Speaking of modern day sniping, the longest documented kill shot is 2,475 meters. It's sad that with the best rifle I've found so far in the game I can barely see a red at 550 meters. My longest kill shot so far was 596 meters. I took a picture. And my longest head shot so far was 560 meters. got a pic of that too.

You need to think a bit quicker then OP. Sniping in DUST is a hard role to play well. The best snipers move constantly across the field and take the shots as they find them. Every map is different but moving around them will help you find where to be. Static sniping is really just the low end of it all.

The map you are thinking of is almost certainly Manus Peak, which has always been a snipers paradise. Just playing the same map over and over again would be super boring. Also: I like that map too, it's fun and easy to manage tactically as a logi but trust me, nobody would choose manus peak if single maps were selectable because it would immediately turn into one big broken shooting gallery as all the snipers would gravitate to it. (Edit: Though now that I think of it that would be a kinda fun game mode, just hunting other snipers... I feel a suggestion thread coming on...)

Range is maybe a little short considering some of the new maps but Thales redline snipers would be OP as hell virtual mini-orbitals with the distances you are talking about. Climb into a sniper tower or builidng near the Manus Peak groundspawn or crouch behind a ridge somewhere waaay in the back of your own redline out of scanner range and just pop people from the far opposite side of the map with no hope of anything but an orbital (maybe) killing you? Sure, sounds fair.

<------Frontline (Guess this is a thing to tell people what you do)

So, I'm going to try to be nice here. First off, I LOATHE the fact that people that ONLY play as SNIPERS actually only play as snipers in this game. I can't tell you how many times we lost a Skirm or Dom game because 5 or 6 guys are sitting way back on the map to get 3 kills and not die. I mean, that makes you 3/0 with no additional support worth a darn for the team. If the map isn't conducive then use another fit or use another game. The purpose of the maps is to force different strategies for different players.

Thank you for trying to be nice. I'll try to do the same while I point out your misconceptions. If you have 5-6 guys sniping on a team, you've got some ****** teammates. No team needs more than 3 dedicated snipers. Now, if they're sitting back behind the redline, picking people off to pad their K/D ratio, then they ARE NOT SNIPERS. THEY'RE TURDS USING SNIPER RIFLES, AND RUINING THE REPUTATION OF ACTUAL SNIPERS. I am an ACTUAL sniper. The only time I shoot from the redline is A) when counter-sniping someone who is shooting into or near my redline, or B) when my team is already being redlined. Other than that, I'm on a perch somewhere out in the map, covering objectives, taking out uplinks and nanohives, killing reds waiting for vehicles to drop, and more. Even with the stupid new maps with their underground terminals, I'm never in a position where i can't cover at least TWO letters. Learn the difference.

Difference noted. Thatnks for being nice as well :)

So, I will try harder to identify the legit snipers vs the turds. I guess I was going to far by assuming so many are turds.

False. Moving takes up valuable shooting time, and can expose you. The best snipers never need to move. Once I'm at one of my perches, I don't move unless the tide of the battle completely shifts from my view, or I get discovered/killed (which is very rare).

This.
I dunno how many times I've read the "good sniper moves constantly" argument. Do people making this argument pay attention to the position (and frequency of it's change) of snipers that are actually good? Sniper that changes position every 30 seconds, will spend most of the match running around, and very little time spotting and killing the enemy (and removing uplinks / nanohives - this is a very important role that many people overlook).
If a sniper can't make at least 10 kills per match, on a regular basis, he's doing something wrong. Sniping is, in essence, the art of positioning yourself smartly (having a good FoV of the area you expect your targets to be, while at the same time being covered from counter snipers), setting up a nest there, and doing as much damage as possible. That's all there is to it. And if a sniper does that every match, and does it well, nobody in their right mind can claim he's useless to his team.

/rant

YES. OH GOD YES.

And while we're clearing things up, to all the people who like to bring up "medium range snipers" that are "on the ground, running with a squad", you are stupid. Those are not snipers. Those are designated marksmen, and their role is better suited to a Tac-AR/Combat Rifle/Scrambler. Big difference. Stop trying to get us down in the meat grinder. IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

I hold no hate for snipers, but let's be honest, if there is one thing we've learned the past several months it's that you need to consider the douchy players when designing ANYTHING. So, that's taken into account when I make any statements about changes to sniper rifles.

This.
I dunno how many times I've read the "good sniper moves constantly" argument. Do people making this argument pay attention to the position (and frequency of it's change) of snipers that are actually good? Sniper that changes position every 30 seconds, will spend most of the match running around, and very little time spotting and killing the enemy (and removing uplinks / nanohives - this is a very important role that many people overlook).
If a sniper can't make at least 10 kills per match, on a regular basis, he's doing something wrong. Sniping is, in essence, the art of positioning yourself smartly (having a good FoV of the area you expect your targets to be, while at the same time being covered from counter snipers), setting up a nest there, and doing as much damage as possible. That's all there is to it. And if a sniper does that every match, and does it well, nobody in their right mind can claim he's useless to his team.

Dust snipers have 'ghillie' suits, they're labeled as 'complex profile dampeners". They work well.

Can't quote everyone so I'm just gonna rant...

Good sniper fits are almost OP as is, good sniper fits are very SP intensive. So in time, with dedicated SP investment, you will be OP(almost). I'm talking 10-12 million SP so be patient and dedicated to strictly sniper fit upgrades.

So all in all good post OP, but I think you need a bit more time in the sniper seat before pondering a buff. To all the other dedicated snipers, o7 & never quit updating, upgrading, and perfecting those sniper fits and tactics.