If they hit a rock that is 4 feet in diameter, they get more field credibility. The day before Eddie Ray Routh killed Chris Kyle, the most prolific sniper in American military history, he awoke in his childhood home and tried to get ready for work. You dont think of the people you kill as people. And invaders r worse.. Kyle said that he was on a house's second floor, scanning the village with his rifle scope. Accuracy and precision of ammunition and firearms are also still reliant primarily on human factors and attention to detail in the complex process of producing maximum performance. Dozens of Democrat elected officials decided to pass on president Joe Biden's speech in Maryland, opting instead to attend a tribute concert. [18], In June 2017, an unnamed sniper from Canada's Tier 1 special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2, surpassed the 2009 record by over 1,000m (1,100yd), with a 3,540m (3,871yd) shot in the Iraqi Civil War. This impressive sniper shot was one of several heroic acts that Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was commended for. Kyle was dubbed 'Al-Shaitan Ramad' or the Devil of Ramadi" by the insurgents as a result of his lethal skills. In page 178, he describes his longest shot. WE HAVE OUR FIRST HIT! Perry held the title for only a few days, as another man in his unit, Corporal Rob Furlong, beat Perry's distance with a 2,430m (2,657yd) shot in March 2002. Today well learn about the top 10 longest sniper shots ever recorded and rank them according to the distance between shooter and target. Specifics: Perry held the record of longest sniper shot in history for perhaps the shortest time in history. After the killings, Routh went to his sister's house in Midlothian and told her what he had done. AMERICA'S deadliest sniper, Navy Seal marksman Chris Kyle, had at least 160 confirmed kills in Iraq by the Pentagons official count. American Sniper: Directed by Clint Eastwood. Cartridge: .50 BMG Conflict: Iraq War Operation Iraqi Freedom (beating Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's famous shot by over 400 yards) and the longest confirmed kill ever made with a Barrett M82A1 sniper rifle (known in the . Chris Kyle was such a skilled marksman that he killed an enemy fighter 1.2 miles - 21 football fields - away with a single shot. 6,000: Approximate number of calories Cooper was eating per day while training for the film. [16], On February 24, 2015, Routh was found guilty of murdering Kyle and Littlefield. US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock held the record from 1967 to 2002 at 2,286m (2,500yd). Chris Kyle with his book, "American Sniper.". [11], Eddie Ray Routh was born on September 30, 1987, in Lancaster, Texas, to Raymond and Jodi Routh. [citation needed] Snipers have had a substantial history following the development of long distance weaponry. [6] On the way to the shooting range, Kyle texted Littlefield, "This dude is straight up nuts." We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. psychotic. So, just how far away were the targets of the longest sniper shots ever made? The initial target date was in May 2021, but major complications in procuring and assembling the rifle and a protective bunker for the team of forward spotters pushed it back considerably. Lt. Jackie Pau, a Navy spokeswoman, told the AP that Kyles military personnel file stated he received one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with valor. When two thugs tried to attack an elderly man, he pulled out his own weapon and fired back, scaring them away. Jurors in 2014 awarded former Minnesota Gov. Former CNN host and anti-Iraq war campaigner Piers Morgan, however,defended the man behind the movie, saying: Chris Kyle, American Sniper, was NOT a coward. [9] After returning to the US, Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Browning M2 "Ma Deuce" Heavy Machine Gun. The Hollywood-hewn story of Navy Seal Chris Kyle faced criticism for fictionalizing the sniper and being tonally off-the-mark, . The former Marine accused of killing "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and his friend said he shot the two men because they wouldn't . Instead, a February afternoon in 2013 turned into murder when former United States Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle died alongside his friend, Chad Littlefield, after a veteran . The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. Chris Kyle, a former U.S. Navy SEAL credited with the largest number of confirmed kills, was one of two people fatally shot at a North Texas shooting range Saturday, Texas Highway Patrol confirmed . [17] Harrison killed the two Taliban machine gunners with shots that took the 8.59mm (0.338 inch) rounds almost five seconds to hit their targets, which were 900m (980yd) beyond the L115A3 sniper rifles recommended range. I feel bad about it, but they wouldn't talk to me. It had to be perfect. You dont think of the people you kill as people. He described the killing in his book, American Sniper. "The joke was that President Bush only declared war when Starbucks was hit. View our online Press Pack. (28 photos)", "Preventing Diplomatic Recognition of the Confederacy, 186165", " :: ", "Canadian sniper crushes world record for longest confirmed kill in military history, reports say", "Army sniper films spot for History channel based on 1,300 meter shot in Iraq", "Marine Sniper Receives Bronze Star Medal for Valor", "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq", "SA skerpskutter skiet doodskoot oor afstand van meer as 2 km", "Sniper shot that took out an insurgent killer from three quarters of a mile", "Taliban remain in fear of lethal strikes", "Long range killer: Behind the scenes of Accuracy International", "SOFREP Exclusive: The inside story of Canada's JTF2 record-breaking sniper kill SOFREP Original Content", The ultimate sniper: an advanced training manual for military & police snipers, "Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half mile double kill", "Soviet snipers in Afghanistan, 1979 1989 years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Longest_recorded_sniper_kills&oldid=1138843864, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from April 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with failed verification from February 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 23:20. At first, the spotters thought the shot had struck the bunker or the camera rigging, but it had struck the target, two thin metal plates on a wooden frame that measured about 10 feet by 8 feet, according to the release. The sniper killed an insurgent over a mile away who was preparing to shoot a rocket at a US convoy. He repeatedly risked his life serving his country in some of the mostdangerous terrain on earth. Kremer's shot is the longest confirmed kill of the Iraq War (beating Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's famous shot by over 400 yards) and the longest confirmed kill ever made with a Barrett M82A1 sniper rifle (known in the Army as the . . Even after being severely burned during an attack on an Amtrac on which he was riding in his efforts to rescue other soldiers, and after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Hathcock continued to serve, shoot and instruct. Even the slightest under or over-correction through the scope could have resulted in a missed shot. US Sergeant Bryan Kremer took down an Iraqi insurgent in 2004 with the longest confirmed sniper kill shot made by a US soldier. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in July 2011 after serving for seven years. [1][2][3], Chris Kyle had begun working with veterans after leaving the military. 5. "[6][10] Local police captured Routh after a short freeway chase, which ended when Routh, who fled the scene in Kyle's Ford F-350 truck, crashed into a police cruiser in Lancaster. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M . He repeatedly risked his life serving his country in some of the mostdangerous terrain on earth. He also testified that Routh's psychotic symptoms could be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. American Sniper, the movie, whipped up a fierce backlash. Navy Times reported back then that neither he nor his lawyer would say whether the money came from publisher HarperCollins or its insurance company. For operational security reasons and to preserve the safety of our personnel and our Coalition partners we will not discuss precise details on when and how this incident took place., Not just a record-breaking exercise, the JTF-2 operation had real military significance: The shot in question actually disrupted a Daesh [Islamic State] attack on Iraqi security forces, a sourcetoldCanadian newspaperThe Globe and Mail. ], The modern method of long-distance sniping (shots over 1,100m or 0.7mi) requires intense training and practice. Kyle and Littlefield had reportedly taken Routh to the gun range in an effort to help him with his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he suffered from his time in the military. Kyle described punching out a man, later identified as Ventura, whom he said made offensive remarks about Navy Seals. He declined and stopped taking his medication. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, is based on Kyles autobiography. Chris Kyle, musclebound, grim-faced and lethal, liked to tell stories. He joined the Navy in 1999, and in . [19] The list also shows that, in some cases, an armed force command may choose to withhold the name of the sniper for security reasons. Since prosecutors decided beforehand not to seek the death penalty, the trial judge, Jason Cashon, immediately sentenced Routh to life in prison with no possibility of parole. The Odessa, Texas, native grew up hunting with his father and had uncanny aim as a marksman. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. [4], In late July 2011, Routh was diagnosed by clinicians at Veterans hospital as having post-traumatic stress disorder and was prescribed antipsychotics and antidepressants. Of the five longest known sniper kills in military history, Canadians accounted for three of them at the time of this writing. VA clinicians believed Routh's psychotic symptoms were caused by alcohol abuse and offered inpatient treatment. This record-breaking shot took down an Islamic State insurgent in 2004, but few other details have been disclosed. Photo illustration by Slate. During the next six years, Kyle and his deadly rifle (he used a variety of weapons, ranging from the military M4 to a .308 sniper rifle) left 160 "confirmed" bodies strewn in their wake in what was soon to be America's longest war. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, US hero Chris Kyle was a sharpshooter who served in Iraq, He was nicknamed the Devil of Ramadi by terrified Iraqi insurgents, Chris Kyle pictured with with his wife, Taya, in 2012. He was officially responsible for 160 kills during his career as US Navy SEAL sniper, according to the Pentagon. "[9] Four months later, while he was in his jail cell, Routh shared with former Erath County Sheriff's Deputy Gene Cole: "I was just riding in the back seat of the truck, and nobody would talk to me. When asked whether he regretted fatally shooting men and women, he told D Magazine: I regret the people I couldnt kill before they got to my boys. While Perry got his military career started in the Princess Louise Fusiliers, a unit of the Halifax Militia, he was actually serving as a member of the Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry at the time of his record sniper shot. Texas hardman Chris Kyle became a household name after his autobiography, American Sniper, was adapted into a movie by Clint Eastwood, starring Bradley Cooper. One of the gunshot wounds was to the top of the head, indicating it was likely fired while Littlefield was already on the ground. When he's not writing, working or spending time with his family, Matt enjoys PC Gaming, Science Fiction and YouTube. Chris Kyles accomplishments were described in his bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, but the details werent all accurate: In the book, Kyle is said to have earned two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars, but Navy records show that he earned one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with Valor. The movie American Sniper is a surprise box-office hit, but it has also become a lightning rod. It wasnt the first time something in Kyles book was questioned. Littlefield responded, "Watch my six," military slang meaning "watch my back. The shot was nearly 800 yards further than the previous longest sniper shot in history, perhaps aided by the soldier utilizing match-grade Hornady ammunition. [14], Routh's attorneys argued that he was insane at the time of the murders. Pau admitted: "Although the information on the DD214 should match the official records, the process involves people and inevitably some errors may occur.". In an interview with the defence publication, Kyle said he didn't regret any of his kills in the field. No American has been more associated with the Navy SEAL mystique than Chris Kyle, known as the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. After leaving the military (at the rank of Chief Petty Officer) in 2009, Kyle returned home and became a leading figure in helping former military members that suffered from PTSD transition to civilian life. Harrowing video has emerged of a racially charged incident that rocked an elementary school in Springfield, Ohio. It needs to be stressed just how difficult it is to land a shot under these circumstances. But before he was fatally shot on a Texas gun range, the war hero said he was more interested in the people he'd saved - "thats the number Id care about". It was the worlds eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper, reports D Magazine. And by doing his job so well, better than anyone in his countrys history, he saved many American lives.. The Tac-50 revolutionized the global small arms scene following its introduction in 2000, successfully blending the reach and stopping power of an anti-materiel rifle (AMR) with the accuracy of a standard military-grade sniper rifle. General Flynn is suing the federal government for $50 million. Sienna Miller plays his wife back home in Texas, whos struggling to cope with a husband changed by war. It was the world's eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper, reports D Magazine. The Audience's Response Will Give You Goosebumps, 'He's a Stupid Rapper': Gang Member Charged with Murder After Police Hear His Latest Song, 'Ouch': 11 House Democrats Reportedly Snubbed Biden for a Concert, 'Pure Theater': Greta Thunberg 'Detained' at Protest, But Look What Happens After Police Let Her Down, Elderly Man Pulls Out Six-Shooter and Fires Back After Being Shot in Leg by Two Alleged Armed Robbers, Read the Entire Explosive $50 Million Gen. Flynn Lawsuit Against the US Government, Op-Ed: The Pro-Life Movement Has a Golden Opportunity, But Only if We Work Together. Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle used a McMillan Tac-338, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, to kill an . AP. [citation needed] 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 . The details of the battle have been kept under wraps, but his Mar. For example, the Canadian Army 2002 sniper team that saw two soldiers (Arron Perry/2,310 m and Rob Furlong/2,430 m) set consecutive new records, also made a number of kills at 1,500m (1,600yd) that are not counted here. Hathcock's record for the longest sniper shot of all time stood for over 35 years before it was broken in 2002. Austin and Humphries said it was not scientifically consistently repeatable even with the same several hours spent walking the shot into the target, according to the news release. At that distance, Kyle could only estimate his calculations. He refuses to discuss "body count." The Captain who made this record shot is reported to have taken down up to 5 other targets in the same engagement. With his "boys" approaching, Kyle aimed and killed him with his McMillan TAC-338 sniper rifle from about 2,100 yards (1.2 miles) away. Here's his account of the achievement, which . The rifle used for the shot was a project in and unto itself. 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. Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper. Corporal Rob Furlong, who was in the same military unit as Arron Perry, was an ambitious type from the start, and he even taught himself to use a rifle ambidextrously! His sole mission in Iraq was to protect his fellow servicemen - his 'boys' who hailed him as "The Legend" for saving countless lives. A thirty-five year old, happily married father of four: Matt was raised in New Jersey and moved to Arizona in 06'. [4], On February 2, 2013, Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, 35, were shot and killed by Eddie Ray Routh at the Rough Creek Ranch-Lodge-Resort shooting range in Erath County, Texas. In 2017, a sniper from Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2) neutralized an ISIS target in Iraq at a distance of over 3,540 meters. Arron Perry broke the record for the longest recorded sniper kill after it stood unbroken for 34 years. Hathcock also won the 1966 Wimbledon Cup, which is earned by the winner of the US 1,000-yard high-powered rifle National Championship. . . He agreed to take Routh to a shooting range, which Kyle believed had therapeutic value. The verdict was appealed. The story of the astonishing long-range shot began in 2020, right after the team at Nomad Rifleman succeeded in helping a client achieve the Wyoming state record with a target strike at an impressive 3.06 miles, the news release said. As a SEAL, he was shot twice and survived 6 IED explosions. Here's What You Need to Know:Landing a shot at this distance requires not only intimate knowledge of how your weapon handles, but a rifle capable of reliably performing at that level. When Winston pulled the trigger, the rifles loud report reverberated across the valley. January 1, 2012 5:00am. But then again, as Kyle showed us, some of the most important shots are those that beat the odds. Another expert, Dr. Michael Arambula, testified he did not believe Routh was schizophrenic, and was not insane at the time of the murders because he was intoxicated. Will shoot u in the back. Navy records show that he earned one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with Valor, Nicholas Ranstad still holds the record for the longest shot made by a US sniper, their conditions didnt improve following a peace treaty signed with the government, and have committed all kinds of atrocities including using child soldiers, He first started shooting as a child to help get food, took down an Iraqi insurgent in 2004 with the longest confirmed sniper kill shot made by a US soldier, Arron Perrys record-breaking shot was broken by another soldier in his same unit, fine details that go into lining up the perfect sniper shot, from the direction of the wind to the shooters breathing, he felt totally abandoned by his regiment once he developed PTSD, while the target was definitely eliminated, no one is sure which shooter was responsible for the kill, This especially holds true when it comes to details of personal identity and how the task was carried out. [15] Forensic psychologist Randall Price, a witness for the prosecution, suspected Routh was faking schizophrenia. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, US hero Chris Kyle was a sharpshooter who served in Iraq, He was nicknamed the Devil of Ramadi by terrified Iraqi insurgents, Chris Kyle pictured with with his wife, Taya, in 2012. Weapon: Browning M2. Well also learn some interesting facts about each one! This story has been shared 135,794 times. The kill was one of . Andrew Caballero-Reynolds - AFP / Getty Images. Nomad Rifleman said in the news release, The cartridge was custom made by Unknown Munitions in Idaho (which we think is the best commercial ammunition maker in the world), with Barrett brass, H50BMG propellant and a CCI135 primer. Gunnery Sgt. Picking off an insurgent in Afghanistan in March 2002 from a distance of 2,526 yards . The group added, In the extreme long range shooting community, there isnt an official standard for records. The 7.62mm cartridge had more power than the smaller 5.56mm; Kyle found it generally able to put down the enemy with one shot. This especially holds true when it comes to details of personal identity and how the task was carried out. EDIT: A Lapua .338 You can see the photograph of the actual rifle, in the book. Your typical off-the-shelf .416 Barrett just wasnt going to do the job. US Army Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad served in an Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron called the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment. The 2nd Ranger Battalion, the unit that Kremer served in, is one of three ranger battalions that belong to the United States Armys 75th Ranger Regiment. Sgt. This latest record was, unsurprisingly, set with theMcMillan Firearms Tac-50, which was used in three of the five most recent longest recorded kill shotsin all three cases, the Tac-50 was wielded by Canadian snipers. Nicholas Ranstad still holds the record for the longest shot made by a US sniper. The 2,500-yard shot was just one of the 93 confirmed kills Hathcock made during his career. It takes an incredible amount of control and dedication to become a sniper, and every little move a shooter makes while in position can affect the outcome of the shot. He had been shot six times with a .45-caliber pistol, one of the bullets piercing his aorta. I definitely dont have any regrets about that.. Kyle was also well-known for his incredible shots, his longest being a 2,100-yard kill with a McMillan TAC-338 sniper rifle. But in 2017, Ventura confirmed the defamation case had been settled. Routh's mother, who worked at the school that Kyle's children attended, had heard of his work and asked him to help her son. Perry and Furlong were part of a six-man sniper team during 2002's Operation Anaconda, part of the War in Afghanistan. 7: Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle's 2,100-Yard Shot. What caliber did Chris Kyle use as a sniper? A follow-on shot is required to hit the target. After blasting box office records and being up for six Oscars, left-wingers tried to torpedo Snipers gong hunt at the Academy Awards. It was the worlds eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper, reports D Magazine. For a rifle like this, having a precision standard of one-ten-thousandth of an inch would not be good enough, Nomad Rifleman said in the news release. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL sniper and the most lethal sniper in American history who became famous after publishing his bestselling autobiography 'American Sniper' in 2012. D Magazine in Dallas reported that it was the "world's eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper." Kyle, who died in 2013, spoke of it in his book . American Sniper, the movie, whipped up a fierce backlash. Kyle had been shot six times, including a rapidly fatal bullet to the back that pierced his aorta, and another to the jaw that caused a severe spinal cord injury. He was experiencing auditory hallucinations and paranoia and had threatened suicide. In a competition last weekend, Cheney put two impacts on steel that were jaw-droppingly impressive. ), the release said. Some critics say the film, based on the life of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, glorifies war. . Back home to his. 30: Approximate number of pounds Cooper put on to play the beefy sniper. His bestselling autobiography, American Sniper a story . Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle used a McMillan Tac-338, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, to kill an . "And he had to do it quickly, under the most intense pressure imaginable. Any one of these factors requires careful attentionall of them combined make for an immensely difficult shot, which explains why updated records in this category have proven relatively rare in recent decades. His record has yet to be beaten to this day by any other soldier in the United States! He was accused by some in the US of being anti-Muslim and of giving his country a bad name through the red crusaders cross he had tattooed on his arm. Navy S.E.A.L. Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle: August 2008: 1,920 m (2,100 yds) McMillan Tac-338: United States: Iraq War - Sadr . While the Mk-12 and Mk-11 were both semi-automatic rifles, Kyle's .300 Win Mag was a manual bolt-action. Chris Kyle with his book, American Sniper.. After a few moments of uncertainty, the spotters cheered. Two Chris Kyle Stories You Won't See in 'American Sniper'. He said that Routh actually had paranoid personality disorder exacerbated by drug use. Clint Eastwood directed a film adaptation of American Sniper which was released in 2014. And that brings us to "The Legend" and his claim-to-fame long-distance shot. American Sniper subject Chris Kyle shot dozens of looters after Hurricane Katrina, killed two attempted carjackers, and punched Jesse Ventura in the face. Kremer served as a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in the Iraq War, and he took this record-breaking shot approximately a year after it began. Theyre just targets. Those were the moments when he thrived.". Honestly, most shots made at distances north of 1500 meters (~1600 yards) unless the shooter, rifle and ammunition is specifically trained and configured for use at that range and extensive practice is done, are misses. [citation needed], The science of long-range sniping came to fruition in the Vietnam War. Chris Kyle was the deadliest sniper in U.S. history, both for the total number of confirmed kills, and for the longest shot resulting in a kill: 2,100 yards. D Magazine in Dallas reported that it was the worlds eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper. Kyle, who died in 2013, spoke of it in his book American Sniper as a really, really lucky shot.. You may opt out at anytime. They started a row based on Kyle himself, arguing that his actions were not those of a hero, but a trigger-happy coward, reported The Sun on Sunday in 2015. Navy documents show Kyle earned one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with valor, instead of the two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars his book says he received. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the suspect a bad rapper and also compared him to a "baby" at a news conference. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. For other inquiries, Contact Us. While the 1st Squadron is manned by the US Army, it is actually based out of the Tower Barracks in Grafenwhr, Germany. This article first appeared in December 2020. The details of Special Forces accomplishments are often concealed in order to protect the shooters identity. Craig Harrison is known predominantly for his record sniper shot that he made in Afghanistan, but his experience goes far deeper. The McMillan TAC-338 is a specialized sniper rifle made to "exact" specifications with long range lethality and precision in mind, explains Military Factory. Another man was also fatally shot. In mid-2017 it was reported that an unnamed Canadian special forces operator, based in Iraq, had set a new record of 3,540m (3,871yd), beating the record previously held by an Australian sniper (also unnamed) at 2,815m (3,079yd). At the New Jersey Warrior Challenge in 2012, Ranstad was an honored guest and autographed almost 100 flyers! Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle, Iraq War; Distance: 1,920 m (6,300 ft) Weapon: McMillan Tac-338 . Jesse Ventura $500,000 for defamation and $1.3million for unjust enrichment in a trial over a passage in Kyles book that Ventura claimed was a complete fabrication. It was the world's eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. A third shot took out the insurgents' machine gun. In his memoir, "American Sniper," published early last year, Kyle wrote about what was to become his most famous shot -- taking out an RPG-wielding insurgent at 2,100 yards. Unless the group is centered perfectly on the target at 100 yards, the 2,500-yard group will be centered 25 times the off-center error at 100 yards. I'm sure they've forgiven me."[6]. Two years after being recorded, the longest sniper kill shot remains one of the greatest feats ever performed in military history.