The Longest Sniper Kills Ever Recorded are Beyond Belief

By Chris Lange Published Oct 24, 11:44AM EDT

Key Points

Modern snipers and their rifles are changing the face of the battlefield as we know it
Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is known as the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history for his service throughout the Global War on Terror
Sniper rifles, by and large, are essential tools of modern military forces, offering precision and lethality in long-range engagements

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The Longest Sniper Kills Ever Recorded are Beyond Belief — © TSHA ~ in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107/Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Modern snipers and their rifles are changing the face of the battlefield as we know it. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is one example of this. He is known as the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history for his service throughout the Global War on Terror. During his tour in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, he recorded 91 kills, earning him the name of “The Devil of Ramadi.” Kyle was also credited with hitting an insurgent over 1.2 miles away, a feat of incredible skill aided by modern sniper technology.

Sniper rifles, by and large, are essential tools of modern military forces, offering precision and lethality in long-range engagements. However, it’s not just the rifle that’s important, it’s the shooter behind it. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the longest sniper kills recorded.

To identify the longest sniper shots/kills, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed various historical and military sources. We ranked these according to the distance. We included supplemental information regarding the date, conflict, rifle and ammunition used, as well as the nationality of the shooter. It’s worth noting that some names of the shooters were not available so instead we put their nationality for their name.

Here is a look at the longest sniper kills ever recorded:

Why Are We Covering This?

Extreme-range marksmanship has evolved from a battlefield skill into a precise science of ballistics and engineering. By taking a look at the longest recorded sniper kills, we’re not just glorifying distance, we’re exploring how technology, training, and overall mastery of a precision weapon can impact modern warfare and the ever-changing landscape of the modern battlefield.

22. Staff Sergeant Jim Gilliland

Nationality: United States
Date: September 2005
Distance: 1,250 m (1,367 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: M24 Sniper Weapon System, 7.62×51 mm NATO
Conflict: Iraq War
Military unit: 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, United States Army

21. Sergeant Major Herbert Sleigh

Nationality: United States
Date: February 1918
Distance: 1,280 m (1,400 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: M1903 Springfield, .30-06 Springfield
Conflict: World War I
Military unit: American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army

20. Sergeant First Class Brandon McGuire

Nationality: United States
Date: April 2007
Distance: 1,310 m (1,433 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A1 (M107), .50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Conflict: Iraq War
Military unit: 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, United States Army

19. Sergeant Vladimir Ilyin

Nationality: Soviet Union
Date: 1985
Distance: 1,350 m (1,476 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Dragunov SVD, 7.62×54mmR 7N1
Conflict: Soviet–Afghan War
Military unit: 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, Soviet Army

18. Norway

Date: November 2007
Distance: 1,380 m (1,509 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A1, .50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: 2nd Battalion, Norwegian Army

17. Billy Dixon

Nationality: United States
Date: June 1874
Distance: 1,406 m (1,538 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Sharps .50–90, .50-90 Sharps
Conflict: American Indian Wars
Military unit: Civilian

16. Staff Sergeant Steve Reichert

Nationality: United States
Date: April 2004
Distance: 1,614 m (1,765 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A3, .50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Conflict: Iraq War
Military unit: 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, United States Marine Corps

15. Saudi Arabia

Date: January 2016
Distance: 1,700 m (1,859 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: PGW Defence Technology LRT-3, .50 BMG
Conflict: Yemeni Civil War
Military unit: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia

14. Corporal Christopher Reynolds

Nationality: United Kingdom
Date: August 2009
Distance: 1,853 m (2,026 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Accuracy International L115A3, .338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: The Black Watch (3 SCOT), Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army

13. Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle

Nationality: United States
Date: August 2008
Distance: 1,920 m (2,100 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: McMillan TAC-338, .338 Lapua Magnum
Conflict: Iraq War
Military unit: SEAL Team 3, US Naval Special Warfare Command, United States Navy

12. Specialist Nicholas Ranstad

Nationality: United States
Date: January 2008
Distance: 2,092 m (2,288 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A1, .50 BMG
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, United States Army

11. South Africa

Date: August 2013
Distance: 2,125 m (2,324 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Denel NTW-14.5, 14.5×114mm
Conflict: MONUSCO
Military unit: South African Special Forces Brigade, Joint Operations Division, SANDF

10. Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock

Nationality: United States
Date: February 1967
Distance: 2,286 m (2,500 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: M2 Browning machine gun, .50 BMG[A 1]
Conflict: Vietnam War
Military unit: 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps

9. Sergeant Brian Kremer

Nationality: United States
Date: October 2004
Distance: 2,300 m (2,515 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A1, .50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Conflict: Iraq War
Military unit: 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, United States Army

8. Master Corporal Arron Perry

Nationality: Canada
Date: March 2002
Distance: 2,310 m (2,526 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: McMillan TAC-50, .50 BMG
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces

7. Corporal Rob Furlong

Nationality: Canada
Date: March 2002
Distance: 2,430 m (2,657 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: McMillan TAC-50, .50 BMG
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces

6. Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison

Nationality: United Kingdom
Date: November 2009
Distance: 2,475 m (2,707 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Accuracy International L115A3, .338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry, British Army

5. Ukraine

Date: November 2022
Distance: 2,710 m (2,964 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: XADO Snipex Alligator, 14.5×114mm
Conflict: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Military unit: Ukrainian National Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs

4. Australia

Date: April 2012
Distance: 2,815 m (3,079 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Barrett M82A1, .50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Conflict: War in Afghanistan
Military unit: 2nd Commando Regiment, SOCOMD, Australian Defence Force

3. Canada

Date: May 2017
Distance: 3,540 m (3,871 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: McMillan TAC-50, .50 BMG
Conflict: War in Iraq
Military unit: Joint Task Force 2, CANSOFCOM, Canadian Armed Forces

2. Viacheslav Kovalskyi

Nationality: Ukraine
Date: November 2023
Distance: 3,800 m (4,156 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Horizon’s Lord [uk], 12.7×114 mm HL
Conflict: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Military unit: Special Group “Alpha”, Security Service of Ukraine

1. Ukraine

Date: August 2025
Distance: 4,000 m (4,374 yd)
Sniper and ammunition: Snipex Alligator, 14.5×114mm
Conflict: Russian invasion of Ukraine
Military unit: Pryvyd (Ghost) sniper unit

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.