A sniper’s ability to eliminate far away targets while keeping their position concealed has played a significant role in military history. The term “sniper” began to be used more commonly during World War I, where they were utilized to break up trench warfare. (check out the deadliest snipers of World War II.)
A majority of the snipers discussed on this list served in the Vietnam War, where the role was finessed. During that conflict, the significance of the sniper was brought to bear as ambush tactics, assassinations, and support fire became increasingly important. This would carry over into the following conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The U.S. military has had many outstanding sharpshooters throughout its’ history. Among the list is Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. During his tour in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, he recorded nearly 100 kills, earning him the name of “The Devil of Ramadi.” Kyle was also credited with hitting an insurgent over 1.2 miles away, a feat of incredible skill aided by modern sniper technology. (Find out more about modern snipers here, every sniper rifle currently used by the U.S. military.)
To determine the deadliest American snipers of all-time, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed information from Sniper Central, an online database of snipers ranging back to World War I. Snipers were ranked from U.S. service branches by their number of confirmed kills, listing the top 25 with 40 confirmed kills or more. Unfortunately, precise figures were not available for one sniper in World War I. Supplemental information about unconfirmed kills, conflict served, and military branches also came from Sniper Central.
Scroll below to see America’s most lethal sniper, ever: the top 25 ranked
25. Ronald D. Bundy
- Confirmed kills: 40
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Ronald D. Bundy was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
24. James Gularte
Source: Vietnam War 1968 - U.S. Snipers by manhhai / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 40
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
James Gularte served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
23. Tom “Moose” Ferran
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 41
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Tom, better known as “Moose,” Ferran served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
22. Joe York
Source: Sniper, Vietnam, circa 1968 by Archives Branch, USMC History Division / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 42
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Joe York served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
21. Daniel L. Greene
Source: Vietnam War 1968 - US Marine Snipers by manhhai / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 42
- Unconfirmed kills: 12
Daniel L. Greene was a sniper in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
20. Lynn Bushnell
Source: VIETNAM WAR U.S. SOLDIERS SNIPER by manhhai / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 43
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Lynn Bushnell served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
19. T.R. Graves
Source: zachievenor / Flickr
- Confirmed kills: 43
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
T.R. Graves was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
18. James C. Peters
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
- Confirmed kills: 43
- Unconfirmed kills: 11
James C. Peters served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
17. Terry Mathis
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- Confirmed kills: 48
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Terry Mathis was a sniper in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
16. Raymond W. Westphal
Source: USMC Archives / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 49
- Unconfirmed kills: 19
Raymond W. Westphal was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
15. Philip G. Moran
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
- Confirmed kills: 53
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Philip G. Moran served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
14. George Filyaw
Source: carminesalvatore / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Confirmed kills: 56
- Unconfirmed kills: 20
George Filyaw served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
13. Herman Davis
Source: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 60
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Herman Davis served in the U.S. Army during World War I.
12. Jack Coughlin
![Sniper+Scope | 24 MEU Deployment 2012 [Image 11 of 21]](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/imageForEntry5-T7n.jpg)
Source: 24 MEU Deployment 2012 [Image 11 of 21] by DVIDSHUB / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 63
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Jack Coughlin was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.
11. Joseph T. Ward
Source: Terry Fincher / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
- Confirmed kills: 63
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Joseph T. Ward served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
10. Steve Suttles
Source: Sniper Scope by Dyroc / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 63
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Steve Suttles served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
9. Thomas R. Leonard
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 74
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Thomas R. Leonard served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
8. Ronnie Shinya Marshall
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 77
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Ronnie Shinya Marshall was a sniper in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
7. Carlos Hathcock
Source: usmcarchives / Flickr
- Confirmed kills: 93
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Carlos Hathcock served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
6. Eric R. England
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 98
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Eric R. England was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
5. Herbert W. McBride
Source: usmcarchives / Flickr
- Confirmed kills: 100+
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Herbert W. McBride served in the U.S. Army during World War I.
4. Charles B. Mawhinney
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 103
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Charles B. Mawhinney served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
3. Adelbert Waldron III
Source: 34 Squadron undertake Live Fire Tactical Training at Otterburn Camp. by Defence Images / BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 109
- Unconfirmed kills: 0
Adelbert Waldron III served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
2. Timothy L. Kellner
Source: Marines Sniper Rifle Aiming Scope 2660088 Edited 2020 by patwilson687 / BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
- Confirmed kills: 142
- Unconfirmed kills: N/A
Timothy L. Kellner served as a sniper in the U.S. Army during the Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as the conflict in Haiti.
1. Chris Kyle
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Confirmed kills: 160
- Unconfirmed kills: 95
Chris Kyle was a sniper in the U.S. SEALs during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as Operation Enduring Freedom.
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