Since this is a shooters forum I'm wondering how many shooters out there have had contact with Carlos Hathcock, and what your stories of him might be? He put on a lot of LEO sniper schools and was at a lot of guns shows back in the day,, for those who were down south while he was still alive. Or, those who may have served with him?
I became friends with Gunny when I was stationed down in VA Beach at the Dam Neck Rifle & Pistol Range. I worked at the Designated Marksman School and Gunny was one of our guest instructors -- he also spoke at most of the graduation ceremonies that we had. I was also lucky enough to go to Gunny's house on a few occasions to pick him up and bring him to the range for different things.
He was a pretty amazing man, a great Marine, very down to earth, and extremely smart. I learned a lot from him in particular the mental aspects of shooting; he placed a lot of emphasis on the mental mindset that you must have to do the things that he did over long periods of time,, while you are being hunted. But he also talked about how it applies to bullseye/competition shooting - getting in a bubble.
When his health allowed, and on the weekends when the NRA had their high power rifle matches at our range, he would come out and offer a few tips to the shooters. He could draw a crowd on the firing line. One time I saw him stand on the 500 yard line and hit bulls with iron sights using an M14.
I was lucky to have him sign the buttstcok of my AR-15, and I also have this picture of Gunny and I, down-below.
(It's a damaged picture of a picture - I had a house fire a few years after getting out and this is the only one I left).
RIP Carlos
I became friends with Gunny when I was stationed down in VA Beach at the Dam Neck Rifle & Pistol Range. I worked at the Designated Marksman School and Gunny was one of our guest instructors -- he also spoke at most of the graduation ceremonies that we had. I was also lucky enough to go to Gunny's house on a few occasions to pick him up and bring him to the range for different things.
He was a pretty amazing man, a great Marine, very down to earth, and extremely smart. I learned a lot from him in particular the mental aspects of shooting; he placed a lot of emphasis on the mental mindset that you must have to do the things that he did over long periods of time,, while you are being hunted. But he also talked about how it applies to bullseye/competition shooting - getting in a bubble.
When his health allowed, and on the weekends when the NRA had their high power rifle matches at our range, he would come out and offer a few tips to the shooters. He could draw a crowd on the firing line. One time I saw him stand on the 500 yard line and hit bulls with iron sights using an M14.
I was lucky to have him sign the buttstcok of my AR-15, and I also have this picture of Gunny and I, down-below.
(It's a damaged picture of a picture - I had a house fire a few years after getting out and this is the only one I left).

RIP Carlos