AFAIK, Crane only made two of these on the 721 action. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! These two Garand sniper rifles were the mainstay of the U.S. militarys sniper rifle inventory until the early 1960s when the United States became increasingly involved in the conflict in Southeast Asia.The Springfield M1903A1 rifle fitted with an 8X Unertl scope was the only bolt-action sniping rifle to see any substantive use in the hands of U.S. Marines during the Korean War. Carlos Hathcock . Nearly 30 years later, he received a Silver Star for this action. 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. A few Model 70 sniper rifles saw service in Korea, particularly during the Chosin Reservoir campaign-under difficult winter conditions that rendered other rifles -like the M-1A carbine -ineffective or inoperable. If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. Beautiful build. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. 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. 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. I was out yesterday trying to test a few loads at 400 yards but the wind quickly picked up to about 30 gusting 40mph and it was quickly becoming a waste of powder. Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. Lots of posts I haven't come back to as of late. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. An unknown number of additional Model 70s were eventually purchased for military use - both standard rifles and the marksman style target rifles. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. The Model 70. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. [3], During the Vietnam War, Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong personnel. Remarkably, a few remain in service to this day. [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. But I never did enjoy killing anybody. [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. 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 rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. Carlos Hathcock passed away on 22 nd February 1999 in Virginia from the disease that had forced retirement . 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. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. Their official role was for use in marksmanship training, but that's not where they would all end up. 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. 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. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . The serial number, "48213" is roll-stamped on the right side of the receiver below the rear sight base. Who has the most kills in the Vietnam War? 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. 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. [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. 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. I had always thought that long tube scopes were originally used a long time ago and were more or less obsolete. As long as you understood the effects wind had on the projectile and understood the ballistic drop, you could do fine. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. 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. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. That's the way I look at it. 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. 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. When the need arose for more Model 70s the rifles procured by Brig. The medium-heavy target barrel is a post war replacement. Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. 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 scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. "[35], Hathcock's son, Carlos Hathcock III, later enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps;[36] he retired from the Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant after following in his father's footsteps as a shooter and became a member of the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association.[37]. 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. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. The Model 70 Standard Rifles were fitted with Winchester medium-heavy target barrels in modified stocks and the Unertl telescopic sights. Scope not included. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. for his record shot. That is the pic. This rifle is illustrated and described on pages 66 and 67 of "The One Round War" by Peter Senich. In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. Hathcocks primary set-up was a Model 70 (pre-64), 30-06 target rifle with a heavy barrel, and Unertle 8x scope. 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". A one of a kind rifle! The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. Winchester Model 70 "standard Rifle" manufactured in 1941 with medium-heavy target barrel and "U.S.M.C.-SNIPER" Unertl telescopic sight. This is yet another example of the truism that a great civilian firearm does not always equate to a great military rifle. Carlos used a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets, also used an 8-power Unertl scope. 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. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. 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. It appears that you are accessing the Winchester Website from outside North America. 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. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. 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. 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". Bolt Action Sniper Rifle with Unertl Telescopic Sight Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 70 Type: Rifle Gauge: 30-06 Barrel: 24 inch round Finish: blue Grip: Stock: walnut checkered Item Views: 13427 Gen. Van Orden, including Smiths championship-winning rifle, were shipped to Vietnam as supplemental equipment.Peter Senich gave additional details regarding the use of the Model 70 sniper rifle in Vietnam in his excellent book The One-Round War: Glass-bedded and accurized by Marine Corps Rifle Team Equipment Armorers (RTE), the Model 70s fired .30-06 M72 match ammunition having a 173-grain, boat-tailed bullet. Great project. 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. I had a few of those hanging around. Click here for more information. 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. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. The rifle retains the original style sporter stock with checkered pistol grip and forearm and steel checkered buttplate. It was supplied with a Redfield 3x9 mounted with Redfield base/rings. Carlos Hathcock with his Winchester Model 70 rifle. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. 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. April 30 marks the 41st anniversary of the fall of Saigon (since renamed Ho Chi Minh City) and the end of American military involvement in that country. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. In 1967 Gunny Carlos Hathcock set the record for the longest. 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. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . 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 sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain . 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. One of the perennially popular Winchester firearms of the 20th century is the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Specs MANUFACTURER: Winchester Repeating Arms TYPE: Bolt-action repeater CALIBER: .270 Winchester MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds BARREL: 24 in. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. In some cases, Douglas barrels were fitted to the Winchester actions to attain optimum accuracy. As was the case during World War II, the Marine Corps considered procuring some Winchester Model 70 rifles for sniping use in Korea, but these results were the same as before. Head to the range this week with American Rifleman staff as they discuss a trim little repeater from Savage Arms that comes chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. If you decide that you wanted an original Unertl, they are out there and available. But I guess I was wrong. 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. 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. By the end of his first deployment Hathcock's life was worth $30,000 to the North Vietnamese . 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 metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. 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. If one was to follow the change of power procedures described above, it gives an incredible latitude to the scopes use. The metal was reblued as required. . It may not display this or other websites correctly. Hathcock's career as a sniper has been used as a basis for a variety of fictional snipers, from the "shooting through the scope incident" to the number of kills he made. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. Unertl 8X telescopic sight has a charcoal blue finish and is fitted with anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts on Winchester bases. In turn, the Winchester factory had submitted a sniper prototype of the Model 70 fitted with a 10-round detachable box magazine to the US Army back in the early 1950s. 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. This one is mine. 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 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. He stayed in the Marine Corps, but his health continued to decline. 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. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". This effort was ultimately unsuccessful from a military procurement standpoint, but cemented the Model 70's place in USMC sniper history. Probably overthinking this but I like to use the "stops" at each end of the power range in this application. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. Carlos Hathcock typically used the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered for use with 30-06 ammunition along with an eight-power Unertl scope. They were running about $800 for a nice one with rings a few years ago. The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. USMC Sniper Rifles: Hands On History. 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. 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. . 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. For these reasons, we regularly get inquiries about building "tribute" and "replica"USMC Sniper rifles. 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. The owner had provided us with the stock already featuring a nicely aged appearance, which we maintained in the build. You know it's funny how just a simple duplex reticle, like what you find in most scopes can be a real help in ranging and holding. 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 . I'm not. [47] Hathcock carried a Colt M1911A1 pistol as a sidearm.[17]. If I was you, I might look up this guy on ebay and write him and see if he has anymore of these barrels.
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