Ascending to the ranks of history’s most famous snipers is no small accomplishment, but these four marksmen have achieved this distinction through remarkable military feats. With unparalleled accuracy and exceptional skill, each possesses a compelling story and an impressive kill count, cementing their place as some of the most iconic snipers of all time.
Chris Kyle – Most lethal sniper in US military history
Self-proclaimed as the “most lethal sniper in US military history,” Chris Kyle achieved 160 confirmed kills (nearly double that by some accounts) during his four tours in Iraq. As a US Navy SEAL, he earned the nickname “The Legend” among US Marines, while his enemies dubbed him “The Devil of Ramadi.” His skills with a rifle were such that multiple bounties were put on his head, in an attempt to bring his killing of insurgents to an end.
Kyle was initially interested in joining the US Marine Corps special operations, but opted to enlist with the Navy instead, after a recruiter spoke to him about becoming a SEAL. After undergoing extensive training, he was assigned to SEAL Team Three.
Kyle scored his first long-range kill when he was ordered to shoot a woman approaching a group of Marines while holding a hand grenade. During his four tours, he was shot and found himself caught up in six separate Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosions. This didn’t stop him from continuing as a sniper, however, and he went on to receive one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars with Valor, among other decorations.
Kyle was honorably discharged in 2009, and was unfortunately killed by a fellow veteran struggling with mental health issues in February 2013. The film, American Sniper, was released the following year and is loosely based on the memoir he wrote prior to his death, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. While many have accused Kyle of embellishing his accomplishments in the book, there’s no doubt he led an impressive naval career.
Vasily Zaytsev – Hero of the Soviet Union
Vasily Zaytsev was credited with eliminating 225 German soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II. Growing up in the Russian wilderness, Zaytsev honed his rifle skills at an early age, as hunting was essential to providing food for his family. Little did he know, these skills would later make him one of the Soviet Union’s most formidable snipers.
Before joining the Red Army, Zaytsev served as head of the finance department for the Soviet Pacific Fleet. He initially enlisted as an ordinary soldier, but his exceptional marksmanship soon earned him a place with the 1047th Rifle Regiment of the 284th “Tomsk” Rifle Division, 62nd Army.
Zaytsev’s most well-known achievement was reportedly killing top German sniper Erwin König. While Zaytsev insisted the encounter took place, some historians question its accuracy, noting the absence of official records for a sniper by that name. However, it is worth considering that German military records were not always perfect.
In January 1943, Zaytsev was injured by a mortar explosion. A month later, he was awarded the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” and returned to the front lines, continuing to fight until the war’s conclusion at the Battle of Seelow Heights.
Carlos Hathcock – Deadliest American sniper of the Vietnam War
Carlos Hathcock gained fame as one of the most deadly snipers of the Vietnam War, motivated by a deep commitment to protecting his fellow Marines. In 1965, he secured the Wimbledon Cup Shooting Championship, proving his exceptional sharpshooting skills, which would be thoroughly tested during his deployment the following year.
Hathcock once said, “If I didn’t get the enemy, they were going to kill the kids over there,” a mindset that shaped his actions in Vietnam and demonstrated his unyielding resolve. Serving with the 1st Marine Division’s sniper platoon, he famously crawled over 1,500 yards for three days without food or water to reach and eliminate a People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) general. From a distance of 700 yards, he made the confirmed kill and then disappeared into the wilderness.
He also took out an enemy sniper known as “Cobra,” responsible for the deaths of several Marines, and a female Viet Cong platoon leader referred to as “the Apache woman,” though historians still debate her actual existence. Hathcock recorded 93 confirmed kills but believed his true total was closer to 300 to 400.
Simo Häyhä – Deadliest sniper in history
Nicknamed the “White Death,” Simo Häyhä was a farmer turned lethal sniper during the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939. With over 500 confirmed kills and the unconfirmed amount totalling over 700, Häyhä was a force to be reckoned with. He’s considered one of history’s most effective snipers, and was so good that the Red Army desperately wanted him killed, but the snipers sent to counter him never returned.
Using his antique Russian-made rifle with an iron sight, Häyhä managed to hide in plain sight and take out any enemy soldier that came across his path. Familiar with the terrain, he would build up snow banks on either side of him to hide the cloud that appeared after every shot he took, so as not to give away his location. Additionally, he’d put snow in his mouth to prevent his breath from giving him away.
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Just 11 days before the Winter War ended, Häyhä was hit in the jaw by an explosive bullet, severely wounding his face. Despite his injuries, the sniper stood up and killed his assassin. He ended up surviving the incident and was gifted a brand new, custom-built rifle, which he later donated to the Karelia Jaeger Battalion’s Heritage Room.