Bonny Kate'' Sevier, Does Nelson Franklin Play Bass, Articles C

The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. Price: $25,000.00. At that point Jim told Carlos to take her down. . Item Number: R30701. As I remember from reading Henderson's book many moons ago, GySgt Hathcock deployed to VietNam in the '66-69 time frame. [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. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. Hathcock pulled seven Marines from the flame-engulfed vehicle, suffering severe burns (some third-degree) to his face, arms, and legs, before someone pulled him away and placed him in water because he was unaware of how badly he had been burnt. [10] When Hathcock saw a glint (light reflecting off the enemy sniper's scope) in the bushes, he fired at it, shooting through the scope and killing the sniper. "[41][42] A sniper range named for Hathcock is at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. A memo dated July 29, 1942, stated in part: Subject: Rifles, Winchester, Model 70, .30 Government 06. The reward was never collected. You can pick up a replica of the Unertl Scope online for an MSRP of around $550.00. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. 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. To avoid contributing to the prolific problem of counterfeit rare model 70s,we decline to build replica model 70s of any kind. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. STOCK: Walnut FINISH: Blued barrel and action, oil-finished stock LENGTH OF PULL: 13.8 in. S. Jay Ratliff You sir have your shit together. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. His ability as a marksman was soon recognized by the instructors on the rifle range at Camp Pendleton where he was undergoing recruit training. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. In one of his more renowned stories, Carlos Hathcock killed an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope. All of the markings are crisp. 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.. Leatherwood is etched glass. Not only were we pleased to help supply them with the correct part, but we were more pleased to see this aging model 70 remain in active service, rather than face an inglorious ending as scrap metal. 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. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. 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. Ultimately neither of these proposed rifles was ultimately adopted. One Marine who came from just such a rifle team environment and went to Vietnam, where he used a similar Model 70 for a time was Gunnery Sgt. These two historic Winchester Model 70 rifles bearing serial numbers "1" and "2" are now being offered for sale by Sportsman's Legacy. Previously sold. All Rights Reserved. The scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . 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. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. 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). [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. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. On 10 July 1969, Carlos Hathcock and Ron McAbee were providing security for convoys along Western Route 4. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. 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. Adelbert F. Waldron III stacked up 113 enemies using the XM21 system. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. 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 Model 70 was largely based on theModel 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called The Riflemans Rifle. The sniper system shoots theM72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). The bolt body is polished bright and electro-penciled with the rifle serial number "48213". Would you like to visit Winchester International? [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. WEIGHT, EMPTY: 9.5 lbs. The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front [31] He would have received only 50 percent of his final pay grade had he retired after 20 years. Thats perfect! The Model 70 Standard Rifles were fitted with Winchester medium-heavy target barrels in modified stocks and the Unertl telescopic sights. A handful of the original USMC model 70 riflessurvive to this day, and 76 years later hold enormous collector interest. He grew up in Wynne, Arkansas, living with his grandmother for the first 12 years of his life after his parents separated. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. 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. He used a M2 .50 Cal Browning machine gun mounting a telescopic sight at a range of 2,500 yd, taking down a single Vietcong guerrilla. 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. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. Hathcock put a round in her with his bolt-action Winchester Model 70 30.06 (7.62mm) rifle and she collapsed on the ground. 1942 dated receiver, with a 56 dated WRA barrel, mismatched bolt, all the metal looks like it's been refnished, and the stock has been beat to crap and then heavily sanded. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Hathcock was an excellent sharpshooter by then, winning the Wimbledon Cup shooting championship in . During trips to Mississippi, he started developing an interest in hunting and long-range shooting. 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. Very nice work. Hathcocks primary set-up was a Model 70 (pre-64), 30-06 target rifle with a heavy barrel, and Unertle 8x scope. In 1967 Gunny Carlos Hathcock set the record for the longest. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. His heroic actions were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. 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. These later rifles only added to the popularity of the model 70 among US snipers. These relatively few Model 70 rifles soon became favored for their lighter weight, refined handling, and superior accuracy compared to the Springfield rifle. 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. Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills. I had a few of those hanging around. Accurate in every detail, enjoyed reading this. 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 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 U.S. Army fielded some World War II-vintage M1903A4 bolt-actions but relied primarily on the semi-automatic M1C Garand. 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. In 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt-action rifle to the American market. For those wondering why the military did not continue using the Model 70 and abandoned it in favor of the Remington Model 700, McGuire gave a cogent synopsis of the reasoning behind this decision: [For Vietnam], the Marines wanted a bolt-action rifle with a medium-heavy barrel and a sporter stock. Hathcock is the subject of a number of books including: Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. Before 1.02, the M70 Tundra was named the Winchester Model 70. 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". His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. 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 . Land later recruited Marines who had set their own records in sharpshooting; he quickly found Hathcock, who had won the Wimbledon Cup, the most prestigious prize for long-range shooting, at Camp Perry in 1965. 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. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. Carlos Hathcock . 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. I told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' Composite stock of course. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. [23][failed verification] This effort took four days and three nights without sleep and with constant inch-by-inch crawling. The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. However, where the USMC procurement brass failed to see the merits of the Model 70, the Marine Corpsmarksmendid not. The US government eventually purchased additional model 70s andofficially sanctioned them for combat duty. Here are the features to watch out for. 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. If one was to follow the change of power procedures described above, it gives an incredible latitude to the scopes use. [44] Turner Saddlery similarly honored Hathcock by producing a line of leather rifle slings based on his design. 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. While visiting relatives in Mississippi, he took to shooting and hunting at an early age, partly out of necessity to help feed his poor family. He set up on a hill close to the treeline, 700 yards from where his target would be. A one of a kind rifle! [45] On March 9, 2007, the rifle and pistol complex at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was officially renamed the Carlos Hathcock Range Complex.[46]. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. 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. 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. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. This rifle came to us as a standard sporter rifle, with a Douglas barrel blank. 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. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . The checkered panels are sharp; wear is limited to scattered visible sling hardware marks near the buttplate and upper sling swivel. [17] However, scholars such as Jerry Lembcke have cast doubt on Hathcock's account and questioned the existence of "Apache". 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. Hathcock held the record for the highest bounty and killed every known Vietnamese marksman who sought him to try to collect it. Legendary USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock learned how to shoot on a Stevens Model 15-A. 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 . Are you at 6 or are you at 5.75 or 6.25? The rifle is pillar bedded and barrel free-floated in its original stock. It was the performance of these Snipers in Vietnam that secured the sniper concept as a permanent fixture in the United States military. Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. 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. These are some beautiful projects. 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. Walker: The First AND Only Female Medal Of Honor Recipient, Bakhmut on the Brink of Falling to Russian Troops, Decorated Navy SEAL Died in HALO Training Accident, Belarus Steps up Their Proxy War as They Befriend China, Taiwan-China SITREP: Day 2 of Chinese Incursion on Taiwanese Air Zone, A Trickle of Tanks: Europe is Slow to Deliver on Its Promise, A Look at the Unconventional Tactics Used by Western Militaries Throughout History, Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Deadly Russian Rifle Brigade Wiped Out During War in Ukraine, Your Subscription Supports our Veteran Staff. He hunted at that early age with a .22-caliber J. C. Higgins single-shot rifle. 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. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? I'm not. Awesome to hear/see when someone has their shit together. This rifle has all of the characteristics of the Marine Model 70 sniper rifles issued in Vietnam c. 1966. Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. 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. The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. Hathcock was soon a member of the USMC rifle team, and in 1965 he won the Wimbledon Cup, a 1000-yard individual match fired at the National Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. The rifle was already being used by Marines snipers in Vietnam. And it was as a sniper rifle the Model 70 ultimately earned its stripes. 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. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. I had always thought that long tube scopes were originally used a long time ago and were more or less obsolete. I got this guy for $501 delivered to my door. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. You must log in or register to reply here. [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. 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. A July 1967 American Rifleman article by Frank G. McGuire, SnipersSpecialists in Warfare, reported: The 8X telescopic sight was chosen in World War II when it was teamed with the 03 rifle. 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. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. Instead of running for the sniper, the soldiers . 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. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. The matte black LR/T weighs 19.5 ounces and is 13.5 inches in overall length. 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. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. OVERALL LENGTH: 44.8 in. Hathcock died on February 22, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, aged 56, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. To this end, Winchester sent a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps Quartermaster on July 20, 1942, indicating it had 1,944 Model 70 .30 Government 06 Rifles on hand, which we can offer you subject to prior sale., Most of these rifles had 24" barrels, but there were 105 with 20" barrels.