Non-automatic rifles tend to offer better accuracy and per-shot damage than pistols and automatic weapons. Most non-automatic rifles can be equipped with scopes to benefit from all three ranks of the Sniper perk. Most importantly, non-automatic rifles are affected by any investments you make in the Rifleman perk.
Assault Rifle
Standard Model: Short Assault Rifle
Damage: 30 (ballistic)
Ammo: 5.56
Fire Rate: 40
Range: 119
Accuracy: 72
Weight: 13.1
Value: 144
The standard assault rifle offers a nice balance of power and accuracy, making it a good choice in a variety of combat scenarios. Many of its available mods make this weapon particularly well suited to automatic fire, but a properly modified assault rifle can be turned into a serviceable sniper rifle with great ammo capacity and a comparatively high rate of fire.
Assault rifles are often carried by higher-level Super Mutants, but they can be found throughout the Commonwealth.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard magazine
Standard sights
No muzzle
Combat Rifle
Standard Model: Short Combat Rifle
Damage: 33 (ballistic)
Ammo: .45
Fire Rate: 33
Range: 119
Accuracy: 70
Weight: 11.1
Value: 117
Standard combat rifles use .45 ammo to offer slightly higher damage than assault rifles but with a lower rate of fire and a minor drop in accuracy. Like assault rifles, however, combat rifles can be modified to meet a wide variety of offensive needs.
These weapons are particularly popular with Gunners, but they’re commonly carried by higher-level enemies.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard magazine
Standard sights
No muzzle
Combat Shotgun
Standard Model: Short Combat Shotgun
Damage: 50 (ballistic)
Ammo: Shotgun Shell
Fire Rate: 20
Range: 47
Accuracy: 23
Weight: 11.1
Value: 87
Combat shotguns deal significant damage, but they do so at the cost of accuracy and range. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The wide spread from each shot can make it much easier to hit fast-moving targets—as long as they’re relatively close. Even standard models can be effective, but a heavily modified combat shotgun offers enough firepower to overwhelm most targets in seconds.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard magazine
Standard sights
No muzzle
Recoil Compensated Advanced Combat Shotgun
Damage:87 (ballistic)
Ammo:Shotgun Shell
Fire Rate:26
Range:53
Accuracy:54
Weight:22.3
Value:245
Whether you’re surrounded by persistent pests or facing off against one formidable foe, this heavily modified combat shotgun can be a real lifesaver. When your back is to the wall and enemies are closing in, you don’t need range—you need power! Increased ammo capacity means less-frequent reloads, but the attached bayonet ensures that even an empty weapon can deal serious damage. You might be outnumbered, but that doesn’t have to mean you’re outgunned.
Attached Mods
Advanced receiver
Long ported and shielded barrel
Recoil compensating stock
Quick-eject drum mag
Reflex sight (dot)
Large bayonet
Double-Barrel Shotgun
Standard Model: Short Double-Barrel Shotgun
Damage: 45 (ballistic)
Ammo: Shotgun Shell
Fire Rate: 36
Range: 47
Accuracy: 16
Weight: 9
Value: 39
Double-barrel shotguns are both powerful and plentiful, but they also require frequent reloads. This makes them less than ideal when you’re outnumbered, but they’re handy when a quick burst of damage is enough to end an encounter.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Gauss Rifle
Standard Model: Gauss Rifle
Damage: 110 (ballistic)
Ammo: 2-mm Electromagnetic Cartridge
Fire Rate: 66
Range: 191
Accuracy: 39
Weight: 15.8
Value: 228
Gauss rifles favor power over accuracy. Each shot must be charged for maximum damage, so this weapon is best used from the safety of cover. Most importantly, they’re the only guns that utilize 2-mm electromagnetic cartridges. Depending on your ammo supply, a properly modified Gauss rifle can be a valuable addition to your arsenal.
Attached Mods
Standard barrel
Standard stock
Half capacitors
Standard sights
No muzzle
Hunting Rifle
Standard Model: Short Hunting Rifle
Damage: 37 (ballistic)
Ammo: .308
Fire Rate: 3
Range: 131
Accuracy: 71
Weight: 9.6
Value: 55
This weapon frame features high damage and accuracy with a low rate of fire. Hunting rifles are fairly common, but these seemingly simple weapons can be converted into extremely powerful sniper rifles.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard magazine
Standard sights
No muzzle
Recon .50 Sniper Rifle
Damage: 64 (ballistic)
Ammo:.50
Fire Rate:4
Range:185
Accuracy:112
Weight:19.2
Value:212
Let’s face it—it’s not always best to go in with guns blazing. This hunting rifle has been modified to use powerful .50-caliber rounds and has great accuracy over long distances, which means you can put every shot right where you want it. The increased ammo capacity minimizes pesky reloads, and the attached suppressor will help keep your enemies guessing. Stick to the shadows, and this modern take on the classic sniper rifle will let you end a firefight before it starts.
Attached Mods
.50 receiver
Long ported barrel
Marksman’s stock
Large quick-eject mag
Long recon scope
Suppressor
Institute Laser
Standard Model: Short Institute Rifle
Damage: 15 (energy)
Ammo: Fusion Cell
Fire Rate: 66
Range: 71
Accuracy: 75
Weight: 4.8
Value: 67
One simple mod is all it takes to convert an Institute pistol to an Institute rifle. This versatility means that standard Institute rifles lack the raw power offered by dedicated rifle weapon frames. When you’re looking to deal long-distance energy damage, however, a properly modified Institute laser certainly fits the bill.
Attached Mods
Standard capacitor
Short barrel
Full stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Laser Gun (Rifle)
Standard Model: Short Laser Rifle
Damage: 24 (energy)
Ammo: Fusion Cell
Fire Rate: 50
Range: 71
Accuracy: 75
Weight: 4.5
Value: 77
Like Institute lasers, laser guns are easily converted between pistol form and rifle form. However, a heavily modified laser rifle offers excellent per-shot damage, making it particularly effective as an energy-based sniper rifle.
Attached Mods
Standard capacitor
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Laser Musket
Standard Model: Short Laser Musket
Damage: 30 (energy)
Ammo: Fusion Cell
Fire Rate: 6
Range: 71
Accuracy: 70
Weight: 12.6
Value: 57
The standard laser musket isn’t quite as accurate as other energy rifles, but it does offer more power due to a unique reload process. A laser musket must be cranked before firing. The standard capacitor allows for a maximum of two cranks, but more advanced laser muskets can accommodate up to six cranks. The result is a massive boost in per-shot damage with greatly increased ammo usage.
A slightly modified laser musket can be found just outside the Museum of Freedom.
Attached Mods
Standard capacitor
Short barrel
Short stock
Standard sights
Pipe Bolt-Action
Standard Model: Short Pipe Bolt-Action Rifle
Damage: 34 (ballistic)
Ammo: .308
Fire Rate: 2
Range: 131
Accuracy: 71
Weight: 4.8
Value: 39
The pipe bolt-action weapon frame can be used to build a fairly powerful rifle, making it a good option for long-range damage until you can find a hunting rifle.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Pipe Gun
Standard Model: Short Pipe Rifle
Damage: 13 (ballistic)
Ammo: .38
Fire Rate: 55
Range: 119
Accuracy: 69
Weight: 3.4
Value: 26
In rifle form, the pipe gun’s true strength lies in its versatility. A few basic modifications should allow this weapon to fill gaps in your arsenal as you hunt down more powerful rifles.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard magazine
Standard sights
No muzzle
Pipe Revolver
Standard Model: Short Pipe Revolver Rifle
Damage: 24 (ballistic)
Ammo: .45
Fire Rate: 6
Range: 119
Accuracy: 71
Weight: 6.4
Value: 32
Like other makeshift weapon frames, pipe revolvers are common and easily modified. It can’t match the damage offered by more advanced rifles, but it’s a good option for new adventurers.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Plasma Gun (Rifle)
Standard Model: Short Plasma Rifle
Damage: 24 (ballistic), 24 (energy)
Ammo: Plasma Cartridge
Fire Rate: 33
Range: 119
Accuracy: 148
Weight: 4.8
Value: 154
With its combination of ballistic damage and energy damage, the plasma gun is one of the most powerful and versatile options for small-arms fire. A properly modified plasma gun offers excellent range, accuracy, and per-shot damage, making it a particularly good sniper rifle. It can’t support a suppressor, but a long-range plasma rifle is a great way to kick off a firefight.
Attached Mods
Standard capacitor
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard sights
Recon Overcharged Plasma Sniper Rifle
Damage: 60 (ballistic), 60 (energy)
Ammo: Plasma Cartridge
Fire Rate: 33
Range: 233
Accuracy: 184
Weight: 8.1
Value: 397
When you want to send a message to your enemies, let this overcharged rifle do the talking. What this high-tech weapon lacks in subtlety, it more than makes up for in range, accuracy, and per-shot damage.
Attached Mods
Overcharged capacitor
Improved sniper barrel
Recoil compensating stock
Long recon scope
Railway Rifle
Standard Model: Railway Rifle
Damage: 100 (ballistic)
Ammo: Railway Spike
Fire Rate: 10
Range: 119
Accuracy: 69
Weight: 14.4
Value: 290
The railway rifle is less accurate than most non-automatic rifles, but it’s extremely powerful. This steam-powered weapon launches railway spikes capable of crippling limbs and impaling enemies. It makes for an effective long-range weapon—especially after a few modifications—but it excels at short-to-medium range combat.
The railway rifle is gained after completing The Railroad Quest: Underground Undercover.
Attached Mods
Standard receiver
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard sights
No muzzle
Syringer
Standard Model: Syringer Rifle
Damage: —
Ammo: Injectable
Fire Rate: 2
Range: 119
Accuracy: 72
Weight: 6.2
Value: 132
Rather than dealing direct damage, the Syringer is used to inflict your enemies with various effects. This weapon supports a wide variety of injectable ammo, all of which can be crafted at chemistry stations. Targets can be frenzied, paralyzed, weakened, poisoned, and more.
There are several Syringers scattered across the Commonwealth. They can be found in the Greater Mass Blood Clinic, Medford Memorial Hospital, Mass Bay Medical Center, Sandy Coves Convalescent Home, Parsons State Insane Asylum, and various other locations. Vault 81 contains a Syringer that’s easily collected during Side Quest: Hole in the Wall.
Attached Mods
Short barrel
Standard stock
Standard sights