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...
4th Horseman
Operator
Mos def bro, gotta aim for the "apricot" from whatever angle you shoot from for the one shot drop and no risk to a hostage or anyone else.