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What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? During his second combat tour in South Vietnam Hathcock braved a wall of flaming fuel to save seven fellow Marines from a burning AMTRAC, suffering severe burns himself during the rescue. It would be hard to find a better example of this classic Marine sniper rifle from the Vietnam War. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If one was to follow the change of power procedures described above, it gives an incredible latitude to the scopes use. Includes 10 round box magazine standard plus extra 5 round magazine, and hard case. . His previous skill as a marksman had won him a variety of matches and trophies at places like Camp Perry in Ohio. The rifle excelled in USMC sniper trials and target competitions, making it the preferred rifle of most USMC snipers. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: the . 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. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. 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. 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 .. And it was as a sniper rifle the Model 70 ultimately earned its stripes. Probably overthinking this but I like to use the "stops" at each end of the power range in this application. Gunny Hathcock's venerable Winchester could certainly tell a tale or two. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. Weaponry. Hathcock eventually picked up the hobby of shark fishing, which helped him to overcome his depression. The WWII U.S.M.C. [5], The PAVN placed a bounty of US $30,000 on Hathcock's life for killing so many of its soldiers. Adelbert F. Waldron III stacked up 113 enemies using the XM21 system. Hathcock was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic action. Van Orden would go on to author a report recommending adoption of the Model 70 for sniper use. The Korean War was the last conflict in which the World War II-vintage bolt-action M1903A1/Unertl sniper rifle was employed. Awesome to hear/see when someone has their shit together. 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". Thus, the Model 70 remained in the militarys inventory, albeit as a match rifle, until the escalation of the war in Vietnam, which resulted in a renewed emphasis on accurate sniper rifles. These scopes now used in Vietnam are the same scopes on newer rifles. Hathcock used for much of his time in Vietnam. The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06). Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects. Carlos Hathcock, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). that had been originally purchased [as] across-the course bolt guns for the National Matches. These later rifles only added to the popularity of the model 70 among US snipers. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. "WINCHESTER/-TRADE MARK-" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver rail. Receiver is engraved with likeness of Carlos Hathcock's signature, along with the White Feather logo. It was this . He lived in a rural area with his grandmother as his parents had separated. As part of his legacy, the gun was donated to the National Museum of the . [3], During the Vietnam War, Hathcock had 93 confirmed kills of People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong personnel. He and other Marines who were riding on top of the vehicle were sprayed with flaming gasoline caused by the explosion. 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. The Model 70. 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. 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. Manufactured in a wide variety of configurations and calibers, it was a favorite of many hunters, shooters and gun enthusiasts. 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. You will find the sale page with further details if you click here. USMC Sniper Rifles: Hands On History. The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54. The Model 70s also drew the attention of USMC snipers and their chief sponsor - Brigadier General George Van Orden. In addition to sniper rifles, model 70s were used extensively in marksmanship training and in match team shooting. 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. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. They were running about $800 for a nice one with rings a few years ago. Steam rose from the damp jungle mulch. This rifle has all of the characteristics of the Marine Model 70 sniper rifles issued in Vietnam c. 1966. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ 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. To avoid contributing to the prolific problem of counterfeit rare model 70s,we decline to build replica model 70s of any kind. 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. Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives. One of the distant places where Americas commitment would come to be tested was in South Vietnam. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. 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. 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. Sniper historian Peter R. Senich reported: [A]ccording to firsthand accounts, a fair number of unauthorized telescope-equipped personal and Marine Corps property Model 70s brought the reality of war to Japanese combat personnel during the early stages of World War II in the South Pacific. The U.S. Army also procured a limited number of Model 70 rifles during World War II, but little is known about their subsequent utilization, and it appears they saw virtually no actual use.The end of World War II essentially spelled the end of the bolt-action as a front-line U.S. military service rifle, but its inherent accuracy was too important an attribute to totally abandon, and bolt guns enjoyed a new lease on life as sniping rifles. 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. All of the markings are crisp. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The rifle retains nearly 95% of the original blue finish with very minor handling wear. [44] Turner Saddlery similarly honored Hathcock by producing a line of leather rifle slings based on his design. The Winchester Model 70 represented perhaps the epitome of the bolt-action sporting rifle. Eventually, there were likely thousands of model 70s in military service, with the exact number unknown. Before any official action was taken, the Marine Corps ordered 373 Model 70s chambered in .30-06 Sprg. 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. While recovering, Hathcock received the Purple Heart. 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. 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 These two historic Winchester Model 70 rifles bearing serial numbers "1" and "2" are now being offered for sale by Sportsman's Legacy. 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. who placed a bounty on him during the Vietnam War ) used primarily a Pre-64 Winchester M. During the closing stages of the war, the M1903A1/Unertl was replaced by the semi-automatic Garand M1C sniper rifle, which was soon followed by the M1D. ][21][22] He was not informed of the details of the mission until he accepted it. He did win the Wimbledon Cup with it after all. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II joined the Corps in 1959 at age 17. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. In 1975, Hathcock's health began to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His ability as a marksman was soon recognized by the instructors on the rifle range at Camp Pendleton where he was undergoing recruit training. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. [30] Hathcock and the seven marines he pulled from the vehicle were evacuated by helicopter to hospital ship USSRepose, then to a naval hospital in Tokyo, and ultimately to the burn center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Would you like to visit Winchester International? 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. He purchased a Winchester Model 70 and fitted it with a Unertl 10 power telescopic sight to test his theories. [22] As the general exited his encampment, Hathcock fired a single shot that struck the general in the chest, killing him. 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. This is yet another example of the truism that a great civilian firearm does not always equate to a great military rifle. FOLLO .more .more 2.6K Dislike Share Indian Gunner 26.3K subscribers. 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. Winchester Model 70 "standard Rifle" manufactured in 1941 with medium-heavy target barrel and "U.S.M.C.-SNIPER" Unertl telescopic sight. 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. The subject rifles are not considered suitable for general service use for the following reasons: (a) Not sufficiently sturdy;(b) Parts are not interchangeable with M1903 and M1 parts; (c) Replacement parts will be difficult to procure; (d) Not fitted with sling swivels. If you get a chance, test it out for yourself. Land told Hathcock to "put another round in her." Hathcock fired again and her body convulsed. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. Despite its excellence as a precision rifle, the Model 70 was never fully embraced by the U.S. military as a standardized sniper arm. The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR. My Hathcock tribute is based on what he considered the "ideal" rifle as discussed in his authorized biography, "White Feather". It was missing a bolt part and the National Guard had designated it for "decommissioning" (a.k.a destruction). I was quickly brought back to reality when shooting this system. During his entire career as a sniper, Carlos Hathcock used a U. S. Marines version of a Unertl precision riflescope. 50,690. These relatively few Model 70 rifles soon became favored for their lighter weight, refined handling, and superior accuracy compared to the Springfield rifle. It is used by not only sportsmen, but military and police snipers as well. Hathcock died on February 22, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, aged 56, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. 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. . OVERALL LENGTH: 44.8 in. Not only were we pleased to help supply them with the correct part, but we were more pleased to see this aging model 70 remain in active service, rather than face an inglorious ending as scrap metal. Not what he was able to get the Marine Corps to adopt. This listing is for a preowned Winchester 70 bolt action rifle chambered in 300 Win Mag with a 3+1 capacity and a 26" barrel in . But if you go by the books, everything seems right on it. He set up on a hill close to the treeline, 700 yards from where his target would be. I appreciate those pics, the rifle and the background. First rate article outlining the service of the Model 70. The rifle was already being used by Marines snipers in Vietnam. 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. Btn., 7th Marines, under young Marine Capt. Many of these were subsequently rebuilt between circa 1956 and 1963, primarily at the Marine Corps Match Rebuild Shop in Albany, Ga. 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. Beautiful build. He was the only child of Carlos and Agnes Hathcock. The M40 (wood stock R700 & Redfield) was around but he was VERY familiar with the M70 target rifle as part of the USMC Rifle Team. Hathcock generally used the standard sniper rifle: the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 caliber rifle with the standard 8-power Unertl scope. This shot covered a distance of 2500 yards. 134,606 views Dec 6, 2020 Winchester Model 70 (.30-06) rifle review in Hindi. He hunted at that early age with a .22-caliber J. C. Higgins single-shot rifle. The Complete History of Winchester Repeating Arms. Your browser is out of date and may not be able to properly display our website. 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. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Very nice work. 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. 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. His parents separated so he grew up with his grandmother in Geyer Springs, Pulaski County. Through the PX system in Okinawa, Lands NCOs bought mounts, rings and scopes. Leatherwood is etched glass. 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. But I guess I was wrong. SIGHTS: Folding rear, bead front The Winchester Model 70is abolt-actionsporting/huntingrifle. 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. 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. 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 . 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 . Marines like Carlos Hathcock proved the rifle was quite accurate and very effective. The ranging peice was plastic and many distort over the years. After returning to active duty, Hathcock helped establish the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. The checkered panels are sharp; wear is limited to scattered visible sling hardware marks near the buttplate and upper sling swivel. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. In 1967, Hathcock set the record for the longest sniper kill. If I don't get those bastards, then they're gonna kill a lot of these kids dressed up like Marines. His heroic actions were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. This rifle is illustrated and described on pages 66 and 67 of "The One Round War" by Peter Senich. Being medically discharged, he received 100 percent disability pay. 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. The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action, sporting rifle that can be used for hunting or shooting. Only thing I would add is I forgo the 6X as I dont think its precise. Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in . The value of these rifles mean that even if we did own one, we'd probably be reluctant to shoot it. 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. Carlos Hathcock accepting the Wimbledon Cup after winning the NRA National Matches. 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). 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. Those rifles were in the Winchester Marksman stocks with their wide forends and deep grips. Carlos Hathcock, in Vietnam (left) and receiving the Silver Star (right). The anodized aluminum Unertl target mounts have a blue-brown patina that is typical of these WWII production mounts. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. Hathcock remains a legend in the U.S. Marine Corps. You sir have your shit together. These rifles are not considered suitable for use as sniper rifles. 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. Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills. That is the pic. Some of the snipers now in Vietnam were not yet born when the telescopic sights they use were employed in a different war. When the need arose for more Model 70s the rifles procured by Brig. Winchester requested the Marines evaluate the rifles generally for suitability of use in combat, and specifically for use as sniper rifles. The late Marine sniper set the record in 1967 with a M-2 .50 caliber Browning machine gun.. George Van Orden and Chief Gy/Sgt. Before deploying to South Vietnam, Hathcock had won shooting championships, including matches at Camp Perry and the Wimbledon Cup. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy drew a clear line in the sand in his inaugural address. Enjoy the photos and let us know if there's a special model 70 project we can take on for you! The author says Carlos used a Model 70 Winchester with a long tube Unertl scope. Excellent. 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. 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. Accurate in every detail, enjoyed reading this. 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 . 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. These Marines were aware of the impact Hathcock's death would have and took it upon themselves to make themselves targets in order to confuse the counter-snipers. "[20] Hathcock said in a book written about his career as a sniper: "I like shooting, and I love hunting. This one is mine. Carlos Hathcock, used the rifle with remarkable effectiveness. 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. 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 left side of the barrel has the standard Winchester legend and trademark followed by: "MODEL 70-30-06 SPRG.-". Due to the extreme injuries he suffered in Vietnam, he was in nearly constant pain, but continued to dedicate himself to teaching snipers. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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 . The Model 70s began to be replaced by Remington Model 700 rifles, which were later standardized by the Marine Corps as the M40. The Model 70s 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 remarkable effectiveness. Hathcock generally used a Winchester Model 70, chambered in .30-06 and with a standard 8-power Unertl scope. They are fragile and the external rings may or may not offer as fine adjustments for windage and elevation. The serial number, "48213" is roll-stamped on the right side of the receiver below the rear sight base. 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 got that right," Hathcock said. 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. Much as I described with the duplex, the mildot gives a lot of points to hold off of without ever having to change powers. Carlos Hathcock died on February 23, 1999, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from complications resulting from multiple sclerosis. A Lyman micrometer sight base is mounted on the left side of the receiver. 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.. Carlos Hathcock holds the Marine Corps record for the longest confirmed sniper kill shot. 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. He fell into a state of depression when he was forced out of the Marines because he felt as if the service had kicked him out. [18][19], Hathcock only once removed the white feather from his bush hat while deployed in Vietnam. 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. 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. On some occasions, however, he used a different weapon: . 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. What type of rifle did Carlos Hathcock use? 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. You must log in or register to reply here. [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." [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. for his record shot. Just under 1200 yards of room if I stretch it and hills in every direction for natures perfect back stop! 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.