Who has the most kills in the Vietnam War? 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. 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. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps. Winchester Model 70 It was long thought that Hathcock, armed with his Winchester Model 70 . Thanks. .30-06 Winchester Model 70 National Match Rifles equipped with a medium heavy barrel for use during the 1955 National Matches. The recipient of the memo replied on Feb. 7, 1955: The total number of weapons required for the 1955 Matches is 204. It has been confirmed that the U.S. Army purchased in excess of 200 Model 70 rifles between 1954 and 1959, mainly from Van Ordens firm. Hathcock's first round disabled the bicycle, the second struck the enemy soldier in the chest. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Keep an eye on the CMP Auction Site. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. who placed a bounty on him during the Vietnam War ) used primarily a Pre-64 Winchester M. The stock were fitted with 1 1/2-inch sling swivels. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! 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 .. Thats perfect! Includes 10 round box magazine standard plus extra 5 round magazine, and hard case. In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. 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. These marines were unwilling to leave their preferred rifle at home and carry the approved, but less accurate Springfield M1903 into battle. Only thing I would add is I forgo the 6X as I dont think its precise. He did however adapt according to the conditions and once even used the M2 Browning machine gun! If you decide that you wanted an original Unertl, they are out there and available. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! Both men served in Kilo Co., 3rd. the best known U.S. Marine Corps snipers who used the Winchester Model 70 during the Vietnam War was Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, who used a Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered in .30-06. 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. [31] He would have received only 50 percent of his final pay grade had he retired after 20 years. NRA photo. Excellent. 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. 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 Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Can't recall if they were 264 or 7mm Rem mag offhand. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. 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. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. 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. Hathcock passed away in 1999 at the age of 57. 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. Likewise, many of the 300-plus Model 70 rifles purchased by the Marine Corps during World War II remained in inventory and, except for the handful diverted for unofficial sniping use, continued to be used by Marine marksmen for match use throughout the 1950s. 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. 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.. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. It is a Model 70 National Match version made before 1940. 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. Hathcock used the M40 during the Vietnam War and is credited with numerous kills, including a record-setting 2,500-meter shot. It had a standard weight barrel as well as a clip guide milled into the receiver bridge so 5-round stripper clips could quickly and easily charge the magazine. 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. 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. Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock usually used a Winchester Model 70 in .30 .06. Decorations. This is debatable. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. You will find the sale page with further details if you click here. Carlos Hathcock, used the rifle with remarkable effectiveness. This rifle came to us as a standard sporter rifle, with a Douglas barrel blank. 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. "It was the hunt, not the killing. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. 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. for his record shot. 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. 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 fact that the guys using this rifle shot at distances exceeding 800 yards (1000+) on human sized targets, is a great accomplishment in itself. In two tours in the 1960s, he wandered through the big bad bush in the Republic of South Vietnam, and with a rifle made by Winchester, a heart made by God and a discipline made by the Marine Corps, he stalked and killed 93 of his countrys enemies.. It might be possible it's real as it came from a Marine officer who served back then, but I don't know how you could ever prove/authenticate one unless you had a document with the serial number on it. He lived in a rural area with his grandmother as his parents had separated. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. 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. He sold quite a few, and claims they came from a USMC armorer. Carlos Hathcock typically used the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered for use with 30-06 ammunition along with an eight-power Unertl scope. My Hathcock tribute. 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. sniper kill. That is without having to go with the points on a special reticle. 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). He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. It was supplied with a Redfield 3x9 mounted with Redfield base/rings. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. I appreciate those pics, the rifle and the background. Many of these were subsequently rebuilt between circa 1956 and 1963, primarily at the Marine Corps Match Rebuild Shop in Albany, Ga. JavaScript is disabled. 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. 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. Hathcock made a number of kills with this weapon in excess of 1,000 yards, including his record for the longest confirmed kill at 2,500 yards (since surpassed). The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. This was standard issue on his Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle, and he even used the same scope on the .50 cal. The scarcity of these rifles mean few of us will ever get a chance to own one. The group started running towards Hathcock and Land. Charles Henderson, in Marine Sniper, his biography of legendary Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock, tells of a 1967 incident when Hathcock, used two shots from a Browning M2 50 caliber machine gun to dispatch a Viet Cong soldier . On May 29, 1942, eager to do their part in the war effort, Winchester shipped 373 model 70 standard .30-06 rifles to the US Marine Corps. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. 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. [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." The owner had provided us with the stock already featuring a nicely aged appearance, which we maintained in the build. I am hoping to have one built myself someday. May also want to read this American Rifleman article: Thank you! 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 I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. The optics are clear. 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. 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. The Winchester Model 70 is a classic bolt action rifle and one of the most popular and well known bolt action rifles in sports shooting history. The scope adjusts with turrets integral to the rear scope mount, and the tube of the scope floats inside adjustment pins. It was this . 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. 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. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. After his service in Vietnam, Hathcock helped establish the USMCs Scout Sniper School at Quantico, Virginia, and he continued to pass along his hard-won knowledge to both military and law enforcement marksmen in the years that followed. Weaponry. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. They are fragile and the external rings may or may not offer as fine adjustments for windage and elevation. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. 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. 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. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. These are some beautiful projects. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. The M-25 White Feather is a tribute to Carlos Hathcock who accounted for 93 confirmed enemy kills in Vietnam. The medium-heavy target barrel is a post war replacement. Thanks! 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 stock is nicely figured American walnut with checkered forearm and pistol grip and has the Winchester semi-gloss varnish finish. Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift. *A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. 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". In 1975, Hathcock's health began to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. A memo dated July 29, 1942, stated in part: Subject: Rifles, Winchester, Model 70, .30 Government 06. It appears that you are accessing the Winchester Website from outside North America. "[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]. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front 50,690. 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 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. [23][22] He missed the Marine Corps, however, and returned to Vietnam in 1969, where he took command of a platoon of snipers.[10]. The rifle has no Marine or U.S. property marks on any component. Editors note: Carlos Hathcock Born this day, May 20, 1942. . Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 chambered for .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. Awesome to hear/see when someone has their shit together. Carlos Hathcock, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). Hathcock eventually picked up the hobby of shark fishing, which helped him to overcome his depression. It was advertised as missing parts. The rifle retains the original style sporter stock with checkered pistol grip and forearm and steel checkered buttplate. Maj. Land told me that early in the war members of the sniper platoon collected contributions. 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 rifle is the same as the Model 70 sniper rifle used by famed Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock near Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, in 1966. 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. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. The WWII U.S.M.C. The Model 70, which was primarily based on the Model 54, is still regarded as one of the best cars ever made. It was missing a bolt part and the National Guard had designated it for "decommissioning" (a.k.a destruction). Above, Marine rifleman Dalton Gunderson eyes the enemy through an 8X Unertl scope on top of his Special Services-procured Winchester Model 70 in Vietnam. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70.30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. Great project. 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. IIRC, Remington did this with some of their rifles at one time. [16], Hathcock stated in interviews that he killed a female Viet Cong platoon leader called "the Apache woman," with a reputation for torturing captive U.S. Marines, around the firebase at Hill 55. Scope used by Carlos Hathcock. The scope tube retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with sharp markings. This is the rifle that Gy. A Lyman micrometer sight base is mounted on the left side of the receiver. All it would take is an '06 reamer if one was inclined. 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". 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. The US government eventually purchased additional model 70s andofficially sanctioned them for combat duty. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! I did all the other work. What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. The slings are embossed with Hathcock's signature. "White Feather" as he was called by the North Vietnamese . Wiley Clapp in 1965. I have a 53 heavy barreled action that needs the same treatment. Land told Hathcock to "put another round in her." Hathcock fired again and her body convulsed. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. George Van Orden and Chief Gy/Sgt. 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 But I never did enjoy killing anybody. The matte black LR/T weighs 19.5 ounces and is 13.5 inches in overall length. Yeah it was, it was missing the an action screw and one that held on the trigger guard. 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. Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. It would be hard to find a better example of this classic Marine sniper rifle from the Vietnam War. The following year Hathcock deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, where he was soon assigned sniper duties. The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. Item Number: R30701. The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. 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. [6] The Viet Cong and PAVN called Hathcock Lng Trng, translated as "White Feather", because of the white feather he kept in a band on his bush hat. I'm not. Hathcock put a round in her with his bolt-action Winchester Model 70 30.06 (7.62mm) rifle and she collapsed on the ground. USMC Sniper Rifles: Hands On History. Carlos held the record for the longest kill for 35 years. 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. And, yes, I am extremely fortunate to have the most wonderful private range at my disposal. To avoid contributing to the prolific problem of counterfeit rare model 70s,we decline to build replica model 70s of any kind. Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition.