The rifles associated with American Snipers in Vietnam are. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Specs MANUFACTURER: Winchester Repeating Arms TYPE: Bolt-action repeater CALIBER: .270 Winchester MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds BARREL: 24 in. These later rifles only added to the popularity of the model 70 among US snipers. The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. The metal was reblued as required. In a book I'm reading about on Carlos Hathcock, there are some pictures of him with his rifle. 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. Hathcock took possession of the dead sniper's rifle, hoping to bring it home as a "trophy", but after he turned it in and tagged it, it was stolen from the armory. 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. 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. Hathcock generally used a Winchester Model 70, chambered in .30-06 and with a standard 8-power Unertl scope. 5 Amazing Stories from Marine Corps Legend Carlos Hathcock Carlos Hathcock typically used the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered for use with 30-06 ammunition along with an eight-power Unertl scope. Stretching it past 500 and reaching out to 1000, put all of us in a humbling state of mind. [23][22] He missed the Marine Corps, however, and returned to Vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a platoon of snipers.[10]. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Wi392204?hash=item465d61a98c:g:VPMAAOSwCGVX~6vg, The Snobbiest Town in The Snobbiest State in the N, https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2011/3/21/the-military-model-70/, Jim Cloward built Winchester Model 70 308 McMillan Urban Camo stock. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. Did Carlos Hathcock really kill a sniper by shooting him in the eye We want you to receive a part which looks exactly right on your vintage rifle, or is precisely what you need to complete your custom masterpiece. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. I got this guy for $501 delivered to my door. One of the perennially popular Winchester firearms of the 20th century is the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. Hathcock put a round in her with his bolt-action Winchester Model 70 30.06 (7.62mm) rifle and she collapsed on the ground. That's the way I look at it. A limited number of 3X to 9X variable power Marine Scopes of Japanese manufacture saw early use, but target mount, 8X Unertl telescopes, unchanged basically from those first adopted in 1941, were fitted to the Model 70s as were many of the original World War II Unertl contract scopes, which had survived official obsolescence and the post-Korean War surplus sell-off. Carlos Hathcock - Interesting stories about famous people, biographies The rifle chosen was the Winchester Model 70. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. These rifles were subsequently used for recreation and target shooting. Douglas still produces the same barrel they supplied to the Marines in the early 1940s, which makes easy work of getting one key aspect of this build exactlyright. Carlos Hathcock, the most celebrated US sniper in history, preferred the model 70 over a host of other rifles at his disposal, using it extensively in combat during the Vietnam war, and in Wimbledon matches at Camp Perry in the years that followed. Carlos Hathcock receiving the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam. The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54, itself based on a Mauser 98-type action. "It was the hunt, not the killing. Composite stock of course. This article, "The Military Model 70," appeared originally in the April 2011 issue of American Rifleman. Very nice work. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. On this occasion he used a .50 caliber Browning M2 machine gun, to which he attached his scope with a bracket he designed himself. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. It would be hard to find a better example of this classic Marine sniper rifle from the Vietnam War. [2] Jo gave birth to a son, whom they named Carlos Norman Hathcock III. Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. 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. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. 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. Moscow Should Prepare For Probable US Nuclear Aggression: Reports Russian Military Journal, Destroying American Monster Abrams: Pro-Russian Group Release A How-To Video, Dr. Mary E. 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Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. Remarkably, a few remain in service to this day. From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. 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 . It is used by not only sportsmen, but military and police snipers as well. 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. In the background is radio operator Jerry Dunomes. Item Number: R30701. As I remember from reading Henderson's book many moons ago, GySgt Hathcock deployed to VietNam in the '66-69 time frame. Although suffering from severe burns to his face, trunk, and arms and legs, Staff Sergeant Hathcock assisted the injured Marines in exiting the burning vehicle and moving to a place of relative safety. Vietnam sniper shot an enemy sniper through the enemy's own scope 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. A list of modern browsers is below; simply click an icon to go to the browsers download page. Throwback Thursday: Carlos Hathcock's Stevens Model 15A Rifle It is an odd scope by todays standards. Van Ordens rifles also enjoyed some measure of success on the target range, as Marine Col. Walter Walsh won the 1952 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, with one of the Van Orden Snipers.. I think the GSgt used the 10x but the 20x looks just like it. Considered a real one but again even a cheap ($450.00) modern scope I feel is better than an original 60's era scope. How did Carlos Norman Hathcock die? - TeachersCollegesj NRA photo. This recommendation made its way up the chain of command. That is without having to go with the points on a special reticle. Winchester Model 70 Vietnam era USMC Scout-Sniper His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. [16], Hathcock stated in interviews that he killed a female Viet Cong platoon leader called "the Apache woman," with a reputation for torturing captive U.S. Marines, around the firebase at Hill 55. The rifle is a Winchester M70 in 30-06. USMC Sniper Rifles: Hands On History. Born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hathcock took to the sport of shooting at a very young age. [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. OVERALL LENGTH: 44.8 in. Winchester Model 70 - Internet Movie Firearms Database - imfdb At that point Jim told Carlos to take her down. This is a pretty cool thread. Snipers often did not have a third party present, making confirmation difficult, especially if the target was behind enemy lines, as was usually the case. [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. That is the pic. . JavaScript is disabled. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. This is yet another example of the truism that a great civilian firearm does not always equate to a great military rifle. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! Hathcock was soon a member of the USMC rifle team, and in 1965 he won the Wimbledon Cup, a 1000-yard individual match fired at the National Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Would you like to visit Winchester International? [38] He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. 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. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting rifle.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". Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. I was out yesterday trying to test a few loads at 400 yards but the wind quickly picked up to about 30 gusting 40mph and it was quickly becoming a waste of powder. [31] He would have received only 50 percent of his final pay grade had he retired after 20 years. 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. Keep an eye on the CMP Auction Site. Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. With complete disregard for his own safety and while suffering excruciating pain from his burns, he bravely ran back through the flames and exploding ammunition to ensure that no Marines had been left behind in the burning vehicle. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. What caliber rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? - Quora Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. On 10 July 1969, Carlos Hathcock and Ron McAbee were providing security for convoys along Western Route 4. WEIGHT, EMPTY: 9.5 lbs. He lived in a rural area with his grandmother as his parents had separated. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. 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 . 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. I am hoping to have one built myself someday. Nicknamed The White Feather for the small plume he wore on his boonie cap, Hathcocks incredible marksmanship skills soon struck fear in the hearts of the enemy, so much so that the Viet Cong reportedly placed a bounty of $30,000 on his head. 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. In an effort to meet every model 70 owner's needs, we are pleased to offer rifle parts which span this broad spectrum of conditions. But it's a total rebuild. And, yes, I am extremely fortunate to have the most wonderful private range at my disposal. The scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. The stock is nicely figured American walnut with checkered forearm and pistol grip and has the Winchester semi-gloss varnish finish. Carlos Hathcock used a 721 Rem w/4x Weaver scope in Viet Nam. [Archive 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. Great project. 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. But if you go by the books, everything seems right on it. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. Hathcocks primary set-up was a Model 70 (pre-64), 30-06 target rifle with a heavy barrel, and Unertle 8x scope. 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. In 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt-action rifle to the American market. Very nice rifle. These marines were unwilling to leave their preferred rifle at home and carry the approved, but less accurate Springfield M1903 into battle. In 1975, Hathcock's health began to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. The Model 70 was largely based on theModel 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called The Riflemans Rifle. The sniper system shoots theM72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). The rifle is in excellent condition showing only . It was advertised as missing parts. [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. "White Feather" as he was called by the North Vietnamese . During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. During trips to Mississippi, he started developing an interest in hunting and long-range shooting. 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. Previously sold. 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. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the Browning M2 machine gun, on which he mounted a 10X Unertl scope, using a bracket of his own design. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. What sniper rifle did Carlos hathcock use? - Answers I'm not. 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. "He got that right," Hathcock said. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Rifle: Accurate, Reliable Classic They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. They are fragile and the external rings may or may not offer as fine adjustments for windage and elevation. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. The author says Carlos used a Model 70 Winchester with a long tube Unertl scope. Any pictures I have seen, the stocks used overseas were more like hunting stocks. Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. He was honored by having a rifle named after him: a variant of the M21 dubbed the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather, for the nickname "White Feather" given to Hathcock by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. Its almost like comparing your 1980s television to todays HD plasma flat screen, or VHS to Blue-ray. Hathcock passed away in 1999 at the age of 57. But on several occasions, he turned to the M2 .50-caliber machine gun for longer . Legendary USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock learned how to shoot on a Stevens Model 15-A. 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. [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. The anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts have a blue-brown patina that is typical of these WWII production mounts. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. It has been determined that the increased accuracy of the Model 70 Winchester is insufficient to justify its introduction into an already overburdened supply system., Although adoption of the Model 70 as a sniping arm by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army remained elusive, the rifle did enjoy some measure of quasi-military popularity throughout the mid- to late-1950s. And they did see duty. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . 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 .