Longest recorded sniper kills

Reports regarding the longest recorded sniper kills that contain information regarding the shooting distance and the identity of the sniper have been presented to the general public since 1967. Snipers in modern warfare have had a substantial history following the development of long distance weaponry. As weapons, ammunition, and aids to determine ballistic solutions improved, so too did the distance from which a kill could be targeted. In mid-2017 it was reported that an unnamed Canadian special forces operator, based in Iraq, had set a new record of 3,540 m (3,871 yd), beating the record previously held by an Australian sniper (also unnamed) at 2,815 m (3,079 yd).[1][2][3][4]

Royal Marine snipers with L115A1 rifles. These rifles are similar to the L115A3 Long Range Rifle used by Craig Harrison but outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50 PM II telescopic sights.
The McMillan Tac-50 rifle Corporal Rob Furlong used.
Carlos Hathcock in 1996

Sniper technology

Although optical equipment such as rangefinders and ballistic calculators has eliminated manual mathematical calculations to determine elevation and windage, the fundamentals of accurate and precise long-range shooting remain largely the same since the early history of shooting, and the skill and training of the shooter and the shooter's spotter where applicable are the primary factors. Accuracy and precision of ammunition and firearms are also still reliant primarily on human factors and attention to detail in the complex process of producing maximum performance.

The modern method of long-distance sniping (shots over 1,100 m or 0.7 mi) requires intense training and practice. A sniper must have the ability to accurately estimate the various factors that influence a bullet's trajectory and point of impact, such as the shooter's distance from the target, wind direction, wind speed, air density, elevation, and even the Coriolis effect due to the rotation of the Earth. Mistakes in estimation compound over distance and can cause a shot to only injure, or to miss completely.[5] Any given combination of firearm and ammunition will have an associated value, known as the circular error probable (CEP), defined as the radius of a circle whose boundary is expected to contain the impact points of half of the rounds fired.[6]

If the shooter wishes to improve accuracy and precision, wishes to increase range or wishes to do all of these things, the accuracy of "estimates" of external factors must improve accordingly. At extreme ranges, extremely accurate "estimates" are required and even with the most accurate estimates, hitting the target becomes subject to uncontrollable factors. For example, a rifle capable of firing a 1/2 MOA (approximately 1/2" center to center of the two holes furthest apart) 5-round group (often referred to as "grouping") at 100 yards will fire a theoretical 12.5" group at 2,500 yards. Unless the group is centered perfectly on the target at 100 yards, the 2,500-yard group will be centered 25 times the off-center error at 100 yards. This example ignores all other factors and assumes "perfect" no-wind shooting conditions and identical muzzle velocities and ballistic performance for each shot.

USMC Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock's confirmed 2,500 yd (2,300 m) kill in the Vietnam War was primarily due to the enemy soldier stopping his bicycle on the spot Hathcock had fired at while sighting in his Browning M2 heavy machine-gun.

Devices such as laser rangefinders, handheld meteorological measuring equipment, handheld computers, and ballistic-prediction software can contribute to increased accuracy (i.e. reduced CEP), although they rely on proper use and training to realize any advantages. In addition, as instruments of measure, they are subject to accuracy errors and malfunction. Handheld meteorological instruments only measure conditions at the location they are used. Wind direction and speed can vary dramatically along the path of the bullet.

History

The science of long-range sniping came to fruition in the Vietnam War. US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock held the record from 1967 to 2002 at 2,286 m (2,500 yd).[7] He recorded 93 official kills.[8] After returning to the U.S., Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia.[9]

In addition to his success as a USMC scout-sniper during multiple deployments to Vietnam, Hathcock competed in multiple USMC shooting teams. Hathcock also won the 1966 Wimbledon Cup, which is earned by the winner of the U.S. 1,000-yard high-powered rifle National Championship. Even after being severely burned during an attack on an Amtrac on which he was riding in his efforts to rescue other soldiers, and after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Hathcock continued to serve, shoot and instruct. In Vietnam, Hathcock also completed missions involving a "through the scope" shot which killed an enemy sniper specifically hunting him, and a multiple-day solo stalk and kill of an enemy general.[10][11][12][13][14]

Hathcock's record stood until Canadian sniper Arron Perry of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry exceeded it with a shot of 2,310 m (2,530 yd). Perry held the title for only a few days, as another man in his unit (Corporal Rob Furlong) beat Perry's distance with a 2,430 m (2,657 yd) shot in March 2002. Perry and Furlong were part of a six-man sniper team during 2002's Operation Anaconda, part of the War in Afghanistan.[4]

Corporal Furlong's record was bested by a British soldier, Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison, of the Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry, who recorded two 2,475 m (2,707 yd) shots (confirmed by GPS) in November 2009, also during the War in Afghanistan, in which he hit two Taliban insurgents consecutively.[15] Harrison killed the two Taliban machine gunners with shots that took the 8.59 mm (0.338 inch) rounds almost five seconds to hit their targets, which were 900 m (980 yd) beyond the L115A3 sniper rifle’s recommended range. A third shot took out the insurgents' machine gun. The rifle used was made by Accuracy International.[16]

In June 2017, an unnamed sniper from Canada's Tier 1 special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2, surpassed the 2009 record by over 1,000 m (1,100 yd), with a 3,540 m (3,871 yd) shot in the Iraqi Civil War. As with the previous two Canadian records, a McMillan Tac-50 with Hornady A-MAX .50 (.50 BMG) ammunition was used.[1][2][3]

Confirmed kills 1,250 m (1,367 yd) or greater

This list is not exhaustive, as such data is generally not tracked nor managed under any official procedure. For example, the Canadian Army 2002 sniper team that saw two soldiers (Arron Perry/2,310 m and Rob Furlong/2,430 m) set consecutive new records, also made a number of kills at 1,500 m (1,600 yd) that are not counted here.[17] The list also shows that, in some cases, an armed force command may choose to withhold the name of the sniper for security reasons.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%;" |- !Rank !Sniper !style="width:9%;" |Date !Distance !Weapon !Ammunition !style="width:9%;" |Nationality !Military unit !Conflict !style="width:1%;" class="unsortable"|References |- |- |_row_count||{{Sort|N|[[Joint Task Force 2|JTF-2 sniper]]<br>(''name withheld'')}} |{{Sort|2017–06|May 2017}} |{{convert|3540|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[McMillan Tac-50]] |{{Sort|.50|[[Hornady]] [[.50 BMG|A-MAX .50<br>(.50 BMG)]]}} |{{flag|Canada|1965}} |[[Joint Task Force 2]] |[[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)|Iraqi Civil War]] |<ref name="Fife p. "/><ref name="Murphy p. "/><ref name="Bunch p. "/><ref name="Global"/> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|N|Special Forces sniper<br>(''name withheld'')}} |{{Sort|2012–04|April 2, 2012}} |{{convert|2815|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Barret_M82|Barrett M82A1]] |12.7mm MP NM140F2 Grade A. |{{flag|Australia}} |[[2nd Commando Regiment (Australia)|2nd Commando Regiment]] |[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] |<ref name= "Wahler-Linwood p. 192">{{harvnb|Wahler|Linwood|2014|p=192}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Harrison|[[Craig Harrison (sniper)|Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison]]}} |{{Sort|2009–11|November 2009}} |{{convert|2475|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Accuracy International AWM|Accuracy International L115A3]] |[[.338 Lapua Magnum]] LockBase B408 bullets |{{flag|United Kingdom|1801}} |[[Household Cavalry]] |War in Afghanistan |<ref name="Smith p. ">{{harvnb|Smith|2010|p=}}</ref><ref name="Chandler p. ">{{harvnb|Chandler|2010|p=}}</ref><ref name="Alpert p. ">{{harvnb|Alpert|2010|p=}}</ref><ref name="Drury p. ">{{harvnb|Drury|2010|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sortname|Corporal Rob|Furlong|Rob Furlong|Furlong, Rob}} |{{Sort|2002–03|March 2002}} |{{convert|2430|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |McMillan Tac-50 |{{Sort|.50|Hornady A-MAX .50<br>(.50 BMG)}} |{{flag|Canada|1965}} |[[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry|3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] |War in Afghanistan |<ref name="Maclean.Furlong">{{cite web |ref=harv|date=May 15, 2006|url=http://www.macleans.ca/canada/national/article.jsp?content=20060515_126689_126689|title=We were abandoned|publisher=[[Maclean's]]|accessdate=May 3, 2010 |last=Friscolanti|first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Friscolanti}}</ref><ref name="Global"/> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Perry|[[Arron Perry|Master Corporal Arron Perry]]}} |{{Sort|2002–03|March 2002}} |{{convert|2310|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |McMillan Tac-50 |{{Sort|.50|Hornady A-MAX .50<br>(.50 BMG)}} |{{flag|Canada|1965}} |[[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry|3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] |War in Afghanistan |<ref name="Maclean.Furlong"/><ref name="Global"/> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Kremer|Sgt. Brian Kremer|Sergeant Brian Kremer}} |{{Sort|2004|October 2004}} |{{convert|2300|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |Barrett M82A1 |[[Raufoss Mk 211|Raufoss NM140 MP (.50 BMG)]] |{{flag|United States|1960}} |[[2nd Ranger Battalion (United States)|2nd Ranger Battalion]], [[75th Ranger Regiment]], [[United States Army]] |[[Iraq War]] ||<ref name="nydailynews.2010">{{cite news |ref=harv|date=May 3, 2010|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-05-03/news/27063420_1_afghan-soldiers-sniper-helmand-province|title=British sniper Craig Harrison (The Silent Assassin) breaks record, kills target from 1.5 miles away|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]| accessdate=May 3, 2010 | last=Sheridan | first=Michael|quote=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Hathcock|Gunnery Sergeant [[Carlos Hathcock]] {{#tag:ref|During the Vietnam War Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet-Cong personnel. During the Vietnam War, kills had to be confirmed by an acting third party, who had to be an officer, besides the sniper's spotter. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed 300 or more enemy personnel during his time in Vietnam.|group="A"}}}} |{{Sort|1967-02|February 1967}} |{{convert|2286|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[M2 Browning machine gun#M2 as a sniper rifle|M2 Browning machine gun]] |[[.50 BMG]] |{{flag|United States|1960}} |[[1st Marine Division]], [[United States Marine Corps]] |[[Vietnam War]] |<ref name="Scott p. 181"/> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|N|Special Forces sniper<br>(''name withheld'') {{#tag:ref|Longest confirmed kill using 14.5×114 mm ammunition|group="A"}}}} |{{Sort|2013–08|August 2013}} |{{convert|2125|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Denel NTW-14.5]] |[[14.5×114mm]] |{{flag|South Africa|1994}} |[[South African Special Forces Brigade]]{{#tag:ref|Serving as part of the [[United Nations Force Intervention Brigade|UN Force Intervention Brigade]]|group="A"}} |[[MONUSCO|United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo]] |<ref name="Gibson p. ">{{harvnb|Gibson|2013|p=}}</ref><ref name="Helfrich p. ">{{harvnb|Helfrich|2013|p=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/08/22/south-africa-at-war-in-the-drc--the-inside-story|title=South Africa at war in the DRC – The inside story|date=22 August 2014|accessdate=22 September 2014|website=Times Live|publisher=Sunday Times|last=Hofstatter|first=Stephan|last2=Oatway|first2=James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sofrep.com/36666/south-african-special-forces-sniper-takes-congo-rebels-2125m-shot/|title=South African Special Forces Sniper Takes Out Congo Rebels (2125m shot!)|date=26 August 2014|accessdate=23 September 2014|website=SOFRep.com|publisher=SOFREP|last=Murphy|first=Jack|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sortname|Nicholas | Ranstad |nolink=1}} |{{Sort|2007-01|January 2008}} |{{convert|2092|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |Barrett M82A1 |.50 BMG |{{flag|United States|1960}} |[[91st Cavalry Regiment (United States)|1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment]], [[United States Army]] |War in Afghanistan |<ref name="nypost2010">{{cite news|last=Goldstein |first=Joseph |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/how_to_shoot_someone_from_mile_away_IMSIqYg7vw1zVbZRl2OUOP |title=How to shoot someone from a mile away |work=[[New York Post]] |date=2010-05-30 |accessdate=2012-09-05}}</ref> |- |_row_count|| {{Sort|Kyle|[[Chris Kyle|Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle]] {{#tag:ref|Christopher Scott "Chris" Kyle (April 8, 1974 – February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL who claimed to be the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history with 160 "confirmed" kills out of 255 claimed kills. This figure has been corroborated by the Department of Defense, U.S. Special Operations Command, and the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command.|group="A"}}}} | {{Sort|2009-08|August 2008}} | {{convert|1920|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | McMillan Tac-338 | .338 Lapua Magnum | {{flag|United States|1960}} | [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEALs]] – [[SEAL Team 5|Team 3, Charlie]] | Iraq War – [[Sadr City]] |<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/meet_the_big_shot_BxlVpxzQijkC9mwZcmwkrN|title=Meet the big shot – SEAL is America’s deadliest sniper|author=Buiso, Gray|date=January 1, 2012|accessdate=2012-01-03|work=New York Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8990552/The-Devil-of-Rahmadi-named-Americas-deadliest-sniper.html|title='The Devil of Rahmadi' named America's deadliest sniper|author=Sanchez, Raf|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 January 2012|accessdate=2012-01-02|location=London}}</ref> |- |_row_count|| {{Sort|Reynolds|Corporal Christopher Reynolds}} | {{Sort|2009-08|August 2009}} | {{convert|1853|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | Accuracy International L115A3 | .338 Lapua Magnum LockBase B408 bullets | {{flag|United Kingdom|1801}} | [[Black Watch|3 Scots – The Black Watch]] | War in Afghanistan | <ref name="Jennings p. ">{{harvnb|Jennings|2011|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count|||{{Sort|N|[[Saudi Army]] sniper<br>(''name withheld'')}} |{{Sort|2016-01-24|January 24, 2016}} |{{convert|1700|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | PGW Defence Technology LRT-3 |.50 BMG |{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} | [[Saudi Arabian Army|Royal Saudi Land Forces]] | [[Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)|Yemeni Civil War]] – Harth ([[Jizan Region]]) |<ref name="AL-GNAS AL SABOR ">{{cite AV media |last=هاني صفيّان يخبر|date=May 7, 2016|year=|title=وراء خطوط العاصفة|trans-title=|medium=|language=Arabic |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAlKBHA0kko|access-date=|format=|time=|location=|publisher=[[Al Arabiya]]|id=|isbn=|oclc=|quote=|ref=}}</ref> |- |_row_count|| Staff Sgt. {{Sort|Reichert|Steve Reichert}} | {{Sort|2004-04|April 2004}} | {{convert|1614|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | Barrett [[Barrett M82|M82A3]] |[[Raufoss Mk 211|Raufoss NM140 MP (.50 Cal)]] | {{flag|United States|1960}} | [[2nd Battalion 2nd Marines|2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, United States Marine Corps]] | Iraq War – [[Latifiya]] | <ref name="D'Alessio p. ">{{harvnb|D'Alessio|2005|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count|| {{Sort|Dixon|[[Billy Dixon]]}} | {{Sort|1874-06|June 1874}} | {{convert|1406|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | [[Sharps rifle|Sharps]] .50–90 | [[.50-90 Sharps]] | {{flag|United States|1867|size=23px}} | Civilian, buffalo hunter |[[American Indian Wars]] |<ref name="Souter p. 40">{{harvnb|Souter|2012|p=40}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|N|Army sniper<br>(''name withheld'') {{#tag:ref|Longest confirmed kill using 12.7 mm multi-purpose ammunition|group="A"}}}} |{{Sort|2007–11|November 2007}} |{{convert|1380|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |Barrett M82A1 |Raufoss Mk 211|Raufoss NM140 MP (.50 Cal) |{{flag|Norway}} |[[Norwegian Army]], [[2nd Battalion (Norway)|2nd Battalion]] |War in Afghanistan |<ref name="Johnsen p. ">{{harvnb|Johnsen|2008|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||Sergeant {{Sort|Vladimir Ilyin|Vladimir Ilyin|nolink=1}} |1985 |{{convert|1350|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Dragunov sniper rifle|Dragunov SVD]] |[[7.62×54mmR|7.62×54mmR 7N1]] |{{flag|Soviet Union}} |[[345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment|345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment (Soviet Union)]], [[Soviet Army]] |[[Soviet–Afghan War]] | <ref name="Sohail p. ">{{harvnb|Sohail|2015|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|McGuire Brandon|Sgt. First Class Brandon McGuire|nolink=1}} |{{Sort|2007-04|April 2007}} |{{convert|1310|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Barrett M82|M107 (M82A1)]] |Raufoss Mk 211|Raufoss NM140 MP (.50 Cal) |{{flag|United States|1960}} |[[509th Infantry Regiment (United States)|3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment]], [[United States Army]] |Iraq War |<ref name="Cannon p. ">{{harvnb|Cannon|2010|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Sleigh|Sergeant Major Herbert Sleigh}} |{{Sort|1918–02|February 1918}} |{{convert|1280|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} | [[M1903 Springfield]] | [[.30-06 Springfield|.30-06]] (7.62×63mm) |{{flag|United States|1912}} |[[American Expeditionary Forces]] |[[World War I]] |<ref name="Evening Public Ledger Mar 1918 p. 4">{{harvnb|Evening Public Ledger|1918|p=4}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|C|Confederate sniper<br>(''name unknown'')|nolink=1}} |{{Sort|1864-12-06|December 5, 1864}} |{{convert|1271|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[Whitworth rifle|Whitworth Rifle]] |.451 caliber hexagonal bullet |{{flag|Confederate States|1863}} |South Carolina Troops |[[American Civil War]] – Fort Sumter to Morris Island, South Carolina |<ref name="Charleston Courier p. ">{{harvnb|Charleston Courier|1864|p=}}</ref> |- |_row_count||{{Sort|Gilliland|Staff Sergeant Jim Gilliland {{#tag:ref|Longest confirmed kill with a [[7.62×51mm NATO]] chambered rifle|group="A"}}}} |{{Sort|2005-09-27|September 27, 2005}} |{{convert|1250|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} |[[M24 Sniper Weapon System|M24 rifle]] |[[7.62×51mm NATO]] |{{flag|United States|1960}} |2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, [[United States Army]] |Iraq War – [[Ramadi]] |<ref name="Harnden p. ">{{harvnb|Harnden|2006|p=}}</ref> |}

See also
  • Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper credited with the highest number of kills (160 officially confirmed) for an American sniper.[23]

Notes

    References
    1. Fife 2017
    2. Murphy 2017
    3. Bunch 2017
    4. Kalvapallé, Rahul (June 24, 2017). "Small but mighty: How Canada's military produces some of the world's best snipers". Global News. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
    5. Plaster 1993
    6. "Circular Error Probable (CEP)," Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Technical Paper 6, Ver 2, July 1987, p. 1
    7. Henderson 2003, p. 181
    8. Gaijinass (May 6, 2010). "The way of the Gun: USMC S/S". Gaijinass.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
    9. Henderson 2003, p. 283
    10. Dougherty, Martin J. Sniper: SAS and Elite Forces Guide: Sniping skills from the world's elite forces. Amber Books Ltd. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-909160-38-5. Upon reaching the target area he discovered that his shot had gone through the scope of the sniper's rifle
    11. Sasser, Charles W.; Roberts, Craig (July 1, 2004). Crosshairs on the Kill Zone: American Combat Snipers, Vietnam through Operation Iraqi Freedom. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-4165-0362-0. Hathcock's bullet had gone through the cobra sniper's scope and entered his eye
    12. Riegert, Keith; Kaplan, Samuel (June 25, 2013). The MANual: Trivia. Testosterone. Tales of Badassery. Raw Meat. Fine Whiskey. Cold Truth. Ulysses Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-1-61243-183-3. Unfortunately for the guy behind the scope, Hathcock's shot was clean and true—perfectly passing through the glass scope
    13. Sasser, Charles W.; Roberts, Craig (April 1, 1990). "Their Mission: One Shot One Kill". One Shot One Kill. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 1. ISBN 978-1-4391-3712-3. Both lenses of the enemy's sniper scope, front and back, were shattered. It was obvious what happened. My bullet smashed through his scope and into his right eye.
    14. "Carlos Hathcock: Famous Marine Corps Sniper". military.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
    16. Tovey, Alan (2 February 2015). "The company behind the rifle used by the world's deadliest sniper". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
    18. being a gamer Brownlie 2003, p. 63
    19. Westwood 2005, p. 212
    20. Haskew, Michael E. (2005). The Sniper at War: From the American Revolutionary War to the Present Day. Macmillan Publishers. p. 74. ISBN 0312336519.
    21. "Герой Советского Союза Зайцев Василий Григорьевич :: Герои страны". Warheroes.ru. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
    22. Fredriksen 2010, p. 306
    23. Buiso, Gray (January 1, 2012). "Meet the big shot – SEAL is America's deadliest sniper". New York Post. Retrieved 2012-01-03.

    Bibliography
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