Saving files in .PNG format usually prevents the lossy file-host JPG compression, meaning that we can actually see your sprites.

As for the sprites themselves, your lineart is decent, but the shading's a bit primitive (from what I can see, anyways)

Also, those are really huge to go into CC as is.

The easiest thing to do when starting out is to open up sprites from one of the vanilla folders and edit that sprite extensively. This way you will get an understanding for the style of the sprites.

Hah, you remind me of me sooo much. I started with a mega over-sized Sniper and a mega over-sized pistol as well.

PS: M40A3 is for noobs. Real men use the M21. You don't need more accuracy, just more bullets.

Edit: The tipping point for me was getting a handle from a vanilla gun and working off that. I would also try getting a similar gun to what your spriting (ie your M40 to a Dummy Sniper) and comparing. Having a mockup actor for size comparison works well, too.

Some helpfull inormation other gave me too:

- Look at the spirtes from other mods, try to copy them, or modify these sprites. Little Hint, you should upload a modified weapon from another mod....

- Shading isn´t that hard. Look closer to others creations, you will notice it on your own.

- On your sprites are some edges. Try to make it look more "round" Then it would be nice to look at it.

try not to use solid black outlines.

one thing that I always found helpful was I searched for a vanilla weapon or sprite in general and covered over it with backround pink. That way you have a guide as to how big your new sprite should be. Just make sure the size of the bitmap is close to the size of the sprite before you erase it.

Shading comes with experience but is helped by looking at how light plays off of certain contours and thinking about depth of field.

thats about all the tricks I know...

Here's my take. No as happy with it as I am with the G18s, but it's alright. This is the general size you should go for, I think.