Could Your Gun Beat the Rifle That Made the Farthest Sniper Kill?

At just 5 feet, 3 inches tall, Simo Häyhä was not an imposing man. Just by looking at him, you might never guess his nickname — The White Death — or that, by the end of the 1939–1940 Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, Häyhä had killed 505 Soviet soldiers. Häyhä established himself as the most prolific sniper of all time and still, to this day, holds the record for the most sniper kills. During his time as a sniper, Häyhä shot a Finnish Mosin-Nagant M28/30, known for its accuracy and power. (Learn more about World War II’s most lethal sniper.)

While he may not have the most established sniper kills of all time, Ukrainian sniper Viacheslav Kovalskyi broke a rifle record in the last two years. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kovalskyi killed a Russian soldier; this sniper kill was farther in range than any seen before throughout history. In fact, an interview with Kovalskyi in the Wall Street Journal states that the shot was at a distance of 3,800 meters or 4,156 yards. Using a variety of news sources and websites providing gun information, 24/7 Wall St. set out to learn more about who Kovalskyi was, his role in the conflict, and the specifics about the gun he shot to make this kill. 

Why We’re Sharing Kovalskyi’s Kill

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is extremely expensive. In February 2024, the Pentagon estimated that the war had already cost Russia up to $211 billion — and as it stands at the start of 2025, the war certainly looks like it has no chance of stopping any time soon. The United States has also sent over $100 billion in aid to Ukraine to assist in war efforts. Given our, at the very least, tangential involvement in the conflict, it’s important to know how the situation between Ukraine and Russia is progressing. Kovalskyi’s achievement is also a fascinating one for anybody interested in guns and warfare; his shot beat out at least two unnamed snipers who previously held the position of longest sniper kill while in Iraq in 2012 and 2017. By looking at the gun Kovalskyi used, we can also get a better idea of where arms might progress in the future and how changing military technology and equipment could forever change the way countries engage in war. 

Learn more about the longest sniper kill in history, and the rifle that completed it: 

1. Kovalskyi’s Identity

The invasion of Ukraine.

Typically, countries prefer to keep the identity of active service members secret when it comes to events like these, out of concern about retribution. However, given that much of the conflict in Ukraine can be influenced by public opinion, it makes sense why the Ukrainian government chose to reveal Kovalskyi’s identity.

2. Horizon’s Lord

A Marine sniper.

For the longest sniper kill in history, Kovalskyi used a Volodar Obriyu (Володар Обрію), which translates to Horizon’s Lord. It is a single-shot bolt-action anti-materiel rifle.

3. Weapon History

The Horizon’s Lord is a relatively new rifle designed by Ukrainian MAYAK arms manufacturer. This gun was created to bridge the gap between anti-materiel weapons and sniper rifles but maintain a longer range than rifles that use a .50 BMG round.

4. Ammunition

.50 BMG.

The Horizon’s Lord uses a new kind of ammunition — a .50 caliber, 12.7x114HL cartridge designed specifically for this weapon. It is a .50 BMG bullet that has been adapted and compressed to fit the gun.

5. Round Capabilities

A sniper event.

The new 12.7x114HL cartridge has a flatter trajectory, extended supersonic range, retains energy more effectively, and isn’t affected by wind as much. It also generates 30% less recoil than the standard 14.5x114mm. This is one of the reasons why this gun is so effective. 

6. Weapon Design

The Horizon’s Lord was designed to be lighter and shorter than other large sniper rifles, staying around 33 pounds in weight and 63 inches in length. The model that Kovalskyi used weighed around 36 pounds and was 71 inches long.  

7. Adaptability

A sniper and his spotter.

The Horizon’s Lord can be adjusted to shoot different caliber and size bullets, simply by easily detaching the barrel and bolt head. This incredible gun can fit .416 Barrett, .460 Steyr, .50 BMG, and 12.7x108mm caliber rounds and 14.5x114mm and 23x115mm size rounds.

8. Ukrainian Service

The War in Ukraine.

Kovalskyi is a new sniper, and one of the first in-field operators of the Horizon’s Lord, with Ukraine’s counterintelligence unit of its Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). Prior to becoming a sniper, he was a businessman. However, he felt compelled to join the Ukrainian military in the face of Russian aggression. 

9. The Record Kill

Soldiers in Ukraine.

On November 18, 2023, Kovalskyi and his partner identified a Russian officer who was instructing soldiers and decided to make a kill. He made one test shot to determine the true wind speed and immediately took the second kill shot. When speaking to the Wall Street Journal about his shot, Kovalskyi said: “I was thinking that Russians would now know that is what Ukrainians are capable of.” 

10. Specifics of the Kill

Ukrainian soldier.

It took the bullet around nine seconds to hit the Russian officer, and since the round is supersonic, the man was dead long before any other soldiers heard the shot. The Horizon’s Lord works similarly to an artillery cannon — the fired bullet traveled vertically to about 100 meters above the target before falling and hitting the officer.

11. Impact of the Hit

Ukrainian soldiers.

The Russian officer shot by Kovalskyi really had no chance of survival. According to Kovalskyi, the bullet hit the officer square in the chest. The bullet was so large and traveling so fast that it would have been pretty impossible for the officer to live.