WWI American Sniping Article
 

Neat old article..

http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/WW1_US_Army_American_Snipers_during_WORLD_WAR_ONE_ pdf

Another:

http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/WW1_sniper_Major_H_Hesketh-Pritchard_Sniper_pdf

I don't know if it was mentioned in one of those two articles, but back then they were issued sportsman's rifles, and it was the first time that many of them has used a scope. I believe Google has the digitized copy, but if you read Frank Glazer's biography, it has some pretty interesting documentation on the subject.