of comprehension. The CONTEXT I was speaking in was HISTORIC combat standards. Therefore, my mention of "STANAG's (Standardization Agreements" are very much relevant. Furthermore, (again) this was a discussion between myself and XSnipa... How are you going to tell me what is relevant to the Lighthammer2531/XSnipa conversation? Did you miss that fact that my statement was being made to XSnipa? I'm looking right at it and it starts off with "@ XSnipa:". Something should have told you to put two and two together before drafting a response.

You also state:

"because you don't know me and you don't know what my knowledge is."

You are correct on this one... No denying it. However, I do know that you had/have no knowledge of the context of the Lighthammer2531/XSnipa conversation. If you did, you would know that historic combat standards do not encompass only magazine use... Thats pretty much it.

@Heruon:

My mistake... 2035... I revise my statement to 22 years. (The original statement will remain as it is) The following revision is for XSnipa.

@XSnipa:
Look back over the past 22 years. That takes me back to 1991... Operation Desert Storm era. Can you tell me how much has really changed as far as waging war? From my perspective, Not much... I still say an increase in drone use. I could say changes to camo patterns but the fact is, the use of camo is the use of camo. More service members are issued holo/red dot/magnified optics. I would say stealth tech improved but it really didnt... The stealth tech we are looking at now is 80's/early 90's stuff (At least the stuff we know about).

In the end, my point remains the same. The overall goal is stealth.

Regular 30 round 6.5 caseless mags for the MX series are labeled as STANAG in game. Those for the Katiba are not, nor are the mags for the TRG rifles. 30 round 6.5 caseless tracer mags for the MX series are not labeled as STANAG, but we can presume that they also are, since their picture is identical, and they go in the same rifles.

but at any rate, I kinda doubt that STANAG says anything about tracer packing order. Could be wrong, but it mostly applies to manufacturing specifications and interoperability between NATO countries, and how you pack your tracers isn't really that critical of a detail.

200 round belt for mk200 have tracers too on any mags.