In the American Civil War, Confederate troops equipped with barrel-length three power scopes mounted on the then-premium British Whitworth rifle had been known to kill Union officers at ranges bordering 800 yards, an unheard-of distance at that time.[1][2][3][4]
The earliest sniper rifles were little more than conventional military or target rifles with long-range "peep sights" and Galilean 'open telescope' front and rearsights, designed for use on the target range. Only from the beginning of World War I did specially adapted sniper rifles come to the fore. Germany deployed military calibre hunting rifles with telescopic sights which was countered by the British with Aldis, Winchester and Periscopic Prism Co. sights fitted by gunsmiths, to regulation SMLE Mk III and Mk III* rifles. Australia's No.1 Mk III* (HT) rifle was another later conversion of the SMLE fitted with the Lithgow heavy target barrel at the end of WW2.
Typical World War II-era sniper rifles were generally standard issue battle rifles, hand-picked for accuracy, with a 2.5x or 3x telescopic sight and cheek-rest fitted, with the bolt turned down if necessary to allow operation with the scope affixed. By the end of the war, forces on all sides had specially trained soldiers equipped with sniper rifles, and they have played an increasingly important role in military operations ever since.
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