Shipbucket

Depends on how you go about it. A service rifle straight of the rack with a scope slapped on obviously isn't going to do the trick, but as WWI and WWII showed, an accurized service rifle with a properly set up rifle can work just fine.
A purpose built gun is probably going to be better, but I don't think it matters if you start with a service rifle or a sporting rifle.
Of course none of that matters since the real decider is training. A good shooter can make up for a bad gun, but a good gun can't make up for a bad shooter. And shooting is probably the least part of a snipers training.
The Russian film Battle for Sevastopol has a good sequence about sniper training

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“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.

Once again, thanks Thiel! And once again, very intructive message!

No problem.
Remember that barring a revolution in tech, a dollar spent on training gives you as much capability as two dollars spent on equipment.
It's a gross oversimplification of course, but it's a useful guide.

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“Close” only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and tactical nuclear weapons.
That which does not kill me has made a grave tactical error

Worklist

Source Materiel is always welcome.

Well that revolution has already happened as a company called TrackingPoint already produces rifles with fire control systems that allow a mediocre shooter to achieve good accuracy. Further developments in ruggedized electronics would allow this technology to see widespread military use.

That company is located in the same city as me and I'd occasionally see them at a local shooting range we'd frequent, with their $10,000 optic attached to a $5,000 rifle. It was always fun to take military surplus rifles (K-31, M1 Garand, M1903, etc) and shoot (iron sights) from the benches right next to them. They got mad at my friend for throwing brass on them from his AK-74 clone, to which the rangemaster replied, "it's a shooting range!" - guess they're worried about their fancy little optic getting a scratch or two.

Anybody can hit a target with a 10x zoom optic, an iPad tracking mechanism, and a rifle that costs as much as a down payment on a Ferrari.

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

wow! 10,000$ optics !

It cost that much because the optic in question has a built-in fire control computer, laser rangefinder, environment sensors and a connection to a guided trigger.

Fantastic for shooting steel plates on a range from a bench rest with bipod and rear monopod with all of your fat and rich friends - I wonder how all these fancy electronics, lithium batteries, and micro-computers would hold up in the mud and dust of actual combat?

After seeing how irritated and worried they became when some of our brass got within 6 feet of them, I think I know the answer...

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Well I wrote earlier that the technology could see military use if further developments in ruggedized electronics are made. The Meprolight MESLAS is another optic that has most of the features of the TrackingPoint optic (but without the guided trigger) and is intended for military use.

Anything to avoid learning how to shoot!

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)