Overview
This guide will teach you how to use the Single Piston Long Musket to the best of its ability.1. Musket Overview2. Headshot 1013. How and when to use the Musket4. Taking down Zeds
Musket Overview
She’s a beaut, ain’t she?
At Level 6, the Single Piston Long Musket can shoot rapidly, even faster than the Crossbow. However, it can’t penetrate enemies, and is best used when aiming for the head. Some enemies go down like nothing, while others take a little more effort. It could be described as a mixture of the Crossbow and the Lever Action Rifle, since it’s capable of rapid fire and packs a decent punch. The Musket is a headshot gun, so if you don’t want to learn it, then stop reading this and just don’t use it.
Headshot 101
As a Sharpshooter, you most likely already will be aiming for the head. If you’re new to playing Sharpshooter, know that headshots deal more damage than regular bodyshots and can kill the target in 1 hit (depending on which Zed it is.) The Musket doesn’t have iron sights like your standard 9mm or Lever Action Rifle, but rather a scope like the Crossbow. For the potential kill, put your scope crosshairs over a Zed’s head and shoot. Easy as that.
How and when to use the Musket
Like said above, you should naturally be going for headshots when using the Musket, as it deals maximum damage. If you want the Musket as soon as possible, sell your Crossbow (the one you spawn with as a Level 6 Sharpshooter) when the Trader opens at the end of the 1st wave. It will give you money to buy the Musket, but barely any, if any at all, for ammo. (You will get still get enough ammo when purchasing the Musket. If you do well when the 2nd wave ends, you’ll have enough money for ammo, and some more to spare.)
The Crossbow sells for $225, giving you enough for the Musket. Even if you don’t get any kills, you spawn with $250, so selling your Crossbow gives you $475 total. (Musket is $449 as a Level 6 Sharpshooter.)
If you’re facing a horde of Zeds that’s coming at you, immediately stop aiming down your scope and just start spamming shots downrange. Chances are, most of the Zeds are Clots, Crawlers, and Gorefasts, so if you’re going to die, at least thin out the horde for your team. If you’re far enough away from them, take out the strongest Zed first (If not a Scrake or Fleshpound, then a Husk or Siren) and then run so you can give yourself some distance. At this point, you can either go back with your team to help them if necessary, or take out the horde yourself. If you pick the latter option, remember to keep your distance and go for the head. You’re not a Medic or Berserker, so unless the only thing you have left is pistol ammo, don’t try to go toe-to-toe with them, since you’re not built for it.
Taking down Zeds
All Zeds vary in how long it takes for them to die. Here’s how you should go about that:
The easy Zeds: Clots, Crawlers, Stalkers
They die with 1 shot anywhere, so don’t bother going for the head on these 3. Note that these are the ONLY 3 Zeds where going for the head isn’t necessary.
Slightly harder Zeds: Gorefasts, Sirens, Bloats, Husks
For them, it takes 2-5 bodyshots for a kill, or 1-2 to the head. This sounds like a lot, but remember that as a Level 6 Sharpshooter, your fire rate with the Musket is rapid. Unless you’re in close quarters with any of these Zeds, don’t bother spamming your no-scope shots.
Hardest Zeds: Scrakes, Fleshpounds
The way to kill both of them is similar, and easy (in theory).
Scrakes – Shoot their head until they get stunned. When they do, you can either:
A. Finish them off with your pistols.
OR
B. Keep shooting their head.
Fleshpounds – Shoot their head until they aggro. If you’re fast enough, you can finish them off with 1-2 more shots to the head before they ever get a chance to charge at you.
Practice makes perfect, so just keep blasting their heads off 😀
(Unless you feel adventurous, there’s no reason to use the Musket against the Patriarch. The M99 exists for a reason :P)