The McMillan TAC-338 is a specialized sniper rifle made to "exact" specifications with long range lethality and precision in mind, explains Military Factory. 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. He said the book ruined his reputation in the Seal community. This record-breaking shot took down an Islamic State insurgent in 2004, but few other details have been disclosed. The most-revered in war after survival and victory is a sniper's shot. One of the gunshot wounds was to the top of the head, indicating it was likely fired while Littlefield was already on the ground. Then there is the Coriolis Effect, which requires snipers to account for hemispheric drift. The rifle used for the shot was a project in and unto itself. 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. Kyle later downplayed the long-range kill as a really, really lucky shot". . [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. A grain-mill fire broke out in New Zealand on Thursday, with a fire official saying the plant was being "treated as a crime scene.". He said the book ruined his reputation in the Seal community. But it's likely the number was far higher, as he had 255 claimed kills - where a shot hits the target, but a fatality cannot be confirm during battle. The verdict was appealed. Iraqi Civil War made in 2017 is the longest sniper shot ever recorded. Kyle dropped the insurgent at 1.2 miles away (or approximately twenty-one football fields) with a single shot. The hero's longest sniper shot was fired while he protected an approaching US Army convoy in Sadr City, eastern Baghdad, Iraq, in 2008. In a reversal, Biden said he would sign a resolution blocking a D.C. effort to reduce penalties for violent crimes. As previously mentioned, the finer points of Special Forces military accomplishments are often kept private in order to protect the soldiers. [6] Any given combination of firearm and ammunition will have an associated value, known as the circular error probable (CEP), defined as the radius of a circle whose boundary is expected to contain the impact points of half of the rounds fired. It was . 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. But in 2017, Ventura confirmed the defamation case had been settled. 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.. Wind direction and speed can vary dramatically along the path of the bullet. [21][22], Littlefield's funeral was held on February 8, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Midlothian, Texas; he was buried at Mount Zion cemetery. Chad Littlefield (February 11, 1977 February 2, 2013), This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 19:35. The case attracted national attention due to Kyle's fame as author of a bestselling autobiography, American Sniper, published in 2012. 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. Another man was also fatally shot. 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. Some critics say the film, based on the life of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, glorifies war. However, the 50 currently holds the record for the longest sniper rifle kill at 3,871 yards (2.2 miles) by an unnamed Canadian sniper during the Iraqi Civil . He was murdered the next year, Chris Kyle, ex US Navy SEAL sniper who was responsible for 160 kills during his career, Hollywood hunk Bradley Cooper starred in the movie version of the book, American Sniper was based on Chris Kyle's four tours of duty in Iraq. Later, Kyle called it a "really, really lucky shot." Chris Kyle didn't fit the stereotype of the sullen, lone wolf sniper. The former Marine accused of killing "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and his friend said he shot the two men because they wouldn't . Perry and Furlong were part of a six-man sniper team during 2002's Operation Anaconda, part of the War in Afghanistan. Snipers arent heroes. "The things they would do - beheadings, dragging Americans through the streets alive, the things they would do to little boys and women just to keep them terrified and quiet That part is easy. He had been shot six times with a .45-caliber pistol, one of the bullets piercing his aorta. What gun did Chris Kyle use? AMERICA'S deadliest sniper, Navy Seal marksman Chris Kyle, had at least 160 confirmed kills in Iraq by the Pentagons official count. Navy Times reported back then that neither he nor his lawyer would say whether the money came from publisher HarperCollins or its insurance company. (Kyle was killed last year at a shooting range.). In 2016, the Associated Press reported that documents showed the number of medals slain Kyle received for his military service was different from what he indicated in his best-selling memoir. 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. . Today well learn about the top 10 longest sniper shots ever recorded and rank them according to the distance between shooter and target. All sharpshooters must account for numerous intervening variables, including but not limited to gravity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, altitude and morethe weight of these factors can often become significantly more pronounced at greater distances. His feat was especially impressive considering how unlikely it was for the maximum effective range of the weapon he used. According to the company reps we spoke with at this year's NRA Annual Meetings, Kyle told the McMillan gunsmiths that insurgents had learned the effective range of his 300 Win . At 2018 SHOT Show, . 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It needs to be stressed just how difficult it is to land a shot under these circumstances. His sole mission in Iraq was to protect his fellow servicemen - his 'boys' who hailed him as "The Legend" for saving countless lives. I would be remiss if I did not mention American sniper legend Chris Kyle, who took down a hostile in the Iraq War at 2,100 yards (1.19 miles) using 338 Lapua Mag. Well also learn some interesting facts about each one! And by doing his job so well, better than anyone in his countrys history, he saved many American lives.. He shed all of it, and then some, for his current run in Broadways The Elephant Man.. Confirmed hit! they said in a call to the shooters. Kyle, 38, was shot to death Saturday - by a former Marine, police say - while shooting for fun on a Texas gun range. American Sniper, his brutal and graphic book about his life, became abestseller in 2012 and the film was optioned shortly afterwards. It was the world's eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper. The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds - AFP / Getty Images. They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. He is widely regarded as the deadliest sniper in U.S. history. 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. DEVIL AND ANGEL: Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle watches over US Marines from his perch atop an upturned baby crib in a bombed-out building . Matt Holloway is a millennial, constitutional, conservative commentator, content creator and writer. Two soldiers fired off simultaneously using the same weapons and ammo and, while the target was definitely eliminated, no one is sure which shooter was responsible for the kill. The masterwork rifle was completed finally in May, about a full year after the original target date, according to the release. The distance at play made it particularly difficult to account for bullet drop, or the phenomenon of a fired projectile being dragged down by gravity over the course of its trajectory. 20: Number of months it took Cooper and the production to close a deal with Kyle. 30: Approximate number of pounds Cooper put on to play the beefy sniper. 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. The murders of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield occurred on February 2, 2013, at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. . Clint Eastwood directed a film adaptation of American Sniper which was released in 2014. 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! American Sniper subject Chris Kyle shot dozens of looters after Hurricane Katrina, killed two attempted carjackers, and punched Jesse Ventura in the face. Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Perry was accused of desecrating corpses, but the issue was dropped due to lack of evidence. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore appeared to lash out against it onTwitter when he wrote: My uncle killed by a sniper in WW2. Later, Kyle called it a "really, really lucky shot." When Winston pulled the trigger, the rifles loud report reverberated across the valley. Although Kyle used a . Littlefield was hit seven times, including four that would have been instantly fatal. 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. A thirty-five year old, happily married father of four: Matt was raised in New Jersey and moved to Arizona in 06'. Picking off an insurgent in Afghanistan in March 2002 from a distance of 2,526 yards . 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. Chris Kyle was such a skilled marksman that he killed an enemy fighter 1.2 miles - 21 football fields - away with a single shot. 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 . He was buried on February 12, 2013, at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, after the funeral cortege journeyed from Midlothian to Austin, more than 200 miles (320km). Mistakes in estimation compound over distance and can cause a shot to only injure, or to miss completely. 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. But Ventura said it didnt come from Kyles widow or his estate, and that he didnt get an apology. 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. But it's likely the number was far higher, as he had 255 claimed kills - where a shot hits the target, but a fatality cannot be confirm during battle. He repeatedly risked his life serving his country in some of the mostdangerous terrain on earth. 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. Featured Image Credit: CBS This Morning. Your typical off-the-shelf .416 Barrett just wasnt going to do the job. For comparison, legendary sniper and American hero Chris Kyles record for a combat kill was 1.2 miles with a single shot in 2008 against an Iraqi insurgent, according to History.com. He also testified that Routh's psychotic symptoms could be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the suspect a bad rapper and also compared him to a "baby" at a news conference. He described the killing in his book, American Sniper. Also, questions were raised about the true number of medals he'd been given for his military success. It had to be perfect. All Rights Reserved. [9] After returning to the US, Hathcock helped to establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia. [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. 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. It wasnt the first time something in Kyles book was questioned. He described the killing in his book, American Sniper. Ventura, a former Underwater Demolition Teams/Seal member, testified he never made the comments and the altercation never happened. Browning M2 "Ma Deuce" Heavy Machine Gun. You may opt out at anytime. Gary Buiso. [5], Although optical equipment such as rangefinders and ballistic calculators have largely eliminated manual calculations to determine elevation and windage, the fundamentals of accurate and precise long-range shooting remain essentially the same since the early history of shooting, and the skill and training of the shooter, and the shooter's spotter where applicable, are the primary factors. Gunnery Sgt. 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. In 2017, a sniper from Joint Task Force 2 (JTF-2) neutralized an . Rifle builders Scott Null and his sons Meshac & Nehemia of S&S Sporting in Idaho built the rifle. The reputation of Kyle as the most lethal sniper in American military history is not disputed. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. D Mag says that, "while on the sniper rifle, Kyle had to do complicated math, accounting for wind speed, the spin of a bullet, and the curvature and rotation of the Earth. 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". Bryan Kremer was deployed to Iraq with the 2nd Ranger Battalion in Mar. [4] [7] 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. Regarded as one of the most lethal snipers in US military history, Kyle served four tours in Iraq before he was killed by former Marine Eddie Ray Routh at a Texas shooting range. You dont think of the people you kill as people. American Sniper, the movie, whipped up a fierce backlash. 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 . The . Kyle described punching out a man, later identified as Ventura, whom he said made offensive remarks about Navy Seals. Pau admitted: "Although the information on the DD214 should match the official records, the process involves people and inevitably some errors may occur.". The name of the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather sniper rifle was based off the name White Feather that the North Vietnamese Peoples Army of Vietnam gave Hancock. 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. Even the most basic of sniper kills are impressive feats, and things get progressively more difficult with targets who are further away. reduced CEP), although they rely on proper use and training to realize any advantages. Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle used a McMillan Tac-338, chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, to kill an . On Feb. 2, 2013, former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was killed . Of the five longest known sniper kills in military history, Canadians accounted for three of them at the time of this writing. The rebels grew angry after they felt that their conditions didnt improve following a peace treaty signed with the government, and have committed all kinds of atrocities including using child soldiers. 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. Unlike any American before him, Chris Kyle performed his job . At that distance, Kyle could only estimate his calculations. During the interview, Kyle also talks about the $20,000 bounty that was put on his head and the heads of his fellow . As weapons, ammunition, and aids to determine ballistic solutions improved, so, too, did the distance . As a US Navy SEAL, he earned the nickname "The Legend" among US Marines, while his enemies dubbed him "The Devil of Ramadi.". Have you ever done any precision shooting? U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Courtney P. Carr, adjutant general, Indiana National Guard, and Taya Kyle, widow of late U.S. Navy Seal sniper Chris . His sole mission in Iraq was to protect his fellow servicemen - his 'boys' who hailed him as "The Legend" for saving countless lives. Crime scene photos shown in court show Kyle lying on the dirt in front of an elevated deck from which rifles were fired at targets up to 1,000 yards away. EDIT: A Lapua .338 You can see the photograph of the actual rifle, in the book. 4. Routh's uncle said he and Routh smoked marijuana on the day of the slayings. A sniper must have the ability to accurately estimate the various factors that influence a bullet's trajectory and point of impact, such as the shooter's distance from the target, wind direction, wind speed, air density, elevation, and even the Coriolis effect. American Sniper, the movie, whipped up a fierce backlash. Kyle was killed with a .45-caliber pistol, while Littlefield was shot with a 9mm SIG Sauer P226 Mk.25 Mod 0 pistol. Meet the big shot. Lewis Capaldi handled himself like a true pro, simply backing away from the mic and hanging on to the stand while his fans took the lead. What caliber did Chris Kyle use as a sniper? The sniper killed an insurgent over a mile away who was preparing to shoot a rocket at a US convoy. Known as the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history, Navy Seal Chris Kyle, who served during the Iraq War, has become renowned as the American Sniper. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . The rifle used was made by Accuracy International. 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. With Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis, Ben Reed. No. 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. But Ventura said it didnt come from Kyles widow or his estate, and that he didnt get an apology. "The joke was that President Bush only declared war when Starbucks was hit. 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. While the 1st Squadron is manned by the US Army, it is actually based out of the Tower Barracks in Grafenwhr, Germany. Confirmed kills 1,250m (1,370yd) or greater, Longest confirmed kill using a muzzle loading firearm, "Circular Error Probable (CEP)," Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Technical Paper 6, Ver 2, July 1987, p. 1, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFChandler2010 (, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFAlpert2010 (, harvnb error: no target: CITEREFDrury2010 (, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, "Small but mighty: How Canada's military produces some of the world's best snipers", "Carlos Hathcock: Famous Marine Corps Sniper", "The company behind the rifle used by the world's deadliest sniper", "Ukrainian sniper takes out Russian soldier 1.68 miles away nearly breaking world record", "Ukraine claims that a Ukrainian sniper made the second-longest combat kill ever", "British sniper Craig Harrison (The Silent Assassin) breaks record, kills target from 1.5 miles away", "Report: Canadian sniper shattered world record for the longest confirmed kill in history", "This legendary Marine sniper made the Corps' longest known kill shot more than 50 years ago with a machine gun", "South Africa at war in the DRC The inside story", "South African Special Forces Sniper Takes Out Congo Rebels (2125m shot! "And he had to do it quickly, under the most intense pressure imaginable. 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. Handheld meteorological instruments only measure conditions at the location they are used. Kyle was dubbed 'Al-Shaitan Ramad' or the Devil of Ramadi" by the insurgents as a result of his lethal skills. [5] Both Kyle and Littlefield were armed with .45-caliber M1911-style pistols when they were killed, but neither gun had been unholstered or fired, and the safety catches were still on. 160 of the claims were confirmed. How far was Chris Kyle's longest sniper kill? Texas hardman Chris Kyle became a household name after his autobiography, American Sniper, was adapted into a movie by Clint Eastwood, starring Bradley Cooper. The Captain who made this record shot is reported to have taken down up to 5 other targets in the same engagement. Kyle said "Other services fire the round from different (or slightly different) guns; arguably, the most famous is the Army's M-24 Sniper Weapon System, which is based on the Remington 700 rifle.