The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. He and other Marines who were riding on top of the vehicle were sprayed with flaming gasoline caused by the explosion. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The rifles associated with American Snipers in Vietnam are. The following year Hathcock deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, where he was soon assigned sniper duties. Born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hathcock took to the sport of shooting at a very young age. Nearly 30 years later, he received a Silver Star for this action. Interestingly, Hathcock won that prestigious trophy with a Winchester Model 70. He went on about five [operations] one time before I could get a fix on him. Carlos Hathcock, used the rifle with remarkable effectiveness. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 20, 1959--the very day he turned 17. This rifle came to us as a standard sporter rifle, with a Douglas barrel blank. Most of the Model 70 sniper rifles issued by the Marines to snipers in the early stage of the Vietnam War were pre-war or early WWII production Model 70 .30-06 Standard Rifles purchased during WWII. Land, Jr., who served in the . I told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' It is a Model 70 National Match version made before 1940. The most well known Marine sniper of the Vietnam war has become a modern legend. I had a chance to take a trip back in time recently and shot the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 using an 8-powerUnertl scope, the same set up that the famous Carlos Hathcock used while he was in Vietnam. The legendary Carlos Norman Hatchock II learned to shoot with this gun. He did win the Wimbledon Cup with it after all. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". The rifles inherent accuracy was ideally suited as a sniping rifle. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. It was in this way the Winchester model 70 found its way into unauthorized sniper duty during the WWII, primarily in the Pacific Theater. During trips to Mississippi, he started developing an interest in hunting and long-range shooting. 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. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. [2] Jo gave birth to a son, whom they named Carlos Norman Hathcock III. It was the performance of these Snipers in Vietnam that secured the sniper concept as a permanent fixture in the United States military. JavaScript is disabled. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. [38] He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. 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 . Although the model 70 was never officially approved for combat service during WWII, a number of Model 70s made their way into combat with USMC snipers. who placed a bounty on him during the Vietnam War ) used primarily a Pre-64 Winchester M. 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. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. Hathcock died on February 22, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, aged 56, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. You just need the time to figure out a firing solution with the changes you make. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. I have a correct 70 in my safe I have wanted to do something with but reluctant to go the Unertl route as I dont think its practical as a shooter but a cool conversation peice. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The. During his entire career as a sniper, Carlos Hathcock used a U. S. Marines version of a Unertl precision riflescope. He did however adapt according to the conditions and once even used the M2 Browning machine gun! Would you like to visit Winchester International? While the Colt Model 601 was the first AR-15 to be mass-produced, there were several design variations that came before during the platform's development. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. It was this . The rifle would of course have to be chambered in the 458 x 1.5 Barnes cartridge. It was missing a bolt part and the National Guard had designated it for "decommissioning" (a.k.a destruction). [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. .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. [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." The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. This article, "The Military Model 70," appeared originally in the April 2011 issue of American Rifleman. The Model 70. Known as Van Orden rifles, these model 70 sniper rifles were at last procured under the watchful eye of Brigadier General George Van Orden. We at Winchester Repeating Arms wish to take this opportunity to salute all those who have answered our nations call to serve. The Model 70s began to be replaced by Remington Model 700 rifles, which were later standardized by the Marine Corps as the M40. The Model 70s 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 remarkable effectiveness. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Sgt. that had been originally purchased [as] across-the course bolt guns for the National Matches. 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. Carlos Norman Hathcock II (May 20, 1942 February 22, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps (USMC) sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Carlos Hathcock accepting the Wimbledon Cup after winning the NRA National Matches. "The only difficulty I had with Carlos was that he'd stay out there too long. If I was you, I might look up this guy on ebay and write him and see if he has anymore of these barrels. The rifle most associated with Carlos Hathcock is the Winchester model 70 sniper rifle with an 8X-power Unertl scope. His ability as a marksman was soon recognized by the instructors on the rifle range at Camp Pendleton where he was undergoing recruit training. 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. 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. Additionally, the simplicity of the model 70 action permitted it to be completely field stripped in a matter of minutes, and the unmatched adjustability of the model 70 triggeralso contributed to the model 70's popularity. These marines were unwilling to leave their preferred rifle at home and carry the approved, but less accurate Springfield M1903 into battle. 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. The rifle was already being used by Marines snipers in Vietnam. But it's a total rebuild. 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. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. In 1975, Hathcock's health began to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After World War II, George Van Orden, who had authored the Marine Corps Equipment Board report in 1941 recommending adoption of the Model 70 as a sniper rifle, started a firearms business named Evaluators, Ltd. Van Orden (who had subsequently been promoted to colonel and, later, brigadier general), eventually concentrated on marketing the Van Orden Sniper, which was a Winchester Model 70 customized to the specifications of his customers.Van Orden was successful in selling the arms to many clients, including the U.S. Coast Guard, which purchased 10 of the rifles in June 1954. 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. Chief Warrant Officer After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills. 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 . Hathcock eventually picked up the hobby of shark fishing, which helped him to overcome his depression. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. Their official role was for use in marksmanship training, but that's not where they would all end up. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Are you at 6 or are you at 5.75 or 6.25? The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. The second lot of rifles used by Land and his teams in Vietnam were also Winchester Model 70 target guns in .30-06 Sprg. The medium-heavy target barrel is a post war replacement. Item Number: R30701. 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. 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. The anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts have a blue-brown patina that is typical of these WWII production mounts. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. The scope tube is roll-stamped: "J. UNERTL/USMC-SNIPER" in two lines above the serial number "2232". "[41][42] A sniper range named for Hathcock is at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. A marksman model 70 still in active use with the PA National Guard. Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! The bolt body is polished bright and electro-penciled with the rifle serial number "48213". If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. Ultimately neither of these proposed rifles was ultimately adopted. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. The Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. 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. This is the rifle that Gy. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Specs MANUFACTURER: Winchester Repeating Arms TYPE: Bolt-action repeater CALIBER: .270 Winchester MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds BARREL: 24 in. All of the markings are crisp. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. 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. The owner had provided us with the stock already featuring a nicely aged appearance, which we maintained in the build. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. It was supplied with a Redfield 3x9 mounted with Redfield base/rings. After ensuring his escape route was in place, he took his shot. [43] In 2002, this record was broken by Canadian snipers (Rob Furlong and Arron Perry) from the third battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry during the War in Afghanistan. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. These two Garand sniper rifles were the mainstay of the U.S. militarys sniper rifle inventory until the early 1960s when the United States became increasingly involved in the conflict in Southeast Asia.The Springfield M1903A1 rifle fitted with an 8X Unertl scope was the only bolt-action sniping rifle to see any substantive use in the hands of U.S. Marines during the Korean War. 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.. In 2016, an armorer with the Pennsylvania National Guard contacted us regarding a .308 target rifle used by their competitive match shooters. NRA Secretary Edward J. The 1047 rifles, U.S., caliber .30, M1903, Snipers Equipment on hand at this Depot are believed to be superior to the subject rifle both in accuracy and durability .. Price: $25,000.00. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. Which honestly looking at the barrels, I think he was probably likely telling the truth. But I guess I was wrong. The letter, signed by Winchesters Edwin Pugsley, concluded: It occurs to us that the Marine Corps may be interested in an additional quantity of [these] rifles at this time and shall be glad to submit quotation if you will advise us what styles and quantities you may be interested in.About a week after this letter, the Marine Corps firmly closed the door on the acquisition of any additional Model 70 rifles. 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. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. I just passed down my Win 70 .30-'06 Featherweight to the next generation. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. The reward was never collected. A one of a kind rifle! You will find the sale page with further details if you click here. The group started running towards Hathcock and Land. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. During this depression, his wife Jo nearly left him but decided to stay. May also want to read this American Rifleman article: Thank you! Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. This rebuild work varied but generally consisted of replacing the original sporter barrels with heavier 24" or 26" barrels and replacing the stocks as necessary, often with new target stocks procured from Winchester. 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". Here are the features to watch out for. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Army's most accomplished Vietnam War sniper, Sgt. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. However, where the USMC procurement brass failed to see the merits of the Model 70, the Marine Corpsmarksmendid not. Any pictures I have seen, the stocks used overseas were more like hunting stocks. I was quickly brought back to reality when shooting this system. Those rifles were in the Winchester Marksman stocks with their wide forends and deep grips. But on several occasions, he turned to the M2 .50-caliber machine gun for longer . [6] The Viet Cong and PAVN called Hathcock Lng Trng, translated as "White Feather", because of the white feather he kept in a band on his bush hat. 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. The checkered panels are sharp; wear is limited to scattered visible sling hardware marks near the buttplate and upper sling swivel. Winchester Model 70 It was long thought that Hathcock, armed with his Winchester Model 70 . 50,690. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. FollowingWWII, popularity of the model 70 with Marine Corps snipers grew, eventually drawing the attention of other snipers from other branches of the military as well. 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. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . [5], The PAVN placed a bounty of US $30,000 on Hathcock's life for killing so many of its soldiers. Before any official action was taken, the Marine Corps ordered 373 Model 70s chambered in .30-06 Sprg. Gunnery Sgt. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. Likewise, many of the 300-plus Model 70 rifles purchased by the Marine Corps during World War II remained in inventory and, except for the handful diverted for unofficial sniping use, continued to be used by Marine marksmen for match use throughout the 1950s. 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. For these reasons, we regularly get inquiries about building "tribute" and "replica"USMC Sniper rifles. These relatively few Model 70 rifles soon became favored for their lighter weight, refined handling, and superior accuracy compared to the Springfield rifle. 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". Charles Henderson, in Marine Sniper, his biography of legendary Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock, tells of a 1967 incident when Hathcock, used two shots from a Browning M2 50 caliber machine gun to dispatch a Viet Cong soldier . Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in . The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. When the need arose for more Model 70s the rifles procured by Brig. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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I did all the other work. 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. The serial number, "48213" is roll-stamped on the right side of the receiver below the rear sight base. The LR/T front focal offers an elevation range of 65-MOA and a windage range of 65-MOA. The rifle has no Marine or U.S. property marks on any component. 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. He stayed in the Marine Corps, but his health continued to decline. A list of modern browsers is below; simply click an icon to go to the browsers download page. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. You sir have your shit together. Winchester requested the Marines evaluate the rifles generally for suitability of use in combat, and specifically for use as sniper rifles. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. . ][21][22] He was not informed of the details of the mission until he accepted it. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. S. Jay Ratliff sniper kill. The most notable person to use the Model 70 was legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock in Vietnam, his rifle was chambered in .30-06 Sprinfield and his rifle is on display at the Quantico, Virginia Marine Corps Sniper Museum. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . From the 1970's, illustrating the Monte Carlo style stocks used in this era. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers.