The most well known Marine sniper of the Vietnam war has become a modern legend. He also used on occasion a Remington M40, basically a Remington ADL Varmint 308 rifle that was produced specially for the USMC in 1965 or so. Not only were we pleased to help supply them with the correct part, but we were more pleased to see this aging model 70 remain in active service, rather than face an inglorious ending as scrap metal. Regarding, his tools of trade, Hathcock, normally operated with the Winchester Model 70, 30-06 Caliber rifle along with an 8 power scope. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The Rifleman's Rifle.". A sniper from the 1st Cavalry Division is shown in March 1951 with an M1D Garand, complete with an M81 or M82 riflescope in a Griffin & Howe mount. 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In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. During trips to Mississippi, he started developing an interest in hunting and long-range shooting. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps. It is used by not only sportsmen, but military and police snipers as well. [31] He would have received only 50 percent of his final pay grade had he retired after 20 years. You are using an out of date browser. Stretching it past 500 and reaching out to 1000, put all of us in a humbling state of mind. Hathcock's career as a sniper has been used as a basis for a variety of fictional snipers, from the "shooting through the scope incident" to the number of kills he made. But if you go by the books, everything seems right on it. When the need arose for more Model 70s the rifles procured by Brig. Gen. Van Orden, including Smiths championship-winning rifle, were shipped to Vietnam as supplemental equipment.Peter Senich gave additional details regarding the use of the Model 70 sniper rifle in Vietnam in his excellent book The One-Round War: Glass-bedded and accurized by Marine Corps Rifle Team Equipment Armorers (RTE), the Model 70s fired .30-06 M72 match ammunition having a 173-grain, boat-tailed bullet. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. *A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. They are fragile and the external rings may or may not offer as fine adjustments for windage and elevation. Both men served in Kilo Co., 3rd. Very nice work. [10], One of Hathcock's most famous accomplishments was shooting an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope, hitting him in the eye and killing him. These later rifles only added to the popularity of the model 70 among US snipers. Initially his preferred rifle was a pre 1964 (Winchester quality after this time declined) Model 70 Winchester M40 bolt action in 30-06 (he preferred the 30-06 over the, then, current 7.62x51 Nato . Regardless, the fact that there were a number of Model 1903 Marine Corps match rifles, along with spare parts, already on-hand resulted in the idea of a standardized Model 70 sniping rifle being doomed from the start.Despite the Marine Corps firm rejection of the Model 70, some of these rifles did, in fact, serve overseas in combat, albeit on an unofficial basis. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. Thats perfect! The rifle chosen was the Winchester Model 70. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. The rifle is in excellent condition showing only . 30-06 caliber rifle equipped with an 8-power Unertl scope, was the deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history, but that title belongs to Mawhinney. His longest confirmed kill was 2500 yards. However, we are happy to build tribute rifles and were very pleased torecently completea USMC sniper tribute rifle. Which honestly looking at the barrels, I think he was probably likely telling the truth. And it was as a sniper rifle the Model 70 ultimately earned its stripes. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the M2 Browning machine gun in the sniping role. This is the rifle that Gy. I hope you don't mind but I was able to move my eyes beyond and it looks like you are fortunate to enjoy some beautiful shooting area if perhaps a bit cold. In some cases, Douglas barrels were fitted to the Winchester actions to attain optimum accuracy. While the causes and conduct of that war remain a subject of great debate, an interesting aspect of the conflict is the use of the Winchester Model 70 as a precision rifle by the US forces, especially by the US Marine Corps snipers. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. You must log in or register to reply here. With this rifle, Carlos describes killing 7 more Viet Cong soldiers and shared the 8th VC with McAbee. This one is mine. Hathcock passed away in 1999 at the age of 57. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. At the direction of Van Orden, USMC armorers began modifying some of thesporter weight rifles, fitting them with heavy Douglas target barrels and Unertl 8X scopes. On May 29, 1942, eager to do their part in the war effort, Winchester shipped 373 model 70 standard .30-06 rifles to the US Marine Corps. As events transpired, the Model 70s pressed into service as sniping arms, especially during the Vietnam War, were really never meant to be more than a stop-gap or interim measure until a standardized sniper rifle could be procured. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. . Beautiful build. Model 70 sniper rifles were used by US Marine snipers continuously from WWII, through the Vietnam War. You sir have your shit together. Carlos N. Hathcock II, who won the Wimbledon. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. 134,606 views Dec 6, 2020 Winchester Model 70 (.30-06) rifle review in Hindi. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The Rifleman's Rifle." The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain . The USMC was still using the Model 70s as both target rifle for international match competition and pseudo-sniper rifle work . The subject rifles are not considered suitable for general service use for the following reasons: (a) Not sufficiently sturdy;(b) Parts are not interchangeable with M1903 and M1 parts; (c) Replacement parts will be difficult to procure; (d) Not fitted with sling swivels. [22] As the general exited his encampment, Hathcock fired a single shot that struck the general in the chest, killing him. All Rights Reserved. Serial numbers were in the approximate 41,000 to 50,000 range, and the rifles had 24" sporter barrels with leaf sights, sporter-checkered stocks with steel buttplates, 1" sling swivels and leather slings.Shortly after the government acquired these rifles, Winchester reported that all .30 Government 06 Rifles are now frozen under War Production Board Limitation Orders. The company obviously wanted to sell as many of the Model 70s remaining in its inventory as possible. Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. On 10 July 1969, Carlos Hathcock and Ron McAbee were providing security for convoys along Western Route 4. They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. [34] After the war, a friend showed Hathcock a passage written by Ernest Hemingway: "Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and like it, never really care for anything else thereafter." He sold quite a few, and claims they came from a USMC armorer. My Hathcock tribute. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? The Unertl Scope used during that time didnt have the glass clarification that we have become so accustomed to. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. While most early model 70 sniper rifles were standard rifles, modified by the Marines for sniper use, this would not be the case for subsequent Winchester rifles coming into US military service. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. The metal was reblued as required. This one is in 308 and came from the AMU. He used an M2 .50 Cal Browning machine gun mounted with a telescopic sight at a range of 2,500yd (2,286m), killing a Vietcong guerrilla. The only sound in the sweltering stillness was the buzzing of flies and gnats as. The checkered panels are sharp; wear is limited to scattered visible sling hardware marks near the buttplate and upper sling swivel. However, where the USMC procurement brass failed to see the merits of the Model 70, the Marine Corpsmarksmendid not. Click here for more information. Hathcock dreamed of being a Marine throughout his childhood, and so on May 20, 1959, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Keep an eye on the CMP Auction Site. Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in . Winchester Model 70 "standard Rifle" manufactured in 1941 with medium-heavy target barrel and "U.S.M.C.-SNIPER" Unertl telescopic sight. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. But on several occasions, he turned to the M2 .50-caliber machine gun for longer . A July 1967 American Rifleman article by Frank G. McGuire, SnipersSpecialists in Warfare, reported: The 8X telescopic sight was chosen in World War II when it was teamed with the 03 rifle. It is an odd scope by today's standards. Very nice rifle. A Lyman micrometer sight base is mounted on the left side of the receiver. The rifle has no Marine or U.S. property marks on any component. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The Rifleman's Rifle".In 1999 Shooting Times magazine named the Model 70 the "Bolt-action Rifle of the Century". The U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1C is sufficiently accurate for use by snipers in the Marine Corps.Despite this rebuff, the Marine Corps report went on to state that [the] Model 70 Winchester is the most accurate American made, Caliber .30 on the market.During this same period, the U.S. Army also considered procurement of a modified Model 70 for sniping use as reflected in a memo from the chief of ordnance dated Oct. 30, 1951, which states in part: Any further consideration of the Model 70 by the Army was rejected. The precision and reliability of the model 70's controlled-round-feed action meant a cartridge could be slowly and quietly chambered with a single hand - something which was more difficult with a push-feed action. I appreciate those pics, the rifle and the background. You are correct in that stainless cannot be blued as it is. sniper kill. The barrel is a "sendero" profile made by Bartlein and installed by Moon. Being medically discharged, he received 100 percent disability pay. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.. Are you at 6 or are you at 5.75 or 6.25? Their official role was for use in marksmanship training, but that's not where they would all end up. His primary rifle was one of the Corps Winchester Model 70 target rifles, chambered in 30-06 and topped with an 8-power Unertl target scope in an externally adjustable mount. So if you are looking to own the first two Model 70's ever made then these are of interest to . RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. Carlos Hathcock accepting the Wimbledon Cup after winning the NRA National Matches. While the war in Vietnam ushered in a number of new technologies, particularly the widespread use of helicopters and night vision equipment, much of the equipment had been tried and tested on the battlefields of earlier wars. His heroic actions were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. Carlos Norman Hathcock II (20 May 1942 - 23 February 1999) was a United States Marine Corps sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. George H. Hurt of the 3rd Marine Divisions newly formed sniper school at Da Nang, Vietnam, checked the 8X Unertl scope mounted on a Winchester Model 70. [7][8][9] After a platoon of Vietnamese snipers was sent to hunt down "White Feather", many Marines in the same area donned white feathers to deceive the enemy. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It is a Model 70 National Match version made before 1940. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. The fact that the guys using this rifle shot at distances exceeding 800 yards (1000+) on human sized targets, is a great accomplishment in itself. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. Staff Sergeant Hathcock was riding on an Assault Amphibious Vehicle which ran over and detonated an enemy anti-tank mine, disabling the vehicle which was immediately engulfed in flames. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. Unertl 8X telescopic sight has a charcoal blue finish and is fitted with anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts on Winchester bases. Two months later the Marine Corps replied to Winchester in a memo which stated: Based on the Marine Corps response, the door appeared closed to the Model 70 ever seeing use by the US military during WWII. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. Awesome to hear/see when someone has their shit together. The only problem was the fact that this scope reticle did not have something that all snipers use with modern-day sniper scopes, Mil Dots. The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. The legendary Carlos Norman Hatchock II learned to shoot with this gun. [38] He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. The WWII U.S.M.C. [24][25][26][27][self-published source], After this mission, Hathcock returned to the United States in 1967. And they did see duty. Thus, the Model 70 remained in the militarys inventory, albeit as a match rifle, until the escalation of the war in Vietnam, which resulted in a renewed emphasis on accurate sniper rifles. Officially, Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills. The Marine Corps clearly believed that the existing Model 1903, tuned to match grade, was a superior sniping rifle as compared to the Model 70. In the early 1940s, says a Marine Corps spokesman, we were advised that a Unertl 8X scope on the Winchester Model 70 was the best sniping combination, but the 03 was available in quantity, so we used it.The Model 70 rifles sent to Vietnam for use as sniping arms were from the stocks originally procured for Marine Corps match use, chiefly from George Van Orden. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. Interestingly, Hathcock won that prestigious trophy with a Winchester Model 70. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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Land told Hathcock to "put another round in her." Hathcock fired again and her body convulsed. Lacking a suitable precision rifle for issue, the Corps quickly scoured its stateside arms rooms and soon a small quantity of Model 70 target rifles were in the field in South Vietnam, taking the fight to the enemy. You just need the time to figure out a firing solution with the changes you make. In 1966, Hathcock started his deployment in the Vietnam War as a military policeman and later became a sniper after Captain Edward James Land pushed the Marines into raising snipers in every platoon. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. The report concluded that the best rifle/scope combination for use by U.S. Marine snipers was the Winchester Model 70 topped with an 8X target scope made by the Unertl Co. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70.30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. In one of his more renowned stories, Carlos Hathcock killed an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope. [2] Jo gave birth to a son, whom they named Carlos Norman Hathcock III. The rifles associated with American Snipers in Vietnam are. These are some beautiful projects. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 20, 1959--the very day he turned 17. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. In 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt-action rifle to the American market. Previously sold. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! Hathcock eventually picked up the hobby of shark fishing, which helped him to overcome his depression. From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. Van Orden had envisioned the Model 70 as the ultimate platform for a highly accurate sniper rifle, but which was light enough to be carried into battle. Through the PX system in Okinawa, Lands NCOs bought mounts, rings and scopes. A memo dated July 29, 1942, stated in part: Subject: Rifles, Winchester, Model 70, .30 Government 06. [2] Hathcock married Josephine "Jo" Bryan (ne Broughton; 19302016) on the date of the Marine Corps birthday, November 10, 1962. for his record shot. The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. Gunnery Sgt. Remarkably, a few remain in service to this day. The M-25 White Feather is a tribute to Carlos Hathcock who accounted for 93 confirmed enemy kills in Vietnam. A one of a kind rifle! Price: $25,000.00. The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). We should give February to Chris Kyle's favorite weapon, The Barrett M99 and Carlos Hathcock's Winchester Model 70 Sniper Rifle being as they both went on to the main rally point in February . This is debatable. The slings are embossed with Hathcock's signature. Hathcock used the M40 during the Vietnam War and is credited with numerous kills, including a record-setting 2,500-meter shot. Includes 10 round box magazine standard plus extra 5 round magazine, and hard case. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . The rifles were a special order spec sent from Winchester to Evaluators Limited of Triangle, VA, where they were fully accurized to meet Van Orden's detailed sniper specification. Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. This recommendation made its way up the chain of command. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. He did however adapt according to the conditions and once even used the M2 Browning machine gun! [44] Turner Saddlery similarly honored Hathcock by producing a line of leather rifle slings based on his design. Rewards put on U.S. snipers by the PAVN typically ranged from $8 to $2,000. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the Wimbledon Cup shooting championship in . It was advertised as missing parts. This effort was ultimately unsuccessful from a military procurement standpoint, but cemented the Model 70's place in USMC sniper history. [23][failed verification] This effort took four days and three nights without sleep and with constant inch-by-inch crawling. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. And thus, with regard to sniper rifles, most of the US military inventory in the mid-1960s consisted of well-worn Model 1903A4 Springfields and M1C and M1D Garands, all of which dated from WWII, or perhaps the Korean War. The U.S. Army fielded some World War II-vintage M1903A4 bolt-actions but relied primarily on the semi-automatic M1C Garand. Carlos used a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets, also used an 8-power Unertl scope. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! Hathcocks primary set-up was a Model 70 (pre-64), 30-06 target rifle with a heavy barrel, and Unertle 8x scope.