All it would take is an '06 reamer if one was inclined. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. 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. The Marine Corps clearly believed that the existing Model 1903, tuned to match grade, was a superior sniping rifle as compared to the Model 70. Carlos Hathcock receiving the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam. 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 only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. Item Number: R30701. 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. 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. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. 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. As a sniper of a modern era, I am truly amazed at what the guys were able to do using what they had at the time. Carlos Hathcock . 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. So if you are looking to own the first two Model 70's ever made then these are of interest to . It was missing a bolt part and the National Guard had designated it for "decommissioning" (a.k.a destruction). These later rifles were delivered to the US military already modified to be sniper rifles, including a heavy barrel and accurized stock. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. 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. But I never did enjoy killing anybody. Beautiful build. In some cases, Douglas barrels were fitted to the Winchester actions to attain optimum accuracy. For this operation, Carlos selected a .30-06 Winchester Model 70 mounting a Lyman 8X telescope that McAbee had fine-tuned. "White Feather" as he was called by the North Vietnamese . 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. The metal was reblued as required. Carlos Norman Hathcock II (20 May 1942 - 23 February 23 1999) was a United States Marine Corps sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. 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. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. Stretching it past 500 and reaching out to 1000, put all of us in a humbling state of mind. 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. However, where the USMC procurement brass failed to see the merits of the Model 70, the Marine Corpsmarksmendid not. Hathcock used the M40 during the Vietnam War and is credited with numerous kills, including a record-setting 2,500-meter shot. *A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. If one was to follow the change of power procedures described above, it gives an incredible latitude to the scopes use. In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. Some of the stocks were fiberglass bedded. 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. 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 .. 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. 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! The rifle is in excellent condition showing only . Hathcock passed away in 1999 at the age of 57. I was quickly brought back to reality when shooting this system. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the M2 Browning machine gun in the sniping role. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. The WWII U.S.M.C. On this occasion he used a .50 caliber Browning M2 machine gun, to which he attached his scope with a bracket he designed himself. The Model 70, which was primarily based on the Model 54, is still regarded as one of the best cars ever made. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. "The only difficulty I had with Carlos was that he'd stay out there too long. 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. This one is in 308 and came from the AMU. In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. 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. This year, H&R announced an expansion of its AR-15 lineup, bringing additional "retro" models to the market, including a 9 mm Luger-chambered Colt SMG clone, an M16A2-styled rifle and the carbine-size 723. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. Carlos Hathcock passed away on 22 nd February 1999 in Virginia from the disease that had forced retirement . 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.". 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". After ensuring his escape route was in place, he took his shot. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. Sniper historian Peter R. Senich reported: [A]ccording to firsthand accounts, a fair number of unauthorized telescope-equipped personal and Marine Corps property Model 70s brought the reality of war to Japanese combat personnel during the early stages of World War II in the South Pacific. The U.S. Army also procured a limited number of Model 70 rifles during World War II, but little is known about their subsequent utilization, and it appears they saw virtually no actual use.The end of World War II essentially spelled the end of the bolt-action as a front-line U.S. military service rifle, but its inherent accuracy was too important an attribute to totally abandon, and bolt guns enjoyed a new lease on life as sniping rifles. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. The rifles associated with American Snipers in Vietnam are. These relatively few Model 70 rifles soon became favored for their lighter weight, refined handling, and superior accuracy compared to the Springfield rifle. S. Jay Ratliff A one of a kind rifle! What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? 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. Winchester Model 70 It was long thought that Hathcock, armed with his Winchester Model 70 . The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). 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. I told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' STOCK: Walnut FINISH: Blued barrel and action, oil-finished stock LENGTH OF PULL: 13.8 in. 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. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. It is an odd scope by todays standards. These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. 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. The US government eventually purchased additional model 70s andofficially sanctioned them for combat duty. The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . Scope not included. [30] Hathcock and the seven marines he pulled from the vehicle were evacuated by helicopter to hospital ship USSRepose, then to a naval hospital in Tokyo, and ultimately to the burn center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. As part of his legacy, the gun was donated to the National Museum of the . 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. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. This effort was ultimately unsuccessful from a military procurement standpoint, but cemented the Model 70's place in USMC sniper history. 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. It was the performance of these Snipers in Vietnam that secured the sniper concept as a permanent fixture in the United States military. Note the long rear ring with the clip-slot cut in. In 2016, an armorer with the Pennsylvania National Guard contacted us regarding a .308 target rifle used by their competitive match shooters. As with Kraig's rifle above, it would have been clip-slotted and while original Win70 Target rifles came with either a Std, heavy or bull barrel, one would assume the rifles sent overseas were former target rifles that had been reworked by the 'Team armorers with new barrels. You must log in or register to reply here. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ 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. 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. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. 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). The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. Awesome to hear/see when someone has their shit together. USMC Sniper Rifles: Hands On History. Model 70 sniper rifles were used by US Marine snipers continuously from WWII, through the Vietnam War. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. Your rifle is seriously motivating me to start a new project build .metal and wood just feel so nice together. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. You sir have your shit together. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. 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. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the Wimbledon Cup shooting championship in . 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.