Carlos Hathcock typically used the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered for use with 30-06 ammunition along with an eight-power Unertl scope. The success of the Model 70 on the rifle range attracted renewed interest from the U.S. Army as evidenced by a Feb. 2, 1955, memo from the Office of the Chief of Ordnance to the Chief of Army Field Forces, which stated: It is requested that this office be furnished [with] your comments and recommendations relative to procurement of cal. Again, I would presume the heavy profile (slightly bigger than a varmint profile) was used as a compromise between multiple-round accuracy in the heat and weight, as seen in these pictures. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. [2] At one point he was nearly bitten by a bamboo viper, but had the presence of mind to avoid moving and giving up his position. It was supplied with a Redfield 3x9 mounted with Redfield base/rings. It is a Model 70 National Match version made before 1940. Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. 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 Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . The LR/T front focal offers an elevation range of 65-MOA and a windage range of 65-MOA. It is used by not only sportsmen, but military and police snipers as well. 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. You sir have your shit together. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. 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. Not what he was able to get the Marine Corps to adopt. A 1951 U.S. Marine Corps report on the subject categorically rejected the procurement of any new Model 70 sniper rifles: There is no Marine Corps requirement for a special rifle for use by snipers in the Marine Corps. 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. Both men served in Kilo Co., 3rd. Btn., 7th Marines, under young Marine Capt. [24][25][26][27][self-published source], After this mission, Hathcock returned to the United States in 1967. 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. 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's sniper rifle! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The rifle excelled in USMC sniper trials and target competitions, making it the preferred rifle of most USMC snipers. The rifle retains the original style sporter stock with checkered pistol grip and forearm and steel checkered buttplate. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the M2 Browning machine gun in the sniping role. 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. They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . Item Number: R30701. 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. [4] In the Vietnam War, kills had to be confirmed by the sniper's spotter and a third party, who had to be an officer. 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. According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. 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. "[35], Hathcock's son, Carlos Hathcock III, later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps;[36] he retired from the Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant after following in his father's footsteps as a shooter and became a member of the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association.[37]. Beautiful build. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . If I was you, I might look up this guy on ebay and write him and see if he has anymore of these barrels. There also isn't any internal adjustments to zero. Are you at 6 or are you at 5.75 or 6.25? On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . And they did see duty. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. Model 70 sniper rifles were used by US Marine snipers continuously from WWII, through the Vietnam War. 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. This recommendation made its way up the chain of command. US Army Ordnance (Retired), Please note, comments must be approved before they are published, These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. Steam rose from the damp jungle mulch. The owner had provided us with the stock already featuring a nicely aged appearance, which we maintained in the build. 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. Considered a real one but again even a cheap ($450.00) modern scope I feel is better than an original 60's era scope. I told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' I had always thought that long tube scopes were originally used a long time ago and were more or less obsolete. 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. "It was the hunt, not the killing. The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. On May 20th, 1959, at 17 years of age, Carlos N. Hathcock II fulfilled his childhood dream by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. A handful of the original USMC model 70 riflessurvive to this day, and 76 years later hold enormous collector interest. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. . 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. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. 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 . As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. This rifle came to us as a standard sporter rifle, with a Douglas barrel blank. The rifle had a likeness of Hathcock's signature and his "white feather logo" marked on the receiver. These marines were unwilling to leave their preferred rifle at home and carry the approved, but less accurate Springfield M1903 into battle. Rewards put on U.S. snipers by the PAVN typically ranged from $8 to $2,000. But I never did enjoy killing anybody. 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. During this depression, his wife Jo nearly left him but decided to stay. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. 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. Maj. Land told me that early in the war members of the sniper platoon collected contributions. He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. It was the performance of these Snipers in Vietnam that secured the sniper concept as a permanent fixture in the United States military. The legendary Carlos Norman Hatchock II learned to shoot with this gun. Officially, Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills. When I first saw the pic I assumed it was a short action. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. The left side of the barrel has the standard Winchester legend and trademark followed by: "MODEL 70-30-06 SPRG.-". . Adopting the Winchester Model 70 as the ideal Marine sniper rifle was a concept that had been floated by the Corps tactical marksmanship experts as far back as the early 1940s. Thanks! For these reasons, we regularly get inquiries about building "tribute" and "replica"USMC Sniper rifles. 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. From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. Carlos used a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets, also used an 8-power Unertl scope. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. This is the rifle that Gy. 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! He and other Marines who were riding on top of the vehicle were sprayed with flaming gasoline caused by the explosion. After ensuring his escape route was in place, he took his shot. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. This effort was ultimately unsuccessful from a military procurement standpoint, but cemented the Model 70's place in USMC sniper history. 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, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). "[40] The Marine Corps League (MCL) sponsors an annual program with 12 award categories, which includes the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. 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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. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". 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. WEIGHT, EMPTY: 9.5 lbs. AFAIK, Crane only made two of these on the 721 action. 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. 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. 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. [23][failed verification] This effort took four days and three nights without sleep and with constant inch-by-inch crawling. You know it's funny how just a simple duplex reticle, like what you find in most scopes can be a real help in ranging and holding. 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 .