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World-Record Sniper Kill in Ukraine
Gunpowder Magazine ^ | December 20, 2023 | Warren Gray

Posted on 01/05/2024 4:39:55 AM PST by Twotone

“An experimental weapon, with experimental

ammunition…Let’s experiment.”

— British actor Alan Rickman,

Quigley Down Under, 1990.

At high noon on November 18, 2023, 58-year-old Vyacheslav Kovalskiy, a Ukrainian sniper assigned to the Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrainy (Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU) Special Group “Alpha,” an elite, special operations, or SpetsNaz, unit, broke the existing world record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in history, at a mind-boggling 3,800 meters (2.36 miles!) near Kherson, Ukraine. The previous record was held by a Canadian JTF2 counterterrorist unit sniper in Iraq, at 3,540 meters (2.2 miles) in May 2017, with a McMillan TAC-50A1 (C15A1 in Canadian service) rifle.

The SBU press office announced on November 19, 2023, that, “The SBU sniper set a world record. He hit a Russian soldier (an officer) from an incredible distance. SBU snipers are changing the rules of world sniping, demonstrating the ability to work effectively at fantastic distances.” The SBU added that the shot had broken the previous world record by approximately 260 meters (just over 850 feet).

The massive, six-foot-long sniper rifle that achieved this significant milestone was the Ukrainian-made, MAYAK Volodar Obriyu (“Horizon’s Lord”), bolt-action, single-shot, anti-matériel rifle, chambered in 12.7x114mm HL (the HL stands for Horizon’s Lord, indicating a unique and proprietary cartridge). This brand-new (since 2021) weapon was specifically developed due to a “need for an anti-matériel and sniper weapon system that would have a longer effective range and flatter trajectories than the rifles chambered in .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO).”

(Excerpt) Read more at gunpowdermagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Ukraine
KEYWORDS: banglist; sniper; ukraine
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To: Twotone

Propaganda. Pure BS.


41 posted on 01/05/2024 7:34:08 AM PST by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up. And at the very moment young women )
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To: Blueflag

Many. They just cost more than your typical hunting scope. I shoot well over 2k yards with a 17 power US Optics.


42 posted on 01/05/2024 7:38:23 AM PST by Bulwyf
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To: old-ager

The projectile slows to subsonic down range. At great distances,tbe sound could catch up. Up closer,the round snaps as it goes by,breaking the sound barrierike tbe end of a whip. If not a brain shot,you hear it.


43 posted on 01/05/2024 7:38:44 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

As a long range guy, there is some involved, but there are a few things you can do to put it more in your favour.


44 posted on 01/05/2024 7:39:25 AM PST by Bulwyf
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To: bte

It could of already been over except the UK and US sabotaged the talks.


45 posted on 01/05/2024 7:40:03 AM PST by Bulwyf
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To: going hot

> The projectile slows to subsonic down range

The time of travel was given to us in this article. Nine seconds. Sound in air would take around a bit over twelve seconds.

Also the ballistic estimate I posted shows it being supersonic at range. I actually made a pessimistic assumption about the BC of the projectile.


46 posted on 01/05/2024 7:56:07 AM PST by old-ager
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To: Blueflag

I think you’re reading it correctly. It would probably be a bit less since the projectile (which as far as I can tell is not discussed at all other than caliber) is the secret sauce here. But the sauce can only get so hot.


47 posted on 01/05/2024 7:57:27 AM PST by old-ager
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To: Blueflag

> armchair speculation

I think you have your armchair in the right ballpark. Nice comfy seat to watch the game!


48 posted on 01/05/2024 7:59:40 AM PST by old-ager
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To: dforest
Ukraine is known for Ghost of Kiev type bragging.

They learned that from Ruzzzzzia.

49 posted on 01/05/2024 8:02:51 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Nothing says "democracy" like trying to throw your opponent in jail.)
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To: Dennis M.

Not as impressive as aborting your own kid in the womb bucket.


50 posted on 01/05/2024 8:10:36 AM PST by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It ( )
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To: Fresh Wind

Maybe, but it is just Ukraine doing the bragging when they are losing because they want the US taxpayer dollars to keep flowing.


51 posted on 01/05/2024 8:13:11 AM PST by dforest
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To: Blueflag

Jim Spinella pings a target 4,549 yards, or 2.58 mil

Nobody feels lucky with that guy around.

Carlos Habcock gives hat tip


52 posted on 01/05/2024 8:17:43 AM PST by Vaduz
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To: old-ager

That’s what’s strange.


53 posted on 01/05/2024 8:32:25 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: Twotone

Ghost of Kherson?


54 posted on 01/05/2024 8:35:09 AM PST by yuleeyahoo (“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” - the deep-state)
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To: old-ager
OK, coffee now coursing through the veins:

It was a nice result for the shooter.

Regards the ballistics, muzzle velocity is some 3200ft/sec, if in vacuum would reach target in 3.5 sec.

Since there is friction with air, takes 9 seconds, at that rate of deceleration, at 11600 ft it is approximately 1000ft/sec, this is a mean, the actual is probably a sharper drop terminally.

The sound at 1100 ft/sec would take 10.5 sec, so bullet impact is still 1.5 sec prior to the sound arriving, but it was catching up. Might actually lead the targets (still able to hear) into thinking the shooter was closer.

I have a difficult time hitting paper at 1000 yds.

Lighting one off and waiting 9 seconds for impact, knowing that I launched a flat shooter which looks like biden's poll numbers on the other end, a few words to my favorite diety would be in order.

55 posted on 01/05/2024 8:40:58 AM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: Twotone

That Aussie on YouTube hits stuff way off

https://youtu.be/7owwTz7Z0OE?si=SGT6T6coQLdYPN7T

5023 yards


56 posted on 01/05/2024 8:47:05 AM PST by wardaddy (I have seen true anti semitism is more common in USA than I imagined. A disease in the public mind)
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To: Twotone

“QUIGLEY” is one of my favorite movies-—

BUT how can you go wrong with Tom Selleck???

“Hunt For Red October” is another.

PS-—THERE IS ONLY ONE ‘MAGNUM”. PERIOD


57 posted on 01/05/2024 8:59:00 AM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: going hot

> I have a difficult time hitting paper at 1000 yds.

You’re ahead of me! Thanks for your thoughtful reply!


58 posted on 01/05/2024 9:05:10 AM PST by old-ager
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To: ridesthemiles

> QUIGLEY

Recommended!


59 posted on 01/05/2024 9:05:39 AM PST by old-ager
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To: going hot

> sound at 1100 ft/sec

That is the number I use for quick calcs. We would have to research likely air temperature and humdity to get closer. 1086 might be a slightly better number. I came up with 12.x seconds, but we’ve estabished that the projectile beat the air compression wave to the unfortunate.


60 posted on 01/05/2024 9:07:57 AM PST by old-ager
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