25 Sniper Rifles Ranked by Effective Range and Precision

Sniper rifles occupy a unique place in modern military technology. They are built for precision, patience, and reach, giving trained marksmen the ability to hit targets at distances where most standard firearms are no longer practical. Some are designed for anti-personnel missions, while larger anti-materiel rifles can be used against equipment, light vehicles, radar systems, and other battlefield assets.

For this History Computer slideshow, we’re looking at sniper rifles with the longest listed effective ranges. Using data from Military Factory, we ranked these rifles by maximum effective range and included key details such as country of origin, year introduced, and manufacturer. The result is a closer look at some of the most capable long-range sniper rifles used by militaries around the world.

Here is a look at some of the longest-range sniper rifles used around the world.

25. Navy Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle (Mk 12 SPR)

Weapon type: Sniper rifle / designated marksman rifle
Year entered service: 2002
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.56x45mm NATO, 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Maximum effective range: 1,800 ft.

24. Barrett M107

Weapon type: Anti-materiel / anti-personnel sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2008
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms Company
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO), 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Recoil operated, rotating bolt, semi-automatic
Maximum effective range: 1,850 ft.

23. Izhmash SV-98

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1998
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Izhmash
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.6x54mm R, 7.62x51mm NATO, 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manual bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.

22. M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS)

Weapon type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1969
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Maximum effective range: 2,263 ft.

21. M86

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1986
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Harris Gunworks / McMillan
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, 3-, 4-, 5- or 10-round magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
Maximum effective range: 2,400 ft.

20. NORINCO QBU-88

Weapon type: Sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1988
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: NORINCO
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 5.8x42mm; 5.56x45mm, 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

19. Remington M24 SWS

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1987
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO; .338 Lapua Magnum, 5-round internal magazine / 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 2,624 ft.

18. H-S Precision HTR

Weapon type: Sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2000
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: H-S Precision
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, 3-, 4- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

17. Heckler & Koch HK MSG-90

Weapon type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1987
Country of origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Roller-delayed blowback; semi-automatic
Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.

16. IWI Galil Sniper (Galatz)

Weapon type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1983
Country of origin: Israel
Manufacturer: Israel Military Industries
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 20-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt
Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

15. Remington M40

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1966
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5-round integral box magazine, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Bolt-action, rotating bolt
Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.

14. NORINCO CS/LR4 (QBU-202/NSG-1)

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2012
Country of origin: China
Manufacturer: NORINCO
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft.

13. M2010 ESR

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2011
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Remington Arms Company
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .300 Winchester Magnum, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 3,935 ft.

12. Accuracy International Mk 13

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2017
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Accuracy International
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .300 Winchester Magnum, 5-round detachable magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.

11. Mk13 (SOCOM)

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2017
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Accuracy International
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .300 Winchester Magnum, 5-round detachable magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated, bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 3,940 ft.

10. Dragunov SVD

Weapon type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1963
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: Izhmash
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x54mmR Soviet, 9x54mm, 9.3x64mm Brenneke, .308 Winchester, 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; semi-automatic
Maximum effective range: 4,265 ft.

9. RAI Model 300 / Model 500 (Haskins Rifle)

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1983
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Jerry Haskins / Research Armament
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, 8.58x71mm, 4- or 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 4,265 ft.

8. Stoner SR-25

Weapon type: Sniper rifle
Year entered service: 1990
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Knights Armament
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; semi-automatic
Maximum effective range: 4,500 ft.

7. Barrett MRAD (Multi-role adaptive design)

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper
Year entered service: 2012
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .388 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 4,800 ft.

6. ORSIS T-5000

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2011
Country of origin: Russia
Manufacturer: ORSIS
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, .408 Cheytac, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.

5. Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle)

Weapon type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2013
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, 7.62x51mm NATO, 5-, 7- or 10-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.

4. Accuracy International AW50

Weapon type: Anti-materiel rifle
Year entered service: 1999
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Accuracy International
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft.

3. McMillan TAC-338

Weapon type: Sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2005
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
Caliber of ammunition and feed: .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, 5-round magazine
Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt action
Maximum effective range: 5,250 ft.

2. Barrett XM109 OSW (Objective Sniper Weapon)

Weapon type: Anti-material grenade launcher / rifle system
Year entered service: 2014
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms Manufacturing
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 25x59mm, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Semi-automatic; short recoil; magazine-fed
Maximum effective range: 6,335 ft.

1. McMillan TAC-50

Weapon type: Anti-material / sniper rifle
Year entered service: 2000
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: McMillan Tactical Products
Caliber of ammunition and feed: 12.7x99mm NATO, 5-round detachable box magazine
Firing action: Manually-operated bolt-action
Maximum effective range: 6,561 ft.