The damaged was reduced a few points under the stock version. The stock version can be silenced and does more damage. This Machine does a lot more damage specially w/ JSP ammo.

:(

I'm sure the Gobi has its place... I use EWs so I wouldn't know exactly.

Gobi.
It has 0.02 less spread.
0.16 better attack speed.
Twice as much item hp.
Half as much weight.
2 less critical damage.
5 less AP cost.
2 less damage.

I think it depends on your play style. Both the Brush Gun and This Machine will obviously deal much more damage (per shot and per second) but a long-range headshot is much easier with the GCSR.

Tbh ycs is by far best sniper of all the classes /max charge gives u amr ability normal ammo =sniper rifle Overcharge=in between.Biggest con of this weapon is that the weapon degrades extremely quickly if u use high end ammo while the other snipers dont suffer ./ycs is glitchy as hell with hit detection.I abandoned gobi after the patch kinda sad they nerfed the dge and reduced the crit to 1.

The Gobi has one huge advantage over both the brush gun and "This Machine". The scope it has that the other two lack.

Anyway Trail Carbine loaded with SWC ammo and cowboy perk has replaced the Gobi as a general purpose combat rifle in the game. More damage, higher item HP, -6DT from the SWC rounds, lower recoil and a faster ROF.

Sniper rifles are still excellent for the job they are meant to do. Extreme range sneak attacks. So unless you want to suddenly abandon long range combat and just go for mid-close range firefights why would you drop a snipers rifle?

Any way of obtaining the Gobi without having 100 lock pick?

Yes. (if you are on PC) you can use the "unlock" console command

I'm sorry, did you suggest in a serious manner that the Gobi Campaign rifle, a sniper rifle, was the best general purpose rifle in the game?

And people wonder it was nerfed... <_<

A) You don't need 100 'hard leveled' in Lockpick; Comprehension is your friend, so as hats, Mentats and Coyote Tobacco Chew.
B) You better off with a Sniper Rifle++ or Hunting Rifle+ for daily snipping. Brush Gun is your big game weapon (i.e. Praetorian and DeathClaw) while This Machine is your general-battle rifle.

As for my personal opinion, aside from match grade barrels, sniper rifles are identical to their battle/assault counter part; what troubles me is the equivalent of a M110 is less powerful and efficient than some Wild West Relics?