Beautiful build. Again, I would presume the heavy profile (slightly bigger than a varmint profile) was used as a compromise between multiple-round accuracy in the heat and weight, as seen in these pictures. The machine work, barrel channel and bedding were completed in our shop. 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. Just 55 days short of the 20 years that would have made him eligible for regular retirement pay, he received a permanent disability separation. Who has the most kills in the Vietnam War? In the background is radio operator Jerry Dunomes. 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. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. This was standard issue on his Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle, and he even used the same scope on the .50 cal. Hathcock generally used a Winchester Model 70, chambered in .30-06 and with a standard 8-power Unertl scope. I am hoping to have one built myself someday. Although suffering from severe burns to his face, trunk, and arms and legs, Staff Sergeant Hathcock assisted the injured Marines in exiting the burning vehicle and moving to a place of relative safety. Being medically discharged, he received 100 percent disability pay. 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. May also want to read this American Rifleman article: Thank you! The stock is in very fine condition. 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. 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. Both men served in Kilo Co., 3rd. I had a chance to take a trip back in time recently and shot the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 using an 8-powerUnertl scope, the same set up that the famous Carlos Hathcock used while he was in Vietnam. In November 1965, USMC Gy/Sgt. The ranging peice was plastic and many distort over the years. *A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . [10] When Hathcock saw a glint (light reflecting off the enemy sniper's scope) in the bushes, he fired at it, shooting through the scope and killing the 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. Pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 Specs MANUFACTURER: Winchester Repeating Arms TYPE: Bolt-action repeater CALIBER: .270 Winchester MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 5 rounds BARREL: 24 in. They were intended primarily as match rifles and were not procured for use as sniper rifles. 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. He hunted at that early age with a .22-caliber J. C. Higgins single-shot rifle. You can Cerakote the stainless barrela good artist can pretty much replicate any finish. 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. According to Winchester documents, these rifles were shipped to the Marine Corps on May 29, 1942. 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. [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. We at Winchester Repeating Arms wish to take this opportunity to salute all those who have answered our nations call to serve. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the Browning M2 machine gun, on which he mounted a 10X Unertl scope, using a bracket of his own design. For this operation, Carlos selected a .30-06 Winchester Model 70 mounting a Lyman 8X telescope that McAbee had fine-tuned. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. In an eloquent eulogy to Hathcock inThe Washington Post, staff writer Stephen Hunter said it best. Adelbert F. Waldron III stacked up 113 enemies using the XM21 system. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. Estimated Price: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000 Price Realized: Details Outstanding, Rare and Well Documented Winchester Model 70 U.S.M.C. Staff Sergeant Hathcock was riding on an Assault Amphibious Vehicle which ran over and detonated an enemy anti-tank mine, disabling the vehicle which was immediately engulfed in flames. "The only difficulty I had with Carlos was that he'd stay out there too long. 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 rifle retains the original style sporter stock with checkered pistol grip and forearm and steel checkered buttplate. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Thats perfect! These later rifles only added to the popularity of the model 70 among US snipers. "[41][42] A sniper range named for Hathcock is at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. 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! Carlos Hathcock (D. Kevin Elliott) The sun lay low in the Vietnamese sky. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front Land, Jr., who served in the . Carlos Hathcock was born on May 20, 1942, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Note the long rear ring with the clip-slot cut in. He copied Hemingway's words on a piece of paper. 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. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. That is the pic. 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]. Carlos used a Winchester Model 70 .30-06 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets, also used an 8-power Unertl scope. All it would take is an '06 reamer if one was inclined. But if you go by the books, everything seems right on it. While the USMC used the Model 70 to greatest advantage during this period, a limited number were also employed by Army personnel for sniping, and Model 70s with silencers mounted on them were utilized for covert operations in Southeast Asia.James O. E. Norells article A Century Of USMC Sniper Rifles (August 2007, p. 44) related some interesting information by retired USMC Maj. Edward J.Jim Land, Jr., regarding the Model 70 rifles that were used by the Marines in Vietnam circa 1966: Land first scrounged 12 Model 70 sporting rifles that had been procured by Special Services for deer hunting at Camp Pendleton. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. When I first saw the pic I assumed it was a short action. 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. Born in 1942, Hathcock enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 20, 1959the very day he turned 17. The USMC was still using the Model 70s as both target rifle for international match competition and pseudo-sniper rifle work . The rifle excelled in USMC sniper trials and target competitions, making it the preferred rifle of most USMC snipers. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. You just need the time to figure out a firing solution with the changes you make. In some cases, Douglas barrels were fitted to the Winchester actions to attain optimum accuracy. The group started running towards Hathcock and Land. 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. Editors note: Carlos Hathcock Born this day, May 20, 1942. . It was in this way the Winchester model 70 found its way into unauthorized sniper duty during the WWII, primarily in the Pacific Theater. I had a few of those hanging around. Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. During the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Veteran Carlos Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong personnel. Excellent. The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. He lived in a rural area with his grandmother as his parents had separated. In 1967 Gunny Carlos Hathcock set the record for the longest. It was advertised as missing parts. [32], Hathcock provided sniper instruction to police departments and select military units, such as SEAL Team Six. 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. "[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. Regarding, his tools of trade, Hathcock, normally operated with the Winchester Model 70, 30-06 Caliber rifle along with an 8 power scope. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. Great project. 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. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. 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. All of the markings are crisp. As part of his legacy, the gun was donated to the National Museum of the . The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. 134,606 views Dec 6, 2020 Winchester Model 70 (.30-06) rifle review in Hindi. Thanks! Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. Initially his preferred rifle was a pre 1964 (Winchester quality after this time declined) Model 70 Winchester M40 bolt action in 30-06 (he preferred the 30-06 over the, then, current 7.62x51 Nato . What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? [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. Keep an eye on the CMP Auction Site. But I guess I was wrong. 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. The Unertl telescopic sight is in excellent condition. I have a 53 heavy barreled action that needs the same treatment. He only used the .50 M2 on less than a dozen shots. Carlos N. Hathcock II, who won the Wimbledon. 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 Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. 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. As noted BuffaloWinter's rifle is mostly what Gunny Hathcock wanted in a rifle. It was the Marines who pressed the Winchester Model 70 into service as a sniper rifle in Vietnam. . It's my job. The bolt body is polished bright and electro-penciled with the rifle serial number "48213". Accurate in every detail, enjoyed reading this. 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". The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. The rifle is a Winchester M70 in 30-06. Known as Van Orden rifles, these model 70 sniper rifles were at last procured under the watchful eye of Brigadier General George Van Orden. From an early age, he was fond of firearms. They were mothballed after NRA changed match rules to limit service personnel to shooting service rifles. Item Number: R30701. 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. 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. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Probably overthinking this but I like to use the "stops" at each end of the power range in this application. 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. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. [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]. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. The metal finishes were done by Ken Pederson ofPederson Arms in Arlington, WA. 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 Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. 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. Hathcock was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 20, 1942. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate. 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. I had always thought that long tube scopes were originally used a long time ago and were more or less obsolete. [22] As the general exited his encampment, Hathcock fired a single shot that struck the general in the chest, killing him. Which honestly looking at the barrels, I think he was probably likely telling the truth. 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. 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. Carlos Hathcock passed away on 22 nd February 1999 in Virginia from the disease that had forced retirement . 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. Hathcock himself estimated that he had killed between 300 and 400 enemy personnel during the Vietnam War. 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. It would be hard to find a better example of this classic Marine sniper rifle from the Vietnam War. And they did see duty. Springfield Armory's M-21 and M-25 are the highest quality precision rifles built on the M-14action. The rifles associated with American Snipers in Vietnam are. I've read that the only way to do it is to first plate the barrel with a metal that will accept bluing. 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 optics are clear. 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. AFAIK, Crane only made two of these on the 721 action. Model 70 sniper rifles were used by US Marine snipers continuously from WWII, through the Vietnam War. Typically enemy soldiers were paid anywhere from $8 to $2,000 for taking down an American sniper. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. 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.. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. 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. The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Steam rose from the damp jungle mulch. sniper kill. The stock were fitted with 1 1/2-inch sling swivels. [23][failed verification] This effort took four days and three nights without sleep and with constant inch-by-inch crawling. 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. 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. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. 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 Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. Buffalo,. 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. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. One of the perennially popular Winchester firearms of the 20th century is the Model 70 bolt-action rifle. You are correct in that stainless cannot be blued as it is. 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. Hathcock's first round disabled the bicycle, the second struck the enemy soldier in the chest. The second lot of rifles used by Land and his teams in Vietnam were also Winchester Model 70 target guns in .30-06 Sprg. 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. 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 . 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.. Previously sold. [17] However, scholars such as Jerry Lembcke have cast doubt on Hathcock's account and questioned the existence of "Apache". These rifles were subsequently used for recreation and target shooting. I think the GSgt used the 10x but the 20x looks just like it. 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. Introduced in 1936 as an improvement on the Model 54, the Model 70 soon set the standard for commercial bolt-action rifles. The scope has a fine crosshair reticle and is fitted with screw-on steel lens covers. Oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel and receiver. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. The matte black LR/T weighs 19.5 ounces and is 13.5 inches in overall length. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. 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. Carlos Hathcock receiving the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam. Hathcock was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic action.

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