Why is the Overseer's Guardian so popular as a Sniper?

[The Filth]

People told me that the overseer's Guardian was the best Sniper rifle for firing two shots but as I barely used it and couldn't kill a regular Super Mutant with a sneak Headshot and a perk in rifleman. Plus it does less damage than my Powerfist, but as an Automatic Weapon it does seventy damage per shot and uses the most plentiful ammo in the game. Why does everyone reccomend it to me as a Sniper rifle when its a much better Automatic Gun?

[Moonbane]

I restate. The overseers guardian combat rifle wins out in general, because its guaranteed, sold by a vendor. Whereas for a 2shot hunting rifle, you have to pray to RNGesus for deliverance.

Edit:
but im just reminded. Theres a new contender to consider:
http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Old_Reliable

A 2 shot lever action rifle sold by dejen in arcadia and using the new 45-70 ammo type

[Mr.Hmm]

Originally posted by Pain:

Originally posted by Nefer:

Well its popular because its a guaranteed two shot rifle that is great for sniping. Unless you should be so lucky to find a 2shot .50 cal sniper rifle.

I found a two shot gauss rifle. Don't use it because it is OP as ♥♥♥♥, lol.

M2, that ♥♥♥♥ is too OP.

[GM Pax]

Two-shot rifles? The second shot only deals base damage, not affected by your perks. Hence why I just compared non-legendary rifles, and only base damage.

Even without that, though? A lever-action rifle is the next step up for Sniping:

Base damage 35; +99 (!!) for the Advanced Receiver; 134 total
Fire Rate 5; +1 for the Advanced Receiver; 6 total
Range 122; +84 for a Long Ported barrel, -30 for a Suppressor; 176 total
Accuracy 72; +36 for a Long Scope, +2 for a Long Ported barrel; 110 total

A shade less accuracy than the Hunting Rifle, a bit less range than either other rifle, but HOLY COW the base damage ...!!

[Moonbane]

out of curiosity, how does the damage of a fully modded lever action compare with a modded gauss rifle?

[Mr.Hmm]

Well you cant compare a gauss RIfle to a lever action.

It does less dmg but i personally like the Lever Action Sniper Rifle i have, its really strong and very fun to use.

[SuperBobKing]

For sniping nothing is as good as the gauss rifle.

Overseer's Guardian does deal decent damage in a sniper setup, and at early game it is one of the best options for a sniper rifle since you can just buy it. Once you can get the gauss rifle it becomes terrible for trying to snipe, but it is still decent as a general purpose rifle for when the enemies find you and you need to be able to fire a lot of shots quickly. Now that we have far harbor I use the kiloton rifle (radium rifle with explosive effect) for that instead.

Two shot in general isn't one of the best perks for sniper rifles, because the second shot only adds base damage. That does make it decent on full auto though, because it can end up being a huge damage boost. For sniper rifles instigator is better, because it will make you deal double damage and the goal is to kill things in a single shot anyway. Sniper rifles and full auto rifles are for very different playstyles and require different perks in order to function, so there isn't much point comparing them. The best one will be the one that suits you and that you have the right perks for.

[GM Pax]

Originally posted by Nefer:

out of curiosity, how does the damage of a fully modded lever action compare with a modded gauss rifle?

(( Damage / Accuracy / Range / Rate-of-Fire ))
Base: 110 / 69 / 191 / 66
Shielded Barrel: +31 / +0 / +24 / +0
Boosting Coil: +66 / +0 / +0 / +0
Recoil stock: +0 / +7 / +0 / +0
Long Scope (any): +0 / +32 / +0 / +0
Suppressor: +0 / +11 / -30 / +0

FINAL STATS:
Damage 207 (Lever action = 134)
Accuracy 87 (Lever action = 110)
Range 217 (Lever action = 176)
Rate of Fire 66 (Lever action = 6)

So, you trade some range and accuracy for about a 50% damage boost, and elven times the rate-of-fire.

...

I fully agree with Instigator being the trait for any sniper rifle. Or for silenced handguns, for that matter - they're used in a similar role, just in close quarters rather than from far away.

My go-to setup is a silenced, maxxed 10mm pistol ... a .50 sniper rifle (I've yet to get a gauss rifle - I keep restarting the game, curse me) .... and something with a lot of punch, often a non-auto combat shotgun (currently, Le Fusile Terribles), for when stealth is blown and "it's to go loud".

I'm thinking of shifting my sniper to a Lever Action now, though, having actually looked at the numbers. :)