Ventura, a former Underwater Demolition Teams/Seal member, testified he never made the comments and the altercation never happened. 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. "The joke was that President Bush only declared war when Starbucks was hit. 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. As a well known SEAL, Chris Kyle became the most lethal sniper in U.S. history and left a lasting legacy by protecting the U.S. marine's lives with overwatch protection. Matt covers politics, faith, history and news. Kyle considered the MK11 a versatile weapon, one he could carry on patrols and still be useful in a sniping role. At the New Jersey Warrior Challenge in 2012, Ranstad was an honored guest and autographed almost 100 flyers! Dozens of Democrat elected officials decided to pass on president Joe Biden's speech in Maryland, opting instead to attend a tribute concert. 1. 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. (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. 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. It needs to be stressed just how difficult it is to land a shot under these circumstances. sniper Chris Kyle's (Bradley Cooper's) pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. SEAL Team 3's Sniper Concept In Iraq, Kyle's SEAL snipers did not function in traditional two-man . The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M . Navy Times reported back then that neither he nor his lawyer would say whether the money came from publisher HarperCollins or its insurance company. The release of the film American Sniper . 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. Littlefield responded, "Watch my six," military slang meaning "watch my back. Both guns belonged to Kyle. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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 . 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 . And by doing his job so well, better than anyone in his countrys history, he saved many American lives.. Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper. He spotted a man on a roof, who initially didn't appear to be carrying a weapon - but hours later, a further check revealed the insurgent was clutching a possible RPG (rocket-propelled grenade). 300 Winchester Magnum for most of deployments, his most famous and longest shot was taken with a McMillan-built TAC-338. 1.8 million: Dollars awarded to former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, who sued Kyles estate for defamation after Kyle wrote in his book that he punched out a man (later identified as Ventura) for bad-mouthing Navy SEALs. A follow-on shot is required to hit the target. 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. But in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, at least five soldiers from three countries have made longer shots. And Rough Creek was the place that marked the fatal intersection of two veterans of the war in Iraq: Kyle, often called the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history, and Eddie Ray Routh, a Marine . 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. So, just how far away were the targets of the longest sniper shots ever made? General Flynn is suing the federal government for $50 million. [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 . '''Christopher Scott Chris" Kyle''' (April 8, 1974 - February 2, 2013) was a United States Navy SEAL known as the most lethal sniper in American military history with 160 confirmed kills out of 255 claimed kills, although these statistics have not been released by the Pentagon. He described the killing in his book, American Sniper. Chris Kyle was such a skilled marksman that he killed an enemy fighter 1.2 miles - 21 football fields - away with a single shot. 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. 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. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore appeared to lash out against it onTwitter when he wrote: My uncle killed by a sniper in WW2. The world record for extreme long-range target shooting distance set by Paul Phillips of Midland, Texas, in 2020 had been shattered, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reported. 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). in this video, i'm shooting McmMillan TAC338 rifle (chambered in 338 Lapua Magnum cartridge & loaded with BlackHills Sierra 300 gr MK ammo) using a sniper si. "And he had to do it quickly, under the most intense pressure imaginable. Weapon: Browning M2. 2004 shot is the longest recorded sniper kill by an American. In a reversal, Biden said he would sign a resolution blocking a D.C. effort to reduce penalties for violent crimes. [4], Routh was arraigned February 2, 2013, on two counts of capital murder, and was taken to the Erath County Jail for holding under a $3 million bond. [7], If the shooter wishes to improve accuracy, increase range, or both, the accuracy of estimates of external factors must improve accordingly. He spotted a man on a roof, who initially didn't appear to be carrying a weapon - but hours later, a further check revealed the insurgent was clutching a possible RPG (rocket-propelled grenade). Windageposes another key difficulty: at a distance of over two miles, the snipers would have had to adjust for a distance of over 360 inches. This story has been shared 104,452 times. By. [16], Hathcock's record stood until Canadian sniper Arron Perry of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry exceeded it with a shot of 2,310m (2,530yd). 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. At one time, the North Vietnamese Army placed a $30,000 bounty on him due to his soon-to-be legendary status as a sniper. Mark Episkopos is the new national security reporter for the National Interest. Confirmed! Clint Eastwood directed a film adaptation of American Sniper which was released in 2014. Although Kyle used a . 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. Kyle later downplayed the long-range kill as a "really, really lucky shot". Conan O'Brien Chris Kyle Interview. In addition, as instruments of measure, they are subject to accuracy errors and malfunction. His skills with a rifle were . The South African National Defense Force kept this sniper kill quiet and people didnt hear about it for nearly a year afterwards. You dont think of the people you kill as people. [7][8] Routh had also been in and out of mental hospitals for at least two years and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Because of the weapons sheer complexity, it required custom parts shipped from all over the world, including, Canada, New Zealand, Arkansas, South Dakota and Washington. The actor has said he phoned Kyle and told him, Hey, I know its Hollywood and you probably have a lot of trepidation, and you dont know me, but Im telling you, Im giving you my word, were gonna do everything we can and were gonna work with you., 80,000: Bounty, in dollars, that insurgents in Ramadi put on Kyles head. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. You may opt out at anytime. 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. 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. SGT Kremer's 2,515-yard (1.43 miles) shot narrowly edged out Gunnery Sergeant Hathcock for number four on this list. The verdict was appealed. The rifle used for the shot was a project in and unto itself. The McMillan TAC-338 is a specialized sniper rifle made to "exact" specifications with long range lethality and precision in mind, explains Military Factory. It was the world's eighth-longest confirmed kill shot by a sniper. Pau admitted: "Although the information on the DD214 should match the official records, the process involves people and inevitably some errors may occur.". And that brings us to "The Legend" and his claim-to-fame long-distance shot. He took plenty of time to familiarize himself with the fine details that go into lining up the perfect sniper shot, from the direction of the wind to the shooters breathing. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth", "Details announced for Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's memorial service at Cowboys Stadium", "Residents Line I-35 to Pay Respects to Slain Navy SEAL", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murders_of_Chris_Kyle_and_Chad_Littlefield&oldid=1135122116, Chris Kyle (April 8, 1974 February 2, 2013), age 38. [20] Hundreds of people, many waving American flags, lined Interstate 35 to view the procession and pay their final respects to Kyle. The movie American Sniper is a surprise box-office hit, but it has also become a lightning rod. He repeatedly risked his life serving his country in some of the mostdangerous terrain on earth. Another man was also fatally shot. [6] On the way to the shooting range, Kyle texted Littlefield, "This dude is straight up nuts." You dont think of the people you kill as people. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. The details of Special Forces accomplishments are often concealed in order to protect the shooters identity. Kyle was dubbed 'Al-Shaitan Ramad' or the Devil of Ramadi" by the insurgents as a result of his lethal skills. Those were the moments when he thrived.". He agreed to take Routh to a shooting range, which Kyle believed had therapeutic value. His feat was especially impressive considering how unlikely it was for the maximum effective range of the weapon he used. [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. . I definitely dont have any regrets about that.. They were just taking me to the range, so I shot them. Later, Kyle called it a "really, really lucky shot." Chris Kyle didn't fit the stereotype of the sullen, lone wolf sniper. 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. 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). 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. Navy S.E.A.L. He killed near Sadr City in 2008 at a distance of 2,100 yards. According to a Sept. 14 news release from the boutique extreme long range shooting experience out of Jackson Hole, the two men, joined by a half-dozen friends, hit the 8 bullseye with their custom long-range rifle, surpassing the previous world record of 4 miles!, Austin and Humphries are co-authors of the 2021 book Nomad Riflemans Extreme Long Range Shooting Fun.. Greta Thunberg gets detained in Sweden in her typical theatrical flare carried by two female police officers. Chris Kyle with his book, "American Sniper.". I definitely dont have any regrets about that.. 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 . American Sniper was about his military service from 1999 to 2009. No. Have you ever done any precision shooting? Photo illustration by Slate. 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. With this kind of shooting, nobody has yet figured out how to get first round hits. As a SEAL, he was shot twice and survived 6 IED explosions. Date: August 2008 Weapon: MacMillan Tac-338 Ammunition:.338 Lapua Magnum Nationality: USA . Their art to kill requires immense patience and a steady hand, for the cleanest jobs done amidst the chaos of warfare. News, Politics, Culture, and more in realtime. This article first appeared in December 2020. That shot stood as the longest confirmed kill in sniper history for more than three decades. His longest kill was 1.2 miles shot with his Lapua .338 Magnum . Reports regarding the longest recorded sniper kill that contain information regarding the shooting distance and the identity of the sniper have been presented to the general public since 1967. Kyle and a buddy were gunned down at a rural Texas shooting range. Chris Kyle with his book, American Sniper.. The McMillan TAC-338 is a specialized sniper rifle made to "exact" specifications with long range lethality and precision in mind, explains Military Factory. He said that Routh actually had paranoid personality disorder exacerbated by drug use. Before his murder in 2013 at 38, the so-called deadliest sniper in American history nurtured a comic book narrative. What was Chris Kyles longest sniper shot? After the killings, Routh went to his sister's house in Midlothian and told her what he had done. ), the release said. Browning M2 "Ma Deuce" Heavy Machine Gun. He had a $20,000 bounty for his death. It had to be perfect. Carlos Hathcock taking aim in Vietnam. Featured Image Credit: CBS This Morning. 20: Number of months it took Cooper and the production to close a deal with Kyle. 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. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. One could imagine the spotters holding their breath in anticipation before hearing a loud impact on steel. The records for the longest sniper kills among the armed forces began to be published in 1967 during the Vietnam War by the US Military. This isnt the kind of thing where you buy a new rifle and some ammo right off of the gun store shelf and go get lucky, Shepard said. Kyle described punching out a man, later identified as Ventura, whom he said made offensive remarks about Navy Seals. VA clinicians believed Routh's psychotic symptoms were caused by alcohol abuse and offered inpatient treatment. Henderson . [citation needed], Devices such as laser rangefinders, handheld meteorological measuring equipment, handheld computers, and ballistic-prediction software can contribute to increased accuracy (i.e. 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. Of the five longest known sniper kills in military history, Canadians accounted for three of them at the time of this writing. By Ian Aldrich Updated: Aug 10, 2020 Also, questions were raised about the true number of medals he'd been given for his military success. The jury returned the verdict after fewer than three hours of deliberations. American Sniper, his brutal and graphic book about his life, became abestseller in 2012 and the film was optioned shortly afterwards. But by then Kyle had become a controversial figure. The hero's longest sniper shot was fired while he protected an approaching US Army convoy in Sadr City, eastern Baghdad, Iraq, in 2008. His sole mission in Iraq was to protect his fellow servicemen - his 'boys' who hailed him as "The Legend" for saving countless lives. He shed all of it, and then some, for his current run in Broadways The Elephant Man.. He joined the Navy in 1999, and in . If they hit a rock that is 4 feet in diameter, they get more field credibility. We were taught snipers were cowards. Specifics: Perry held the record of longest sniper shot in history for perhaps the shortest time in history. It wasnt the first time something in Kyles book was questioned. View our online Press Pack. Two years after being recorded, the longest sniper kill shot remains one of the greatest feats ever performed in military history. But Ventura said it didnt come from Kyles widow or his estate, and that he didnt get an apology. US Army Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad served in an Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron called the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment. Craig Harrison is known predominantly for his record sniper shot that he made in Afghanistan, but his experience goes far deeper. Kyle described punching out a man, later identified as Ventura, whom he said made offensive remarks about Navy Seals. 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. He said the book ruined his reputation in the Seal community. Some critics say the film, based on the life of the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, glorifies war. 5. He refuses to discuss "body count." Two years after being recorded, the longest sniper kill shot remains one of the greatest feats ever performed in military history. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . He was officially responsible for 160 kills during his career as US Navy SEAL sniper, according to the Pentagon. The Longest Sniper Kills in History. 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). His hard-earned skills enabled him to make this record shot on this third try. (Kyle was killed last year at a shooting range.). What was Chris Kyle's longest sniper shot? [6], Routh was a 25-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Lancaster, Texas. Answer (1 of 3): I just got done reading that book, "American Sniper". How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? AP. Copyright 2023 The Western Journal. Texas hardman Chris Kyle became a household name after his autobiography, American Sniper, was adapted into a movie by Clint Eastwood, starring Bradley Cooper. [4] [7] The rifle used was made by Accuracy International. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. 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 . Picking off an insurgent in Afghanistan in March 2002 from a distance of 2,526 yards . For comparison, legendary sniper and American hero Chris Kyle's record for a combat kill was 1.2 miles with a single shot in 2008 against an Iraqi insurgent, according to History.com. He had been shot six times with a .45-caliber pistol, one of the bullets piercing his aorta. Feb. 13, 2015, 3:58 PM PST / Updated Feb. 13, 2015, 3:04 PM PST. "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. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore appeared to lash out against it onTwitter when he wrote: My uncle killed by a sniper in WW2. Sienna Miller plays his wife back home in Texas, whos struggling to cope with a husband changed by war. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. In his book, American Sniper, Kyle describes his longest successful shot: in 2008, outside Sadr City, he killed an insurgent sniper aiming at other members of the US military with "a straight-up luck shot" from his McMillan TAC-338 sniper rifle from about 2,100 yards (1,920 m) away. The verdict was appealed. Rifle builders Scott Null and his sons Meshac & Nehemia of S&S Sporting in Idaho built the rifle. 4: Tours of duty Kyle served in Iraq from 2003 to 2009. [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. But Ventura said it didnt come from Kyles widow or his estate, and that he didnt get an apology. Snipers arent heroes. He has said that his overall experience eroded his trust in the armed forces.