As an expert Sniper Elite 5 player and content creator, I‘m often asked what the best rifles are in the game. Rifles are essential for picking off enemies from a distance, but up close you‘ll want a good submachine gun (SMG) or sidearm. In this guide, I‘ll share my picks for the top 6 best rifles in Sniper Elite 5 for dominating the battlefield from afar.
1. Modello 38 – The All-Rounder
The Modello 38 strikes the perfect balance between power and handling. It hits harder than most rifles with 55 damage per shot while maintaining good stability, a 10 round magazine, and a solid rate of fire at 520 rpm. The 85m audible range means you can take shots from a decent distance without immediately alerting everyone. An excellent jack-of-all-trades rifle perfect for most situations.
- Damage: 55 HP
- Fire Rate: 520 RPM
- Audible Range: 85m
- Magazine Size: 10 rounds
2. K98k – The Powerhouse
If you want raw stopping power at range, the bolt-action K98k is unmatched. Delivering a whopping 80 damage per shot with 100m audible range means you can drop targets quickly even at extreme distances. The downside is the low 260rpm fire rate and 5 round magazine, but as a stealth sniper, you shouldn‘t need more than 1 well-placed shot per kill.
- Damage: 80 HP
- Fire Rate: 260 RPM
- Audible Range: 100m
- Magazine Size: 5 rounds
3. M1 Garand – The Marksman‘s Choice
A favorite of snipers who value precision, the M1 Garand has one of the longest 100m audible ranges in the game while maintaining better stopping power and fire rate than the slower bolt-actions. The high muzzle velocity means shots connect faster at a distance, and the improved stability helps land follow up shots. An excellent semi-automatic for snipers with good aim.
- Damage: 65 HP
- Fire Rate: 300 RPM
- Audible Range: 100m
- Magazine Size: 8 rounds
4. SVT-40 – The Rapid Fire Option
Boasting the highest rate of fire of any Sniper Elite 5 rifle at 540 rpm, the SVT-40 is ideal if you expect to take on groups of enemies or need faster follow up shots. The high capacity 20 round detachable magazine means lots of sustained firepower. Downsides are slightly lower 65 damage and louder 85m audible range, but the SVT-40 is still extremely potent in mid-range firefights.
- Damage: 65 HP
- Fire Rate: 540 RPM
- Audible Range: 85m
- Magazine Size: 20 rounds
5. M1903 Springfield – Long Range Carnage
Very few rifles can compete with the M1903 Springfield for extreme long distance shooting thanks to its very high 125m audible range and 80 damage. The high velocity ammunition has little bullet drop even at 300+ meters when factoring in windage. This makes hitting distant headshots easier than almost any other rifle. The bold action mechanism means slower firing, but you shouldn‘t need more than 1-2 well placed rounds anyways.
- Damage: 80 HP
- Fire Rate: 42 RPM
- Audible Range: 125m
- Magazine Size: 5 rounds
6. Kar98 AZ – The Stealth Sniper
My personal favorite, the Kar98 AZ is the most silent rifle in Sniper Elite 5 with an extremely low 44m audible range. The integrated suppressor means enemies won‘t hear your high powered shots allowing for stealthy long-distance kills. With 65 damage per hit, you can still inflict major damage and the low profile iron sights further reduce visibility. If you want to be an invisible assassin, this is the rifle to carry.
- Damage: 65 HP
- Fire Rate: 42 RPM
- Audible Range: 44m
- Magazine Size: 5 rounds
Best SMG: MP34
Now that we‘ve covered rifles, what about the best SMG? For pure close quarters mayhem, my top pick is the MP34. With an extremely high fire rate of 920 rpm and large 32 round magazine, you can spew lead like a firehose shredding anyone in your path. The respectable 37 damage and laser beam stability means you can challenge enemies even at mid-range despite the high rate of fire. Overall, the MP34 is an absolute monster, mowing down groups of Nazis with ease.
- Damage: 37 HP
- Fire Rate: 920 RPM
- Magazine Size: 32 rounds
How to Unlock the Top Rifles
While all these rifles excel in different ways, you‘ll first need to unlock them as you progress through Sniper Elite 5:
- Modello 38: Complete Mission 3 – Occupied Residence
- K98k: Complete Mission 5 – Festung Guernsey
- M1 Garand: Complete Mission 9 – Wolf Mountain
- SVT-40: Complete Mission 7 – Blockhaus d’Éperlecques
- M1903: Complete Mission 8 – Battery Todt
- Kar98 AZ: Complete Mission 6 – Liberation
I recommend playing through the campaign until at least Mission 6 to unlock the majority of top rifles above. The Kar98 AZ unlocks latest at that mission, while the others unlock slightly earlier from missions 3-5.
Ideal Rifle Pairings
The great thing about Sniper Elite 5 is that you can carry both a primary rifle and secondary SMG/sidearm. This allows pairing long range rifles with close quarters firepower. Here are my recommended pairings:
- Modello 38 + MP34 or P38 Pistol
- K98k + MP40 or Welgun
- M1 Garand + Machine Pistol 44
- SVT-40 + MP41
- M1903 + PPSH 41
- Kar98 AZ + Welrod
Choose pairings that offset your rifle‘s weaknesses like slow fire rate or low magazine size. This gives flexibility to dominate both long range and close quarters combat.
Mods & Attachments
Don‘t forget weapon and ammo mods! Attachments like high power rounds, hair triggers, scopes, and suppressors can significantly improve rifle handling and damage. Experiment to create the ultimate custom sniper rifle.
Final Tips
- Aim for headshots whenever possible to inflict maximum damage
- Use the environment for stealth – relocate often
- Have both long range and CQC weapons equipped
- Utilize sound masking from explosions or planes overhead
- Pick the right rifle for your playstyle and current mission
Mastering the best rifles while combining smart tactics and positioning is crucial to dominating Sniper Elite 5. Hopefully this guide gave you some new weapon ideas and strategies to obliterate the opposition from extreme distances. Stay frosty sharpshooter!
