Both take the same amount of skill and here's why: Spacing The key to being a great sniper as well as being an effective shotgun user is knowing how to position yourself. With shotguns, you have to use a run and gun play style that involves either flanking or swiftly closing the distance between yourself and your target. THEN you have to know the exact ranges where if you pull the trigger, you can guarantee a kill. Here's the reason why everyone views this is lacking skill: no one likes being blown away with a shotgun. It's just frustrating. Then with sniping, you have to use a relaxed, yet quick play style that involves finding certain lanes and spots where a large volume of players will be. Specifically, where they will be unsuspecting. THEN you must know where that players head is going to be so that you can, like shotguns, guarantee a kill. The advantages of snipers though is that you can get off follow up shots before you're compromised. Why do people think it lacks skill? Aim assist and target acquisition. It's not really fair to have the game grant assistance when using what is considered to be a precise method of play.