I use a .50 Rifle with a Long Range NV scope and a suppressor. A benefit of the ballistics rifles is being able to attach a suppressor, because when you dont wear armor you really need to stay hidden.


The one I have does burning damage, so I think it has a bit more effectiveness against robots.

I use the Overseers Guardian modded for the highest damage i can get with it. It also seems far quieter with a suppressor than the Sniper Rifle and the Gauss Rifle which are still quite loud even when silenced. The range of it is less though.I think the longest range is 173 when it's suppressed.

I've tried fully modded Overseers, Gauss... For me the Exploding Assault Rifle kills better than both. I't not a sniper weapon. I find sometimes the Gauss appears to miss (even using VATS) more than the other two.

Long range stealth: Overseers Guardian max damage modded w/ recon scope & silencer

Mid range stealth: 2-Shot Assault Rifle max damage modded w/ recon scope & silencer

Short-get-out-of-my-face-range: Mighty Combat Shotgun (+25% damage) w/ reflex sights, short barrel, no silencer

I realize the last 2 aren't true sniper weapons, but I feel these 3 weapons give a good balance for most situations for my sneaky/sniper character. Also carry a silenced 10mm if stealth holds and I'm close range. Really wanted that syringe rifle to be effective/useful for silenced non-lethal kills, but unfortunately I found it kind of useless.

I have a lot to look forward to. I love playing snipers, in FO4 and Skyrim, but I'm currently running a mighty .308 with a long scope that I have modded for recoil. And another .308 with a medium NV scope that I have modded for recoil. I'm really early in my playthrough and haven't made it to Diamond City yet. Currently the might .308 does 67 damage and the other one does 57. I think I might be screwing myself though because I have been just roaming around instead of following the quests and now I'm 21 level and from what I've seen here I might be under powering myself by doing that.


As for perks I have been focusing on scavenging with lockpicking, hacking, cap finding, and stuff of that nature. I have some points in crafting but I haven't gotten science or armor 2 yet.


I've also not been doing much buildin other than Sanctuary. Other than building walls and defenses.


Am I right that I'm under powering myself by just scavenging and building?

Bloodwolf- don't worry about under powering yourself, if you keep playing you'll acquire all the power you need. I'm still playing my first character (over 500 hrs) and just hit level 52. I started with crafting, hacking, lock picking, charisma-type perks first. Then gradually added perks to the weapon types I liked the most (rifles & explosives). I got killed a few times, but gradually got better weapons and skills. I just enjoy the crafting and settlement construction/management more than anything. The game really lets you play however you want.

Anything ranged with "Instigating" in the name, because a Pipe Weapon can be made into an effective Sniping Rifle, and requires less Perks to fully modify. Another prefix for a Legendary is "Assassins'", because Humans are still the primary Opponent in Game.

Except for Ammunition use and the lack of a Silencer, a Six Crank Recon Laser Musket is a very dependable and effective Sniping Tool. I still use the Short Laser Musket acquired early in the Game, I have just kept it fully Modded as My characters build Perks. I like the Overseers' Guardian as My primary Weapon, but I do not modify it very much except for larger Magazine Capacity, and a Silencer

Yeah it doesn't really take people out very well, both damage syringes svck and the most straight forward long ranged killing syringe, the beserk syringe only works on very low level enemies, plus theres no such thing as a non lethal 'kill' in this game.

That being said, if you use the right ammo in the right situation for the right reason it can do awesome things, though much of its value tends towards short ranges.

Fatman obviously, you can take out quincy in 2 shots.