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Sniper Rifles

A sniper rifle is an accurate, often heavy-barrel variant of a rifle. They do not fall into a single category of rifle and can vary between manually-operated rifles and semi-automatic rifles. The main distinguishing features of a sniper rifle are its accuracy over long ranges and how the weapon is used.

Sniper rifles are accurate and chambered in a powerful round for one-shot stops. Sniper rifles may begin as traditional hunting rifles, but are often accurized and upgraded to bring out the full potential of the rifle. Other sniper rifles are AR-15s with a heavy free-floating barrel, a powerful optic, and an upgraded trigger. Modern sniper rifles typically have an optic or the option of adding an optic for accurately viewing targets.

The earliest sniper rifles were used during the American civil war. They were known as the Whitworth rifle. This rifle was much more accurate than traditional rifles at the time and some were even outfitted with a rudimentary scope. Sniper rifles are now a part of every major military force for accurate long-distance shooting.


Quick Facts

  • The term sniper comes from the 1770s, when soldiers who could shoot the snipe bird were considered competent marksmen
  • The longest sniper shot recorded was 2,707 yards, shot by a British sniper in Afghanistan. The sniper was using a L115A3 long-range rifle
  • Modern sniper rifles rely heavily on powerful optics, but in the Revolutionary War, Timothy Murphy killed a British general with an iron-sighted rifle

Recommended Items at Auction

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O/u combination rifle Anton Sodia - Ferlach cal. 7 x 65 R & 22 Hornet # 323290 § C (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
O/u combination rifle Anton Sodia - Ferlach cal. 7 x 65 R & 22 Hornet # 323290 § C (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €3,000- €6,000
€3,0000 Bids
Hammer single shot rifle Joh. Springer's Erben - Vienna rifled barrel cal. 28 #5031 § C
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Hammer single shot rifle Joh. Springer's Erben - Vienna rifled barrel cal. 28 #5031 § C
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €400- €800
€4000 Bids
Sidelock-Drilling R. Salbey - Berlin (F. W. Kessler - Suhl) cal. 8 x 57 IR? & 16/65 #T19328 § C
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Sidelock-Drilling R. Salbey - Berlin (F. W. Kessler - Suhl) cal. 8 x 57 IR? & 16/65 #T19328 § C
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €1,900- €4,000
€1,9000 Bids
Drilling Krieghoff Neptun Primus  cal. 6,5 x 57 R & 12/70 #71439 § C (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Drilling Krieghoff Neptun Primus  cal. 6,5 x 57 R & 12/70 #71439 § C (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €6,000- €12,000
€6,0000 Bids
Sidelock-o/u combination gun Gebr. Merkel - Suhl cal. 7 x 65 R & 12/70 #75034 with interchangeable barrel cal. 12/70 #75034 § C + A
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Sidelock-o/u combination gun Gebr. Merkel - Suhl cal. 7 x 65 R & 12/70 #75034 with interchangeable barrel cal. 12/70 #75034 § C + A
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €6,000- €10,000
€6,0000 Bids
A model 1845 sniper rifle, Wild system
Nov 22, 10:00 AM CET
A model 1845 sniper rifle, Wild system
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€1,4000 Bids
Sidelock-o/u double rifle Johann Fanzoj - Ferlach cal. 300 H & H #21.2234 § C +ACC
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Sidelock-o/u double rifle Johann Fanzoj - Ferlach cal. 300 H & H #21.2234 § C +ACC
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €52,000- €100,000
€52,0000 Bids
Sidelock-s/s double rifle H. Scheiring - Ferlach cal. 8 x 75 RS #0900134 with interchangeable barrel cal. 20/76 #090134 § C + ACC
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Sidelock-s/s double rifle H. Scheiring - Ferlach cal. 8 x 75 RS #0900134 with interchangeable barrel cal. 20/76 #090134 § C + ACC
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €22,000- €45,000
€22,0000 Bids
BSA No. 4 Mk I (T) Enfield Sniper Rifle, Scope, & Transit Case
Dec 06, 9:00 AM CST
BSA No. 4 Mk I (T) Enfield Sniper Rifle, Scope, & Transit Case
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $5,000- $7,500
$4,5000 Bids
Hammer single shot rifle Josef Just - Ferlach style "Ischler Stutzen" cal. 5.6 x 57 R #24345 § C +ACC
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Hammer single shot rifle Josef Just - Ferlach style "Ischler Stutzen" cal. 5.6 x 57 R #24345 § C +ACC
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €15,000- €30,000
€15,0000 Bids
A sniper rifle SSG 82, "Stasi", GDR
Nov 22, 10:00 AM CET
A sniper rifle SSG 82, "Stasi", GDR
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€8000 Bids
Drilling Joh. Outschar's Sohn - Ferlach cal. 5,6 x 50 R Mag.; 7 x 65 R & 16/70 #35.2129 § C (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Drilling Joh. Outschar's Sohn - Ferlach cal. 5,6 x 50 R Mag.; 7 x 65 R & 16/70 #35.2129 § C (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €3,600- €7,000
€3,6000 Bids
Single shot rifle Joh. Outschar's Sohn - Ferlach Stutzen round body cal. 6.5 x 65 R #1313 § C (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Single shot rifle Joh. Outschar's Sohn - Ferlach Stutzen round body cal. 6.5 x 65 R #1313 § C (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €2,800- €6,000
€2,8000 Bids
O/u combination gun Joh. Outschar - Ferlach cal. 6.5 x 57 R & 16 #35739 with interchangeable barrel cal. 16/70 #35740 § C + ACC (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
O/u combination gun Joh. Outschar - Ferlach cal. 6.5 x 57 R & 16 #35739 with interchangeable barrel cal. 16/70 #35740 § C + ACC (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €1,200- €2,400
€1,2000 Bids
Drilling Anton Sodia - Ferlach cal. 7 x 65 R & 20/70 #321507 § C (I) + ACC
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Drilling Anton Sodia - Ferlach cal. 7 x 65 R & 20/70 #321507 § C (I) + ACC
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €800- €2,000
€8000 Bids
Venezuelan Contract Fabrique Nationale FN-49 Sniper Rifle
Dec 06, 9:00 AM CST
Venezuelan Contract Fabrique Nationale FN-49 Sniper Rifle
by Rock Island Auction Company
Est: $2,500- $4,000
$2,0000 Bids
Sidelock-s/s double rifle Josef Just - Ferlach cal. 9.3 x 74 R #24310 § C
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Sidelock-s/s double rifle Josef Just - Ferlach cal. 9.3 x 74 R #24310 § C
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €17,000- €34,000
€17,0000 Bids
B.S.A. A COMPOSITE .303 (BRIT.) 'NO.1 MKIII' BOLT-MAGAZINE SNIPER RIFLE, serial no. P5854,
Dec 03, 10:00 AM GMT
B.S.A. A COMPOSITE .303 (BRIT.) 'NO.1 MKIII' BOLT-MAGAZINE SNIPER RIFLE, serial no. P5854,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £3,000- £5,000
£3,0000 Bids
ETs CONTINSOUZA AN 8MM (LEBEL) 'MLE-M-16 BERTHIER' BOLT-MAGAZINE SERVICE CARBINE, serial no. 31422,
Dec 03, 10:00 AM GMT
ETs CONTINSOUZA AN 8MM (LEBEL) 'MLE-M-16 BERTHIER' BOLT-MAGAZINE SERVICE CARBINE, serial no. 31422,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £500- £700
£5000 Bids
O/u combination rifle Franz Sodia - Ferlach cal. 222 Rem. & 6.5x57R #20679§C (W 2496-21)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
O/u combination rifle Franz Sodia - Ferlach cal. 222 Rem. & 6.5x57R #20679§C (W 2496-21)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €500- €1,500
€5000 Bids
O/u combination rifle Franz Sodia - Ferlach (for Kettner Köln) cal. 6.5 x 57 R & 222 Rem. #15855 § C (W 3023-21)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
O/u combination rifle Franz Sodia - Ferlach (for Kettner Köln) cal. 6.5 x 57 R & 222 Rem. #15855 § C (W 3023-21)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €500- €2,000
€5000 Bids
O/u double rifle Gebrüder Merkel - Suhl caliber probably 8 x 57 IR #15951 § C (I)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
O/u double rifle Gebrüder Merkel - Suhl caliber probably 8 x 57 IR #15951 § C (I)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €1,500- €3,000
€1,5000 Bids
Single shot rifle Josef Just - Ferlach  cal. 6,5 x 57 R #24211 § C (W 3678-21)
Nov 14, 5:00 PM CET
Single shot rifle Josef Just - Ferlach  cal. 6,5 x 57 R #24211 § C (W 3678-21)
by Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers
Est: €1,000- €6,000
€1,0000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Sniper Rifles


Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers

Joh. Springer's Erben Auctioneers

Holts Auctioneers

Holts Auctioneers

Hermann Historica GmbH

Hermann Historica GmbH

Rock Island Auction Company

Rock Island Auction Company