Accuracy 9+ / 12
Damage 9+ / 12
Range 12 / 12
Fire Rate 2+ / 12
Mobility 8 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 5/15
Recoil moderate/high random
Reload Time 2.1*/3.8
*Because the bolt action rifles accept individual rounds, you can press fire
while reloading to halt the reloading process and chamber whichever round you
loaded last, in case you need to attack while reloading.
Good Perks/Attachments: Iron Lungs, UAV Jammer, Bandolier, Claymore x2,
Overkill + SMG, Sleight of Hand
Modified from the Remington 700 hunting rifle and used by the U.S. Marine
Corps. Bolt-action. The Marines took the R700 and gave it lower recoil, a
larger clip, and improved accuracy at the cost of bullet damage. That's the
tradeoff you have to consider when choosing between this gun and the R700.
Because it's bolt-action, choosing this gun restricts you to long-range sniping
unless you enjoy using a pistol or using a second main weapon with Overkill.
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M21 (unlock at Rank 7 Corporal)
Accuracy 7 / 12
Damage 8 / 12
Range 12 / 12
Fire Rate 6 / 12
Mobility 8 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 10/20
Recoil moderate cluster
Reload Time 2.8/3.4
Good Perks/Attachments: Iron Lungs, UAV Jammer, Bandolier, Claymore x2, ACOG
scope, Overkill + SMG
U.S. Army sniper rifle in active service since the Vietnam Era. The Army has
switched its standard sniper rifle to the R700-based M24, but they also still
use M21s and I guess the makers of CoD4 didn't want a third R700-based rifle in
the lineup. The M21 is adapted from the M14, so it basically functions as the
M14 was supposed to anyway. The recoil goes from excessive for a battle rifle
(M14) to acceptable for a semi-automatic sniper (M21). With the lowest recoil
of any sniper rifle, this is the one most likely to be modified with an ACOG
and taken to a closer range. Feel free to take several rapid shots at your
enemy to take them down instead of the painstaking one shot, one kill method
required by the bolt-action rifles. You may wish not to hold your breath when
taking several shots in a row, since the recoil is actually increased by taking
a breath-held shot.
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Dragunov (SVD, Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova) (unlock at Rank 22 Master
Gunnery Sergeant)
Accuracy 7 / 12
Damage 9+ / 12
Range 12 / 12
Fire Rate 6 / 12
Mobility 8 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 10/20
Recoil high vertical/random
Reload Time 3.0/3.8
Good Perks/Attachments: Iron Lungs, UAV Jammer, Bandolier, Claymore x2,
Overkill + SMG
Soviet sniper rifle still in active use in the former Soviet nations, the
Middle East, and Asia. This gun has an essentially direct tradeoff with the
M21: the Dragunov has more power, but the M21 has smaller recoil. If you try
pulling off rapid shots with the Dragunov in the same way you would with the
M21, be prepared to compensate for the considerable vertical recoil. Take your
shots more slowly than with the M21 and think twice before carrying it in close
with an ACOG, but otherwise use it in the same way.
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Remington R700 (unlock at Rank 34 Major)
Accuracy 8+ / 12
Damage 11 / 12
Range 12 / 12
Fire Rate 2+ / 12
Mobility 8 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 4/12
Recoil very high upper right
Reload Time 2.0*/3.5
*Because the bolt action rifles accept individual rounds, you can press fire
while reloading to halt the reloading process and chamber whichever round you
loaded last, in case you need to attack while reloading.
Good Perks/Attachments: Iron Lungs, UAV Jammer, Bandolier, Claymore x2,
Overkill + SMG, Sleight of Hand
The unmodified Remington 700 hunting rifle. It's larger and more powerful than
the M40A3, but kicks like a bionically augmented mule with the largest recoil
in the game. As a bolt-action sniper rifle and with only 4 bullets per clip,
you should be very discrete about positioning yourself and should follow the
rule of "one shot, one kill" very strictly. If that's too boring for you, or if
you think you'll need to engage in close quarters occasionally, either build
your pistol skills or use Overkill with an SMG.
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Barrett .50cal (M82, Special Applications Scoped Rifle) (unlock at Rank 49
Lieutenant General)
Accuracy 7 / 12
Damage 11 / 12
Range 12 / 12
Fire Rate 4 / 12
Mobility 8 / 12
Clip Size/Reserve Ammo 10/20
Recoil high upper right
Reload Time 4.4/4.9
Good Perks/Attachments: Iron Lungs, UAV Jammer, Bandolier, Claymore x2,
Overkill + SMG
Used by a number of militaries and special forces worldwide for explosive
ordinance disposal and attacks on military hardware (vehicles, buildings,
personnel behind significant cover). Semi-automatic. I'm not sure if the
