Modern snipers and their rifles are changing the face of the battlefield. Take, for example, Navy Seal Chris Kyle, who is known as the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. During his tour in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006, he recorded 91 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.
Sniper rifles, by and large, are essential tools of modern military forces, offering precision and lethality in long-range engagements. Among these rifles, a select few stand out as the longest-range sniper rifles currently in use.
To determine the longest-range guns used by militaries around the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed sniper rifles cataloged by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We ranked the guns according to their maximum effective range, limiting the list to guns with maximum effective ranges above 3,000 feet. Supplemental data on country of origin, first year of service, caliber, cartridge, and the ammunition used by each rifle also comes from Military Factory.
It is worth pointing out that the rifles on this list fall into two categories: anti-materiel rifles and anti-personnel rifles. Anti-materiel rifles are meant to pierce armor or fortified positions, while anti-personnel rifles are meant to neutralize combatants. The rifles near the top of this list tend to be anti-material as these are longer range than most anti-personnel rifles. (Also see, the fastest firing machine guns in the world.)
Interestingly, the ammunition used by a majority of these rifles is interchangeable. More than half of these rifles are capable of chambering a 12.7x99mm NATO caliber round, making this ammo fairly ubiquitous among most snipers.
One of top names on this list is the American-made CheyTac Intervention. Classified as an anti-materiel rifle, it chambers a .408 CheyTac cartridge and can reach distances of more than 6,500 ft. with considerable accuracy. Its repeating mechanism allows for swift follow-up shots. The Intervention set a world record for the best grouping at distance (2,122 meters).
No. 14 on the list is the Accuracy International AW50, another anti-materiel rifle. Manufactured by the U.K. company Accuracy International, the AW50 is chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge, and can reach targets at distances of up to 4,900 ft. With its lightweight design, the AS50 is portable and can be rapidly deployed in various combat scenarios. (These are the world’s largest gun makers.)
Here is a look at the longest-range guns used by militaries around the world.
Source: Majid Saeedi / Getty Images News via Getty Images
29. Siyavash SWS
> Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Iran
> Year entered service: 2013
> Used by: Iran
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
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28. MKEK JNG-90
> Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Turkey
> Year entered service: 2008
> Used by: Turkey, Azerbaijan
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
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27. Brugger & Thomet APR
> Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Switzerland
> Year entered service: 2005
> Used by: Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Singapore
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO, .338 Lapua Magnum, .308 Winchester
26. Accuracy International L96
> Maximum effective range: 3,608 ft.
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Year entered service: 1982
> Used by: United Kingdom, United States, France, Belgium
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum
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25. NORINCO CS/LR4
> Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: China
> Year entered service: 2012
> Used by: China, Philippines, Venezuela
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 8.6x70mm
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. GA MSSR
> Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Philippines
> Year entered service: 1996
> Used by: Philippines
> Caliber/Cartridge: 5/56x45mm NATO
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23. Accuracy International AWM
> Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Year entered service: 1996
> Used by: United Kingdom, Norway, Russia, Poland
> Caliber/Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum
22. Remington M2010 ESR
> Maximum effective range: 3,935 ft.
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 2011
> Used by: United States
> Caliber/Cartridge: .300 Winchester Magnum
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
21. Accuracy International Mk 13 (SOCOM)
> Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 2017
> Used by: United States
> Caliber/Cartridge: .300 Winchester Magnum
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20. PGM 338
> Maximum effective range: 4,600 ft.
> Country of origin: France
> Year entered service: 1993
> Used by: France, Armenia, Israel
> Caliber/Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum
19. Steyr HS.50
> Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Austria
> Year entered service: 2004
> Used by: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine
> Caliber/Cartridge: .460 Steyr, .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. Remington MSR
> Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 2013
> Used by: United States, France, Israel
> Caliber/Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO, .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum
24/7 Wall St.
17. Haenel RS
> Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Germany
> Year entered service: 2016
> Used by: Germany
> Caliber/Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum
16. Zbrojovka ZB Falcon
> Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Czechoslovakia
> Year entered service: 1990
> Used by: Czech Republic, Ukraine
> Caliber/Cartridge: 12.7x108mm DshK
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Source: Jessica McGowan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
15. Accuracy International L115
> Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Year entered service: 1997
> Used by: United Kingdom, United States, Egypt, Ireland
> Caliber/Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum
Source: Carl Court / Getty Images
14. Accuracy International AW50
> Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
> Year entered service: 1999
> Used by: United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, Australia
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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Source: Courtesy of Wolverine Supplies via Facebook
13. PGW C14 Timberwolf MRSWS
> Maximum effective range: 4,925 ft.
> Country of origin: Canada
> Year entered service: 2005
> Used by: Canada
> Caliber/Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum
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12. Harris M96
> Maximum effective range: 5,000 ft.
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 1996
> Used by: Malayasia, United States
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
11. Barrett M95
> Maximum effective range: 5,900 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 1995
> Used by: United States, Austria, Denmark, Finland
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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10. Barrett M90
> Maximum effective range: 5,900 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 1990
> Used by: United States
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
9. TASKO 7ET3 (AMR)
> Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Ukraine
> Year entered service: 2018
> Used by: Ukraine
> Caliber/Cartridge: 12.7x108mm Soviet, .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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8. Robar RC-50
> Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 1985
> Used by: Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. CheyTac Intervention
> Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 2001
> Used by: Italy, Poland, Turkey, United Kingdom
> Caliber/Cartridge: .408 CheyTac, .375 CheyTac
6. XADO Snipex Alligator
> Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: Ukraine
> Year entered service: 2020
> Used by: Ukraine
> Caliber/Cartridge: 14.5x114mm Soviet
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
5. Vidhwansak AMR
> Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: India
> Year entered service: 2007
> Used by: India
> Caliber/Cartridge: 12.7x108mm. 14.5x114mm, 20x82mm
4. McMillan TAC-50
> Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft. (tied)
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 2000
> Used by: Canada, United States, France, Israel
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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Source: JohnC76 / Wikimedia Commons
3. ArmaLite AR-50
> Maximum effective range: 8,000 ft.
> Country of origin: United States
> Year entered service: 1999
> Used by: United States, Malaysia
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
2. Baher-23
> Maximum effective range: 9,840 ft.
> Country of origin: Iran
> Year entered service: 2015
> Used by: Iran
> Caliber/Cartridge: 23x152mmB
1. WKW Wilk / Tor
> Maximum effective range: 9,842 ft.
> Country of origin: Poland
> Year entered service: 2005
> Used by: Ukraine, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam
> Caliber/Cartridge: .50BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
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