Sniper rifle

A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range firearm.

These weapons are designed for extreme accuracy over great distances. Military snipers use them for several specific tasks. These include anti-personnel, anti-materiel, and surveillance missions. Surveillance involves watching an area to gather information. Anti-materiel use means targeting objects made of metal or equipment. To be effective, a sniper rifle must provide high accuracy and reliability. It also needs to allow for mobility and concealment.

This means the shooter can move easily and hide from view.

Modern sniper rifles are portable, shoulder-fired weapons. They typically use a high-ballistic performance centerfire cartridge. This means the ammunition is designed to fly very accurately and powerfully. There are two main types of mechanical actions used in these rifles. The first is the bolt-action. In a bolt-action rifle, the shooter manually operates a handle to load each round. These are often cheaper to build and easier to maintain. The second type is the semi-automatic action. These rifles can fire multiple shots more quickly. They often use gas operation or recoil operation to function.

The most critical component is the telescopic sight, often called a scope.

This device provides much higher magnification than standard sights. Most scopes offer magnification between 4x and 40x. They also feature large objective lenses, usually 40 to 50 mm in diameter. These large lenses help create a brighter image for the shooter. Inside the scope, there is a specialized reticle. A reticle is a set of markings used for aiming. These markings help the shooter judge the distance to a target. This is vital because the bullet follows a specific trajectory, or path, through the air.

The history of long-range shooting began in the mid-19th century. In 1854, a British engineer named Sir Joseph Whitworth designed the Whitworth rifle.

He used a unique method called hexagonal polygonal rifling. This meant the projectile did not have to "bite" into grooves like conventional rifling. During 1857 trials, the Whitworth outperformed the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. The Whitworth could hit a target at 2,000 yards, or about 1,830 meters. The Enfield could only reach 1,400 yards, which is about 1,280 meters. During the Crimean War, Colonel D. Davidson helped develop early optical sights. These sights were produced by Chance Brothers of Birmingham.

In the 20th century, sniper technology and tactics changed rapidly. During the Second Boer War, soldiers used breech-loading rifles with magazines. The British used the Lee–Metford rifle, while Boers used German Mauser Model 1895 rifles. The Lovat Scouts were a British unit famous for their stalking skills. They even wore ghillie suits for camouflage. During World War I, German snipers used scopes that illuminated at night.

By World War II, rifles like the Karabiner 98k were common.

These weapons had a massive effect on the battlefield. They were so effective that soldiers often stayed hidden in foxholes to stay safe.

Today, sniper rifles are classified into two main groups. The first group is military rifles. These are built for extreme durability and reliability. They must work in harsh environmental and combat conditions. Military snipers often carry heavy equipment over long distances. Therefore, these rifles must be sturdy but also somewhat portable. The second group is law enforcement rifles. These are used by police in urban or non-combat settings.

These rifles prioritize the highest possible accuracy over long-distance range. They are often smaller than military versions. Some, like the Heckler & Koch PSG1, were designed specifically for police needs.

Modern technology has made these weapons much more advanced. The accuracy and power of a rifle from 2010 is much greater than WWII models. For example, the M24 Sniper Weapon System was the U.S. Army standard from 1988 to 2010.

It is capable of 0.5 MOA accuracy. MOA stands for Minute of Arc, a unit used to measure precision. The M24 has a maximal effective range of about 800 meters. Modern rifles are also very reliable. They can fire repeatedly without losing their accuracy due to wear and tear. This makes them highly efficient tools for their intended roles.