Although never adopted for combat use by the U.S. military, some Model 70 rifles were used as sniping rifles during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.Soon after Pearl Harbor, two members of the U.S. Marine Corps Equipment Board, Capt. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? He went on about five [operations] one time before I could get a fix on him. 134,606 views Dec 6, 2020 Winchester Model 70 (.30-06) rifle review in Hindi. Includes 10 round box magazine standard plus extra 5 round magazine, and hard case. The "Rifle, 7.62mm Sniper, M40," adopted April 7, 1966, was to serve as the foundation for USMC sniper rifles for the following four decades. The Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. The metal was reblued as required. An unknown number of additional Model 70s were eventually purchased for military use - both standard rifles and the marksman style target rifles. The anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts have a blue-brown patina that is typical of these WWII production mounts. If one was to follow the change of power procedures described above, it gives an incredible latitude to the scopes use. The rifle chosen was the Winchester Model 70. While visiting relatives in Mississippi, he took to shooting and hunting at an early age, partly out of necessity to help feed his poor family. The US government eventually purchased additional model 70s andofficially sanctioned them for combat duty. If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. Land later recruited Marines who had set their own records in sharpshooting; he quickly found Hathcock, who had won the Wimbledon Cup, the most prestigious prize for long-range shooting, at Camp Perry in 1965. I was quickly brought back to reality when shooting this system. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. The only downsides are that its in the foothills just on the east side of the Rockies and the Chinook winds can get up to 100mph on bad days! As part of his legacy, the gun was donated to the National Museum of the . The scope tube retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with sharp markings. [10] When Hathcock saw a glint (light reflecting off the enemy sniper's scope) in the bushes, he fired at it, shooting through the scope and killing the sniper. Unofficially and by his own estimates, Hathcock believed he killed between 300 and 400. 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.. [33], Hathcock once said that he survived in his work because of an ability to "get in the bubble", to put himself into a state of "utter, complete, absolute concentration", first with his equipment, then his environment, in which every breeze and every leaf meant something, and finally on his quarry. [38] He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. 50,690. The optics are clear. Answer (1 of 3): If my reading comprehension is still intact; going by memory I seem to recall reading that Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock ( I.E. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. Because the M25 is a big, heavy rifle, I wanted to keep scope size and weight to a minimum while still being able to maximize the .308 round. "The only difficulty I had with Carlos was that he'd stay out there too long. Composite stock of course. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. The Model 70s also drew the attention of USMC snipers and their chief sponsor - Brigadier General George Van Orden. The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . 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. These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. The rifle excelled in USMC sniper trials and target competitions, making it the preferred rifle of most USMC snipers. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. Any pictures I have seen, the stocks used overseas were more like hunting stocks. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. 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. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. Land, Jr., who served in the . The Model 70's suitability as a sniping rifle during the Vietnam War should be unquestioned, as the most famous and revered sniper of the war, Carlos Hathcock, used the rifle with. He stayed in the Marine Corps, but his health continued to decline. [2] Hathcock married Josephine "Jo" Bryan (ne Broughton; 19302016) on the date of the Marine Corps birthday, November 10, 1962. So if you are looking to own the first two Model 70's ever made then these are of interest to . It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the moniker "The Rifleman's Rifle". 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. Very nice rifle. 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. They are a little tedious to adjust but have very clear glass and a very fine cross hair recticle. I had a few of those hanging around. 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. 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. Clapp is, of course, an American Rifleman field editor today.To subscribe to the magazine,visit theNRA membership page here and selectAmerican Rifleman as your member magazine. The rifle had a likeness of Hathcock's signature and his "white feather logo" marked on the receiver. This was confirmed in McGuires article: The rifle team of the 3rd Marine Division had been using the Model 70 with the heavy barrel and the heavy Marksman stock. Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the Wimbledon Cup shooting championship in . The scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. NRA photo. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. [18][19], Hathcock only once removed the white feather from his bush hat while deployed in Vietnam. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. As I remember from reading Henderson's book many moons ago, GySgt Hathcock deployed to VietNam in the '66-69 time frame. 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. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. But if you go by the books, everything seems right on it. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. Instead of running for the sniper, the soldiers . Leatherwood is etched glass. One of the distant places where Americas commitment would come to be tested was in South Vietnam. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the M2 Browning machine gun in the sniping role. A list of modern browsers is below; simply click an icon to go to the browsers download page. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. Thats perfect! 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. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. Bolt Action Sniper Rifle with Unertl Telescopic Sight Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 70 Type: Rifle Gauge: 30-06 Barrel: 24 inch round Finish: blue Grip: Stock: walnut checkered Item Views: 13427 This is yet another example of the truism that a great civilian firearm does not always equate to a great military rifle. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. He managed to achieve an astounding kill record of 93 - including an impressive shot through an enemy sniper's scope, but it was with the M2 that he was able to take out a Vietcong soldier pushing a bicycle loaded with ammunition at . [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. During the closing stages of the war, the M1903A1/Unertl was replaced by the semi-automatic Garand M1C sniper rifle, which was soon followed by the M1D. These Marines were aware of the impact Hathcock's death would have and took it upon themselves to make themselves targets in order to confuse the counter-snipers. The rifle is pillar bedded and barrel free-floated in its original stock. You are using an out of date browser. But it's a total rebuild. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. It had a standard weight barrel as well as a clip guide milled into the receiver bridge so 5-round stripper clips could quickly and easily charge the magazine. [22] As the general exited his encampment, Hathcock fired a single shot that struck the general in the chest, killing him. The WWII U.S.M.C. April 30 marks the 41st anniversary of the fall of Saigon (since renamed Ho Chi Minh City) and the end of American military involvement in that country. But I never did enjoy killing anybody. Winchester Model 70 "standard Rifle" manufactured in 1941 with medium-heavy target barrel and "U.S.M.C.-SNIPER" Unertl telescopic sight. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Carlos Hathcock accepting the Wimbledon Cup after winning the NRA National Matches. Their official role was for use in marksmanship training, but that's not where they would all end up. There also isn't any internal adjustments to zero. The barrel is a "sendero" profile made by Bartlein and installed by Moon. OVERALL LENGTH: 44.8 in. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 70 rifle in Vietnam Marine sniper configuration with scarce and very desirable WWII Unertl "U.S.MC.-SNIPER" telescopic sight and correct anodized aluminum target mounts. Item Number: R30701. Hathcock is the subject of a number of books including: Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. [45] On March 9, 2007, the rifle and pistol complex at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was officially renamed the Carlos Hathcock Range Complex.[46]. This listing is for a preowned Winchester 70 bolt action rifle chambered in 300 Win Mag with a 3+1 capacity and a 26" barrel in . [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. His longest confirmed kill was 2500 yards. 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. You sir have your shit together. In 1975, Hathcock's health began to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Click here for more information. The company made its humble start in 1963in Gussago, Italywhen Giuseppe Pietta made a commitment to produce guns as authentic and true-to-original as possible. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. In 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt-action rifle to the American market. In 1966, the Marines determined that the M1C and M1D Garand sniper rifles lacked the accuracy required for operations in Vietnam and modified the available Model 70 target rifles and standard rifles to sniper configuration by fitting them with the 8x Unertl "USMC-SNIPER" telescopic sights mounted on the Springfield M1903A1 sniper rifles during WWII and the Korean Conflict. [15] Hathcock and John Roland Burke, his spotter, were stalking the enemy sniper in the jungle near Hill 55, the firebase from which Hathcock was operating, southwest of Da Nang. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. Calvin Lloyd, wrote a 72-page report titled Equipment for the American Sniper, which discussed the various types of rifles and telescopic sights available at the time.
