These are some beautiful projects. After his service in Vietnam, Hathcock helped establish the USMCs Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia, and he continued to pass along his hard-won knowledge to both military and law enforcement marksmen in the years that followed. S. Jay Ratliff Those rifles were in the Winchester Marksman stocks with their wide forends and deep grips. "[40] The Marine Corps League (MCL) sponsors an annual program with 12 award categories, which includes the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II Award presented "to an enlisted Marine who has made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of marksmanship training. My Navy Long Range Rifle (that I used at the Interservice Championship Long Range Match to win the 720 pictured above) started life as a Model 721 .300 H&H. It was built up by Crane in .300 Win Mag. You just need the time to figure out a firing solution with the changes you make. First rate article outlining the service of the Model 70. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. 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. My Hathcock tribute. "White Feather" as he was called by the North Vietnamese . Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. During his second combat tour in South Vietnam Hathcock braved a wall of flaming fuel to save seven fellow Marines from a burning AMTRAC, suffering severe burns himself during the rescue. All Rights Reserved. Wiley Clapp in 1965. I have a 53 heavy barreled action that needs the same treatment. 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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The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. He went on about five [operations] one time before I could get a fix on him. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. He did win the Wimbledon Cup with it after all. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the M2 Browning machine gun, on which he mounted an 8X Unertl scope, using a bracket made by metalworkers of the SeaBees. [17] However, scholars such as Jerry Lembcke have cast doubt on Hathcock's account and questioned the existence of "Apache". The rifle chosen was the Winchester Model 70. This article, "The Military Model 70," appeared originally in the April 2011 issue of American Rifleman. Hathcock's first round disabled the bicycle, the second struck the enemy soldier in the chest. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. Being medically discharged, he received 100 percent disability pay. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. 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. According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. 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. 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. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. This is yet another example of the truism that a great civilian firearm does not always equate to a great military rifle. I appreciate those pics, the rifle and the background. 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. Hathcock made a number of kills with this weapon in excess of 1,000 yards, including his record for the longest confirmed kill at 2,500 yards (since surpassed). . These relatively few Model 70 rifles soon became favored for their lighter weight, refined handling, and superior accuracy compared to the Springfield rifle. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. who placed a bounty on him during the Vietnam War ) used primarily a Pre-64 Winchester M. The Model 70, which was primarily based on the Model 54, is still regarded as one of the best cars ever made. The Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award is presented annually by the National Defense Industrial Association "to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. military or law enforcement. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. On September 16, 1969, Hathcock's career as a sniper came to a sudden end along Highway 1, north of Landing Zone Baldy, when the LVTP-5 he was riding on struck an anti-tank mine. Hathcock was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic action. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. It was long thought that Hathcock, armed with his Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle equipped with an 8-power Unertl scope, was the deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history, but that. The optics are clear. Who has the most kills in the Vietnam War? Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills. Built with glass-bedded actions and heavy barrels, and used for long-range target competition, the M70s were capable of great accuracy with the Unertl scopes. During his entire career as a sniper, Carlos Hathcock used a U. S. Marines version of a Unertl precision riflescope. [2] Hathcock married Josephine "Jo" Bryan (ne Broughton; 19302016) on the date of the Marine Corps birthday, November 10, 1962. . Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. The rifle was already being used by Marines snipers in Vietnam. Thats perfect! The serial number, "48213" is roll-stamped on the right side of the receiver below the rear sight base. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. The rifle most associated with Carlos Hathcock is the Winchester model 70 sniper rifle with an 8X-power Unertl scope. 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. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. The left side of the barrel has the standard Winchester legend and trademark followed by: "MODEL 70-30-06 SPRG.-". 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 . Ultimately neither of these proposed rifles was ultimately adopted. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. He fell into a state of depression when he was forced out of the Marines because he felt as if the service had kicked him out. There also isn't any internal adjustments to zero. With this rifle, Carlos describes killing 7 more Viet Cong soldiers and shared the 8th VC with McAbee. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. Introduced in 1936 as an improvement on the Model 54, the Model 70 soon set the standard for commercial bolt-action rifles. 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. Item Number: R30701. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. 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. While the USMC used the Model 70 to greatest advantage during this period, a limited number were also employed by Army personnel for sniping, and Model 70s with silencers mounted on them were utilized for covert operations in Southeast Asia.James O. E. Norells article A Century Of USMC Sniper Rifles (August 2007, p. 44) related some interesting information by retired USMC Maj. Edward J.Jim Land, Jr., regarding the Model 70 rifles that were used by the Marines in Vietnam circa 1966: Land first scrounged 12 Model 70 sporting rifles that had been procured by Special Services for deer hunting at Camp Pendleton. Springfield Armory designed a highly accurized version of their M1A Supermatch rifle with a McMillan Stock and match grade barrel and dubbed it the "M-25 White Feather". As I remember from reading Henderson's book many moons ago, GySgt Hathcock deployed to VietNam in the '66-69 time frame. 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. Beautiful build. Hathcock held the record for the highest bounty and killed every known Vietnamese marksman who sought him to try to collect it. It is undesirable to inject another rifle into the supply system, and if another rifle is injected into the supply system, it is necessary to inject non-standard ammunition for this rifle into the supply system in order to exploit fully any gain in accuracy. .30-06 Winchester Model 70 National Match Rifles equipped with a medium heavy barrel for use during the 1955 National Matches. The recipient of the memo replied on Feb. 7, 1955: The total number of weapons required for the 1955 Matches is 204. It has been confirmed that the U.S. Army purchased in excess of 200 Model 70 rifles between 1954 and 1959, mainly from Van Ordens firm. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? He did however adapt according to the conditions and once even used the M2 Browning machine gun! Probably overthinking this but I like to use the "stops" at each end of the power range in this application. NRA photo. I am hoping to have one built myself someday. The slings are embossed with Hathcock's signature. What many people don't realize is that the Unertl scope back in the day doesn't have glass amplification. A memo dated July 29, 1942, stated in part: Subject: Rifles, Winchester, Model 70, .30 Government 06. This is an example of a very rare post-64 "U.S. PROPERTY" marked Winchester model 70 target rifle that was manufactured in 1967, that is fitted with an even rarer "USMC PROPERTY" marked Lyman Super Targetspot rifle scope. After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. [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. Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! It might be possible it's real as it came from a Marine officer who served back then, but I don't know how you could ever prove/authenticate one unless you had a document with the serial number on it. The scope tube retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with sharp markings. In one of his more renowned stories, Carlos Hathcock killed an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope. Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. Nevertheless, Winchester Model 70s teamed with the Unertl scopes were superb sniping arms, certainly better than anything else in the militarys inventory at the time. 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. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. [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. This one is in 308 and came from the AMU. Composite stock of course. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. 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. He hunted at that early age with a .22-caliber J. C. Higgins single-shot rifle. 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 . Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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.
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