The 5 Longest-Distance Sniper Kills in Military History

Military.com ^ | August 22, 2024 | Blake Stilwell

[artichokegrower]

When a military sniper makes an accurate shot from an extremely long distance, they need more than a spotter and a rangefinder. They need to take into account things such as wind direction, wind speed, air density and even the Earth's rotation. Amid all that, they might be making those calculations while enemy troops are actively trying to find and kill them.

[artichokegrower]

As if all that wasn't impressive enough, the top five longest-distance confirmed sniper kills all came from shots fired at more than a mile away, with the top two coming in from more than two miles away. Since the average human with an unobstructed view can only see 2.9 miles before the curvature of the Earth cuts off their view, there's a good chance the enemy neither saw nor heard the bullet coming.

I shot a ground squirrel at a 100 yards with a Ruger Model 77 .223 with a Leopold 3x9

[frank ballenger]

2.9 miles before the curvature of the Earth cuts off their view

There used to be a promotional ad for CBS Sports coverage of the Chicago Bulls where they claimed the gliding jumps by Michael Jordan had him briefly reaching escape velocity like a satellite launch rocket before making his score. Funny. They had beeping sounds of tracking him in the air.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Throw enough lead downrange and you’re bound to hit something.

[FreedomPoster]

I don’t think this is a monkeys with typewriters generating War & Peace at random type situation.

[SamuraiScot]

When a military sniper makes an accurate shot from an extremely long distance, they[???????] need . . .

to grow a pair and send a round through the head of every living traitor at the Pentagon responsible for castrating and pussifying our military.

Any such Pentagon prissies who have died unrepentant should have their graves marked with a notice describing their respective crimes against manhood, fair womanhood, innocent childhood, and the honor of our holy Nation--and asking prayers for their souls, which are at best now twisting in Purgatory.

Father, forgive them, for they thought they knew what they were doing, but were so stupid they apparently couldn't tell a buck from a doe.

[eastexsteve]

Throw enough lead downrange and you’re bound to hit something.

Where this mindset still exists within the forward ranks, the military is slowly realizing that the best way to win a gunfight is to be able to kill your enemy from a distance where he cannot reach you with his weapon. Standard military arms being introduced for use in our military are starting to be geared for greater long distance with a much shorter learning curve. However, accurate long distance shooting is a talent that is developed. The problem the military has is they haven't learned to put this talent in pill form yet. There is no substitute for range time.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Seems like computerized scopes that perform all the measurements and calculations instantly might shorten the learning curve.

https://talonprecisionoptics.com/technology/how-it-works/

[BatGuano]

I have a Leopold Range Finder.
I use it to confirm the distance from my ball to the “Pin Flag,” on a golf hole.
I have not killed a flag but only injured the green a few times.

[SkyDancer]

I took out a ground squirrel at 500yds using a .22-250 round of 4000fps.

[eastexsteve]

Seems like computerized scopes that perform all the measurements and calculations instantly might shorten the learning curve.

Burris has one, and it is VERY affordable. But, despite these intelligent scopes, there is still quite a bit the shooter is responsible for.

[Blood of Tyrants]

All those shots were with hyper-specialized equipment. Carlos Hathcock made a 2200 yard shot with an M2 .50 cal machine gun using mass produced ammo and an 8 power scope.

[Oldhunk]

My son had the opportunity to fire a sniper rifle. He said he was amazed at the violence in gun when he fired. Had to hold on tight.

[FoxInSocks]

They need to take into account things such as wind direction, wind speed, air density and even the Earth's rotation.

Reminds me of a quote from the movie Shooter:

“You know what it takes to make a shot at that range? Everything comes into play that far. Humidity, elevation, temp, wind, spin drift. There's a 6–10 second flight time, so you have to shoot it where the target’s going to be. Even the Coriolis effect, the spin of the Earth, comes into play.“

[USS Alaska]

I shoot chippies at 40 feet using a 22 Long Rifle, number 12 Shot, with an 18 inch additional aluminum tube added to the end of the barrel.

If I get real lucky, I sometimes get one at 50' but the shot is so small and light, if you don't hit one through the eye to the brain, it's gonna be gone.

Two miles is out of my car's driving distance, let alone my shooting range:)

[Big Red Badger]

500 !?!
Yikes...
What’s the bullet drop on that?

[NorthMountain]

SGT Hathcock had a favorite rock that he’d use to check and correct zero for that M2. On one occasion, he spotted an NVA sitting on said rock. Hathcock “sent it”. During the bullet’s several second flight time, the NVA stood up ... and got nailed by what would have been a miss high if he had remained seated.

The world is a very strange place.

[SkyDancer]

At 500 yards it calculates out to about a yard high, maybe a tad more. My Savage is sighted in at 500 yards so I don’t have to worry about drop, only windage. I use a range finder as well.

[Big Red Badger]

Ha!
You shouldn’t park Here!

[Big Red Badger]

Your typical .22 drops 6 inches at
100yds.
.223 is flat at 300 yds.
.
All about the Drop!

[SkyDancer]

Yes but a .22-250 is a lot flatter than an ordinary .22 and it also depends on bullet weight, gravity, and further out - curvature of the Earth, whole lots of stuff. (got my dad, uncle and two bro’s who’ve taught me) so I stick to 500 yds as my limit.