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 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). In November 2023, the record was once again broken by 58-year old sniper Viacheslav Kovalskyi of the Security Service of Ukraine, who shot a Russian soldier from a distance of 3,800 m (4,156 yd) during the Russo-Ukranian war.
Tables
· Confirmed kills 1,250 m (1,370 yd) or greater
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
1
1
Rank
1
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
August 2025
Distance
4,000 m (4,374 yd)
Weapon
Snipex Alligator
Ammunition
14.5×114mm
Nationality
Ukraine
Military unit
"Pryvyd" (Ghost) sniper unit
Conflict
Russian invasion of Ukraine
2
2
Rank
2
Sniper
Viacheslav Kovalskyi
Date
November 2023
Distance
3,800 m (4,156 yd)
Weapon
Horizon's Lord [uk]
Ammunition
12.7×114 mm HL
Nationality
Ukraine
Military unit
Special Group "Alpha", Security Service of Ukraine
Conflict
Russian invasion of Ukraine
3
3
Rank
3
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
May 2017
Distance
3,540 m (3,871 yd)
Weapon
McMillan TAC-50
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
Canada
Military unit
Joint Task Force 2, CANSOFCOM, Canadian Armed Forces
Conflict
War in Iraq
4
4
Rank
4
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
April 2012
Distance
2,815 m (3,079 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A1
Ammunition
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Nationality
Australia
Military unit
2nd Commando Regiment, SOCOMD, Australian Defence Force
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
5
5
Rank
5
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
November 2022
Distance
2,710 m (2,964 yd)
Weapon
XADO Snipex Alligator
Ammunition
14.5×114mm
Nationality
Ukraine
Military unit
Ukrainian National Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs
Conflict
Russian invasion of Ukraine
6
6
Rank
6
Sniper
Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison
Date
November 2009
Distance
2,475 m (2,707 yd)
Weapon
Accuracy International L115A3
Ammunition
338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
Nationality
United Kingdom
Military unit
Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry, British Army
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
7
7
Rank
7
Sniper
Corporal Rob Furlong
Date
March 2002
Distance
2,430 m (2,657 yd)
Weapon
McMillan TAC-50
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
Canada
Military unit
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
8
8
Rank
8
Sniper
Master Corporal Arron Perry
Date
March 2002
Distance
2,310 m (2,526 yd)
Weapon
McMillan TAC-50
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
Canada
Military unit
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
9
9
Rank
9
Sniper
Sergeant Brian Kremer
Date
October 2004
Distance
2,300 m (2,515 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A1
Ammunition
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Nationality
United States
Military unit
2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, United States Army
Conflict
Iraq War
10
10
Rank
10
Sniper
Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock
Date
February 1967
Distance
2,286 m (2,500 yd)
Weapon
M2 Browning machine gun
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
United States
Military unit
7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps
Conflict
Vietnam War
11
11
Rank
11
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
August 2013
Distance
2,125 m (2,324 yd)
Weapon
Denel NTW-14.5
Ammunition
14.5×114mm
Nationality
South Africa
Military unit
South African Special Forces Brigade, Joint Operations Division, SANDF
Conflict
MONUSCO
12
12
Rank
12
Sniper
Specialist Nicholas Ranstad
Date
January 2008
Distance
2,092 m (2,288 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A1
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
United States
Military unit
1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, United States Army
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
13
13
Rank
13
Sniper
Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle
Date
August 2008
Distance
1,920 m (2,100 yd)
Weapon
McMillan TAC-338
Ammunition
338 Lapua Magnum
Nationality
United States
Military unit
SEAL Team 3, US Naval Special Warfare Command, United States Navy
Conflict
Iraq War
14
14
Rank
14
Sniper
Corporal Christopher Reynolds
Date
August 2009
Distance
1,853 m (2,026 yd)
Weapon
Accuracy International L115A3
Ammunition
338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
Nationality
United Kingdom
Military unit
The Black Watch (3 SCOT), Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
15
15
Rank
15
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
January 2016
Distance
1,700 m (1,859 yd)
Weapon
PGW Defence Technology LRT-3
Ammunition
50 BMG
Nationality
Saudi Arabia
Military unit
Royal Saudi Land Forces, Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia
Conflict
Yemeni Civil War
16
16
Rank
16
Sniper
Staff Sergeant Steve Reichert
Date
April 2004
Distance
1,614 m (1,765 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A3
Ammunition
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Nationality
United States
Military unit
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, United States Marine Corps
Conflict
Iraq War
17
17
Rank
17
Sniper
Billy Dixon
Date
June 1874
Distance
1,406 m (1,538 yd)
Weapon
Sharps .50–90
Ammunition
50-90 Sharps
Nationality
United States
Military unit
Civilian
Conflict
American Indian Wars
References
[better source needed]
18
18
Rank
18
Sniper
(name withheld)
Date
November 2007
Distance
1,380 m (1,509 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A1
Ammunition
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Nationality
Norway
Military unit
2nd Battalion, Norwegian Army
Conflict
War in Afghanistan
19
19
Rank
19
Sniper
Sergeant Vladimir Ilyin
Date
1985
Distance
1,350 m (1,476 yd)
Weapon
Dragunov SVD
Ammunition
7.62×54mmR 7N1
Nationality
Soviet Union
Military unit
345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, Soviet Army
Conflict
Soviet–Afghan War
20
20
Rank
20
Sniper
Sergeant First Class Brandon McGuire
Date
April 2007
Distance
1,310 m (1,433 yd)
Weapon
Barrett M82A1 (M107)
Ammunition
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Nationality
United States
Military unit
3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, United States Army
Conflict
Iraq War
21
21
Rank
21
Sniper
Sergeant Major Herbert Sleigh
Date
February 1918
Distance
1,280 m (1,400 yd)
Weapon
M1903 Springfield
Ammunition
30-06 Springfield
Nationality
United States
Military unit
American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army
Conflict
World War I
References
[better source needed]
22
22
Rank
22
Sniper
Staff Sergeant Jim Gilliland
Date
September 2005
Distance
1,250 m (1,367 yd)
Weapon
M24 Sniper Weapon System
Ammunition
7.62×51 mm NATO
Nationality
United States
Military unit
2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, United States Army
Conflict
Iraq War
Ranked list
Rank
Sniper
Date
Distance
Weapon
Ammunition
Nationality
Military unit
Conflict
References
1
(name withheld)
August 2025
4,000 m (4,374 yd)
Snipex Alligator
14.5×114mm
Ukraine
"Pryvyd" (Ghost) sniper unit
Russian invasion of Ukraine
2
Viacheslav Kovalskyi
November 2023
3,800 m (4,156 yd)
Horizon's Lord [uk]
mm HL
Ukraine
Special Group "Alpha", Security Service of Ukraine
Russian invasion of Ukraine
3
(name withheld)
May 2017
3,540 m (3,871 yd)
McMillan TAC-50
50 BMG
Canada
Joint Task Force 2, CANSOFCOM, Canadian Armed Forces
War in Iraq
4
(name withheld)
April 2012
2,815 m (3,079 yd)
Barrett M82A1
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Australia
2nd Commando Regiment, SOCOMD, Australian Defence Force
War in Afghanistan
5
(name withheld)
November 2022
2,710 m (2,964 yd)
XADO Snipex Alligator
14.5×114mm
Ukraine
Ukrainian National Guard, Ministry of Internal Affairs
Russian invasion of Ukraine
6
Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison
November 2009
2,475 m (2,707 yd)
Accuracy International L115A3
338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
United Kingdom
Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry, British Army
War in Afghanistan
7
Corporal Rob Furlong
March 2002
2,430 m (2,657 yd)
McMillan TAC-50
50 BMG
Canada
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces
War in Afghanistan
8
Master Corporal Arron Perry
March 2002
2,310 m (2,526 yd)
McMillan TAC-50
50 BMG
Canada
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canadian Armed Forces
War in Afghanistan
9
Sergeant Brian Kremer
October 2004
2,300 m (2,515 yd)
Barrett M82A1
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
United States
2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, United States Army
Iraq War
10
Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock
February 1967
2,286 m (2,500 yd)
M2 Browning machine gun
50 BMG
United States
7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps
Vietnam War
11
(name withheld)
August 2013
2,125 m (2,324 yd)
Denel NTW-14.5
14.5×114mm
South Africa
South African Special Forces Brigade, Joint Operations Division, SANDF
MONUSCO
12
Specialist Nicholas Ranstad
January 2008
2,092 m (2,288 yd)
Barrett M82A1
50 BMG
United States
1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, United States Army
War in Afghanistan
13
Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle
August 2008
1,920 m (2,100 yd)
McMillan TAC-338
338 Lapua Magnum
United States
SEAL Team 3, US Naval Special Warfare Command, United States Navy
Iraq War
14
Corporal Christopher Reynolds
August 2009
1,853 m (2,026 yd)
Accuracy International L115A3
338 Lapua Magnum (LockBase B408)
United Kingdom
The Black Watch (3 SCOT), Royal Regiment of Scotland, British Army
War in Afghanistan
15
(name withheld)
January 2016
1,700 m (1,859 yd)
PGW Defence Technology LRT-3
50 BMG
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Land Forces, Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia
Yemeni Civil War
16
Staff Sergeant Steve Reichert
April 2004
1,614 m (1,765 yd)
Barrett M82A3
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
United States
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, United States Marine Corps
Iraq War
17
Billy Dixon
June 1874
1,406 m (1,538 yd)
Sharps –90
50-90 Sharps
United States
Civilian
American Indian Wars
[better source needed]
18
(name withheld)
November 2007
1,380 m (1,509 yd)
Barrett M82A1
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
Norway
2nd Battalion, Norwegian Army
War in Afghanistan
19
Sergeant Vladimir Ilyin
1985
1,350 m (1,476 yd)
Dragunov SVD
mmR 7N1
Soviet Union
345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, Soviet Army
Soviet–Afghan War
20
Sergeant First Class Brandon McGuire
April 2007
1,310 m (1,433 yd)
Barrett M82A1 (M107)
50 BMG (Raufoss Mk 211)
United States
3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, United States Army
Iraq War
21
Sergeant Major Herbert Sleigh
February 1918
1,280 m (1,400 yd)
M1903 Springfield
30-06 Springfield
United States
American Expeditionary Forces, United States Army
World War I
[better source needed]
22
Staff Sergeant Jim Gilliland
September 2005
1,250 m (1,367 yd)
M24 Sniper Weapon System
mm NATO
United States
2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, United States Army
Iraq War
References
Longest confirmed kill using non-match grade ammunition.
Fife 2017
Bunch 2017
"Small but mighty: How Canada's military produces some of the world's best snipers"
