I think the Soviets began designing the SKS right at the end of WWII. It was in part to be an urban warfare rifle. The Russians had some experience with urban warfare after being invaded and later doing house to house fighting to take over cities such as Berlin. The SKS is hardly a sniper rifle - not accurate enough.
Judging from the audio I heard, the Dallas shooter seemed to shoot a lot of rounds per victim. Did he need a lot of rounds because he did not hit his victim on the first round? Did he shoot his victims multiple times (maybe out of anger)? My impression is, he ambushed people so he was methodical in that sense, but then he shot rather wildly - not like a real marksman. I am sorry to sound so clinical about this horrible event. Maybe someone who knows what they are talking about could comment. It seems like every time a terrorist uses a rifle at more than point-blank range, the media and politicians call him a sniper and almost praise his skills.
It chafes me, too. When I hear the word ‘sniper’, I’m thinking of something that the media can’t imagine, it’s utterly outside their world. It’s not some j’off with a rifle popping off a hundred meters away.
The SKS entered service in 1943, so it was designed well before the end of the war. The AK-47, OTOH, entered into service in 1947 (surprise!), and was the brain child of a wounded Soviet tanker...i.e. it was conceived if during the war.
/snip - Judging from the audio I heard, the Dallas shooter seemed to shoot a lot of rounds per victim. Did he need a lot of rounds because he did not hit his victim on the first round? Did he shoot his victims multiple times (maybe out of anger)? My impression is, he ambushed people so he was methodical in that sense, but then he shot rather wildly - not like a real marksman. I am sorry to sound so clinical about this horrible event. Maybe someone who knows what they are talking about could comment. It seems like every time a terrorist uses a rifle at more than point-blank range, the media and politicians call him a sniper and almost praise his skills./——
His MOS in the Army was carpentry and masonry and his awards list omitted any shooting or marksman badge awards from the Army, only the normal Army participation awards. Praising him as a sniper when video shows close range shots and as reported 4 out of the 5 dead were shot in the back is a bit of a stretch. IMO