←BACK TO GUNS
🇩🇪

Kar98k Sniper

Karabiner 98k with ZF39/ZF41 optics

sniperMauser / various arsenals · 1939–1945

OVERVIEW

Scoped Kar98k rifles used by German sharpshooters across all major fronts.

HISTORIAN'S COMMENTARY

Before the Storm

Introduced between 1939 and 1945, Kar98k Sniper was built by Mauser / various arsenals for Germany forces as a sniper for total war armies.

In the Field

Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser and operating by bolt-action, it offered an effective reach of about 800 meters. Crews could sustain roughly 12 rounds per minute in trained hands, carried in a 4.1 kg frame with a 5-round magazine.

Historian's Note

In practice it became a weapon of patience, observation, and single decisive shots. Historians usually remember this type for extending lethal precision deeper into the battlefield than most contemporaries.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber7.92x57mm Mauser
ActionBolt-action
Rate of Fire12 rpm
Muzzle Velocity760 m/s
Effective Range800 m
Magazine5 rounds
Weight4.1 kg
Length1110 mm

DEVELOPMENT

German sniper Kar98k rifles were selected from accurate production lots and fitted with period optics such as ZF39. Conversion depth and optic quality varied by time and issuing unit.

COMBAT HISTORY

They were employed broadly on Eastern and Western fronts for precision interdiction and counter-sniper roles. Performance depended heavily on training and visibility conditions.

NOTABLE USES

  • [01]German sniper teams in Eastern Front defensive sectors. - Kar98k Sniper was used here in squad-level engagements where handling and immediate fire effect mattered.
  • [02]Long-range engagement in hedgerow and rural terrain in the West. - This theater exposed how ammunition load, reliability, and training shaped real battlefield outcomes.
  • [03]Observation-linked precision fire against officers and crew-served weapons. - Field reports from this context show why sniper doctrine evolved during the war.

CONTINUE RESEARCH

Country + Class

Germany GUNS

Browse similar records by country and class.

Explore More

TimelineTop 8 WeaponsComparisonsBattle HubsCountry + ClassResources