Effective Uses for the Hunting Rifle in Left 4 Dead

Most people who play Left 4 Dead think that the hunting rifle is the worst weapon in the game. Even though the hunting rifle is not for amateurs, is its great for players who are familiar with the game. With a little practice, it compliments the other weapons with its long range abilities and powerful bullets. Here are some reasons why it is one of the most effective weapons in the game:

It is very useful behind obstacles

Since the hunting rifle is known for its long range capabilities, common infected can be killed when they are hiding behind trees, doors, walls, or rocks. This will prevent zombies from running towards you and possibly causing damage. On advanced or expert level, this is vital for keeping common infected away from you since they run a lot faster.

You rarely run out of ammo

Running out of ammo can be a serious problem, especially if you are playing on advanced, expert, or versus. The hunting rifle has 180 bullets and one bullet can kill a zombie on any skill level. The reload time is faster than the shotgun and it has 15 bullets per round.

Highly effective against tanks

Tanks can cause great damage and they are tough to kill on higher difficulties. While the tank is chasing and pummeling someone else, run away to a safe spot and zoom in on the tank's head. The hunting rifle bullets are very powerful and a tank can almost be killed on one clip alone (15 bullets).

Easier to kill witches

Sometimes, a witch is blocking your way and you cant avoid her. Go as far away as you can and zoom in on her head. When you shoot her, she will be running towards you. Continue to shoot her and have the other players shoot her as well. This kills her pretty quickly, regardless of difficulty level. She will not have a chance to incapacitate you since you shot her from far away. This will prevent you from dying or using a first-aid kit.

Useful when killing special infected

Boomers, hunters, and smokers can be an issue because they can cause a lot of damage. The hunting rifle can kill special infected zombies from far away. Also, you can kill most special infected with one shot. This is especially helpful with killing smokers since they can drag you over 20 feet. Boomers are much easier to kill from long distances since they are so big. Whenever you hear one of these special infected around, zoom in immediately. Chances are you will find them before they can attack a team member.