Ukrainian sniper sets new World Record

A Ukrainian sniper has set a new world record by striking an enemy soldier from a distance of approximately 2.36 miles, according to Defence Blog. The record-breaking shot was fired with the Horizon's Lord rifle, the capabilities of which will be detailed below.

The previous record stood at around 2.20 miles, as noted in a post by user @albanfella1 on an unspecified platform. A video was released on this platform showcasing the record-breaking shot in Ukraine. The video depicts three Russian military personnel, one of whom is struck by the shot fired from the Horizon's Lord rifle, after several seconds of bullet flight.

"This rifle and its ammunition represents a unique national project. In many regards, it holds advantages over existing sniper rifles of this type," stated Yuri Shramko, deputy of Ukrspetsexport, the company responsible for the rifle project, in 2022.

The Horizon's Lord rifle was developed in response to the requirement for a long-range weapon capable of firing bullets with flat trajectories. Resultantly, the manufacturer created not only a new rifle, but also developed new .50 caliber cartridges (12.7 x 114HL) by modifying a 14.5 x 114mm shell.

According to The Firearm Blog, using 12.7 x 114HL bullets offers numerous benefits compared to the traditional 14.5 x 114mm cartridge. Thanks to these modifications, the manufacturer established the desired attribute of flat trajectories, in addition to enhanced range, the ability to maintain energy during flight, and decreased vulnerability to wind. The muzzle velocity after a shot is fired is 3,280 feet per second.

The record-breaking Horizon's Lord rifle is a single-shot sniper weapon that is capable of firing up to eight rounds per minute. As announced by the manufacturer, the rifle weighs approximately 34.17 lbs, the barrel length is 41.34 inches, and with the stock extended, the overall length of the weapon is 71.65 inches. When the stock is folded, the rifle's length drops to 59.84 inches.