Before any official action was taken, the Marine Corps ordered 373 Model 70s chambered in .30-06 Sprg. This article, "The Military Model 70," appeared originally in the April 2011 issue of American Rifleman. This is debatable. The Unertl Scope used during that time didnt have the glass clarification that we have become so accustomed to. 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".In 1999 Shooting Times magazine named the Model 70 the "Bolt-action Rifle of the Century". 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. 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]. His longest confirmed kill was 2500 yards. We at Winchester Repeating Arms wish to take this opportunity to salute all those who have answered our nations call to serve. You sir have your shit together. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. NRA Secretary Edward J. [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. The rifle is in excellent condition showing only . 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. [22] As the general exited his encampment, Hathcock fired a single shot that struck the general in the chest, killing him. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. He sold quite a few, and claims they came from a USMC armorer. Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. 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. 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. After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in . The 1047 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 .. The WWII U.S.M.C. 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. Chief Warrant Officer Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. The rifle chosen was the Winchester Model 70. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. Nice! [38] He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. 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. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. Includes 10 round box magazine standard plus extra 5 round magazine, and hard case. 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. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. His heroic actions were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. Answer (1 of 3): If my reading comprehension is still intact; going by memory I seem to recall reading that Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock ( I.E. These rifles pop up every now and then, not often but they do show up. *A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. [17] However, scholars such as Jerry Lembcke have cast doubt on Hathcock's account and questioned the existence of "Apache". The Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. 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. At the direction of Van Orden, USMC armorers began modifying some of thesporter weight rifles, fitting them with heavy Douglas target barrels and Unertl 8X scopes. Manufactured in a wide variety of configurations and calibers, it was a favorite of many hunters, shooters and gun enthusiasts. The M-25 White Feather is a tribute to Carlos Hathcock who accounted for 93 confirmed enemy kills in Vietnam. His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. Through the PX system in Okinawa, Lands NCOs bought mounts, rings and scopes. 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.. [23][22] He missed the Marine Corps, however, and returned to Vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a platoon of snipers.[10]. Unless you plan to go humping through the boonies, the fragile nature of the old optic is not much of an issue. 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. The LR/T front focal offers an elevation range of 65-MOA and a windage range of 65-MOA. . Beautiful build. Keep an eye on the CMP Auction Site. 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. Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. Great project. Legendary USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock learned how to shoot on a Stevens Model 15-A. Btn., 7th Marines, under young Marine Capt. 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. They were running about $800 for a nice one with rings a few years ago. Known as Van Orden rifles, these model 70 sniper rifles were at last procured under the watchful eye of Brigadier General George Van Orden. Those rifles were in the Winchester Marksman stocks with their wide forends and deep grips. May also want to read this American Rifleman article: Thank you! They are a little tedious to adjust but have very clear glass and a very fine cross hair recticle. Officially, Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills. 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 receiving the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam. All Rights Reserved. During this depression, his wife Jo nearly left him but decided to stay. 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. WEIGHT, EMPTY: 9.5 lbs. 50,690. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. Editors note: Carlos Hathcock Born this day, May 20, 1942. . 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). Steam rose from the damp jungle mulch. 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. 30-06 caliber rifle equipped with an 8-power Unertl scope, was the deadliest sniper in Marine Corps history, but that title belongs to Mawhinney. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. The scope tube retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with sharp markings. 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.. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. It was missing a bolt part and the National Guard had designated it for "decommissioning" (a.k.a destruction). I'm not. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front In a book I'm reading about on Carlos Hathcock, there are some pictures of him with his rifle. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. Considered a real one but again even a cheap ($450.00) modern scope I feel is better than an original 60's era scope. AFAIK, Crane only made two of these on the 721 action. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. 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 I first saw the pic I assumed it was a short action. This is an original military issue Remington M40 sniper rifle brought back from Vietnam by a Marine officer, who later had it signed by Carlos "White Feather" Hathcock in 1992 at a Former Marine Association event. "He got that right," Hathcock said. He did however adapt according to the conditions and once even used the M2 Browning machine gun! The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. 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. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. 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. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. We should give February to Chris Kyle's favorite weapon, The Barrett M99 and Carlos Hathcock's Winchester Model 70 Sniper Rifle being as they both went on to the main rally point in February . These are some beautiful projects. [20] During a volunteer mission days before the end of his first deployment, he crawled over 1,500 yards of field to shoot a PAVN general.[who? And it was as a sniper rifle the Model 70 ultimately earned its stripes. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. 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. 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. 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. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. First rate article outlining the service of the Model 70. You are using an out of date browser. The barrel is a "sendero" profile made by Bartlein and installed by Moon. Not what he was able to get the Marine Corps to adopt. The Army's most accomplished Vietnam War sniper, Sgt. 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 told a gunny, 'Bring [him] back here.' [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. Your rifle is seriously motivating me to start a new project build .metal and wood just feel so nice together. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. The most well known Marine sniper of the Vietnam war has become a modern legend. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. Maj. Land told me that early in the war members of the sniper platoon collected contributions. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. 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. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. Born on May 20, 1942, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Hathcock took to the sport of shooting at a very young age. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. 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". Gunnery Sgt. I had a few of those hanging around. That is the pic. [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. [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]. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. The rifle would of course have to be chambered in the 458 x 1.5 Barnes cartridge. 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.
