The four greatest military snipers in history who took out distant enemies with using precision and sheer resolve

Rising to the level of an elite sniper calls for far more than steady aim. It requires unshakable composure, endurance that borders on the superhuman, and the ability to disappear into unforgiving terrain for hours — sometimes days — at a time. The four sharpshooters highlighted here did more than eliminate distant enemies; their remarkable tallies and groundbreaking methods reshaped battlefield tactics themselves. Through a mix of precision, innovation, and sheer resolve, they left an indelible mark on military history. What follows is a closer look at these marksmen whose skill continues to command respect.

Chris Kyle – Most lethal sniper in US military history

Portrait of Chris Kyle — Chris Kyle is known as the “most lethal sniper in US military history.” (Photo Credit: TSHA / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

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 holding his sniper rifle — Vasily Zaytsev was given the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” for his success during the Battle of Stalingrad. (Photo Credit: Министерство обороны Российской Федерации / Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0)

Vasily Zaytsev earned legendary status during World War II with 225 confirmed kills, most of them during the brutal Battle of Stalingrad. Growing up in the Russian wilderness, he learned to shoot by hunting game to help feed his family—a skill that would one day make him one of the Soviet Union’s most lethal snipers.

Before the war, Zaytsev worked as the head of the finance department in the Soviet Pacific Fleet. When he volunteered for combat duty, his exceptional aim quickly got him transferred to the 1047th Rifle Regiment of the 284th “Tomsk” Rifle Division under the 62nd Army.

One of the most famous stories about Zaytsev is his sniper duel with a supposed German ace named Erwin König. While Zaytsev claimed to have killed König in a high-stakes showdown, some historians have questioned whether König ever existed, citing a lack of official records. Still, wartime documents weren’t always reliable, so the story lives on.

Zaytsev was wounded by a mortar blast in January 1943, but that didn’t stop him. He was awarded the title “Hero of the Soviet Union” and returned to combat just a month later, fighting all the way to the Battle of Seelow Heights near the end of the war.

Carlos Hathcock – Deadliest American sniper of the Vietnam War

Military portrait of Carlos Hathcock — Carlos Hathcock became the deadliest American sniper of the Vietnam War. (Photo Credit: USMC Archives / Flickr CC BY 2.0)

Carlos Hathcock became one of the most feared snipers of the Vietnam War, driven by a strong commitment to protecting his fellow Marines. In 1965, he won the Wimbledon Cup Shooting Championship, showcasing his exceptional marksmanship skills—abilities that would prove invaluable when he deployed in 1966.

Hathcock once said, “If I didn’t get the enemy, they were going to kill the kids over there.” This mindset fueled his actions in Vietnam and highlighted his unwavering determination. While serving with the sniper platoon of the 1st Marine Division, he famously crawled over 1,500 yards over three days—without food or water—to track and eliminate a general in the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN). He made the kill shot from 700 yards away and disappeared into the jungle without being detected.

Hathcock also eliminated an enemy sniper known as “Cobra,” who had killed several Marines, as well as a female Viet Cong leader called “the Apache woman,” though historians continue to debate whether she actually existed. He had 93 confirmed kills but believed his true count was closer to 300 to 400.

Simo Häyhä – Deadliest sniper in history

Simo Häyhä standing in the snow with his sniper rifle — Simo Häyhä is known as the deadliest sniper in history. (Photo Credit: Finnish Military Archives / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

Simo Häyhä — the Soviet Army’s dreaded “White Death” — began life as a quiet Finnish farmer, yet became one of history’s most lethal snipers during the Winter War of 1939–1940. When the Soviet Union invaded Finland, Häyhä stepped forward to serve, and in under 100 days he recorded over 500 confirmed kills; some tallies push the number far higher, edging toward 700. His uncanny marksmanship and ability to vanish into the snow rattled Soviet forces so deeply that they deployed counter-sniper squads and even artillery fire specifically to hunt him down, all without success.

Häyhä’s effectiveness stemmed from a commitment to straightforward, tactical fundamentals. He favored a regular service rifle fitted only with iron sights, which prevented light from reflecting off a scope and revealing his location. To remain invisible, he kept snow in his mouth to hide his breath and packed the ground around his firing spot to deaden the sound and merge with the terrain. Patience, discipline, and near-perfect aim turned Häyhä into a spectral presence on the icy battlefield — elusive, relentless, and forever etched into wartime legend.

Just days before the Winter War drew to a close, Simo Häyhä’s extraordinary run of success nearly ended in disaster. During a fierce engagement, an explosive bullet struck him in the face, shattering his jaw and knocking him unconscious for more than a week. According to accounts from the front, Häyhä still managed to fire one last, instinctive shot as he fell—killing the Soviet marksman who wounded him before slipping into unconsciousness.

The injury left him permanently scarred, but he eventually made a full recovery. In recognition of his astonishing skill and service, the Finnish Army awarded him a custom-made rifle, a tribute worthy of the nation’s most feared sniper. Years later, Häyhä returned the weapon to the military, ensuring that both the rifle and his legacy would remain enduring symbols of Finland’s grit, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of the man known as the White Death.