First, If you really want to learn the way of the rifle, you are going to have to shoot a lot, and possibly continue to ask questions on forums like this one. The first thing you need to do is change your choice of wording. Snipers are in the military or law enforcement. The rifles they use, are sniper rifles.
Civilians, (you and me) and military personnel or ex-military personnel whom were never snipers (me) call their rifles “rifles” or “precision rifle” or “long range rifle.” To call them sniper rifles when not in the use of a sniper is annoying to those whom are snipers. Even most of them have come to call their rifles precision rifles. The anti-gun left, likes to label all bolt action rifles “sniper rifles” attaching us to the movies and all the assassination that takes place in the movies with the evil “sniper rifles.”
Telling us what distance you intend to shoot, will allow us to suggest more accurately which cartridges and rifles you should be looking at. The term “tactical sniper” doesn’t mean shit to us in that regard. Yardage, that is something that we want to know. 800yds max? Ok, a 308 of any barrel length will work. Longer barrels will get it done with authority, while the shorter barrels not so much.
Optics, well there isn’t much available for a “tactical” scope in the $500 range. Although, the word “tactical” in reference to optics holds more water than does a rifle. As most people think tactical in scopes, are thinking exposed turrets, matching reticle/turrets, first focal plane reticle, etc.
Super Sniper’s… maybe the uber cheap junk like bsa, ncstar, and barska. If you would save up just a little more money your options would be MUCH improved. For instance, a Vortex Viper PST mil/mil/FFP 4-16x50 would be an excellent choice. Liberty Optics has them for $850. Best deal going in my opinion. Bushnell elite tactical would be a close second choice. Weaver, and a few others have also stepped into the sub-$1000 “tactical” optics arena.
Ask pointed specific questions and we will bend over backwards to answer them for you. Lots of informed opinions here. Lose the video game/hollywood movie verbage and speak in plain english. However, if you just want a “sniper rifle” so you can call it that and be cool among your friends… I’m sure there are plenty of opinions for that here as well. 