Sniping, as in utilizing the maximum range of a weapon for shooting from an ambush position at priority targets in order to cause confusion and other indirect tactical effects, seems to go hand in hand with rifles in Star Trek just like it does everywhere else. It's just that typically the sniping weapons are standard rifles, at most with an extra sight attached, rather than special weapons or extensive modifications of standard designs. Today, this wouldn't be possible because long range calls for long barrels, which are no good for general assault purposes where mobility and agility is important and range is almost irrelevant. Up until WWII, though, it was the assault weapons that were rare specialities, and the standard infantry weapon could double as a sniping weapon; this seems to be the case in Trek, too.
Timo Saloniemi
Timo Saloniemi
