The earliest known shooting club specifically for firearms was formed in Lucerne, Switzerland, with a charter dating back to 1466. This marked the beginning of organized marksmanship with firearms.

Timothy Murphy, an expert marksman in the American Revolutionary War, shot and killed British General Simon Fraser from a distance of 300 yards during the Battle of Bemis Heights. His marksmanship skills were crucial in various battles of the war.

The term 'sharpshooter' comes from the German word 'Scharfschütze' and alludes to good marksmanship. It originated in the shooting competitions (Schützenfeste) in Munich in the 15th century.

The term 'sniper' was first attested militarily in 1824 and became commonplace during the First World War. It evolved from the term 'snipe shooting' which originated in British India.

In 1854, Sir Joseph Whitworth, a British engineer, designed the Whitworth rifle, considered the first long-range sniper rifle in the world. It featured hexagonal polygonal rifling, providing superior accuracy compared to the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle.

During trials in 1857, the Whitworth rifle designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth demonstrated superior accuracy and range compared to the Enfield rifle, achieving a rate of about three to one. It could hit targets at 2,000 yards, outperforming the Enfield's 1,400 yards.

The minutes of the proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers were published in 1860.

An unidentified Confederate soldier used a Whitworth Rifle to kill a Union soldier from 1390 yards away during the American Civil War. Whitworth Rifles were known for their accuracy and were considered among the first real sniper rifles.

The Lovat Scouts, a British Army unit known for their expert marksmanship and stalking skills, was formed in 1899 during the Second Boer War.

An article on 'Telescopic Sights For Rifles' was published in The British Medical Journal in 1916.

In 1920, a book titled 'Sniping in France' was published, detailing war time activities and modern sniping techniques developed during World War I.

During Germany's 1940 campaigns, French and British snipers were able to significantly delay the German advance, leading to increased training of specialized sniper units.

Matthäus Hetzenauer, the most successful German sniper with 345 confirmed kills, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 April 1945.

The Dragunov SVD semi-automatic sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle was introduced in 1963 by the Soviet Union. It played a significant role in modern sniper operations.

The M40 sniper rifle was first introduced in 1966 and has since undergone several variants including the M40A1, M40A3, and M40A5. It is a bolt-action rifle used by the United States Marine Corps.

The M40A3 sniper rifle has been in military service for 44 years, proving its reliability and effectiveness. It continues to be a highly regarded rifle with enduring value.

The Heckler & Koch PSG1 rifle was specifically designed as a sniper rifle, known for its precision and accuracy. It is often considered an ideal example of this type of firearm.

In 1982, the U.S. Army set a draft requirement for a Sniper Weapon System with an accuracy of no more than 0.75 MOA (0.2 mrad) for a 5-shot group at 1,500 meters when fired.

The M24 Sniper Weapon System was adopted in 1988 with a stated maximum effective range of 800 meters and a maximum allowed average mean radius (AMR) of 1.9 inches at 300 yards from a machine rest.

The FN Special Police Rifle was introduced as a sniper rifle marketed towards law enforcement agencies. It is designed with specific features to meet the needs of police forces.

The article 'War-Winning Weapons: The Measurement of Technological Determinism in Military History' by George Raudzens was published in 1990.

The CheyTac Intervention is an American bolt action sniper rifle known for its long-range capabilities. It is designed for soft target interdiction and is capable of delivering sub-MOA accuracy at ranges of up to 2,500 yards.

The book 'Out Of Nowhere: A History Of The Military Sniper' by Martin Pegler was published in 2004.

The FBI set a high accuracy standard of 0.5 MOA for 5 shots at 100 yards for sniper rifles used by their SWAT teams, as reported in a Guns & Ammo article by D. Johnson in February 2005.

In 2007, a GIPN sniper in Marseille took a shot from 80 meters at the pistol of a police officer threatening to commit suicide, destroying the weapon and preventing the police officer from killing himself.

In 2008, the US military adopted the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System with specific accuracy requirements for a 5-shot group on 300 feet using M118LR ammunition or equivalent.

An article by Tom Beckstrand in 2009 discussing the contenders for the Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

In 2010, a maximum bullet dispersion requirement of 1.4 MOA extreme spread for a 5-shot group on 100 meters was established for the M24 .300 Winchester Magnum.

Modern sniper rifle designs have advanced with improvements in materials, optics, and ergonomics. They are now commonly chambered in high-powered cartridges like .338 Lapua Magnum or .50 BMG for enhanced long-range accuracy.