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This article is about the sniper rifle seen in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2. For other sniper rifles, see sniper rifle.
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For other sniper rifles, see sniper rifle.
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The Sniper Rifle System 99C-Series 2 Anti-Matériel (SRS99C-S2 AM) or SRS99C-S2 AM Sniper Rifle is a United Nations Space Command firearm usable in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo Wars. It saw widespread use during the Battle of Installation 04, Battle of Earth and Battle of Installation 05.[1][2][3][4]

Design[]

The SRS99C is the primary sniper rifle used by UNSC and is featured in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo Wars. First introduced to the UNSC Army in 2460, the SRS99C garnered a significant reputation and was later adopted across the UNSC in 2521.[5] It and its Covenant counterpart, the particle beam rifle, are the most accurate small-arms weapons in both arsenals. The SRS99C has a night vision scope. It is modular, with the scope, stock, barrel and firing mechanism capable of being swapped to match a mission profile.[6]

The SRS99C-S2 AM is a semi-automatic rifle that fires 14.5mm x 114mm APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) rounds from a 4 round magazine. It is designed in the conventional layout, so the mag and operating system are located in front of the trigger.

This powerful weapon is gas-operated and therefore must be cocked to load the first round. Once the first round is fired, the gases from the previous round forces the bolt back and forth and continues to do so until the mag is empty. Once the mag is empty, the bolt (although not illustrated in-game) locks back. After a new mag is inserted, the bolt must be pushed forward to chamber a new round. The bolt used to chamber the round is located on the left side of the weapon and moves during operation. The ejection port is located on the right side of the weapon and possesses a dirt cover.

It features a barrel about 168.5 cm long and is completely interchangeable. From the barrel to the breech to the stock, everything can be changed to fit the current situation and satisfy the operator. The SRS99C-S2AM has some notable changes from the AM model. First off, it is fitted with a 5x and 10x scope that shows real time images. When looking through it, the scope (Oracle N-variant) seems to be down-graded considering the AM model's scope showed the target's elevation and distance and showed when the scope was leveled. The AM also has an altered foregrip and stock as well as an altered body. This weapon does not possess a safety and has a frame that serves as a carrying handle as well as a scope protector. A folding bipod is located in front of the magazine on the underside of the gun.

The AM offers an electronic scope which provides both 5x and 10x magnification. While looking through the scope without engaging the electronic magnification, a real-time image is seen. The "green radar" effect of the AM variant, as well as the night vision function, have been removed.

Ammunition[]

Main article: 14.5x114mm APFSDS

The Sniper Rifle uses 14.5x114mm Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding Sabot rounds, which are described as being "made of very hard metal." They are equipped with four symmetrical fins spaced equidistantly around the base of the projectile. These sabots are used to fill in the gap in the barrel and stabilizing its trajectory, resulting in a hit ratio of 97.3%. The sabots are forced off of the projectile by air resistance before entering the actual target.

Each shot leaves a vapor trail behind it for a few seconds after it is fired. Each shot has an extremely high damage rate, and a head-shot is usually a one hit kill. Also if used correctly the SRS99C-S2 AM's high-velocity rounds can have extreme effectiveness against vehicles, though this is not shown in the games.

The maximum ammunition capacity of the Sniper Rifle is four rounds per magazine and 28 rounds total. However, in Eric Nylund's novels, the rifle is not limited to a four round magazine size. In the Halo: Combat Evolved level The Truth and Reconciliation, the player starts with 68 rounds, but cannot obtain more ammo until he has fewer than 28 rounds left.

Influence[]

The sniper rifle appears to be heavily inspired by the Barrett .50 caliber rifles (most notably the M82 and the M107 sniper rifles), and the South African NTW-20. Many of the features present in the Halo version are included in both weapons, such as the recoil-dampening piston, the general look of the receiver, the magazine placement, muzzle brake, and many other attributes. In addition, the Sniper bullet (14.5 × 114mm) is an actual rifle cartridge, developed by the Russian Army for Anti-Tank Rifles, Heavy Machine Guns, and Sniper Rifles. However, the real 14.5 mm round has a standard cartridge design, whereas the round used in Halo is an APFSDS round (Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot).

Gameplay[]

Advantages[]

  • The Sniper Rifle has two zoom modes, 2x and 8x, for medium- and long-range sniping.
    • In the original Xbox version of Halo: Combat Evolved, the scope incorrectly displays the zoom as being 10x.
  • In multiplayer, a headshot will kill a fully-shielded enemy player.
  • The scope has a Night Vision mode for dark areas.

Disadvantages[]

  • The Sniper Rifle's projectile has a slight travel time at long distances.
  • Its accuracy and lack of aim assist makes it difficult to use in close quarters.
  • The projectile leaves a vapour trail that can be traced back to the sniper's location.
  • Although the rounds are anti-matériel, in Halo: Combat Evolved, rounds fired at vehicles and equipment will do little to no damage or ricochet.

Tactics[]

Main article: Sniping
  • Do not waste rounds on minor threats like Unggoy or shield-bearing Kig-Yar. Ammo is usually scarce and so it is best reserved for stronger enemies, like Elite Majors and Zealots.
  • The Sniper Rifle is very ineffective against the Flood. Save it for the Covenant Strike teams, which take 2-3 shots to kill.
  • When playing Halo PC online, it is necessary to aim in front of a target to account for lag.

Trivia[]

  • Apart from the Shotgun, and the Magnum the Sniper Rifle is the only weapon in Halo: Combat Evolved to make a special animation when a magazine is completely exhausted. If the player shoots all four bullets, the end of the animation will show the Sniper Rifle being cocked.
  • Linda-058 changes the sniper's ammo size to .450-caliber in Halo: The Fall of Reach.
  • In the novel Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, the SPARTAN-IIs and IIIs utilize grapple rounds in place of standard ammunition. These rounds are described as harpoon-like shafts attached to braided monoline rope which is coiled in a bag.
  • "Robert McLees is definitely the go-to guy for the gun stuff," says William O' Brien, part of Halo 2's animation team. "I wanted to come up with an animation for the sniper scope, an 'idle cycle.' If you activate the scope, and then sit too long without doing anything, the animation would kick in periodically, just to keep things interesting. Simple, right? He replied, 'No way. If you adjust your scope in the field, you're dead. Snipers don't do that.' That's how detailed his weapon designs are--not just guns, but how they work, and how a sniper would fire them. Amazing."
  • In Halo: Combat Evolved, enemy AIs do not acknowledge the Sniper Rifle's gunshot if they do not see you. If you kill an enemy with the Sniper Rifle, the other enemies will react to the fallen AI, but will not search for you as they would if you fired with any other weapon.
  • This version of the Sniper Rifle is the only one where the user cycles the bolt after a new magazine is inserted.
  • The Sniper Rifle's night vision mode can be used to provide a clearer image of an enemy in active camouflage.
  • In both Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo 2: Anniversary, SRS99C S2 AM was replaced by the SRS99 AM sniper rifle from Halo: Reach.[7]
  • The bipod on the SRS99C is only seen being used once, in the opening cutscene to the Halo 2 level Outskirts in Halo 2. It is only seen briefly for about 5 seconds (0:34 - 0:39) in the cutscene being used by a marine scout positioned on a rooftop along with his spotter. The bipod is not extended due to only one set model of the sniper rifle in the game, but is still being used to support the rifle on a cinder block.

Gallery[]

Halo: Combat Evolved[]

Halo 2[]

Miscellaneous[]

Appearances[]


Sources[]


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