But I guess I was wrong. Hathcock was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic action. 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. 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. I just passed down my Win 70 .30-'06 Featherweight to the next generation. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. The Unertl telescopic sight is in excellent condition. Serial numbers were in the approximate 41,000 to 50,000 range, and the rifles had 24" sporter barrels with leaf sights, sporter-checkered stocks with steel buttplates, 1" sling swivels and leather slings.Shortly after the government acquired these rifles, Winchester reported that all .30 Government 06 Rifles are now frozen under War Production Board Limitation Orders. The company obviously wanted to sell as many of the Model 70s remaining in its inventory as possible. These later rifles were delivered to the US military already modified to be sniper rifles, including a heavy barrel and accurized stock. This rifle is illustrated and described on pages 66 and 67 of "The One Round War" by Peter Senich. Scope not included. The Marine Corps utilized Winchester Model 70 rifles in this configuration in 1966 and early 1967 as the primary sniper rifle until the adoption of the Remington Model 700 sniper rifles in mid 1967. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Beautiful build. As long as you understood the effects wind had on the projectile and understood the ballistic drop, you could do fine. The ranging peice was plastic and many distort over the years. 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. There also isn't any internal adjustments to zero. One of the distant places where Americas commitment would come to be tested was in South Vietnam. Steam rose from the damp jungle mulch. "[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. Hathcock generally used a Winchester Model 70, chambered in .30-06 and with a standard 8-power Unertl scope. It's my job. One of the perennially popular Winchester firearms of the 20th century is the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. Before any official action was taken, the Marine Corps ordered 373 Model 70s chambered in .30-06 Sprg. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. The matte black LR/T weighs 19.5 ounces and is 13.5 inches in overall length. 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". 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. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. A handful of the original USMC model 70 riflessurvive to this day, and 76 years later hold enormous collector interest. All of the markings are crisp. "It was the hunt, not the killing. The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. Interestingly, Hathcock won that prestigious trophy with a Winchester Model 70. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. The Riflemans Rifle, fitted with an 8X Unertl, was used by the military in long-range competition, then eventually by Marines in Vietnam. He used an M2 .50 Cal Browning machine gun mounted with a telescopic sight at a range of 2,500yd (2,286m), killing a Vietcong guerrilla. that had been originally purchased [as] across-the course bolt guns for the National Matches. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. Carlos Hathcock, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). This is a pretty cool thread. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. 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! 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 . Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! He and other Marines who were riding on top of the vehicle were sprayed with flaming gasoline caused by the explosion. 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 must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. 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. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. 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. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. I think the GSgt used the 10x but the 20x looks just like it. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. "He got that right," Hathcock said. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. Carlos Hathcock . [22] Hathcock said he was almost stepped on as he lay camouflaged with grass and vegetation in a meadow shortly after sunset. . This is debatable. 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 Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. 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. 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. Not what he was able to get the Marine Corps to adopt. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Specs MANUFACTURER: Winchester Repeating Arms TYPE: Bolt-action repeater CALIBER: .270 Winchester MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds BARREL: 24 in. Springfield Armory designed a highly accurized version of their M1A Supermatch rifle with a McMillan Stock and match grade barrel and dubbed it the "M-25 White Feather". "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. 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". 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. 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. His primary rifle was one of the Corps Winchester Model 70 target rifles, chambered in 30-06 and topped with an 8-power Unertl target scope in an externally adjustable mount. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt action sporting rifle. In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. Carlos Hathcock, the most celebrated US sniper in history, preferred the model 70 over a host of other rifles at his disposal, using it extensively in combat during the Vietnam war, and in Wimbledon matches at Camp Perry in the years that followed. The Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. 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. 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. The rifles inherent accuracy was ideally suited as a sniping rifle. In one of his more renowned stories, Carlos Hathcock killed an enemy sniper through the enemy's own rifle scope. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. When I first saw the pic I assumed it was a short action. Previously sold. [47] Hathcock carried a Colt M1911A1 pistol as a sidearm.[17]. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. During his entire career as a sniper, Carlos Hathcock used a U. S. Marines version of a Unertl precision riflescope. Chief Warrant Officer And, yes, I am extremely fortunate to have the most wonderful private range at my disposal. The LR/T front focal offers an elevation range of 65-MOA and a windage range of 65-MOA. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. 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. Excellent. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. 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). Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. Your rifle is seriously motivating me to start a new project build .metal and wood just feel so nice together. The U.S. Army fielded some World War II-vintage M1903A4 bolt-actions but relied primarily on the semi-automatic M1C Garand. This success led to the adoption of the .50 BMG cartridge as a viable sniper round. He lived in a rural area with his grandmother as his parents had separated. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . He would go into the woods with his dog and pretend to be a soldier and hunt imaginary Japanese soldiers with the old Mauser his father, Carlos Norman Hathcock (19191985), brought back from World War II. Adelbert F. Waldron III stacked up 113 enemies using the XM21 system. I told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' Many of these were subsequently rebuilt between circa 1956 and 1963, primarily at the Marine Corps Match Rebuild Shop in Albany, Ga. Carlos Hathcock, used the rifle with remarkable effectiveness. 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. All it would take is an '06 reamer if one was inclined. It is undesirable to inject another rifle into the supply system, and if another rifle is injected into the supply system, it is necessary to inject non-standard ammunition for this rifle into the supply system in order to exploit fully any gain in accuracy. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. 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. 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. 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. The letter, signed by Winchesters Edwin Pugsley, concluded: It occurs to us that the Marine Corps may be interested in an additional quantity of [these] rifles at this time and shall be glad to submit quotation if you will advise us what styles and quantities you may be interested in.About a week after this letter, the Marine Corps firmly closed the door on the acquisition of any additional Model 70 rifles. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. The sniper, known only as the "Cobra," had already killed several Marines and was believed to have been sent specifically to kill Hathcock. Winchester Model 70 It was long thought that Hathcock, armed with his Winchester Model 70 . 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. The Army's most accomplished Vietnam War sniper, Sgt. The Unertl Scope used during that time didnt have the glass clarification that we have become so accustomed to. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. The only sound in the sweltering stillness was the buzzing of flies and gnats as. AFAIK, Crane only made two of these on the 721 action. He did win the Wimbledon Cup with it after all. JavaScript is disabled. He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. 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. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Sgt. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. 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. This article, "The Military Model 70," appeared originally in the April 2011 issue of American Rifleman. Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills. FollowingWWII, popularity of the model 70 with Marine Corps snipers grew, eventually drawing the attention of other snipers from other branches of the military as well. 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 sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). You will find the sale page with further details if you click here. 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 most well known Marine sniper of the Vietnam war has become a modern legend. Learn more about Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II and the Winchester Model 70s service in Vietnam in these two American Rifleman articles:The Military Model 70. 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. Confrontations with North Vietnamese snipers, NRA.org/NRA National Shooting Program/ NRA National Trophies/Wimbledon Cup, Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Rifle Expert Marksmanship Badge, Marine Corps Pistol Expert Marksmanship Badge, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, List of historically notable United States Marines, "Marine Corps Sets Sights on More Precise Shooting", "The Story of Legendary Sniper Carlos Hathcock", "Etica ed estetica del cecchino nella narrativa di Nicolai Lilin", "Carlos Hathcock: Famous Marine Corps Sniper", "Ultimate Marine (Hathcock vs Mawhinney)", "Valor Awards for Carlos N. Hathcock, II", "A Quiet Man Uniquely Qualified To Stalk And Kill", "Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association Board of Governors", "2015 Marine Corps League Enlisted Awards Announcement", "Review: Springfield Armory's M-25 Whitefeather", "Range complex named after famous Vietnam sniper", Longest confirmed combat sniper-shot kill, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carlos_Hathcock&oldid=1142492093, United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War, Military personnel from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States Marine Corps non-commissioned officers, Articles with dead external links from November 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February 2019, Articles with failed verification from February 2019, Articles with self-published sources from December 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Hathcock's duel with Cobra was mentioned in the History Channel, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 18:11. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. They are fragile and the external rings may or may not offer as fine adjustments for windage and elevation. 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. Considered a real one but again even a cheap ($450.00) modern scope I feel is better than an original 60's era scope. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. The Model 70, which was primarily based on the Model 54, is still regarded as one of the best cars ever made. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Price: $25,000.00. The barrel, receiver, bolt handle, cocking piece trigger guard, and buttplate have the Winchester charcoal blue finish. Btn., 7th Marines, under young Marine Capt. I got this guy for $501 delivered to my door. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! Carlos Hathcock's sniper rifle! The optics are clear. Carlos N. Hathcock II, who won the Wimbledon. It would be hard to find a better example of this classic Marine sniper rifle from the Vietnam War. 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. It has been determined that the increased accuracy of the Model 70 Winchester is insufficient to justify its introduction into an already overburdened supply system., Although adoption of the Model 70 as a sniping arm by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army remained elusive, the rifle did enjoy some measure of quasi-military popularity throughout the mid- to late-1950s. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C.
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