History of Sniper Rifle

In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle works towards providing optimal levels of accuracy. It consists of a telescopic sight and chambered for military centerfire cartridge. The media often uses this term to describe any type of accurized firearm fitted with telescopic sight employed against targets, although “sniping rifle” or “sniper’s rifle” is technically a correct fashion to refer to such a rifle.

The military role of sniper (a term derived from the snipe, a bird that was difficult to hunt and shoot) dates back to the turn of the 18th century, but the true sniper rifle is a much more recent development. Advances in technology, specifically that of telescopic sights and more accurate manufacturing allowed armies to equip specially trained solider and rifles that enable them to deliver precise shots over greater distances than regular infantry weapons. The rifle uses a technique similar to that used in a standard rifle (at first, a bolt-action rifle). However, when fitted with a telescopic sight, it becomes a sniper rifle.

During World War II, the (7.62x54mmR) Mosin-Nagant rifle mounted with a telescopic sight was a type of sniper rifle used by Russian snipers. Vietnam War era sniper rifle, US Army XM21 (top) and USMC M40 (bottom) in the American Civil War Confederate troops equipped with barrel-length three power scopes mounted on the exceptionally accurate British Whitworth rifle had been known to kill Union officers at ranges of about 800 yards (731.5m), an unheard-of distance at that time. The earliest sniper rifles were little more than conventional military or target rifles with long-range “peep sights” and Galilean ‘ open telescope’ front and rear sights, designed for use on the target range. Only from the beginning of World War I did specially adapted sniper rifles come to the fore. Germany developed military calibre hunting rifles with telescopic sights, and the British used Aldis, Winchester and Periscopic Prism Co. sights fitted by gunsmiths to regulation SMLE Mk III and Mk III* or Enfield Pattern 1914 rifles.

For more information:

http://realitypod.com/2010/05/top-10-sniper-rifles/

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