Top 10 Sniper Rifles

A good sniper can damage enemy’s morale by taking out key personnel. They can stop a unit in its tracks. But for a good sniper a gun with an eagle sight, deadly impact and a monstrous fire power is essential. Today we have rounded up Top 10 Sniper Rifles of all times.

No 10. M24 (American)

Calibre:	7.62x51mm NATO (.308 win)
Operation:	Bolt Action
Feed:	5-Round internal magazine
Weight:	12.1 lb (5.49 kg) empty without telescope
Length:	43in (1092mm)
Sights:	10×42 Leupold Ultra M3A telescope sight (Mil-Dots), plus detachable emergency iron sights. (Redfield Palma International)
Barrel:	416R Stainless Steel, 24″ length, 1:11.2″ twist, 5 radial land grooves
Stock:	HS Precision – adjustable length.
Max Effective Range :	800 meters (875 yards)
Expected Accuracy:	1 MOA with M118 .5 MOA with M118LR

The M24 Sniper’s Weapon System (SWS) represents a return to bolt action sniper rifles by the US Army. As in the USMC M40A1, the M24 uses the Remington 700 action, although the reciever is a long action made for adaptation to take the .300 Winchester Magnum round. The stock (HS Precision) is made of a composite of Kevlar, graphite and fibreglass bound together with epoxy resins, and features an aluminium bedding block and adjustable butt plate. A detachable bipod (Harris) can be attached to the stocks fore-end. The metal finish is powder coated for extreme durability.

The rifle had a very quick development cycle as the US Army had decided it wanted to get snipers back into the US Army and was in the process of developing the B4 identifier and the school to award it. There was a major short fall of M21′s which was the standard sniper rifle at that point of time and the Army figured it would need 10,000 sniper rifles of which they didn’t have nearly that many M21′s. So a new sniper rifle was developed at the same time and it was done in a record 22 months. The Weapon System Matrix Manager for the M24 was Major John Mende and he explains that the long action actually had nothing to do with the ability to convert to a .300 Win Mag but was a product of that quick development time. The rifle was intended to be chambered in the .30-06 as the -06 was a type classified munition for the Army unlike the .300 WM at the time. They wanted to have a high power load for the .30-06 eventually developed. As development of the system was moving forward they discovered that there was not enough .30-06 ammo in a single lot in the Army’s inventory to test and develop the system so they quickly changed to the 7.62x51mm NATO (308 Win) and left the action the same as there was not enough time for the manufacturers of the stock and floorplate to make the change to short action. They also fully believed they would later do a product improvement update and convert all the M24′s to .30-06. The fact that they could convert them to .300 Win Mag was an unexpected benefit to the SF groups and was never actually designed into the system.

No 9. SR25 (American)

Knights SR-25 rifle, civilian version with 20″ barrel 

Knights SR-25 carbine, civilian version with 16″ barrel and telescopic buttstock

Type	Sniper rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1990
Used by	See  Users
Wars	Afghanistan War, Iraq War, 2006 East Timorese crisis, 2nd Intifada
Production history
Designer	Eugene Stoner
Manufacturer	Knight’s Armament Company
Variants	SR-25 Enhanced Match rifle, with 20 in (510 mm) barrelSR-25 Enhanced Match Carbine, with 16 in (410 mm) barrel and M110 flash suppressor
Specifications
Weight	Match Rifle 10.75 lb (4.88 kg), LwMatch 9.5 lb (4.3 kg), Carbine 7.5 lb (3.4 kg), Sporter 8.75 lb (3.97 kg)
Length	1,118 mm (44.0 in)
Barrel length	Match Rifle 24 in (610 mm)(also LwMatch & Sporter 20 in/510 mm, Carbine 16 in/410 mm)
Cartridge	7.62x51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Feed system	10 and 20-round detachable box magazine

No 8. L42 Enfield (British)

Type	Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1895-1926 (MLE) 1907–present (SMLE)
Used by
Wars	Second Boer War First World War Second World War Various Colonial conflicts Irish War of Independence Malayan Emergency Korean War Nepalese Civil War Afganistan conflict and numerous other conflicts.
Production history
Designer	James Paris Lee, RSAF Enfield
Produced	1895-1907 (MLE) 1907– (SMLE)
Number built	over 17,000,000 (All Variants) [1]
Variants	Short, Magazine Lee Enfield Mk. I, Mk. I*, Mk.III, Mk. III*, Rifle No. 4 Mk. 1, Mk. 1* (produced by Savage and Long Branch), Mk. 1(T) Sniper Rifle, Mk. 2, Rifle No 5 Mk. 1 (Jungle Carbine)
Specifications
Weight	~4 kg (8.8 lb) depending on wood density
Length	1,130 mm (44.5 in)
Barrel length	635 mm (25 in)
Cartridge	.303 Mk VII SAA Ball
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	744 m/s (2,441 ft/s)
Effective range	550 yards (503 m) [2]
Maximum range	2,000 yd (1,829 m)
Feed system	10-round magazine, loaded with 5-round charger clips
Sights	Sliding ramp rear sights, Fixed-post front sights, “Dial” long-range volley sights; Telescopic sights on Sniper models. No 7. M21 (American) Type Sniper rifle Place of origin  United States Service history In service 1969–1988 Used by United States Production history Designer Army Weapons Command, Combat Development Command, Limited Warfare Agency Designed 1969 Manufacturer Rock Island Arsenal, Springfield Armory Variants M25 Specifications Weight 5.27 kg (11.6 lb) Length 1118 mm (44 in) Barrel length 560 mm (22 in) Cartridge 7.62x51mm NATO Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Muzzle velocity 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s) Effective range 690 m (750 yd) Feed system 5, 10 or 20-round detachable boxmagazine Sights Front: National Match front blade .062 Rear: Match-grade hooded aperture with one-half minute adjustments for both windage and elevation. 26 3/4 in sight radius. No 6. PSG1 (German) Type Sniper rifle Place of origin  West Germany Service history In service 1972-present Used by Germans Production history Designer Heckler & Koch GmbH Designed 1970s Manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH SEDENA (licensed) Produced 1972–present Variants PSG1A1, MSG90, MSG90A1 Specifications Weight 7.2 kg (15.87 lb) Length 1,230 mm (48.4 in) Barrel length 650 mm (25.6 in) Width 59 mm (2.3 in) Height 258 mm (10.2 in) with telescopic sight Cartridge 7.62x51mm NATO Action Roller-delayed blowback Muzzle velocity 868 m/s (2,848 ft/s) Effective range 800 m Feed system 5- or 20-round detachable box magazineor 50-round drum Sights Hendsoldt ZF6x42PSG1 telescopic sightwith illuminated reticle No 5. Dragunov SVD (Soviet Union) Type Sniper rifle Place of origin  Soviet Union Service history In service 1963–present Used by Russians Wars Vietnam War, [1] Soviet war in Afghanistan, Iraq War, Yugoslav Wars,First and Second Chechen Wars, 2008 South Ossetia War Production history Designer Evgeny Dragunov Designed 1958–1963 Manufacturer Izhmash, Norinco, Zastava Arms Produced 1963–present [2] Variants See  Variants Specifications Weight 4.30 kg (9.48 lb) (with scope and unloaded magazine) [2]  4.68 kg (10.3 lb) (SVDS) 4.40 kg (9.7 lb) (SVU) 5.02 kg (11.1 lb) (SWD-M) Length 1,225 mm (48.2 in) (SVD) [2]  1,135 mm (44.7 in) stock extended / 815 mm (32.1 in) stock folded (SVDS) 900 mm (35.4 in) (SVU) 1,125 mm (44.3 in) (SWD-M) Barrel length 610 mm (24.0 in) (SVD, SWD-M) [2]  565 mm (22.2 in) (SVDS) 600 mm (23.6 in) (SVU) Cartridge 7.62x54mmR [2] Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Muzzle velocity 830 m/s (2,723 ft/s) (SVD, SVDS, SWD-M) 800 m/s (2,624.7 ft/s) (SVU) Effective range Up to 800 m sight adjustments for point targets Maximum range 1,300 m with scope 1,200 m with iron sights Feed system 10-round detachable box magazine Sights    PSO-1 telescopic sight and iron sights with an adjustable rear notch sight                                         No 4. AS50 (Bristish) Type Anti-materiel rifle, Sniper rifle Place of origin  United Kingdom Production history Designed 2005 or 2006 Produced 2006 Number built Unknown Variants 1 AS50 Specifications Weight 27 lb (12.2 kg) (no scope/sight, empty mag) Length 53.9″ (1369 mm) Barrel length 692 mm Cartridge 12.7 x 99 mm NATO Caliber 12.7 mm .50 BMG Action Direct impingement [ citation needed ] Rate of fire semi-automatic, estimated at 5 rounds/1.3 seconds Effective range 1,500 m Feed system 5 or 10 round detachable box magazine No 3. Barrett .50 Cal (American) Type Sniper rifle Place of origin  United States Production history Manufacturer Barrett Firearms Company Unit cost $3800-$4000 Specifications Weight 25 lb (11.36 kg) Length 50.4 in (1280 mm) Barrel length 32 inches (813 mm) Cartridge .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm), .416 Barrett Action Single Shot, Bolt Action Maximum range 2600 Meters No 2. Cheytac .408 cal (American) Type Rifle Place of origin  United States Production history Designer John Taylor and William O. Wordman Designed 2001 Manufacturer Chey Tac Produced 2001–present Variants .375 Chey Tac Specifications Parent case .505 Gibbs Case type Rimless, bottleneck Bullet diameter .408 in (10.4 mm) Neck diameter .438 in (11.1 mm) Shoulder diameter .601 in (15.3 mm) Base diameter .637 in (16.2 mm) Rim diameter .640 in (16.3 mm) Rim thickness .065 in (1.7 mm) Case length 3.04 in (77 mm) Overall length 4.307 in (109.4 mm) Case capacity 159 gr H 2 O (10.335 cm³) Rifling twist 1 in 13 in (330.2 mm) Primer type Large Rifle Maximum pressure 63,800 psi (440 MPa) Ballistic performance Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy 305 gr (19.8 g) Solid 3,500 ft/s (1,100 m/s) 8,298 ft·lbf(11,251 J) 419 gr (27.2 g) Solid 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s) 8,376 ft·lbf(11,356 J) No 1. L115A3 AWM (British) Type Sniper rifle Place of origin  United Kingdom Service history In service 1997 – present Used by See  Users Wars Afghanistan War, Iraq War Production history Manufacturer Accuracy International Specifications Weight 6.5 kg (14.3 lb) (.300 Winchester Magnum) 6.9 kg (15.1 lb) (.338 Lapua Magnum) with stock, bipod and empty magazine Length 1200 mm (47.2 in) (.300 Win. Mag.) 1230 mm (48.4 in) (.338 Lapua Magnum) Barrel length 660 mm (26 in) (.300 Win. Mag.) 686 mm (27 in) (.338 Lapua Magnum) Cartridge .300 Winchester Magnum .338 Lapua Magnum Action Bolt-action Effective range 1,100 metres (1,203 yd) .300 Winchester Magnum [1]  1,400 metres (1,531 yd) .338 Lapua Magnum [1] Feed system 5-round detachable box magazine Sights detachable aperture type iron sights day or night optics

Noreen “Bad news” ULR 338 sniper rifle (USA)

Caliber	.338 Lapua Magnum (8.6x70); also available in .300WinMag
Action	Semi-automatic, gas operated
Overall length	1219 mm / 48"
Barrel length	660 mm / 26”
Weight, with empty magazine	5.9 kg / 13 lbs
Magazine capacity	5 or 10 rounds

Noreen “Bad news” ULR 338 sniper rifle was designed by Peter Noreen of the Gun Room LLC (MT, USA), and is manufactured by the same company. It is one of the very few production semi-automatic precision rifles, chambered for the long-range .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition. It is also available in optional .300 Winchester Magnum chambering. According to available reports, Noreen “Bad news” ULR 338 sniper rifle is capable of Sub-MOA accuracy with properly selected ammunition (manufacturer recommends Lapua-made cartridges), and in trained hands it delivers accurate and effective fire at ranges in excess of 1500 yards / meters.

Noreen “Bad news” ULR 338 sniper rifle is gas operated, semi-automatic weapon. It uses hybrid, short-stroke gas system, which combines tappet-type gas piston with long gas tube that feeds hot powder gases from the gas block toward the front part of the receiver, where the gas piston is seated above the barrel. Upon discharge, gas piston strikes the projecting lug, which is machined on the top of the large, AR-15-style bolt carrier, which hosts AR-15-style (but necessarily larger) rotary bolt with seven locking lugs. 

The aluminum alloy receiver also follows general AR-15 styling, with upper and lover halves being connected by two cross-pins. Controls (magazine catch, bolt hold-open and safety) also are similar to AR-15, although charging handle is located on the right side of the receiver. Trigger is also of AR-15 type, and can be had in MilSpec or Match variations. Match grade barrel is free-floated inside the forend, and is equipped with muzzle brake. Ammunition is fed from detachable single stack box magazines with 5- and 10-round capacity. Standard furniture also includes fully adjustable Magpul PRS stock and M16A2-style pistol grip. Forend can be ordered in plain or railed configuration, depending on the buyers choice. No sights are provided from the factory, and rifle is equipped with integral Picatinny rail on the top of receiver, which would accept any telescope or night sight in appropriate mounts, according to user preferences.