Sniper rifle (DX)

The sniper rifle is a rifle skill weapon appearing in Deus Ex.

Background
A semi-automatic sniper rifle with a telescopic sight. Compared to a bolt-action sniper rifle, these semi-auto types of rifles are generally less accurate. However, they make up for it by being able to engage multiple targets in quick succession.

This weapon utilizes the .30-06 Springfield cartridge (7.62x63mm in metric notation), which was once used for sniper rifles in the Vietnam War of the 1970's. By 2052, the sniper rifle cartridge has reverted back to the .30-06 from the year 2010's main sniper rifle ammunition: the 7.62x51mm (which is instead used by the ZHL-U1953 assault rifle).

By 2052 this sniper rifle was widely used.

By 2072, another sniper rifle was in wide-spread usage instead.

Game item
The first opportunity to obtain the sniper rifle is from Paul at the start of the game. If not obtained there, it can be scavenged from a patrolling NSF trooper near the front entrance to the Statue of Liberty. After Liberty island, NSF and MJ-12 troops are occasionally armed with them, specifically those stationed on rooftops.

The sniper rifle is a favourite of many players, and for good reasons. It is very accurate, does a lot of damage and the magazine size isn't bad either. The ammo is rare hovewer, so don't waste bullets on body shots - it can take out any human with a headshot even when Untrained in Rifles. At Advanced it can take out Commandos and Women in Black. At Master level it can even take out even Men in Black with a headshot, and common grunts with a torso shot. Because of its large raw damage it's also great at breaking doors, cameras and turrets.

The Rifle weapons skill will not only increase your accuracy (to 100% at Master, so don't waste Accuracy mods on the sniper rifle if you're planning on increasing your Rifle weapons skill) and damage, but also reduce the sway and recoil. At Master level there is no sway and no recoil at all. Best of all unlike the Pistol the sniper rifle can be silenced, turning it into the stealth player's best friend.

Trivia

 * In multiplayer mode Sniper rifle reloads every single shot.