A Sniper's Guide to Rifles
Naturally accurate, with a good base chance for critical hits, and highly damaging shot-for-shot compared to many other weapons, rifles serve well as primary weapons and are effective in most builds due to their inherent strengths. Their reasonably high capacities and powerful rounds allow them to be effective even in the hands of characters with lower values in accuracy and reloading.
All rifles up to the VSS Vintorez have "high critical chance". Most other high-level rifles (with the exception of the Dusk Carbine) have "very high critical chance".
There are two kinds of Rifles: Close Quarters Combat Rifles (Carbines) and Long Range Rifles (Bolt Action):
- LR (Long Range) Rifles are characterized by their "very high accuracy" and high damage per shot, but slightly slower firing rates. This is beneficial for those trying to get the most bang for their buck.
- CQC (Close Quarters Combat) Rifles are characterized by rifles with only "high accuracy" and lower damage per shot, but slightly faster firing rates. This provides better crowd control, which is handy when facing mobs.
Even low tier rifles are extremely powerful, with the caveat being the expensive ammunition they use. This can be a handicap for lower-level players who can't loot ammo in sufficiently large quantities, but this can be mitigated by conserving ammunition, and using rifles only against more powerful zombies, and using another type of weapon against weaker ones.
Requirements
Rifles have no strength requirement. The first rifle available, the Beretta RX4, requires 10 proficiency points to use. The Farmer class starts out with a Mini-41, along with 80 rounds.
A high critical stat (80) is recommended; this will maximize the already-good chances of scoring critical hits. A high accuracy stat is not as important with rifles, due to their inherent accuracy. Reloading can also be passed over to some degree unless the player wants to minimize the time spent killing boss-type zombies; a Hawk OP96 against a boss takes some time but a Hawk OP96 with 100 reloading takes much less time than with 25 reloading, for example.
Rifle ammo is costly, but it can be looted from the Inner City in sufficient quantities to keep the player fairly well-stocked unless they're in the habit of using rifles on every threat they encounter.
Combat Outside - Loot/Scout Run
Since they only draw aggro from zombies currently on-screen, rifles are ideal for scouting and looting runs in the Inner City. Some general tips:
- Rifles can easily hit distant zombies with relative consistency. Try to snipe them before they get close.
- Stay in the open. Due to their low rates of fire, rifles are not the best weapons to use in close quarters, especially against large mobs, and a single missed shot can be costly. With a high critical stat, this isn't as big a concern, provided the rifle is one of the faster-firing ones.
- Be ammo conscious. With relatively slow reloads (unless one has quick reloading), and often only a handful of rounds per magazine for lower-tier rifles, learning to reload whenever you get a quiet moment is important. As with any weapon, one trick is to hit "R" just before you transition to another screen, as this results in instantaneous reload once you reach the next block.
Aggro Combat (Multiplayer)
Rifles are good choices to use when the player encounters a high aggro situations but intends to have low aggro. Rifles are classified as silent weaponry, and only attract zombies within hearing range. One must be wary about the amount of ammunition left in the rifle, and take measures to avoid being too vulnerable while reloading. It is advisable to bring a machine gun or a powerful chainsaw along, for use when the player gets cornered.
- Find a survivor with a good melee weapon and stick with them. They'll fight off the zombies that get close while you snipe the ones approaching from a distance.
- Never stop moving. Stay in clear, open areas, and try to keep large objects between you and the infected.
- Again, when you get a chance, reload. Getting rushed by a sudden swarm when you're down to three rounds is not fun.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Even low tier rifles are very powerful.
- Rifles are incredibly powerful in PvP.
- Rifles have high accuracy meaning there is no need to put points in increasing accuracy.
- Most rifles have a large magazine capacity.
- Rifles have the greatest per-shot damage of all weapons.
Disadvantages
- They have smaller ammo boxes compared to pistols (600 per box compared to pistols having 800 per box).
- During PvP, players move around a lot, meaning rifle users might miss.
- Bolt Action rifles have slower firing speeds than pistols, which results in almost no crowd control along with less DPS but more DPH.
List of Rifles
The Damage values in brackets indicate the averaged damage that can be achieved with the maximum critical hit chance. The Scrap values in brackets indicate the scrap price with Master Crafted (MC) items.
Some unique rifles are not available in this article. Instead, they are listed in the Special Gear article.
| Beta RX4 | |
|---|---|
5.5 mm Rifle Ammo
10 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 10 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 11 (46.2) Scrap Value: $150 ($ 300) |
Real Name: Beretta RX4 A semi-automatic weapon designed by Beta Holding of Italy to be a hunting rifle or a personal home defense weapon. The rifle was recently developed in 2005. The rifle comes in .223 and 5.56 NATO round versions. It also has a variety of stocks available for customization. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
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| Mini-41 | |
5.5 mm Rifle Ammo
15 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 15 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 11 (46.2) |
Real Name: Ruger Mini-14 A well-known and accurate rifle promoted as a miniature version of the famous US M14 battle rifle, hence Mini-14. While considerably sharp, the accuracy of the Mini-14 is known to be relatively inferior compared to other rifles. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
The Farmer class starts with an untradeable "Mini-41 Rifle", their valued defensive weapon, which has a scrap value of $ 50.
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| SL8 | |
5.5 mm Rifle Ammo
30 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 20 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 13 (54.6) |
Real Name: HK SL8-1 A sporting rifle manufactured by Heckler & Koch as the civilian edition of the famous G36. The rifle was first developed in 1998 and is currently still being produced. The rifle normally chambers the .223 caliber, otherwise known as the "varmint round", as well as 5.56 mm NATO standard ammunition. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
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| M24 | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
5 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 30 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 15 (63) |
A military version of the Remington 700 rifle, used by snipers in the United States Army. It includes a detachable telescopic sight, and can be re-chambered to fire the more powerful .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
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| M1 Garand | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
8 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 40 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 17 (71.4) |
Standard issue US Military rifle from 1936-1955, the Garand was a revolutionary design in terms of its semi-automatic action. The rifle is fed by unique 8-round clips which are ejected when the last round is fired, making the characteristic *ping* sound. It has a reputation for excellent reliability, accuracy, and firepower. Many civilians have been raiding old surplus stores for these relics of the past. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
|
| Chesterfield | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
10 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 50 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 17 (71.4) |
Real Name: Lee-Enfield L8 Series An accurate British bolt-action rifle. It is unknown as to what model is represented of it in the game, but by the appearance of it, it appears to be an "American Enfield." The "American Enfield" refers to the Enfield Model 1917. Traditionally, this rifle would fire a .30 caliber round, but thanks to modifications made by the every growing gunsmith community in Fairview, the Chesterfield has been re-chambered to fire 7.5mm rounds. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| M21 | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
10 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 50 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 17 (71.4) |
Originally named the XM21, it was an upgraded M14 semi-automatic rifle equipped with several improvements, particularly in accuracy and durability. It was officially renamed the M21 in 1975 and was in service as the United States Army's primary sniper rifle until 1988. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| Glacial Warfare | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
10 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 50 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 17 (71.4) |
Real Name: Accuracy International Arctic Warfare This rifle was designed by the arms manufacturer in Britain called Accuracy International. Their rifles have proved popular due to their extreme accuracy and reliability as civilian, police and military rifles. The rifle was first produced in 1983 up to current times. This rifle appeared in various heavy calibers, from the 7.62x51mm round to the .300 and .338 Magnum rounds and the .50BMG. Its manufacturer claimed that the rifle is able to operate normally in arctic climate conditions, thus the name. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| MSG-9 | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
20 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 60 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 17 (71.4) Scrap Value: $10,850 ($ 21,700) |
Real Name: HK MSG-90A1 Chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO round, the German-made H&K "Military Marksman Rifle" 90 was designed to be a cheaper alternative to the PSG-1. As with the PSG-1, this rifle was restricted to law enforcement and military. The most notable difference between the MSG-90 and the PSG-1 is the updated scope mount allowing for interchangeable optics. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
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| SIC 550 | |
5.5 mm Rifle Ammo
20 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 75 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 19.5 (81.9) |
Real Name: SIG SG 550 The SIG SG 550 is a popular and very accurate assault rifle, which was modified to fire slower for ammo conservation and additional accuracy. Since its a quite light and reliable weapon using the smaller 5.56 NATO caliber compared to full sniper rifles, the SIG SG-550 is an ideal medium-range sniper weapon for the everyday looter. Weapon Type: Carbine
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| Hawk OP96 | |
12.7 mm Rifle Ammo
7 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 80 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 21 (88.2) |
Real Name: Falcon OP96 A huge sniper/anti-materiel rifle manufactured by ZVI in the Czech Republic. The rifle is manufactured in two variants - OP 96 for NATO-standard .50BMG cartridge, and Russian-standard 12.7x108mm cartridge. The Hawk is a bullpup configuration weapon with a Mauser-type action. Built-in 2 round magazine may be blocked by a special cover to convert a rifle to single-shot mode. Hawk has mounts for various telescopic sights, as well as backup iron sights. To reduce felt recoil, Hawk is equipped with muzzle brake and spring-powered recoil pad in butt-stock. All of this adds up to make the OP96 a very formidable weapon, and many survivors are sure to find it effective against some of the more dangerous mutants (and bosses) in Fairview. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
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| M82A2 | |
12.7 mm Rifle Ammo
15 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy High Critical Chance 90 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 21 (88.2) |
Real Name: Barrett M95 The M82A2 was primarily used as an "anti-materiel rifle", meaning that it was not intended for direct use against live targets, but to damage and destroy equipment like trucks, lightly armored APCs, and parked aircraft by using the devastating .50BMG round. The A2 variety (dropped from production) uses a bullpup design, which places the action behind the trigger mechanism, which makes it possible to shorten the overall length of the rifle while retaining barrel length. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Modified on October 11th, in 2008 to require 90 Rifle Skill instead of 100. |
| Dragon SVD | |
7.5 mm Rifle Ammo
15 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 90 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 22.5 (94.5) Scrap Value: $24,350 ($ 48,700) |
Real Name: Dragunov SVD The SVD (Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, Снайперская Винтовка Драгунова, AKA "Dragunov Sniper Rifle") was designed to extend the effective range of Soviet rifle platoons. Fairly accurate and quite reliable, it was adopted and copied in many (especially former Eastern-bloc) countries. Weapon Type: Carbine
Modified on October 11th, in 2008 to require 90 Rifle Skill instead of 40. |
| VSS Vintorez | |
9 mm Rifle Ammo
20 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 100 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 25.5 (107.1) Scrap Value: $40,050 ($ 80,100) |
Real Name: VSS Vintorez The VSS (Vintovka Snaiperskaja Specialnaya, Винтовка Снайперская Специальная, Special Sniper Rifle) is a Russian sniper rifle made specifically for the Spetsnaz. Its design is directly based on the AS VAL. The rifle is made for stealth attacks and can be stripped down and fitted inside a customized briefcase. A notable difference of the VSS to more common rifles is that the actual barrel tube makes up only about 1/3 of the length of the visible "barrel", the rest is a high-quality silencer specifically made to shoot the rare and subsonic 9 x 39 mm cartridge. Weapon Type: Carbine
Added October 11th, 2008. |
| Rebellion (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
9 mm Rifle Ammo
20 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 40 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 27 (113.4) Scrap Value: $1,650 ($ 3,300) |
The Rebellion is a highly modified VSS Vintorez designed for higher accuracy at longer ranges, which also increases velocity and impact force while keeping the bullet at subsonic speed to remain silent. Weapon Type: Carbine
Prior to January 10th, 2011, the copies of the Rebellion could only be purchased for 4,000 credits via support ticket. On January 10th, 2011, the Rebellion, along with the Titanium Blades, were added to the Credit Shop. This weapon cannot be looted in the Inner City. |
| 577 Rex | |
12.7 mm Rifle Ammo
20 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 110 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 29 (121.8) Scrap Value: $48,450 ($ 96,900) |
Real Name: A-Square Hannibal The .577 T-Rex is noted for having the second-highest recoil energy of any current production ammunition, and is usually used as a backup to stop large, charging dangerous game. It's big, it's heavy and it'll stomp a mudhole in your @$$! Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Added May 15th, 2011. The critical chance was changed from "high critical chance" to "very high critical chance" May 17th, 2011. |
| Corpse Piercer (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
12.7mm rifle ammo
30 round capacity Fast Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 110 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 32 (134.4) Scrap Value: $48,450 ($ 96,900) |
A mysterious rifle allegedly able to pierce anything that comes in its way, with accuracy exceeding any other known rifle in the world. It was rumored to be created from bones, taken from the remains of snipers who were unable to survive the first outbreak. Some survivors speak with much horror of having experienced a twisted craving to kill their fellow survivors when wielding this weapon, particularly other marksmen-- or anyone toting a rifle, for that matter. All of those survivors agree this gun is NOT for the faint of heart. If you listen closely, you can even still hear the loud cries of the dead it has claimed. Beware: Should you wander into the cross-hairs of anyone who wields this weapon, then you have virtually no hope of escaping a sudden, silent death. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
This weapon could only be bought from the Credit Shop for 1,250 credits (1,000 for Gold Members). It was on sale from August 20th, 2012 until September 10th, 2012. This weapon is skinned after the MSG-9. |
| Dusk Carbine (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
9 mm Rifle Ammo
80 Round Capacity Fast Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 110 Rifle Skill Required Non-Transferable Avg. Damage per Second: 34.5 (144.9) |
One of the few rifles to use the 9x39 subsonic rifle round, the Dusk Carbine is a unique and powerful weapon. The Dusk Carbine boasts a massive magazine and is supremely accurate. The Rifle is set with a small weight in the stock of the gun to help reduce felt recoil and distribute the gun's weight evenly, allowing a survivor to sustain better accuracy. Weapon Type: Carbine
This weapon cannot be found in the city but is available in the Elite Shop for $500,000. Added May 15th, 2011. |
| Ironsight 33-F | |
14mm Rifle Ammo
25 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 120 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 35 (147) Scrap Value: $57,650 ($ 115,300) |
The Ironsight 33-F was developed through the gunsmiths' attempts to make use of scrapped sniper rifles they found in the Yard. They put a particular focus on finding a way to integrate the most effective components of various rifles into one gun, and spent a great deal of time modifying these parts to be interchangeable. The weapon ultimately turned out drastically better than expected and is proving to be one of the most powerful rifles we have. One of the gun's most popular features is the extended scope (built from parts of the M82A2's standard scope and several smaller scopes), which has allowed survivors to pinpoint targets at distances well beyond the ranges of pre-existing scoped rifles. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
Added February 18th, 2013. |
| Marksman G8 (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
14mm Rifle Ammo
30 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 120 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 39 (163.8) Scrap Value: $57,650 ($ 115,300) |
One of the more ambitious ideas that has been buzzing about between Fairview's gunsmiths was the concept of an easy-to-produce coilgun. In a collaborative effort between outpost gunsmiths and AdminPwn's personal gunsmith team, the Marksman G8 was built. The Marksman takes advantage of the 14mm round's steel jacket, which is ferromagnetic. This allows the barrel's sequence of electromagnetic coils to accelerate the bullets (which are already moving considerably fast once fired) to extremely high speeds, often well beyond Mach 5. What's more, the rifle's battery can be detached and recharged with a hand-crank generator while in an outpost. While not able to fire as fast as the Gauss gun (due to the scarcity of iridium metal and mechanical limits), the Marksman G8 is nevertheless a deadly new advantage we have in the fight against the infected. Weapon Type: Carbine
This weapon could only be bought from the Credit Shop for 2000 credits (1750 for Gold Members). It was on sale from May 23rd, 2013 until June 20th, 2013. |
| Worg Carbine | |
14mm Rifle Ammo
35 Round Capacity Very Slow Reload Speed Average Firing Speed High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 120 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 48 (201.6) Scrap Value: $57,650 ($ 115,300) |
A devastating carbine based on the FN SCAR-20, another pride of gunsmiths. The SCAR-20's body and components was rebuilt using titanium steel that prevents the gun from exploding when fired and rechambered into 14mm rifle rounds. The Worg Carbine can deliver 14mm rifle rounds to the face of the infected at a high velocity, splattering them into nothing but a bloody mess. Like most of the gunsmith's newest line of designs, this weapon features a stubby bayonet for unknown reasons. Nevertheless, this weapon can destroy anything with ease, be it the infected or the survivors. Weapon Type: Carbine
Added November 6th, 2014. |
| X-Dusk Carbine (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
14mm Rifle Ammo
80 Round Capacity Fast Reload Speed Slow Firing Speed High Accuracy High Critical Chance 120 Rifle Skill Required Non-Transferable Avg. Damage per Second: 70.5 (296.1) |
Sporting the same massive magazine size and quick reload speed as the previous model, the X-Dusk Carbine adapted to use larger 14mm rifle rounds that pack a much larger punch than the older 9mm rifle rounds. The compact size of the rifle makes it light weight, and easier to use while still competing with the Longshot PP-10. Weapon Type: Carbine
This weapon cannot be found in the city but is available in the Elite Shop for $2,500,000. This weapon is skinned after the SIC 550. Added October 8th, 2015. |
| Longshot PP10 (Unique)This item is unique and as such it can only be obtained in special ways and/or is non-transferable. | |
14mm Rifle Ammo
28 Round Capacity Slow Reload Speed Very Slow Firing Speed Very High Accuracy Very High Critical Chance 120 Rifle Skill Required Avg. Damage per Second: 77 (323.4) Scrap Value: $57,650 ($ 115,300) |
To further extend the Ironsight 33-F's abilities, this weapon was built by the gunsmiths by re-doing the Ironsight's blueprints from the scratch and optimizing the usage of rifle components found scrapped in the Junk Yard, resulting in a lighter, smaller yet deadlier rifle. A single bullet can easily turn a weak zombie into soup due to its massive velocity and pressure. Weapon Type: Bolt Action Rifle
This weapon could only be bought from the Credit Shop for 2,300 credits (1,800 for Gold Members). It was on sale from July 15th, 2015 until August 10th, 2015. |