Bolts all the way!!
One shot, One kill.
As a sniper you shouldnt need a semi auto, you should hit first time.And if you dont you need to question you career choice.
Dont get me wrong though, semi's have there place in the game, but for me it aint picking people off at range.
Agree 100%.
Some maps may be great for semis, as a russian sniper with SVT on Basovka for example, but I use bolts 95% of the time.
I am a decent sniper (actually I am very good) and on a map like Stalingrad I usually end up among the top 3 from kills alone. If I am the German sniper I can stop anyone moving in snipers alley, on the roof and then some. Now, I do realise I can't use a semi sniper as a german, but I don't think it would be possible to hit russians running behind the sandbags on the russian side of snipers alley 4 out of 5 times with a semi sniper. Or hit an enemy sniper/MG'er hidden there EVERY time. I do just that, even if I can see only the top of their heads through the fog.
If I play on the Russian side on Stalingrad and pick the SVT I often get a bucketload of kills UNLESS the sniper on the German side is more than half-decent. Or if the germans has a good bolter or two on their team. All it takes is hiding in the admin building and make good use of leaning. More than once I have missed my first shot with the SVT, hitting the windowsill instead. I can SEE that the bullet hits an inch from where I was aiming, which of course was on the enemy. Before I can aim again I am dead.
And no, it's not because of recoil - it's my first shot. And yes, I am very good with both bolts and semis without scope, so it's not that either.
The first couple months of RO I used bolts 90% of the time, semis if I could... which means I am excellent with bolts and semis and almost as good with MG's. I am s h i t with SMGs and tanks (well I can hit other tanks but can't angle very well). I have only the utmost respect for SMG'ers who can hit, and kill, me from 100 yards away.
Anyway, my conclusion would be that semis are super, bolts are more fun and they are superior sniperrifles. Unless you are defending a specific street/alley/entrance where you expect heavy assaulting.
Most of the time you only have one shot before the enemy is gone anyway, smart players aren't stationary and will move from cover to cover.
Bah. I hate writing posts at work, they become too fragmented since I write one sentence every 20 minutes