User blog comment:Zealot Guy/My Sniper Rifles/@comment-198.103.184.76-20110729193436

M24 - excellent starter rifle. For serious proper sniping, it's the go-to rifle until the GOL. Once you get the GOL, never use it again unless you REALLY love the mil-dots and scope sway. T88 - Sucky crap rifle made in china. It's bascially the less-than-stellar sniper rifle for close urban maps until you unlock the SVU. Once you do, don't use the T88 anymore, it doesn't compare. SV98 - Divided camps on this one. It's a strange niche because it's like a compromise between the stopping power and range of the bolt rifles and the rapid shots and large mag of the semi autos. It's a good choice for hectic engagements in medium size or mixed range maps if you can get used to the reticle. On HC mode, it's virtually the same damage as the other bolts. If it really works for you, use it. SVU - Excellent choice for close up urban sniping. The silencer and quick follow up shots are a big advantage here. I think they nerfed the damage last patch though, feels that way. Do yourself a favour and use magnum ammo, even on HC mode. GOL - Best sniper rifle EVAR. Period. If you are doing any serious sniping, this should be your default choice unless map conditions make other rifles like the SVU a better choice in that instance (very short ranges or extreme long ranges). VSS - as stated by the OP, not really a sniper rifle. It's okay for playing more of a spec ops covert ninja assault kind of recon, but only with extra mags as this thing barely has any ammo to start and eats through it like popcorn. SVU with red dot MIGHT be a better choice for such play styles, or even an all kit like the G3 or something. M95 - Overrated. It's huge, loud, PAINFULLY SLOW and only carries 5 rounds. Huge and loud are disadvantages because they give away your position. Its supposed damage advantage doesn't really make any difference compared to the GOL. The one thing this rifle has going for it is a very flat trajectory that makes it the best choice for extreme-range sniping. On maps like Heavy Metal (probably the only map I use it for, truthfully) it has the advantage over the GOL because of the relatively flat trajectory and faster bullet speed.

There you go; a breakdown from a diehard sniper.