The M70 was at one time used as I believe the Marine issued sniper rifle but due to cost Remington took over this market, I don't think it had anything to do with functioning.
...close. During early years of the Vietnam war, the USMC without a ready to run solution in hand was grabbing whatever suitable rifles they could and a good portion of the M70 Target Rifles from the Rifle Team were deployed with Unertls. Rumor has it that they were grabbing hunting rifles from Base Exchanges as well too. Later in the war, the Corps worked with Remington to field a purpose built sniper rifle which became the M40.
