The following year Hathcock deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, where he was soon assigned sniper duties. Very nice rifle. These rifles were subsequently used for recreation and target shooting. Btn., 7th Marines, under young Marine Capt. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. Unofficially and by his own estimates, Hathcock believed he killed between 300 and 400. 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. I am hoping to have one built myself someday. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. George Van Orden and Chief Gy/Sgt. Typically enemy soldiers were paid anywhere from $8 to $2,000 for taking down an American sniper. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. 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. Maj. Land told me that early in the war members of the sniper platoon collected contributions. IIRC, Remington did this with some of their rifles at one time. The LR/T front focal offers an elevation range of 65-MOA and a windage range of 65-MOA. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . The medium-heavy target barrel is a post war replacement. The M-25 White Feather is a tribute to Carlos Hathcock who accounted for 93 confirmed enemy kills in Vietnam. I appreciate those pics, the rifle and the background. You will find the sale page with further details if you click here. While most early model 70 sniper rifles were standard rifles, modified by the Marines for sniper use, this would not be the case for subsequent Winchester rifles coming into US military service. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. Instead of running for the sniper, the soldiers . 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. The 1,047 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.. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. These marines were unwilling to leave their preferred rifle at home and carry the approved, but less accurate Springfield M1903 into battle. 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. The USMC was still using the Model 70s as both target rifle for international match competition and pseudo-sniper rifle work . [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." This was standard issue on his Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle, and he even used the same scope on the .50 cal. 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. The scope tube is roll-stamped: "J. UNERTL/USMC-SNIPER" in two lines above the serial number "2232". If I was you, I might look up this guy on ebay and write him and see if he has anymore of these barrels. 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. Carlos Hathcock passed away on 22 nd February 1999 in Virginia from the disease that had forced retirement . George H. Hurt of the 3rd Marine Divisions newly formed sniper school at Da Nang, Vietnam, checked the 8X Unertl scope mounted on a Winchester Model 70. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and total devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Staff Sergeant Hathcock reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[29]. The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. The fact that the guys using this rifle shot at distances exceeding 800 yards (1000+) on human sized targets, is a great accomplishment in itself. 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. [24][25][26][27][self-published source], After this mission, Hathcock returned to the United States in 1967. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. 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. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. In the early 1940s, says a Marine Corps spokesman, we were advised that a Unertl 8X scope on the Winchester Model 70 was the best sniping combination, but the 03 was available in quantity, so we used it.The Model 70 rifles sent to Vietnam for use as sniping arms were from the stocks originally procured for Marine Corps match use, chiefly from George Van Orden. 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. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. 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. Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. Considered a real one but again even a cheap ($450.00) modern scope I feel is better than an original 60's era scope. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. The scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. Gunnery Sgt. They were running about $800 for a nice one with rings a few years ago. I did all the other work. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. On 10 July 1969, Carlos Hathcock and Ron McAbee were providing security for convoys along Western Route 4. Only thing I would add is I forgo the 6X as I dont think its precise. The Army's most accomplished Vietnam War sniper, Sgt. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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. Hathcock held the record for the highest bounty and killed every known Vietnamese marksman who sought him to try to collect it. This rifle is illustrated and described on pages 66 and 67 of "The One Round War" by Peter Senich. As I remember from reading Henderson's book many moons ago, GySgt Hathcock deployed to VietNam in the '66-69 time frame. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock, II (MCSN: 1873109), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Sniper, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 September 1969. Carlos Hathcock accepting the Wimbledon Cup after winning the NRA National Matches. From the 1970's, illustrating the Monte Carlo style stocks used in this era. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. "White Feather" as he was called by the North Vietnamese . 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 got this guy for $501 delivered to my door. He went on about five [operations] one time before I could get a fix on him. Remarkably, a few remain in service to this day. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. 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. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. Before any official action was taken, the Marine Corps ordered 373 Model 70s chambered in .30-06 Sprg. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. 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. The Unertl telescopic sight is in excellent condition. That's the way I look at it. 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. 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 Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. You are correct in that stainless cannot be blued as it is. It's my job. "[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. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. Hathcock put a round in her with his bolt-action Winchester Model 70 30.06 (7.62mm) rifle and she collapsed on the ground. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. 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. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. Agree sandwarrior there was a thread on old old hide many moons ago regarding this. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. 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. After ensuring his escape route was in place, he took his shot. Interestingly, Hathcock won that prestigious trophy with a Winchester Model 70. Although never adopted for combat use by the U.S. military, some Model 70 rifles were used as sniping rifles during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.Soon after Pearl Harbor, two members of the U.S. Marine Corps Equipment Board, Capt. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. "It was the hunt, not the killing. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. The legendary Carlos Norman Hatchock II learned to shoot with this gun. 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. 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. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. One of the distant places where Americas commitment would come to be tested was in South Vietnam. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. 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. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. The rifle was already being used by Marines snipers in Vietnam. We at Winchester Repeating Arms wish to take this opportunity to salute all those who have answered our nations call to serve. This rifle came to us as a standard sporter rifle, with a Douglas barrel blank. You can pick up a replica of the Unertl Scope online for an MSRP of around $550.00. 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.
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