Why do we have to crank most sniper rifles before getting the next shot?

5 Comments

1. Mark M says:

   November 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   More accuracy. Also, snipers have a motto. One shot, one kill. It’s a major waste of ammo to sit there with an automatic weapon and shoot in the general direction of the target. I believe what you are referring to as "cranking most sniper rifles" is referring to the bolt. A bolt action rifle is way more accurate. Snipers also want to be seen/heard as little as possible. If you have an automatic sniper rifle, the enemy instantly knows where you are.
2. George S says:

   November 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   Actually, there are sniper rifles that have semi-auto & full auto-modes. But a lot of snipers prefers the bolt-action or what we call single shot because the reloading action tends to make the rifle slightly inaccurate. One-shot one-kill is the motto of the sniper and the bolt action suits the requirement. A number of snipers are looking at semi-auto long-range rifle like the Barrett. I wouldn’t discount them. Shooting a target long range with full auto will greatly reduce accuracy and waste badly needed rounds. Hope I helped a little.
3. Joe the Merc(says it like it is) says:

   November 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   uhh.. crank? bolt action rifles are simple, solid, and accurate.

   there are many different semi-automatic "Sniper" Rifles though
4. Kevin H says:

   November 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   because they made it so you can only shoot it one shot at a time. when you shoot it, it is more acurate when it uses one bullet at a time. plus snipers are supposed to be sneakey. if they have an automatic sniper, then what if they slip and they keep firing. Also if it was an auto, it would be hard o shoot 1 bullet every time, because evry time you pull the trigger, 3 or more rounds will come out.
5. Altair says:

   November 18, 2009 at 12:28 pm

   to load the next bullet into the barrel. the point of a sniper is to take out one target at a time. it’s not a combat rifle, you don’t want to give your position away. i would have thought that was obvious. one shot, one kill.