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Afghanistan
And The Winner Is - 2.47km, Twice (1.53m)
2010-12-27
Indeed, an elite sniper's skills cannot be assessed with a single measurement, so the "longest confirmed kill" record stands as the pseudo world championship for military combat riflemen, and as of now there's a new outright champion - using an Accuracy International L115A3, British Corporal Craig Harrison killed two Taliban with consecutive shots at a distance of 2.47 kilometres (8120 ft) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan last November (2009). He then fired a third shot and hit the Taliban's PKM machinegun in perhaps the most prodigious feat of marksmanship in military history.
Congratulations to our British cousins on their record holder!
If you're wondering why it took so long for Harrison's kill to be made public, (it was made last November and only became commonly known in the last few days), understand that the publicity such a feat brings may not necessarily be wanted, or healthy, particularly if you are still "in theater". Harrison, who also survived a bullet passing through his helmet, and two broken arms from an IED explosion, has now finished his tour of duty and the story can be told.

Craig Harrison's AI L115A3 cost the British Ministry of Defence GBP23,000 (US$34,000), weighs 6.8 kilograms, and fires an 8.59mm bullet which is heavier than the 7.62mm round of the previous L96 model and hence less likely to be deflected over extremely long ranges. The L115A3 has a five-round magazine, enabling the sniper to fire five rounds rapidly, though that would almost never happen.
Posted by: Anonymoose

#4  Legend has it that a long time ago, a German general and a Swiss general compared notes during a joint training excerise. The German proudly boasted of his army's numbers, while his counterpart explained the Swiss concept of citizen-soldiers and emphasis on marksmanship.

"Our army is twice the size of yours," the German general bragged. "What would you do, hypothetically of course, if we invaded Switzerland?"

The Swiss general shrugged, unimpressed. "We'd shoot twice and go home."
Posted by: RandomJD   2010-12-27 18:57  

#3  Craig Harrison's AI L115A3 cost the British Ministry of Defence GBP23,000 (US$34,000),
Money well spent, I would say.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2010-12-27 11:45  

#2  Sorry about the old news (May, 2010)

With all the new technology coming out, who knows how long the record will stand -- let's enjoy Cpl. Harrison's triumph while we may.
Posted by: trailing wife   2010-12-27 09:59  

#1  Sorry about the old news (May, 2010), but it is still so sweet that he not only plugged two baddies but also their MG.

List of the top sniper kills.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2010-12-27 08:54  

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