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Thread: A tribute to Carlos Hathcock: Examining the infamous "shot through a scope" shot...

  1. #41
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    GSgt.Carlos Hathcock was riding in an APC that struck a mine and set it on fire. He was burned over a good part of his body while pulling Marines from the wreckage. Regardless of what anyone may think of his stories, that selfless act itself makes him a great hero
    INSIDE PLAN OF BOX
    1. ROAD-RUNNER LIFTS GLASS OF WATER- PULLING UP MATCH
    2. MATCH SCRATCHES ON MATCH-BOX
    3. MATCH LIGHTS FUSE TO TNT
    4. BOOM!
    5. HA-HA!!

    -WILE E. COYOTE, AUTHOR OF "EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE, I LEARNED FROM GOLDBERG & MURPHY"

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    I am American

  2. #42
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    There is no doubt that the man is certainly a hero, that was never called into question. I'm just relaying the opinions of professionals who say that some of Gunny Hathcock's stories are not entirely plausible. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I'm just trying to offer a different side of the story.

    Just for clarification, the M2 shot he was accredited with having made was at 2500 yards. Even with a purpose built sniper rifle, hits at that range are extremely tricky to pull off. I find it hard to believe that anyone, regardless of skill, can make a machine gun fire accurately enough to hit a man at that distance with a single shot.
    Last edited by Dist. Expert 26; 05-20-11 at 10:56.
    0311
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  3. #43
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    Very interesting thread Trident. Thanks for taking the time to test it out. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Steve

  4. #44
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    One thing to remember about Carlos and his time in theater was that he was operating in an extremely target rich environment....and he specifically did "chores" for the CIA like giving a particular frenchman who was working for the NVA to help torture and "interrogate" downed American airmen a dirtnap w. a 30-06 to the dome, as well as any other mission that required the U.S.'s best sniper at that time.

    He was put in the position to be a winner far more than the avg. joe, and chose to win every damn time. That combined w. by all accounts world class shooting ability, and ice cubes in his veins, made these unbelievable sniper kill/shots possible.

    Men like Carlos don't come around too often, I don't believe in the easter bunny, santa clause, or the tooth fairy....but sure as hell believe in Carlos Hathcock
    Last edited by ALCOAR; 05-20-11 at 11:31.

  5. #45
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    great thread...thanks Trident

  6. #46
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    He did one thing that in my jugement is very unusual. He wore the white feather and became known by that name. This allowed the NVA to target him. It is my understanding that snipers are normally annomyous during their time in theater. It could be that he wore the white feather to psyche out the enemy or he could have been wanting recognition. Myself, I will credit it to the former. One thing is obvious, is that he was aware of his (rather unique) ability.

  7. #47
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    Man, I hate punditry. I would have to say that some of what occurred, particularly with the 2500yd M2 shot, has been lost to both legend and time. I have no doubt that the narrative provided in Henderson's book was somewhat embellished and incorrect on some details. Gunny Hathcock also eventually lost the ability to recall details and so legend takes over some of the realities of his exploits.

    Like others here, I had an opportunity to talk to "the Gunny" years ago (among a small group of 5 or 6 guys, not one on one). Henderson's book had just been published, so it was a popular topic of conversation. He specifically told us that the shot on the kid riding the bike was "lucky". The M2 "clicked over" right onto the bike (his description was similar to that, though I cannot remember the words he used - I believe he was referring to the T&E) and the shot knocked over the bike. The POI on the first shot allowed him to make the follow up killshot. HE put it down to luck. The shot was confirmed by his spotter AND (apparently) 2 NCO's in the patrol that collected the weapons from the road where the boy was shot (or so we were told).

    Hathcock was quiet and unassuming. The man was a walking battle scar and yet he told no "war stories" to us. He just answered our questions politely and with some obvious affection - I felt like a younger brother.

    My Scout Sniper School certificate hangs in my office - signed by Carlos Hathcock (I'm dating myself). I believe the man I met to have the utmost integrity. What he did on the battlefield went above and beyond what most of us can imagine doing. Details and distances are largely meaningless to me at this point.
    ********************
    Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway

  8. #48
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    Pictures speaks volumes, or at least they do for me....these are some of the coolest shots of Carlos while in Vietnam.

    Check out their starlight scopes....busting NVA/VC ass after dark


    Optic on a .50 cal...kinda cool if your into that sort of thing I guess



  9. #49
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    Really? Mythbusters better stick to the unmanly topics. Both of them have questionable sexuality at best.

    I just used a standard RRA chrome lined 1/9 twist middy with XM193 to make a 2" group at 225 yards (4 shots), one of them a bullseye. 9x scope, no float. Surprised the hell out of me.

    Carlos had a .30-06 bolt gun. You do the math.

  10. #50
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    Quote Originally Posted by ThirdWatcher View Post
    ... especially since he's not here to defend himself.
    I agree.

    http://www.snipercentral.com/latimes.htm
    "Real men have always needed to know what time it is so they are at the airfield on time, pumping rounds into savages at the right time, etc. Being able to see such in the dark while light weights were comfy in bed without using a light required luminous material." -Originally Posted by ramairthree

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