Hunting Rifle

The Ruger Mini-14 hunting rifle is the most accurate gun in the game. Essentially a high-powered sniper rifle, it features semi-automatic fire, and is the only weapon in game that has a scope attachment. It is still accurate without having to use the scope, however movement of any kind severely lowers accuracy. It holds a 15 round magazine with 180 rounds in reserve and has the unique ability to shoot through almost any surface in the game, making it possible to take down enemies hidden behind objects, walls, or floors; or several enemies at once so long as they are lined up properly.

The weapon can fire as fast as you can pull the trigger in close-quarters combat, but distance is the key to this weapon. Long hallways and open spaces are where this gun really shines and in these environments, the rifle can really rack up the headshots. Players with shotguns will be your best friends, as teaming up with them creates an effective combination. Try to keep the infected away from them, and they can take care of the infected rushing you at close range. The weapon is only moderately effective against The Tank but in exchange grants the appealing boon of engaging The Tank from as far away as the curvature of the planet will permit.

In reality, the Mini-14 normally uses iron sights, with any scope being a third-party attachment. It is unique in that it is the only weapon in Left 4 Dead whose magazine capacity is lower than its real world counterpart, as basic Mini-14 models currently ship with 20-round magazines. However, they can also be shipped with 5-round magazines for areas that ban high capacities for civilians, which may have been what the developers were basing the in-game capacity on.

Tip: Don't be afraid to use the hunting rifle in close combat, as it is surprisingly effective at "no-scope" range. Common Infected very rarely survive a hit from the Hunting Rifle no matter where it lands. Crouching is encouraged, as it greatly improves both scoped and unscoped accuracy. The hunting rifle is least accurate while moving, but is still more effective at repelling zombies at close range than pistols, if used properly. The trick is knowing when to use the scope and when not to.

The hunting rifle can shoot through ceilings, floors, and walls, so if an ally is in trouble, try shooting through the obstacle. Note, though, that it can only penetrate one obstacle and it must be part of the map's world geometry (a brush). Model-based entities such as dumpsters, cars, etc. can't be pierced.

The hunting rifle is more effective against mobs and riots than it sounds. The ability to "one-shot" any number of zombies in a straight line is something even the shotgun cannot do, and in narrow hallways the "sniper" of the group can wipe out entire Hordes by himself. Even wild-firing into an onrushing Horde is more effective than a pistol engagement.