Get to Know: The Shot You Never Saw Coming
David Cady: Not Pictured
I knew when I starting doing my interviews that I wanted to speak with someone that was a truly great sniper. I have friends that play in the magfed community, and ones that have made a bit of a name for themselves, and they all independently mentioned one name. They also threw words out there like 'Amazing' and 'Legend.' That name was David Cady.
David Cady in his natural habitat
When did you start playing paintball, and how did you get into it?
I shot a paintball marker for the first time about 30 years ago, but didn’t get into the sport as a team player until 15 years ago, when I started playing with the Paintball Solders. They were just forming up at that time and only had a few members
What team do you play with, and where is your home field?
I am still playing with PBS. We had our own field at one point, called “Borderlands”, where we used to play once per month. Now we play at Command Decisions Wargames Center as our home field.
I shot a paintball marker for the first time about 30 years ago, but didn’t get into the sport as a team player until 15 years ago, when I started playing with the Paintball Solders. They were just forming up at that time and only had a few members
What team do you play with, and where is your home field?
I am still playing with PBS. We had our own field at one point, called “Borderlands”, where we used to play once per month. Now we play at Command Decisions Wargames Center as our home field.
Breaking up the player profile quite nicely
How long did you play prior to moving into a sniper role? What kind of player were you then? What was your playing style prior? What kind of marker did you have?
When I first started, I had a Spyder, then an Autococker, then a Tippmann X7, then a Phenom, then a Speedball gun, a T4 and finally my SAR 12 with a T15 for a back up (haven't needed to us it). That’s the marker most people have seen me with.
I gravitated to the sniper role because I’m patient and have seen the value in a slower, methodical approach to achieving objectives. I like to creep in the woods and gain the advantage by surprise, not firepower. The greatest thrill is to hunt out another player and shoot them from a distance without them ever hearing the shot.
They always look around to see if they can find me, and I just get a kick out of it. One time I remember guy yelling to his teammates “he shot me, but I don’t know where he is…go and find his ass!” They tried, but got eliminated too.
Why did you switch over to playing as a sniper? What drew you to that playing style? Was there any singular event or gear that came out that made you want to switch styles?
What cemented the role for me is when I signed up to be an original member of the Carmatech Beta Test Team. I bought SAR number 16 and still use it for every game. I had the opportunity to give input to the design changes for improvements and have been involved with every major advance from Carmatech, including the Nemesis barrels and Supremacy Scope.
I was also involved (with Lou Arthur and David Williams) with the testing on First Strikes that enabled their inclusion into ASTM standard 1979. I’m a mechanical engineer and I work in manufacturing, so this side of paintball was a natural fit for me. I enjoy continuous improvement, testing, and increasing manufacturing efficiencies.
What also helped to cement the role for me was the sniper competitions. They were very, very hard. They were all day events designed by Ferg and Greenman from Command Decisions to test every aspect of a sniper. Most people think being a sniper just means you sit in the back and shoot. That’s not the case. Marksmanship, planning, navigation, decision making, and fitness all play a factor.
When I first started, I had a Spyder, then an Autococker, then a Tippmann X7, then a Phenom, then a Speedball gun, a T4 and finally my SAR 12 with a T15 for a back up (haven't needed to us it). That’s the marker most people have seen me with.
I gravitated to the sniper role because I’m patient and have seen the value in a slower, methodical approach to achieving objectives. I like to creep in the woods and gain the advantage by surprise, not firepower. The greatest thrill is to hunt out another player and shoot them from a distance without them ever hearing the shot.
They always look around to see if they can find me, and I just get a kick out of it. One time I remember guy yelling to his teammates “he shot me, but I don’t know where he is…go and find his ass!” They tried, but got eliminated too.
Why did you switch over to playing as a sniper? What drew you to that playing style? Was there any singular event or gear that came out that made you want to switch styles?
What cemented the role for me is when I signed up to be an original member of the Carmatech Beta Test Team. I bought SAR number 16 and still use it for every game. I had the opportunity to give input to the design changes for improvements and have been involved with every major advance from Carmatech, including the Nemesis barrels and Supremacy Scope.
I was also involved (with Lou Arthur and David Williams) with the testing on First Strikes that enabled their inclusion into ASTM standard 1979. I’m a mechanical engineer and I work in manufacturing, so this side of paintball was a natural fit for me. I enjoy continuous improvement, testing, and increasing manufacturing efficiencies.
What also helped to cement the role for me was the sniper competitions. They were very, very hard. They were all day events designed by Ferg and Greenman from Command Decisions to test every aspect of a sniper. Most people think being a sniper just means you sit in the back and shoot. That’s not the case. Marksmanship, planning, navigation, decision making, and fitness all play a factor.
At Command Decisions Wargames Center
What was the hardest part of the transition between playing in a more traditional style and a sniper? What parts were the most rewarding? Where did you look for help and advice when you were switching over?
It was an easy transition for me. Hunting players in the woods has always attracted me. I’ve played the faster “speedball” on a course, and while it is challenging, it is not my cup of tea.
Are there any things that you wish you could tell a younger you to making the switch over to playing as a sniper easier?
Practice with moving targets and range estimation more. To be a good sniper you should be able to tell ranges from 40-120 yards, and know how far to lead someone walking.
How far out is your longest elimination? Do you have a favorite elimination story?
My furthest in gameplay is ~120 yards (Editor's Note: Holy Crap!), but it took several shots to hit. My favorite elimination story was at Adventure Beach paintball. I snuck all the way from my entry to the enemy entry and found some dead trees to post up in. I was well outside their spawn point.
I had a clear shot to the back side of players entering the field who were posting up and trying to push into position. At one point, I had a row of guys in front of me who were trying to post behind a structure to push my team as we were advancing, but the enemy didn’t know I was behind them.
I had a clear shot to their back side from about 80 yards. I shot the first guy in the head, he turned around and started cussing at his teammates thinking they shot him! Haha. He was holding his head and he walked out. Then I shot the next one. Same thing…he turned around and started yelling at the guys behind him because he thought one of his teammates hit him. I eliminated 5 guys that way until finally the ones that got out respawned in and came to find me. It took them a while and I eliminated several of them first!
It was an easy transition for me. Hunting players in the woods has always attracted me. I’ve played the faster “speedball” on a course, and while it is challenging, it is not my cup of tea.
Are there any things that you wish you could tell a younger you to making the switch over to playing as a sniper easier?
Practice with moving targets and range estimation more. To be a good sniper you should be able to tell ranges from 40-120 yards, and know how far to lead someone walking.
How far out is your longest elimination? Do you have a favorite elimination story?
My furthest in gameplay is ~120 yards (Editor's Note: Holy Crap!), but it took several shots to hit. My favorite elimination story was at Adventure Beach paintball. I snuck all the way from my entry to the enemy entry and found some dead trees to post up in. I was well outside their spawn point.
I had a clear shot to the back side of players entering the field who were posting up and trying to push into position. At one point, I had a row of guys in front of me who were trying to post behind a structure to push my team as we were advancing, but the enemy didn’t know I was behind them.
I had a clear shot to their back side from about 80 yards. I shot the first guy in the head, he turned around and started cussing at his teammates thinking they shot him! Haha. He was holding his head and he walked out. Then I shot the next one. Same thing…he turned around and started yelling at the guys behind him because he thought one of his teammates hit him. I eliminated 5 guys that way until finally the ones that got out respawned in and came to find me. It took them a while and I eliminated several of them first!
At Black Ops Paintball in NC (Awesome field as well)
How big a part of the sniper’s game is patience? How long will you wait in a location before moving, or do you move into locations based on action that is happening at the time? How long did finding that part of your game take to develop?
Patience is very important! As a sniper, movement is slow and methodical. It takes time to get into position unnoticed. I can remember one time during Fulda Gap I snuck as far forward as I could unnoticed, across the creek and into enemy territory. I was next to a bridge. I laid in that spot for several hours listening and watching.
I relayed information about what I heard back to command and stopped an advance, told where enemy positions were, and guarded for engineers wanting to blow the bridge. I never fired a shot but won the most valuable sniper award for the critical information I relayed that helped win the game.
What are you shooting now as a sniper? What marker and barrel? Why that specific one? What do you use for an optic? What other specialized gear do you use regularly?
I use by BTT SAR12, with a custom handguard, 20” Nemesis barrel, Supremacy Scope, HHA adjustable riser rail, and 360 MOAB Cold Shot. The HHA and cold shot were used extensively for long range, but since I started using the Supremacy, I haven’t needed them. I have the marker zeroed to 60 yards and that’s it…the Supremacy does the rest up to 120 yds.
I carry a High Speed Gear Battle Belt with several important items: 2 spare mags, a pouch to hold the bag of First Strikes, my range finder, pouch for small CO2, and my holster for the FSC. I run a lightweight chest rig with a center pocket for a map. Lighter is better.
Patience is very important! As a sniper, movement is slow and methodical. It takes time to get into position unnoticed. I can remember one time during Fulda Gap I snuck as far forward as I could unnoticed, across the creek and into enemy territory. I was next to a bridge. I laid in that spot for several hours listening and watching.
I relayed information about what I heard back to command and stopped an advance, told where enemy positions were, and guarded for engineers wanting to blow the bridge. I never fired a shot but won the most valuable sniper award for the critical information I relayed that helped win the game.
What are you shooting now as a sniper? What marker and barrel? Why that specific one? What do you use for an optic? What other specialized gear do you use regularly?
I use by BTT SAR12, with a custom handguard, 20” Nemesis barrel, Supremacy Scope, HHA adjustable riser rail, and 360 MOAB Cold Shot. The HHA and cold shot were used extensively for long range, but since I started using the Supremacy, I haven’t needed them. I have the marker zeroed to 60 yards and that’s it…the Supremacy does the rest up to 120 yds.
I carry a High Speed Gear Battle Belt with several important items: 2 spare mags, a pouch to hold the bag of First Strikes, my range finder, pouch for small CO2, and my holster for the FSC. I run a lightweight chest rig with a center pocket for a map. Lighter is better.
Practice, practice, practice
How long did it take you to really learn your gun, where you were consistently hitting what you were actually aiming at from distance? Do you find that people starting off with FSR think that slapping a scope and a Nemesis onto a magfed marker underestimate developing this part of the game very often?
Practice is the most underestimated part of the game. I’ve spent countless hours at the field practicing. Tens of thousands of first strikes shot. You have to practice so much that you can tell if a round cycles correctly just by feel and sound. You need to practice counting rounds and how to tell when your mag is almost empty.
You need to practice in multiple shooting positions and multiple distances. I remember practicing for the sniper competitions, even after I was proficient at shooting, I would spend 2 - 3 12 hour days at the field shooting first strikes, plotting trajectories, distances, etc.
I’d buy 2000 rounds for practice to shoot 30 during the competition. You have to practice enough so that the shot feels right and you know where it will hit. Having a great marker, barrel, and optic are key to honing this ability, but it still takes practice to perfect it.
Practice is the most underestimated part of the game. I’ve spent countless hours at the field practicing. Tens of thousands of first strikes shot. You have to practice so much that you can tell if a round cycles correctly just by feel and sound. You need to practice counting rounds and how to tell when your mag is almost empty.
You need to practice in multiple shooting positions and multiple distances. I remember practicing for the sniper competitions, even after I was proficient at shooting, I would spend 2 - 3 12 hour days at the field shooting first strikes, plotting trajectories, distances, etc.
I’d buy 2000 rounds for practice to shoot 30 during the competition. You have to practice enough so that the shot feels right and you know where it will hit. Having a great marker, barrel, and optic are key to honing this ability, but it still takes practice to perfect it.
David Cady or Bigfoot has armed himself
How do you work with your team while on the field, as some snipers generally operate pretty independently normally?
I have constant communication with my team and my partner. They know where I am most of the time and we can coordinate movements pretty easily.
How much prep goes into a big game or scenario for you prior to playing? Do you walk the field or speak to other players about areas to play, or do you just let the game come to you? Do you need to prep your equipment or store your FSRs differently than a player who is just using paint?
If there are specific missions, I discuss strategy with my team mates prior to the game. Rarely do I know an exact mission prior to game start, but I always walk the field to get my mind into the game. Other than that, I just let it come to me and my partner.
I have constant communication with my team and my partner. They know where I am most of the time and we can coordinate movements pretty easily.
How much prep goes into a big game or scenario for you prior to playing? Do you walk the field or speak to other players about areas to play, or do you just let the game come to you? Do you need to prep your equipment or store your FSRs differently than a player who is just using paint?
If there are specific missions, I discuss strategy with my team mates prior to the game. Rarely do I know an exact mission prior to game start, but I always walk the field to get my mind into the game. Other than that, I just let it come to me and my partner.
Clearing out in Fulda
I know that you use ghillie suits. When did you start using them? Do you find them to make a big difference for you? Are there any downsides in them? What do you like about using them, and do you change their look for field or time of year?
Camouflage is a crucial part of being a sniper. Being still is great, moving slowly is great, but without camouflage, you will still be seen. I have ghillie suits for every season except snow. I’ve made them, bought them, and a hybrid of both. I’ve even had an Army sniper instructor help be build one from scratch.
What I’ve learned is that you don’t need to have a big leafy suit to blend in. It needs a healthy combination of base Jute in different colors depending on the environment, and natural vegetation from the environment. The problem with paintball is that it moves so quickly, and there are different fields of play, so snipers don’t have time to “veg up” to go from one part of the field to others. Typical missions are on a time limit, so you just have to roll with what you have.
Camouflage is a crucial part of being a sniper. Being still is great, moving slowly is great, but without camouflage, you will still be seen. I have ghillie suits for every season except snow. I’ve made them, bought them, and a hybrid of both. I’ve even had an Army sniper instructor help be build one from scratch.
What I’ve learned is that you don’t need to have a big leafy suit to blend in. It needs a healthy combination of base Jute in different colors depending on the environment, and natural vegetation from the environment. The problem with paintball is that it moves so quickly, and there are different fields of play, so snipers don’t have time to “veg up” to go from one part of the field to others. Typical missions are on a time limit, so you just have to roll with what you have.
No one here but us trees...
How did you get involved in helping FSR to become field legal (again)? Was that testing you were doing on your own anyway, or was that done specifically to combat the outlawing of it (by not covering it as standard) by insurance companies across the US?
David Williams, Lou Arthur, and I had been talking about this for at least a year prior to joining the subcommittee. We had talked about how to set up testing to show impact force of FSRs compared to paintballs. Lou found all the data acquisition equipment and test plate, Dave offered the location, and I offered the statistical analysis of the data.
We had everything shipped to Carmatech’s secret test site in Indiana. We spent several days, including one all nighter, to complete the testing. After that, we knew we were ready to go to the ASTM subcommittee to present our findings. Listening to complaints and people talking about “ASTM approval” I knew about ASTM and was actually on another subcommittee for my work. I was a part of writing standards for my job, so I knew what it would take to update this standard. I applied for membership to the subcommittee for paintball, and David and Lou did as well.
We discussed our findings, presented to the subcommittee, and defended the results. We then spent the next year discussing the wording of the changes to the standard. Then the committee took a vote and the changes to the standard were approved.
Most people don’t know this but ASTM is not an approval body that “approves” products for use. It is just a group that standardizes certain manufacturing methods, measurement methods, and characteristics about different products to ensure consumers get a consistent product.
They also standardize measurement procedures. Insurance companies that don’t cover First strikes either don’t understand them, or just want to charge a higher premium. Plenty of insurance companies offer coverage nowadays.
David Williams, Lou Arthur, and I had been talking about this for at least a year prior to joining the subcommittee. We had talked about how to set up testing to show impact force of FSRs compared to paintballs. Lou found all the data acquisition equipment and test plate, Dave offered the location, and I offered the statistical analysis of the data.
We had everything shipped to Carmatech’s secret test site in Indiana. We spent several days, including one all nighter, to complete the testing. After that, we knew we were ready to go to the ASTM subcommittee to present our findings. Listening to complaints and people talking about “ASTM approval” I knew about ASTM and was actually on another subcommittee for my work. I was a part of writing standards for my job, so I knew what it would take to update this standard. I applied for membership to the subcommittee for paintball, and David and Lou did as well.
We discussed our findings, presented to the subcommittee, and defended the results. We then spent the next year discussing the wording of the changes to the standard. Then the committee took a vote and the changes to the standard were approved.
Most people don’t know this but ASTM is not an approval body that “approves” products for use. It is just a group that standardizes certain manufacturing methods, measurement methods, and characteristics about different products to ensure consumers get a consistent product.
They also standardize measurement procedures. Insurance companies that don’t cover First strikes either don’t understand them, or just want to charge a higher premium. Plenty of insurance companies offer coverage nowadays.
Doing work with his SAR 12
How did you get involved with beta testing with Carmatech? Which products have you worked on with them? Were there any changes that were made on products that they made on suggestions from the field that you were proud of, or thought that might help other snipers as they worked with their SAR12s (Not a knock on Carmatech---literally the entire point of beta testing)?
I’ve been a BTT member from the beginning, and have become good friends with David. We talk often about what’s next on the Carmatech horizon, and collaborate to make them realities. Dave did an excellent job designing the marker to take out most of the manufacturing variation caused by loose tolerances or poor design. The marker itself was a consistent engine, so we looked to what else was weak on the market.
Scopes came to mind because none were calibrated for First Strikes. Barrels came to mind because the rifling on the Hammerhead barrels and the ID was not good enough to adapt to the varying diameters of First Strike rounds. The two breakthrough technologies Carmatech came out with after the marker were the supremacy scope first, and then the Nemesis barrels second.
Dave, Lou and I had talked about the idea of a scope calibrated for First Strikes for several years. How to do it, how to calculate the reticle, how the reticle will look, testing, etc. I had the very first one mounted on my marker as a test setup at Skyline Nation many years ago. I had to tape up any markings on it that would have identified it as Carmatech. It worked great!!
The Nemesis barrel development was in response to the change in dimensions of the First Strikes. We wanted to find a way to “desensitize” a rifled barrel to changes in FSR diameter from the manufacturer, and optimize the twist rate for the most stable flight of the rounds.
I’ve been a BTT member from the beginning, and have become good friends with David. We talk often about what’s next on the Carmatech horizon, and collaborate to make them realities. Dave did an excellent job designing the marker to take out most of the manufacturing variation caused by loose tolerances or poor design. The marker itself was a consistent engine, so we looked to what else was weak on the market.
Scopes came to mind because none were calibrated for First Strikes. Barrels came to mind because the rifling on the Hammerhead barrels and the ID was not good enough to adapt to the varying diameters of First Strike rounds. The two breakthrough technologies Carmatech came out with after the marker were the supremacy scope first, and then the Nemesis barrels second.
Dave, Lou and I had talked about the idea of a scope calibrated for First Strikes for several years. How to do it, how to calculate the reticle, how the reticle will look, testing, etc. I had the very first one mounted on my marker as a test setup at Skyline Nation many years ago. I had to tape up any markings on it that would have identified it as Carmatech. It worked great!!
The Nemesis barrel development was in response to the change in dimensions of the First Strikes. We wanted to find a way to “desensitize” a rifled barrel to changes in FSR diameter from the manufacturer, and optimize the twist rate for the most stable flight of the rounds.
Using the Supremacy Scope at Black Ops
What equipment do you think could be the next step forward for snipers? Is there an area that you feel manufacturers could improve or specialize more for people who want to shoot first strikes at distance? What could they do better for you and players like you?
It would be great if First Strike found a way to standardize their production process to provide a consistent product. I think players would pay even more for “match grade” rounds.
What would you like to see out of fields and game producers that might be more sniper inclusive? Who do you think does a good job of this now?
Command Decisions and Black Ops Paintball both do a great job with this. Sniper specific missions that are hard are very attractive to me. Command Decisions likes to use real life scenarios to make sniper missions, like sneaking though enemy territory to find a target and shoot it at a range.
In fact, Command Decisions used to hold sniper competitions every year. My teammate and I won 3 of the 5 competitions held there. They were all-day events that really challenged the sniper’s mind and body. We competed in a close range pistol target range, one hour stalk and kill, endurance run and shoot, memorizing High value targets and shooting them out a large group, range estimation and target elimination, and some mystery event that usually involved moving targets and quick decision making.
It would be great if First Strike found a way to standardize their production process to provide a consistent product. I think players would pay even more for “match grade” rounds.
What would you like to see out of fields and game producers that might be more sniper inclusive? Who do you think does a good job of this now?
Command Decisions and Black Ops Paintball both do a great job with this. Sniper specific missions that are hard are very attractive to me. Command Decisions likes to use real life scenarios to make sniper missions, like sneaking though enemy territory to find a target and shoot it at a range.
In fact, Command Decisions used to hold sniper competitions every year. My teammate and I won 3 of the 5 competitions held there. They were all-day events that really challenged the sniper’s mind and body. We competed in a close range pistol target range, one hour stalk and kill, endurance run and shoot, memorizing High value targets and shooting them out a large group, range estimation and target elimination, and some mystery event that usually involved moving targets and quick decision making.
Finding a settling spot
What scenarios or big games are your favorite to play? Why?
Fulda Gap and Skyline Nation are my favorites. Friendship off the field is as important as teamwork on the field. Both games offer that. Skyline offers the added bonus of beautiful scenery the entire week in the Alberta wilderness. Additionally, Skyline has the quick draw contest for pistols, where the winner gets a golden belt buckle. I haven’t won that yet.
What situation in a weekend makes your eyes get wide and think, “This is why I’m playing like this. This is why I’m here.”
The feeling of being all alone on the field, but completely aware of my surroundings. The feeling of hitting a target after stalking it or trying to get to it for hours is the most exhilarating.
Fulda Gap and Skyline Nation are my favorites. Friendship off the field is as important as teamwork on the field. Both games offer that. Skyline offers the added bonus of beautiful scenery the entire week in the Alberta wilderness. Additionally, Skyline has the quick draw contest for pistols, where the winner gets a golden belt buckle. I haven’t won that yet.
What situation in a weekend makes your eyes get wide and think, “This is why I’m playing like this. This is why I’m here.”
The feeling of being all alone on the field, but completely aware of my surroundings. The feeling of hitting a target after stalking it or trying to get to it for hours is the most exhilarating.
Effective, even alone
