12/30   How come sniper rifles need cranking? Why can't they be made
        automatic like machine guns or the pistols?
        \_ I suppose by what you call "cranking" is properly referred to
           as bolt-action. THere are few "sniper" rifles that are semi-auto
           like the M21/M25 (based on the M-14). What the public thinks
           and fears as "sniper" rifle is more than likely based upon
           hunting rifles. Cycling the bolt slowly minimizes movement of
           the entire gun. Also the springs in box magazines are affected
           by weather. in fact, snipers often use the same kind round out
           of the same box when zereoing them for training and operations
        \_ bolt action is simpler than any automatic/semi-automatic.
           in addition to less movement, less parts to get involved
           the shooting process in general.  but there are many fine
           semi-automatic "sniping" rifiles.  check out this site:
           http://www.snipercentral.com
           \_ Bolt action rifles are more accurate (complex feed mechanisms
              affect accuracy).  Furthermore, a sniper often wants control
              over when the round gets ejected, something many semi-autos
              do not give him.  Nothing is worse than a tell-tale "plink"
              noise from an ejected round when the enemy is around, something
              american GIs with garand rifles found out the hard way in WWII.
                -- ilyas
        \_ One Shot, One Kill!  Only street sweeping punks use anything else.
        \_ The above are all wrong.  It's simple: One Shot, One Kill, baby!