Learn how to craft and use the Sniper Rifle
In 7 Days to Die, keeping your targets unaware and at a distance provides you with a huge advantage. If you’re looking for the pinnacle of long-range combat, look no further than the Sniper Rifle. This SVD-inspired weapon is powerful, accurate, and supremely lethal, with the ability to easily kill multiple enemies in a single shot and pierce armor.
This guide will walk you through crafting a Sniper Rifle in 7 Days to Die and offer advice on utilizing it best.
How to craft a Sniper Rifle in 7 Days to Die
Players looking to craft this long-range killer will need some high-end materials and no shortage of skill. You’ll need to reach the final tier in the Rifles crafting skill and have a Workbench before you can successfully assemble this weapon. The amount of crafting materials required will depend on the quality of the rifle being constructed:
| Materials | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle Parts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Forged Steel | 30 | 60 | 90 | 120 | 150 |
| Duct Tape | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| Scrap Polymers | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Spring | 12 | 24 | 36 | 48 | 60 |
| Rifles Crafting Skill | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
- Rifle Parts can be found by scrapping non-Pipe Rifles, searching weapon chests and gun safes, or may be purchased from traders.
- Forged Steel can be crafted at a Forge or salvaged from advanced devices like vending machines and street lamps.
- Duct Tape can be crafted by combining Glue and Cloth Fragments or found in parts containers.
- Scrap Polymers may be obtained by salvaging appliances and plastic objects or scavenged.
- Springs can be found in vehicle parts crates or salvaged from machinery and vehicles.
- The Rifles crafting skill can only be improved by finding and reading issues of the Rifle World skill magazine.
Sniper Rifle Overview
Base Stats
Sniper Rifle Stats by Quality
| Property | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magazine Size | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Rounds / Minute | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 | 140 |
| Effective Range | 66 | 67 | 74 | 76 | 56 | 59 |
| Max Durability | 233 | 285 | 364 | 432 | 538 | 417 |
| Mod Slots | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Ammo
The Sniper Rifle is chambered in high-caliber 7.62 rounds, of which there are 3 kinds: Standard, HiPower (HP), and Armor Piercing (AP). The damage of each quality of weapon is determined by what ammo the player has loaded into it.
| Ammo Type | Quality 1 | Quality 2 | Quality 3 | Quality 4 | Quality 5 | Quality 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.62 | 100.6 | 105.8 | 111.7 | 113.1 | 119.3 | 124.7 |
| HiPower 7.62 | 105.7 | 111.1 | 117.3 | 118.8 | 125.3 | 130.9 |
| AP 7.62 | 110.7 | 116.4 | 122.9 | 124.5 | 131.2 | 137.1 |
Crafting 7.62 Ammo will require a workbench and the following materials:
- 1 Bullet Tip
- 3 Gunpowder
- 1 Bullet Casing
Crafting HiPower 7.62 Ammo will require a workbench and the player has read the Sniper Vol. 7 perk book, as well as the following materials:
- 2 Bullet Tips
- 3 Gunpowder
- 1 Bullet Casing
Crafting AP 7.62 Ammo will require a workbench, and the player has read the Sniper Vol. 6 perk book, as well as the following materials:
- 2 Bullet Tips
- 5 Gunpowder
- 1 Bullet Casing
Mods
The Sniper Rifle accepts the following mods. Note that only one mod of any category may be attached at a time except accessory mods.
- Barrel: Barrel Extender, Muzzle Brake, Silencer
- Sights: Reflex, Scope x2, Scope x4, Scope x8
- Accessory: Fore Grip, Bipod, Cripple ‘Em
- Tech: The Hunter, Rad Remover
- Trigger Group: Semi, Burst, Full-Auto
- Rail: Laser Sight, Weapon Flashlight
- Magazine: Magazine Extender
- Stock: Retracting Stock
Tips and tricks for using the Sniper Rifle
As a member of the Rifle weapon class, the Sniper Rifle scales in power with the player’s Perception attribute and the Deadeye perk.
The Sniper Rifle is much less effective without a proper scope. We recommend attaching at least an x2 Scope, though a Reflex sight will suffice in a pinch or for close-range combat.
The main advantages this weapon boasts over other weapon classes of the same tier are its immense stopping power and its range. Using these bonuses to your advantage will require a fair level of skill in terms of aim. Headshots from this rifle are lethal to most enemies, so practice popping skulls whenever you get the chance.
With the Penetrator perk, the Sniper Rifle can easily pierce all kinds of armor. When coupled with armor-piercing ammunition, the full potential of this rifle becomes apparent. It can shatter helmets, kill enemies through cover, and even put down multiple enemies in the same shot, provided they are lined up.
Though extremely powerful at range, this rifle is at its weakest when enemies are close. Moving while wielding a Sniper Rifle will severely impact your aim, and firing from the hip is not recommended. For these reasons, the Sniper Rifle is not recommended for close-combat or indoor use.
If you must use this weapon in those situations, we recommend fitting your rifle with a retracting stock, foregrip, and laser sight to improve mobility. A reflex sight can also assist with faster target acquisition in close quarters.
For survivors facing off against other players, a silencer attachment can greatly improve your chances of remaining hidden while picking off opponents. Additionally, the high penetration value of this weapon makes it great for combating heavily-armored and slow-moving players.
The Sniper Rifle’s impressive range allows it to easily trigger stealth damage bonuses against unaware zombies without alerting additional enemies. Just make sure enemies near your position don’t sneak up on you while you’re scoping in on long-range targets.
Final thoughts on the Sniper Rifle
Lower-tier rifles may be difficult to use and leave players vulnerable, but this long-range beauty is a letter from The Fun Pimps to snipers telling them it was all worth it. With the right skills and equipment, there’s nowhere to hide from a sniper wielding one of these specialized weapons.
Looking for some more pointers to help you survive Navezgane? Check out our 10 Tips for Getting Started or our in-depth Beginner’s Guide.
