Military Snipers

[C Schomer]

There's a special on the History channel this week about snipers and it's awesome! 7 Mtn. time. It will probably be on again in a few months if you miss it. The Marines had a guy named Halfcock in Vietnam - his record shot was almost 1. 5 miles with a 50 cal. The show it full of stories like that. Craig

 

[QRTRHRS]

One shot, one kill.

I saw that episode too. They also had one on about the M16 that I thought interesting.

 

[NETim]

Carlos Hathcock

A warrior if there ever was one.



May he rest in peace.



Tim

 

[smartineau]

I believe his name was Carlos Hathcock. He had some 93 confirmed kills and many more unconfirmed, (I guess it is kind of difficult to go get proof of a dead guy whos is still surrounded by his living buddies).



He also held down a company of NVA, just him and his spotter. Two guys holding down an more than 150 enemy soldiers.



He was also awarded the Silver Star, he pulled a bunch of Marines out of a burning vehicle after it hit a land mine, he was injured and his combat career was over. It sucks to get hurt but getting out of the line of fire is a good thing.



He died a few years ago of some disease, his tactics and skill were still being taught at Ft. Benning GA in the mid 80's. I'm sure they are still being taught to this day, especially in the Marines.



steve

 

[Sled Puller]

What was really amazing, was most of the older snipers work was done with average weapons. Just bolt action off the shelf deer rifles.

 

[esommer2500]

Read Mr. Hathcocks book when I was 14, and wanted to be a sniper for awhile. Got a new bolt action Marlin and everything. Then I discovered sports, girls, and diesel. End of story. Still love to go shoot and hunt though.



Eric

 

[fmj]

There's two books out (maybe more) that detail Carlos expierences titled "Marine Sniper" and "Slient Warrior". Their both worth the time to read.

 

[JSmith]

I read "Marine Sniper",exellent book.

Great Marine

 

[The patriot]

Not to knock Carlos Hathcock....but

I believe Chuck Mawhinny(sp?) has more kills.

Eric

 

[Hohn]

POssible that Chuck has more kills, but Carlos has earned his legendary status. He died in 1999.



By the way, Hathcock's legendary kill was NOT with a sniper rifle. He grabbed a regular Ma Deuce and slapped that big old Unertl scope on it. Test fired it before he went on scout, then proceeded to get a confirmed kill @ 2500 yards. BTW, 1760 yards to a mile... .



LT Hohn

 

[mimprevento]

Hathcock

Carlos was from my area and for awhile before he died he would come to the gun shows with Norm Chandler who builds fine tactical rifles out of Iron Brigade Armory. As I type this I am looking at a painting he signed for me depicting him ready to take a shot in Vietnam. He trained many of the police snipers here in Tidewater and will be missed. I am just a civilian but shoot one of Col Chandlers rifles every chance I get and try to learn as much as I can from Carlos writings and videos. He truly brought sniping into the mainstream and took some of the stigma out of it that followed from the previous wars.

 

[GiesJ]

Carlos - the white feathered sniper.

I remember reading something about Vietnam and that if Carlos was killed the person would be awarded the equilivant of like 2 years salary. He wore a white feather in his cap just to make it easier to spot him. From my readings, he was a tough and honorable man.

 

[rdrose]

marines

i was station at cherry point n. c. he is well know there i think his wife is from new bern up the road a little. i met a few snipers the had a good saying, "you can run but you will only die tired" carlos was the MAN!

 

[slavallee]

I work part time at a gun shop. Springfield armory has a white feather special version of the M1-A. It's pretty bad- A$$ed but the funny thing is that Carlos never used any variant of the M-14 from what I can tell. Wasn't his favorite the remington 700, or was it the Winchester 70?

 

[WDaniels]

Carlos liked the Winchester model 70. When the Corp changed to the Remington 700 he complained bitterly because the 700 wouldn't shoot nearly as far as the model 70.

WD

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Hohn

POssible that Chuck has more kills, but Carlos has earned his legendary status. He died in 1999.



By the way, Hathcock's legendary kill was NOT with a sniper rifle. He grabbed a regular Ma Deuce and slapped that big old Unertl scope on it. Test fired it before he went on scout, then proceeded to get a confirmed kill @ 2500 yards. BTW, 1760 yards to a mile... .



LT Hohn

Yes! Carlos had some very tough missions.

I've read the book, I remember that part with the 50.

Carlos was active in the close knit sniper community after the war, I believe Chuck went to work for the forestry service in Idaho?

I dont know what branch Chuck was in, but in the Marines you have to actually stand over the body for it to be a "confirmed kill".



Eric

 

[TomGolden]

Originally posted by The patriot

... . but in the Marines you have to actually stand over the body for it to be a "confirmed kill".



Eric

Remember in "Marine Sniper" the mission he went on, where he killed the NVA (or maybe it was a VC) General in his camp, way behind enemy lines, first thing one morning, then hiked out all alone? I'll bet he didn't stand over that confirmed kill



Recently, another Viet Nam veteran Sniper (can't recall if Army or Marine) was officially credited with something like 110 kills, but Carlos is still and likely will remain the most well known Sniper in US history. Truly an American Hero of the highest caliber (no pun intended)!!!



Also, remember the kill he made against an NVA/VC sniper, then when he did go over to the body, he discovered that his bullet went right through the other sniper's rifle scope and killed him, just as the other sniper was sighting in on Carlos?? If that doesn't make you feel God's presence, nothing will.



Tom

 

[CLorox]

Marine Sniper '93 Confirmed Kills' by Charles Henderson, 1986. . One of my favorite all time books! Glad I am not the only one who was riveted by Carlos Hathcock's story. It was not quite on the 'required reading list' when I was in high school, but I did a report on it when I was a sophmore. . Almost made me join the Marines.



I was not aware of his death. .



-Adam

 

[BFC]

A canadian sniper apparently beat the distance record for a confirmed kill, it was reported at over 2800 yards in Afganistan earlier this year. Barrett(SP?) . 50 cal.



Glenn

 

[BIGDIG]

HATHCOCK!!!!!! not HALFCOCK,if my last name was Halfcock I would let the VC kill me!!! lucky his first name is not Richard.....