After you locate the optimal sniping spot, it’s time to pull out your rifle. Choose the best stance for the job—prone or crouch—and scope your target. For a standard shot, zoom in as close as you can and line up a headshot.
If you aim for the head and your bullet drops because of gravity over distance, your bullet will still strike the enemy’s neck or torso for lethal damage. On Expert mode, you do not have the benefit of the Hit Indicator, so always line up a headshot so that when the bullet drops, it still ends in a kill.
Most of the time when you kill the last enemy in a group/encounter, you trigger the “bullet cam.”
For quicker shots, when enemies are firing on you or approaching your position, you won’t have time to zoom in on the target. Don’t waste time, and take multiple shots at the lowest magnification to hit the target before he can return fire. If it’s a particularly difficult shot, take a deep breath to slow down time and give yourself steadier aim.
If you’re with a spotter, listen for the targets and shoot them in called-out order. If not, always pick off isolated targets that won’t raise the alarm when they drop and where their dead bodies won’t be found by other enemy patrols. Failing that, snipe targets from behind and look to take down targets when other enemies’ backs are turned so they don’t notice the attack.
The most difficult shots can be downing enemies in motion. To line up a moving target, place your reticle ahead of the target so that it moves into your sights. How far ahead? That depends on how fast the target is moving; you need to leave a bigger gap if the target is traveling faster.
As you’re about to take the shot, hold your breath to slow down time so the target slowly moves into your kill zone and you can finish him off.
Remember that you aren’t always limited to using bullets to waylay the enemy, especially if you want to kill multiple tangos in a split second. There are a few tricks an expert sniper can use to catch the enemy off guard.
The most common is shooting a vehicle’s gas tank. If enemies are standing nearby when this goes off, they’re obliterated. Even if they aren’t, the explosion will draw the attention of nearby enemies and can prove an effective distraction as you slip away from the chaos.
For a more difficult shot, but equally as explosive, try shooting a grenade on an enemy’s belt. If you zoom in on the grenade and strike it precisely with your bullet—boom! A single grenade can take out two enemies in close proximity, or, if you’re lucky, a small group talking together.