He set up on a hill close to the treeline, 700 yards from where his target would be. The stock is nicely figured American walnut with checkered forearm and pistol grip and has the Winchester semi-gloss varnish finish. Carlos used a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets, also used an 8-power Unertl scope. [33], Hathcock once said that he survived in his work because of an ability to "get in the bubble", to put himself into a state of "utter, complete, absolute concentration", first with his equipment, then his environment, in which every breeze and every leaf meant something, and finally on his quarry. Oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel and receiver. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front From an early age, he was fond of firearms. 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. On this occasion he used a .50 caliber Browning M2 machine gun, to which he attached his scope with a bracket he designed himself. When the need arose for more Model 70s the rifles procured by Brig. 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. Typically enemy soldiers were paid anywhere from $8 to $2,000 for taking down an American sniper. 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. Hathcock held the record for the highest bounty and killed every known Vietnamese marksman who sought him to try to collect it. The "U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903," better-known as the M1903 Springfield, has become one of the most popular U.S. military small arms to collect. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. Your rifle is seriously motivating me to start a new project build .metal and wood just feel so nice together. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. In a book I'm reading about on Carlos Hathcock, there are some pictures of him with his rifle. Note the long rear ring with the clip-slot cut in. Very nice work. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. Would you like to visit Winchester International? The U.S. Army fielded some World War II-vintage M1903A4 bolt-actions but relied primarily on the semi-automatic M1C Garand. Carlos Hathcock, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). 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.. 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. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. It is an odd scope by todays standards. [15] Hathcock and John Roland Burke, his spotter, were stalking the enemy sniper in the jungle near Hill 55, the firebase from which Hathcock was operating, southwest of Da Nang. The author says Carlos used a Model 70 Winchester with a long tube Unertl scope. for his record shot. Carlos Hathcock typically used the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered for use with 30-06 ammunition along with an eight-power Unertl scope. 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. After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. One of the distant places where Americas commitment would come to be tested was in South Vietnam. For these reasons, we regularly get inquiries about building "tribute" and "replica"USMC Sniper rifles. 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 . If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. 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 Model 70 Standard Rifles were fitted with Winchester medium-heavy target barrels in modified stocks and the Unertl telescopic sights. 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. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. 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. When I first saw the pic I assumed it was a short action. He stayed in the Marine Corps, but his health continued to decline. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. 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. Winchester requested the Marines evaluate the rifles generally for suitability of use in combat, and specifically for use as sniper rifles. 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. In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. Thanks. Land told Hathcock to "put another round in her." Hathcock fired again and her body convulsed. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. Their official role was for use in marksmanship training, but that's not where they would all end up. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! We at Winchester Repeating Arms wish to take this opportunity to salute all those who have answered our nations call to serve. The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). These rifles were subsequently used for recreation and target shooting. So if you are looking to own the first two Model 70's ever made then these are of interest to . [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. [3], During the Vietnam War, Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong personnel. 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. 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. 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. [44] Turner Saddlery similarly honored Hathcock by producing a line of leather rifle slings based on his design. Stretching it past 500 and reaching out to 1000, put all of us in a humbling state of mind. The Army's most accomplished Vietnam War sniper, Sgt. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Wi392204?hash=item465d61a98c:g:VPMAAOSwCGVX~6vg, The Snobbiest Town in The Snobbiest State in the N, https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2011/3/21/the-military-model-70/, Jim Cloward built Winchester Model 70 308 McMillan Urban Camo stock. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. 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. STOCK: Walnut FINISH: Blued barrel and action, oil-finished stock LENGTH OF PULL: 13.8 in. Agree sandwarrior there was a thread on old old hide many moons ago regarding this. The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. 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. The M40 (wood stock R700 & Redfield) was around but he was VERY familiar with the M70 target rifle as part of the USMC Rifle Team. He grew up in Wynne, Arkansas, living with his grandmother for the first 12 years of his life after his parents separated. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. I'm not. May also want to read this American Rifleman article: Thank you! I hope you don't mind but I was able to move my eyes beyond and it looks like you are fortunate to enjoy some beautiful shooting area if perhaps a bit cold. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. My Hathcock tribute. 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. Item Number: R30701. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Model 70s also drew the attention of USMC snipers and their chief sponsor - Brigadier General George Van Orden. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. Here are the features to watch out for. This is debatable. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. Previously sold. The price is set at USD$1,750,000.00. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. "[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. [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. Scope not included. But on several occasions, he turned to the M2 .50-caliber machine gun for longer . In the background is radio operator Jerry Dunomes. 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. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. The rifle has no Marine or U.S. property marks on any component. Buffalo,. Only thing I would add is I forgo the 6X as I dont think its precise. The Unertl Scope used during that time didnt have the glass clarification that we have become so accustomed to. That is without having to go with the points on a special reticle. The US government eventually purchased additional model 70s andofficially sanctioned them for combat duty. During this depression, his wife Jo nearly left him but decided to stay. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. The most well known Marine sniper of the Vietnam war has become a modern legend. 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 "Rifle, 7.62mm Sniper, M40," adopted April 7, 1966, was to serve as the foundation for USMC sniper rifles for the following four decades. 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. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. If I was you, I might look up this guy on ebay and write him and see if he has anymore of these barrels. ][21][22] He was not informed of the details of the mission until he accepted it. Officially, Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. 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. They are a little tedious to adjust but have very clear glass and a very fine cross hair recticle. 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. The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the . 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 rifle is a Winchester M70 in 30-06. 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. 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. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. The Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award is presented annually by the National Defense Industrial Association "to recognize an individual who has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted the readiness and capabilities of the U.S. military or law enforcement. [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. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Hathcock dreamed of being a Marine throughout his childhood, and so on May 20, 1959, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. [10], One of Hathcock's most famous accomplishments was shooting an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope, hitting him in the eye and killing him. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. 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. [17] However, scholars such as Jerry Lembcke have cast doubt on Hathcock's account and questioned the existence of "Apache". Which honestly looking at the barrels, I think he was probably likely telling the truth. 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. A marksman model 70 still in active use with the PA National Guard. [24][25][26][27][self-published source], After this mission, Hathcock returned to the United States in 1967. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or 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. Van Ordens rifles also enjoyed some measure of success on the target range, as Marine Col. Walter Walsh won the 1952 National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, with one of the Van Orden Snipers.. According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. Before 1.02, the M70 Tundra was named the Winchester Model 70. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. And, yes, I am extremely fortunate to have the most wonderful private range at my disposal. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. 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. 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 legendary Carlos Norman Hatchock II learned to shoot with this gun. 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. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. 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. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. Nearly 30 years later, he received a Silver Star for this action. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. One of the perennially popular Winchester firearms of the 20th century is the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. [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. 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. 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. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. sniper kill. In 1967 Gunny Carlos Hathcock set the record for the longest. The M-25 White Feather is a tribute to Carlos Hathcock who accounted for 93 confirmed enemy kills in Vietnam. We want you to receive a part which looks exactly right on your vintage rifle, or is precisely what you need to complete your custom masterpiece. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. [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." Editors note: Carlos Hathcock Born this day, May 20, 1942. . 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. That's the way I look at it. The scope tube retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with sharp markings. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. [2] Hathcock married Josephine "Jo" Bryan (ne Broughton; 19302016) on the date of the Marine Corps birthday, November 10, 1962. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. The following year Hathcock deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, where he was soon assigned sniper duties. 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. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54, itself based on a Mauser 98-type action. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. Great project. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. . There was no real reason to stay with Winchester because the Model 70s used by the Marines were not the latest production models anyway, and no advantage would be gained as far as standardization of equipment was concerned. By the late 1960s, the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifles were in the process of being phased out by the new Remington Model 700s. Carlos Hathcock receiving the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam. The scope tube is roll-stamped: "J. UNERTL/USMC-SNIPER" in two lines above the serial number "2232". His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio.
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