What makes an airsoft sniper?

Is it the gun? Is it the ghillie? Is it the attitude? What are your thoughts?

Here's my brief opinion on the matter:
American Heritage Dictionary
Sniper (snī'pər) n. A skilled military shooter detailed to spot and pick off enemy soldiers from a concealed place.

It's really as simple as that when it comes to the literal definition of a sniper. People get in such hot debates on what makes a sniper, and I just don't get why. Often times it will be the "elitists" who want to seem more intelligent than they really are, or those snipers out there who want to raise their role in airsoft higher than what it should be.

I think part of being a good/respectable sniper is remaining humble and not wanting the spotlight or 30 kills during an event. It's a personal issue, loving to antagonize the opposing team, having an opponent walk right up on your position without having any clue as to your position, and so on. We shouldn't discourage other players from becoming snipers simply because they can't afford the best rifle or they don't necessarily take it as seriously as we do at this time in their airsoft involvement. Because someone doesn't take it as seriously as others, does not mean they're not a sniper. According to the literal definition, anyone taking extra-ordinary shots from concealed positions is a sniper. That's what a sniper is, despite all the little details everyone wants to throw in. In my opinion, someone could be a sniper the same with an Echo 1 M4 as they could with a TM VSR-10 or an Tanaka M700. That doesn't mean in any way that they'll be as effective as the next, but it also doesn't mean they're not a sniper, or even not a good sniper.

Sure there are differences in the rifles used, just as there are great differences in the skill levels and seriousness of the actual snipers themselves, but those have nothing to do with whether or not the person is a sniper or not. Of course this is a lot just my own opinion, so please, argue it if you must. But let me know what you all think!

Personally, I think of an Airsoft sniper as someone that uses his surroundings to the best of his ability to achieve kills and also to give the C.O. key intel such as enemy movement. If you have ever been to a large game, you know how hard it is for a large team to have good communication. With people that blend in to the background telling the C.O. what area in the field there are enemies, it is much easier to assemble an assualt on that particular area. If it isnt working as a large team, it will certainly help with your team. Your squad leader can atleast get an idea of where reinforcements may be needed.
As far as actually getting kills go, I would say a good sniper could be better than most players on the field. He definitely isnt going to get the most kills, but there is no reason he couldnt be a force to be reckond with.
There are a lot of people that put down airsoft snipers for using bolt actions. If you want my personal opinion, I think it is one of the best platforms to build up a sniper on. Sure you dont have the ROF, but with Ohio regulations stating that the replica can shoot up to 600fps if it is bolt action and you can actually get your rifle anywhere over 500fps you should have a rather nice advantage over your typical AEG user (myself included). I have shot several bolt actions and most of them have been very accurate and much quieter than your typical AEG. Several times I have been shot at by snipers and didnt see or hear where the shot came from. To me that is what defines the airsoft sniper... stealth.

i think being a sniper is all attitude it deosnt matter what gun u have or what ur skill level is but for me, i knew the first time i picked up an airsoft gun that my role was a sniper. its like a mindset u arent the guy who gos rambo, u use stealth and camofluage simply by nature. like my freind adam he has a Full auto SAW and he basically run n guns and has no regard for stealth, i dont think he ever said to himself i want to be machine gunner i think when he picked up an airsoft gun its simply what he did by instinct. u couldent turn him into a sniper he just couldent do it,because by nature hes not..

this is just my opinion i may be wrong

This is one of the most debated topics in airsoft today. do we count DM style players to be snipers? should we say that only dedicated campers with bolt actions are snipers? or do snipers have to do everything that they do in real life to be considered a "sniper"?

personally i think that snipers, to be considered "snipers" must have a replica that resembles a real sniper; just like the support gunner rule. when i say sniper i mean someone who has a spotter and does not travel with a squad. now do i think "snipers" are Required to have a ghilli suite. no, the ghilli does not make a sniper. SPEAR's sniper team didnt use ghilli's and they racked up quite a few kills at OP: Al Najaf. they almost slipped through the enemy lines but they were caught by some reinforcements before they could get through; from hearing the situation this would have happened with or without ghilli's. i think a snipers weapon doesnt have to have a zoom but i think it should have optics to let them use a snipers FPS (400-600). i dont consider a DM to be a sniper i think it is its own class, that class being the mobile sniper, but for the sake of being simple i think they should follow the rules of the sniper for the most part. i dont think DM's should be allowed to wear ghilli suites. DM's should be with their squad at all times if possible, if they cant then they should be with a fire team or something of that nature.

just my 2 cent

sticks

Ok well I happen to be a DM and I don't agree. Like Admin said, a sniper can use any weapon, including a high powered auto. I myself am making a ghillie now. But I would like to know, why should we not be allowed to do this? I don't mean to be rude.

Is it because with a high power auto and a ghillie you could play a sniper and assault gunner at the same time and that would be unfair? Just wanting to know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_marksman

"The DM's role is to supply rapid accurate fire on enemy targets at ranges up to 800 meters (875 yd) with a highly-accurate semiautomatic rifle equipped with a telescopic sight. Like snipers, DM's are trained in quick and precise shooting, but unlike the more specialised "true" sniper, they are also intended to lay down accurate rapid fire."

dedicated snipers do not lay down rapid semi aout fire. DM's are used in squads for "rapid accurate fire". if you have a ghilli (only effective if used for "camping" for a certain peroid of time) then you are defeating the purpose of being a DM. as stated before DM's provide "accurate rapid fire" so you will be moving as often/with the squad that you are in. does that make sense? if not i can explaine more.

now for the whole snipers can use AEG's with high FPS and a full auto option is BS(no offence it just doesnt make any sence). i think snipers should only be considered "snipers" if they resemble a real steel counterpart. if someone wanted to use a semi auto sniper as their primary instead of a bolt action, i think thats fine as ong as it resembles a RS sniper of some sort (SR25, SAM-R, MK 11, JP rifles, etc etc). if we dont do this then we will have a bunch of kids buy their first gun (probably and M4) get a ghilli, upgrade that gun to 450FPS then they will try to be a "sniper".

if you need more of an explanation then just ask i can give it to you

sticks

[edit] anyone else have any comments? [/edit]

i think its the attitude, patience and silence like this guy>