There are some people that could see a scoped gun and would immediately call it a “sniper rifle” even if it was a slug gun with an effective range of 300 yards, not to mention nowhere near the true accuracy required to earn such a designation.

That being the case, this post will clear up some of the ambiguity surrounding the term.

So What Really Is a Sniper Rifle?

The quandary surrounding the term sniper rifle is that it is sort of an imprecise term. Strictly speaking, it is a precision rifle that delivers an exceptionally high-degree of accuracy, generally intended to be used in official capacity by law enforcement or military personnel.

However, while accuracy is a primary consideration, sniper rifles are also typically developed to offer a high degree of adjustability (to fit the shooter perfectly) along with modularity (offering a high degree of expandability), enabling the attachment of slings, bipods and other shooting accessories.

Platforms that are commonly referred to as sniper rifles are also generally designed to be highly mobile (soldiers and law enforcement personnel need to be able to transport them without help) and offer a good degree of concealment.

Also, sniper rifles are intended to support a variety of high-powered optics, enabling the operator to connect with targets at ranges at which it would be difficult or impossible to connect with iron sights alone.

One potential issue, therefore, is that the term “sniper rifle” does not break down the differences between a precision rifle and a true extreme long-range rifle. Many precision rifles are accurate enough to be termed sniper rifles, but not chambered in rounds that are suitable for extreme long-range shooting.

On top of this, some platforms, though fairly accurate at intermediate ranges, do not perform admirably at extremely long ranges, in excess of 1000 yards, or even as far as a mile or more.

Another way to look at the term is not by the feature or chambering of the platform, but by its explicit, official adoption. Some rifles that have seen widespread use by the military, such as the 1903A1, M21 and M40, and have specifically served in sniper rifles, are referred to thereby.

So you can see, there are numerous ways to qualify a “sniper rifle,” according to the criteria you apply to it, making other, more precise terms, like precision rifle or ELR rifle, potentially preferable.

Where Can You Learn More About Precision and ELR (Extreme Long-Range) Rifles?

At any rate, regardless of whether you only recognize sniper rifles as such if the given model has served in official capacity, or you are open to calling any precision rifle equipped for long-range shooting a sniper rifle, if you’re looking for platforms that meet that grade, visit B&B Firearms.

B&B Firearms carries rifle platforms from CheyTac, McMillan, Barrett, Gunwerks, Victrix, Surgeon, and others that are suitable for precision and ELR shooting and competition. They even carry precision ARs. Visit their website for more information or get in touch with them to learn more.

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