The Guns of American Sniper
The firearms of American Sniper — Chris Kyle's .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua precision rifles, the EOTech- and ACOG-equipped M4s and MK18, the Mk12 SPR, and his sidearms — each mapped to a current production model you can build, with the optic where it's documented. Researched from public sources; not affiliated with the film.
The most lethal sniper in American military history — the rifles behind the legend.
Updated
Quick answers
- What sniper rifle did Chris Kyle use in American Sniper?
- In the film: a McMillan TAC-338 in .338 Lapua for the longest shots, alongside a Remington 700/Mk13 in .300 Win Mag and a Mk12 SPR.
- What pistol did Chris Kyle carry in the film?
- A SIG Sauer P220 and a Springfield TRP 1911.
Pistols
- SIG Sauer P220Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)
His .45 ACP SIG sidearm from his second tour onward.
Build it: SIG Sauer P220 → — the production SIG P220 — SIG's .45 (iron-sighted, like the screen gun)
- Springfield TRPChris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)
A .45 1911 he carried his first tour, in a thigh rig.
Build it: Springfield 1911 Operator AOS → — a current optics-ready 1911 stands in for the TRP
Rifles & carbines
- Remington 700 / Mk13 (.300 Win Mag)Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)
Kyle's primary sniper rifle — a Remington 700-based .300 Win Mag, the gun behind most of his confirmed kills.
On screen: a Nightforce NXS 8-32×56.
Build it: Remington 700 SPS → — the Remington 700 in .300 Win Mag — Kyle's was the precision Mk13 build on this action
- McMillan TAC-338 (.338 Lapua)Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)
The .338 Lapua Magnum he reached out with for his longest shots.
On screen: a Nightforce scope.
Build it: McMillan TAC-338 → — Kyle's actual rifle — the production McMillan TAC-338 in .338 Lapua
- MK18 Mod 0SEAL teams
The CQB-length M4 the SEALs run — suppressed, with a holographic sight and an IR laser.
On screen: an EOTech holographic sight.
Build it: Daniel Defense MK18 → — a production MK18-pattern carbine
- M4A1 + ACOGSEAL teams
The team's M4 carbines, many wearing a magnified ACOG for the longer urban shots.
On screen: a Trijicon ACOG.
Build it: Aero Precision M4E1 → — a standard flat-top production M4
- Mk12 SPRChris Kyle (Bradley Cooper)
An 18-inch Special Purpose Rifle — Kyle's mid-range precision AR between the carbine and the bolt gun.
On screen: a magnified optic.
Build it: BCM RECCE-16 → — a production flat-top AR is the base for an SPR-style build
Build the loadout. The rifle was always the easy part.
Loadout Match is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by American Sniper (2014) or their rights holders. Firearm identifications are editorial commentary researched from public sources (IMFDB — American Sniper, PrecisionRifleBlog — American Sniper rifles); all trademarks belong to their respective owners. We use no images or dialogue from the source, and the Build‑it links go to comparable current‑production firearms — not screen‑exact replicas.