Sniper rifle

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Fallout and Fallout 2
Originally .308, this one is chambered in the more common .223 caliber. Allows to do insane damage to the critical body areas, if player has correct stats. This rifle does not share the same reduction in accuracy when enemies close in as the Scoped Hunting Rifle.

Fallout Tactics
Originally .308, this one is chambered in the more common 7.62mm caliber.

Fallout 3
The rifle is an older model of the famed DKS-501. Still chambered for .308 ammunition, it's also extremely fragile and requires regular repair and maintenance to keep it in working condition.

The Sniper Rifle is much more powerful when fired outside V.A.T.S. mode, as V.A.T.S. does not take into account accuracy bonuses of the weapon's scope.

Outside V.A.T.S., it's effective range seems to be about 1/4 - 1/3 the distance you can see in the scope. Using a human target as reference, you may need to wait until your target fills at least 3/4 of the diameter of the smaller dashed circle in the scope to hit it.

The sniper rifle has very noticeable sway to it when manually aimed. The sway can be reduced with either a higher skill level in small guns, or when in sneak mode.

Both images below, taken from the southwest guard platform at Fort Bannister will be a 1-shot kills. The color of the first shot has been inverted to improve clarity.

Locations

 * The most reliable source is the Bethesda Ruins. Every few days the Raiders there respawn, and there is a Raider on a platform near the fast travel insertion point carrying a sniper rifle.
 * The Hollowed-Out Rock south of Megaton is easy to reach very early in the game.
 * Shooting range of the National Guard Depot in one of the lanes.
 * If you accept the quest You Gotta Shoot 'Em in the Head from Mister Crowley in the Underworld he will supply you with one.
 * One of the Slavers or Raiders on top of the overpass near Springvale usually carries one.
 * Arkansas, found in the town of Minefield.
 * Allistair Tenpenny of Tenpenny Tower.
 * The southeast guard platform of Fort Bannister.
 * The second floor of a ruined house near Hubris Comics along with some ammo and a skill book.
 * In Georgetown, on the top story of a building across the road from a Missile Launcher wielding Super Mutant.
 * In the elevated shack to the south of Warrington Trainyard, along with some .308 ammo.
 * In Mama Dolce's you may find one or two on Chinese Remnant soldiers.
 * Wheaton Armory has two sniper rifles in the missile silo behind a Very Hard Door.
 * In Seward Square you will find a Talon sniper on a connecting bridge between an Office block and a Metro Station building. Check local map for Office entrance.
 * L'Enfant Plaza in a makeshift camp under a partially collapsed overpass east of the plaza.
 * There are also many Raider corpses with a few .308 rounds and rifles in various corners of the Deathclaw Sanctuary.
 * A Raider was found with one in a Raider camp on top of a broken bridge just North of Vault 101.
 * In the Operation Anchorage DLC, Chinese Crimson Dragoons carry these, however they disappear after they are killed.

Appearances
The Sniper Rifle is a weapon appearing, in various forms, in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3 and Fallout Tactics.