Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “M40 Sniper Rifle - A Vietnam War Icon” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/m40-sniper-rifle/.
America's Bolt Action in Vietnam
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
One of the best purchases I ever made, was buying an Iron Brigade Armory Chandler M40 Sniper Rifle in the early 2000's. It was hand built by an U.S.M.C. MOS 2112 Armor. I will never be able to get the most out of this rifle like an experienced military trained sniper would. It's a true 1,000 yard .308 rifle. Guaranteed 1/2 MOA or better accuracy out of box, using match ammunition. It's not a light weight rifle, weighing in at 17 pounds unloaded.
Daddy was NRT (Navy Rifle Team). I was raised shooting rifles from the age of six (1962). I have always favored a bot-action .30-'06. The 150-155 grain Sierra Spitzers have always been a winner. Accomplished marksmen can pick the eyes out of a squirrel's eye at 800 yards. (My daddy was especially adept at this.)
"Short actions" aren't that darned special.
"Short actions" aren't that darned special.
4th Horseman
Operator
I was one of the designated snipers on our department SWAT team. Our rifles were the bull barrel Remington 700's in .308 and .223. Still very accurate.
I understand why the US Armed Forces abandoned the .30-'06 in 1957, but the '06 had the reach. Daddy hunted with a self-loading Remington with a 22" barrel fitted with a Leupold Gold Ring scope until he passed in September of 1975.
I learned at the knees of the very best.
Those were, indeed, the days brother.
Retired Bum
Professional
Same here, bedded, and a 2 lb trigger that broke like glass rod. Remington made some sweet shooters!
Anchorite
Professional
Although a lot of folks use Remington 700 bolt action rifles and think they are great, I’d take a Winchester M70 any day over the Remington 700, and twice over on Saturday and Sundays.
Let me explain the advantages a Winchester Model 70 has:
* Reciever is about 3 times stiffer.
* Longer and better shaped bolt handle; makes operation easier when a
scope's mounted.
* More reliable feeding from the magazine.
* Magazine holds one more round; five total.
* Firing pin assembly easily removed from bolt without tools.
* `Safer' safety; the firing pin is locked, not the trigger.
* More reliable extractor; less prone to breaking. Can be replaced
without a special tool; use a paper clip or even a mechanical pencil.
* Flat sides and bottom parts hold bedding more consistant promoting
better accuracy.
* Tang is very solid; won't bend from over torquing the rear stock screw.
* Thicker recoil lug that's intregal with reciever; won't bend forward
when really heavy loads are used.
* Typically better accuracy in calibers larger than .270.
* Stock less likely to split near trigger should rear stock screw be
tightened too much.
* Less case rim damage from extractor during loading or unloading; makes
cases easier to put in shell holder for reloading.
* Easier to rebarrel; no extra parts to line up as the barrel's screwed in.
IYKYK.
Let me explain the advantages a Winchester Model 70 has:
* Reciever is about 3 times stiffer.
* Longer and better shaped bolt handle; makes operation easier when a
scope's mounted.
* More reliable feeding from the magazine.
* Magazine holds one more round; five total.
* Firing pin assembly easily removed from bolt without tools.
* `Safer' safety; the firing pin is locked, not the trigger.
* More reliable extractor; less prone to breaking. Can be replaced
without a special tool; use a paper clip or even a mechanical pencil.
* Flat sides and bottom parts hold bedding more consistant promoting
better accuracy.
* Tang is very solid; won't bend from over torquing the rear stock screw.
* Thicker recoil lug that's intregal with reciever; won't bend forward
when really heavy loads are used.
* Typically better accuracy in calibers larger than .270.
* Stock less likely to split near trigger should rear stock screw be
tightened too much.
* Less case rim damage from extractor during loading or unloading; makes
cases easier to put in shell holder for reloading.
* Easier to rebarrel; no extra parts to line up as the barrel's screwed in.
IYKYK.
Talyn
Emissary
During my HB .308 building era I built up three rifles, one on a M70 action & the last two on Rem700 actions.
They all shoot fine.
The M70 project was a bit more problematic due to the lower aftermarket support for the M70 compared to the M700's.
The difference between the two M700's was I went with a M16 extractor on one, and the other was a stock M700 extractor.
That being said and being a very long time M700 owner/operator I've never had any of the issues outlined above on any M700.
I have one other HB .308 M700 VLS but it's all stock aside from a trigger change. No issues with it either.
My .02
They all shoot fine.
The M70 project was a bit more problematic due to the lower aftermarket support for the M70 compared to the M700's.
The difference between the two M700's was I went with a M16 extractor on one, and the other was a stock M700 extractor.
That being said and being a very long time M700 owner/operator I've never had any of the issues outlined above on any M700.
I have one other HB .308 M700 VLS but it's all stock aside from a trigger change. No issues with it either.
My .02
4th Horseman
Operator
Sounds like we have a bunch of real gunners here, kudos. I do like the Winchesters also, especially the .270, but unfortunately, you have to use the tools the department supplies. I could still put two .223 rounds inside a nickel at 100 yards back in the way back machine.
Retired Bum
Professional
We trained around the magic triangle to put a target down on a single shot. Frontal shots through the brain stem were considered to be the most certain for immediate neutralization. So, that's what we practiced...