| In the human being’s incessant quest | | | | allows the entire power of ignited |
| for newer and more effective ways of | | | | gunpowder to be translated into bullet |
| evening the odds, some truly impressive | | | | speed. They are also invariably equipped |
| inventions dot the trail of history. The | | | | with telescopic sights and often even |
| sniper rifle is to tactical violence | | | | infrared targeting devices that allow |
| what the electron microscope is to | | | | for accurate placement of the shot. Yet |
| vision. It drastically reduces the | | | | another advanced feature in contemporary |
| number of variables involved in zeroing | | | | sniper rifles is the night scope, which |
| in on a chosen target and is, for all | | | | again operates on the infrared |
| intents and purposes, a highly | | | | principle. This allows a target top be |
| specialized precision instrument. | | | | aimed at without detection. |
| Given a choice, most manufacturers of | | | | For enhanced accuracy, a sniper rifle |
| sniper rifles would probably market | | | | may come equipped with a swiveling stand |
| their product under a name that has less | | | | on which it is mounted to reduce the |
| negative connotations. While such rifles | | | | margin of error. This is almost |
| are doubtlessly highly accurate and a | | | | mandatory, since human body is not the |
| credit to the art of firearm making, | | | | steadiest of mechanisms under |
| they are almost never used under very | | | | circumstances of high stress. Despite |
| valorous circumstances. A sniper | | | | the frequent Hollywood depiction of |
| specializes in picking off a target from | | | | cold-blooded killers with nerves of |
| a location of concealment, without | | | | chilled steel, most real-life snipers |
| warning. This considerably detracts from | | | | are people who are subject to the same |
| the image of the fearless gunslinger. | | | | levels of stress that others are. |
| One of the most descriptive depictions | | | | Another frequent feature in a sniper |
| of a rifle manufactured exclusively for | | | | rifle is the silencer. Though the need |
| sniping (or rather, assassination) was | | | | for one depends on the situation, it can |
| the one made by a Belgian manufacturer | | | | generally be assumed that the sniper |
| for Edward Fox’s character in the film | | | | will have to shoot at more than one |
| ‘The Day Of The Jackal’. | | | | target and that he therefore cannot |
| However, sniper rifles are also | | | | allow his first shot to give him away. |
| necessary equipment in war situations, | | | | Silencers, unfortunately, subtract from |
| and their effectiveness (coupled with | | | | the range of the fired bullet and can |
| the sniper’s skill, of course) have | | | | affect accurate placement of a shot even |
| often turned the course of many a | | | | over shorter distances. |
| battle. In war situations, snipers may | | | | Sniper rifles are invariably |
| also be required to target installations | | | | manufactured with trigger mechanisms |
| rather than human beings, in which case | | | | that minimize the required pressure on |
| the rifle used would pack a considerably | | | | the trigger a s much as possible. This |
| heavier punch and even explosive | | | | is because the greatest danger of |
| bullets. They are also used in law | | | | fudging a shot arises at the time when |
| enforcement. | | | | the trigger is pulled. In most other |
| However, the sniper rifle is primarily | | | | rifles and other firearms, triggers are |
| an anti-personnel device and most models | | | | heavier on the pull as an added |
| have been derived from the hunting rifle | | | | safeguard against accidental shooting. |
| model, since accuracy and long range are | | | | Where they are used in law enforcement, |
| common factors in both. Other than that, | | | | sniper rifles are generally not required |
| they do not initially appear to differ | | | | to be manufactured to extremely high |
| very much from other highly accurate | | | | standards. For one, range if usually not |
| rifles, other than in the fact that | | | | a necessary factor (even though accuracy |
| rapid repeat-firing capability is not a | | | | always is). Most rifle work in law |
| prerequisite. Many purists would contend | | | | enforcement takes place in confined city |
| the claim that sniper rifles are | | | | locations. |
| jazzed-up hunting rifles, and with good | | | | Examples of sniper rifles being |
| reasons. | | | | manufactured today would include the |
| Sniper rifles may be needed top shoot at | | | | Barrett M98, the Dakota Longbow T-76, |
| stationary, slowly moving targets and | | | | the Enfield No. 1 and the Mauser 86SR. |
| targets in rapid motion. They tend to be | | | | German and Swedish makes have found the |
| bolt-operated or semi-automatic, and | | | | highest favor down the ages, owing to |
| calibrated for longer than usual ranges. | | | | more precise engineering. However, |
| The primary means of achieving longer | | | | several Russian, English and American |
| range is via a longer barrel, which may | | | | models such as the Tactical Ops Tango 51 |
| measure up to 600 mm in some cases. This | | | | are also in extensive use today. |