This is the general history subcom. Anything relating to history is welcome here. Doesn't have to be Marxist, though it certainly can be. So join in on the discussion and let's learn more.
I was thinking the same thing. I do believe his kill number seems extremely implausible.
Especially if you look at the data from Wikipedia: "Some of Häyhä's figures are from a Finnish Army document, counted from the beginning of the war, 30 November 1939: 22 December 1939: 138 sniper kills in 22 days 26 January 1940: 199 sniper kills (61 in 35 days) 17 February 1940: 219 sniper kills (20 in 22 days) 7 March 1940 (one day after he was wounded): total of 259 sniper kills (40 in 18 days)"
I don't think it can be known now more than 85 years after-the-fact. Byt Häyhä was a good shot with a rifle and also a squad leader issued with a submachine gun, using the Suomi KP/-31 with a firerate of 750-900 rounds a minute would rip an enemy to shreds in suitable ranges. So a combination of fact and fiction (propaganda) will lead to such a number. I personally am not sure if I believe everything they tell us.
Possibly but most of his kills were with an SMG, not a sniper rifle, so his reputation is definitely exaggerated. It's very likely he had a high kill count but there were probably a few Soviet sharpshooters from after Barbarossa who had more.