• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop
Rifle

The Carlos Hathcock Sniper Rifle!

May 20, 2017 by Nick Irving 4 Comments

The Carlos Hathcock Sniper Rifle!

Editors note: Carlos Hathcock Born this day, May 20, 1942

I had a chance to take a trip back in time recently and shot the Winchester Model 70 .30-06 using an 8-power Unertl scope, the same set up that the famous Carlos Hathcock used while he was in Vietnam.  I was quickly brought back to reality when shooting this system.  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.  The Unertl Scope used during that time didn’t have the glass clarification that we have become so accustomed to.  It’s almost like comparing your 1980’s television to today’s HD plasma flat screen, or VHS to Blue-ray.

The Winchester Model 70 is a bolt-action sporting/hunting rifle. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called “The Rifleman’s Rifle.”  The sniper system shoots the M72 match ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets (.30-06).  The M72 173 grain .30-06 was something that I could familiarize myself with as it is fairly similar to the M118LR.  As long as you understood the effects wind had on the projectile and understood the ballistic drop, you could do fine.  The only problem was the fact that this scope reticle did not have something that all snipers use with modern-day sniper scopes, Mil Dots.

Mil Dots give you an accurate unit of measurement and a way of compensating for gravity and wind drift.  Without them, it can be extremely tough to hold for the effects.  It is an odd scope by today’s standards. There are no internal adjustments to zero these old style Unertls. The scope adjusts with turrets integral to the rear scope mount, and the tube of the scope floats inside adjustment pins.

Using this rifle, we shot at increments of 100 yards, all the way out to 1,000 to test our modern-day sniper skills.  From 100 -500 yards, things were fairly easy to compensate.  Stretching it past 500 and reaching out to 1000, put all of us in a humbling state of mind.  I’m sure with a lot of practice and tons of time behind the rifle, it could become almost second nature, but for the time we had it, it wasn’t something to brag about.  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.

You can pick up a replica of the Unertl Scope online for an MSRP of around $550.00.  If you get a chance, test it out for yourself.

*A USMC sniper uses his Unertl scope to search for enemy snipers in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, circa 1967. NRA photo.

Share This

About the Author

Avatar

Nick Irving is a former U.S. Army Ranger with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During his service within the 75th Ranger Regiment, Nicholas served as an Assaulter, Heavy and Light Machine Gunner, and Designated Marksman.

See All Nick Irving Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Avatar

About Nick Irving

is a former U.S. Army Ranger with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During his service within the 75th Ranger Regiment, Nicholas served as an Assaulter, Heavy and Light Machine Gunner, and Designated Marksman.

Primary Sidebar

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

Find Us on Facebook

The Loadout Room

Recent Comments

  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: Astronaut uncovers relic aboard the International Space Station
  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: The right gear for chemical attacks (or for when you forget your gym bag in the trunk)
  • berniyin on Gear in the Wild: Divers work to recover bodies of lost WWII bomber crew

Tags

9mm AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AR-15 arms guide CCW concealed carry defense EDC Erik Meisner everyday carry firearms fitness GBGuns gear Glock Guns Handgun Headline loadout room LONG TAB MARSOC Military Navy Seal pistol preparation preparedness PT PT PREP Rex Nanorum Rifle Selection self defense sfas Shooting socom SOF SOF PT sofrep Special Operations SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES Survival TAG thearmsguide Training US ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

Latest From SOFREP

SOF

Anywhere, Anytime: Rearming Spec Ops Aircraft Behind Enemy Lines

Military

Protests Erupt in Israel After Veteran Sets Himself on Fire

Veteran Culture

Is College Worth It? A Marine Veteran’s Perspective

History

Paul Revere Begins His Famous Ride on April 18, 1775

© Copyright 2021 SOFREP Media Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers