Weatherby "Vanguard" ?

[Rusty]

Has anyone had any experience with the Weatherby Vanguard rifle? I saw a new 22.250 at GI Joes for $399.00 and thought that was too cheap for a Weatherby. Is this a downgraded quality firearm by Weatherby or have you been satisfied with your choice?

Rusty [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

[Washington Hunter]

It's cheap because the Vanguard isn't made by Weatherby, it's made by Howa in Japan and imported by Weatherby. I don't own one, but I know a couple of guys who do, and they are good rifles, probably one of the best you can get for the money. They have been sold in the past under the Mossberg name and Smith & Wesson. I'm surprised GI Joes stocks them, I understood that they were only available at Wal Mart. Great rifles though, and if I was in the market, I would buy one. Only drawback is they are a little heavy, but that can be a good thing also, depending on how you will be using it.

[willametteriveroutlaw]

There were a bunch of them recalled a couple of years back from what I heard, Seem hesitantly okay, no real expirience shooting them though so there my .02$.

[buckleydux]

Weatherby "Vanguard"
A buddy of mine got one for christmas I believe it was in .270, anyway he has always been a "weatherby or nothing" guy. After 3 days at the range,several factory and hand loads he says it is the least accurate rifle out of the box he has ever owned. I take his opinion pretty seriously,he spends 100 days a year at the range and traveling to competitions. Because it was a gift he doesn't want to return it, so he hopes he can "sweeten it up enough to make a brush gun out of it".

[moman]

I own a 1990 (or so) Weatherby Vanguard .270. It was recalled, along with several year models for a safety upgrade 2 years ago, Service was done by Weatherby. I can't attest to any other than my own, but its an accurate rifle, at least for me. I won't announce groupings because that's sure cause for debate. Not a match rifle and probably not accurate enough for some, but for the price, its been a great rifle.

[ 01-08-2004, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: moman ]

[Washington Hunter]

I think they are guaranteed to shoot a 1 1/2 inch group or better at 100 yards.

[Washington Hunter]

It is guaranteed, take a look at this:

http://www.weatherby.com/vanguard/advantage.shtml

[jet]

Built by Howa.From what I remember Howa is a great rifle.


Compare the Weatherby Vanguard to other rifles.
Head to head against similarly priced rifles, Vanguard shoots holes in the competition. Compare critical performance (PDF format) categories such as accuracy along with price and you’ll see there truly is no comparison. The Weatherby Vanguard is the most accurate $476* rifle out of the box—and the best performance value on the market today.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACCURACY GUARANTEE
The Weatherby Vanguard is guaranteed to shoot a 1 1/2" 3-shot group at 100 yards from a cold barrel when used with factory-loaded, premium ammunition. No other rifle carries such a written guarantee. And, no other rifle includes a factory-shot target in every box as your proof of performance.


PRICE
The Weatherby Vanguard is comparably priced among other popular rifles. Consider the written accuracy guarantee and legendary Weatherby performance and it’s simply the best value on the market today.

From the Weatherby site

Jet~~~

[ 01-08-2004, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: jet ]

[Redbeard13]

I have a Weatherby Vanguard in the .300 Win cal. Bought the gun 28 years ago.It is my Deer and Elk rifle.You could not pry it from my fingers."Boomer" does its job and does it well.I shoot handloads, 3 shot groups at 100 yds can be covered by a quarter on my bad days. The "Safety" recall was to put on the rear bolt shroud, "safe"/"fire" markings for the rifles safety.For the money, you will not be disappointed.

[StickFish]

Originally posted by willametteriveroutlaw:
There were a bunch of them recalled a couple of years back from what I heard,

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">The recall was over the missing letter "S" and "F" on the bolt shroud to indicate the condition of the safety. You can still find out information about the recall as it is still in effect, but it was for Vangards built 10 or more years ago.

I used to have a Vangard with a short barrel and a fiberglass stock, wish I had not sold that gun. Buddy of mine talked me out of it during a weak moment - It still shoots great. We used to call it the green deer killing machine.

I have helped several hunters during sight in days with Vangards and they have all been accurate to say the least.

Would I buy another one, yep! Would I buy a Howa action to build a custom gun on - Yep!

[ 01-09-2004, 06:50 AM: Message edited by: StickFish ]

[night stocker]

I have a Fiberguard(green stock) in a 7 Rem. mag.When I bought it many years ago,I didn't like the trigger too well.When I range fired it , it seemed like it wouldn't go off.I thought the trigger pull was 15 lbs or so.Couldn't get very good groups at all.I had a good smith work over the trigger and now it is acceptable.It is the lightest gun that I own with the short barrel and I think it looks cool.With some good handloading and much range time, I was able to get some decent grouping out of the green gun.A bit under the advertised 1 and a 1/2.Certainly not as good as some of my rifles,but ok.It is a pure joy to pack in the hills as I can hardly tell I'm packing a rifle.I don't know how much velocity is lost with the 22inch barrel,but I don't think it is significant.The longer tube I have heard is better for velocity,especially regarding that caliber,but I wouldn't have it any other way.It is perfect for a true mount'n rifle.Overall,it is a good gun.I will have to look into the recall because I bought it at Larry's so it was a long time ago...........

[James in Idaho]

My dad gave me his in 30-06. He got it in '76, and it is by far the most accruate out of the box rifle I've ever shot. It a wood stock, and just has a plain old 4x post/crosshair on it, but even I can keep it around an inch. Loves 165's and 180 handloads.

[fishstik]

i had a vangaurd 30.06 and it was a super rifle, i sold it when i was young to buy a washer and dryer, i have looked for it for a long time but every time i found the person who bought it they had sold it or given it away, that was the last time i would every sell a firearm... i am a weatherby fan, not so much the magnum case but the action throw and bolt strenghth and overall quality of the rifle, if one is in your tax bracket look at em, if not, buy a remington...

[Salmonator]

My dad bought a used vanguard 30.06 back in 1978. He could shoot a half dollar sized group like it was nothing. Beautiful stock too. I really wish I had that gun.

ORoutdoorsman, if you put three rounds into 1 1/2" out of a remington with iron sights at 100 yards, i'm sorry but you got lucky.

[ORoutdoorsman]

An inch and a half at 100 yards out of the box isnt that accurate of a rifle. I got under 1 1/2 inches out of my remington at 100 yards using the factory iron sights. And that was using remington regularly 12.99 on sale for 9.99 at bi mart ammo.Stick a scope and good hand loads and youll double or triple hole your target all day. For the money, remington all the way. I would even put the accuracy of that rifle up against an expensive weatherby.

[nerta]

Salmonater, Don't shake your head too much at tight groups using iron sights. Many people can do this. Check out camp perry 1000yd targets shot with iron sights. By the way remington is the most accurate out of the box rifle under five hundred. Howa makes a fair rifle with to many parts. I've had three they're ok but the best the use for them is trading material for other rifles. Just my opinion. Each year at elk camp my younger brother usually puts the scope shooters in awe out shooting them with a peep sight on his .308.

[Salmonator]

Sorry for jumping to conclusions. My remington experience was with a mdl700 with scope. I couldn't put a 3" group with that gun. On the other hand I have a lower end mossberg .308 that shoots a pretty tight group. As far as Iron sights go it just seems to me that without the help of magnification a 1 1/2" group is far fetched. I will have to try it for myself.

[ORoutdoorsman]

Salmonator, you can be as doubtful as you want. I did not post my results as some form of bragging, I posted them to solicite my success with the remington line of firearms. However, don't use your shortcomings at the range as your basis for other peoples ability to shoot. I find no pleasure or pride in making statements about myself that are untrue. So whether YOU feel it is far fetched or not is your opinion. However, people who can shoot well know that it is no big feat, and people who cant shoot that well, even with a scope, talk trash about how it is "Far fetched".

[Salmonator]

Shortcomings at the range.... hmmm. My remington: crappy pattern, my mossberg: good pattern. The weatherby's I have had the pleasure of shooting shot circles around both. This is consistant, I didn't go fire three shots out of each gun and make an opinion. I suppose if you had a gun that physically couldn't shoot a 5" pattern, you would be able to fire three shots into the same hole with your superior marksmanship? I never questioned your skills, I doubted the limitations of open sights at that distance. But after seeing the arrogance in your last post I realize that I could really care less what you could do with an open sight remington at 100 yards. So much for apologies and reasoning... :whazzup:

[ 01-10-2004, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[Snubber]

The Weatherby Vanguard was re-introduced in 2002, after a few years of their relationship with Howa was severed.
Howa, in turn, entered into an agreement with Legacy Sports International (same folks from the Interarms days) to sell the Howa rifles in the U.S.
To date, the Howa product has been a huge success.
Why? As mentioned earlier, dollar for dollar, best buy out of the box. Check out the articles in Shooting Times, Gun & Ammo, Gun Tests, etc., touting the performance of the Howa product.
Also, everyone is talking big game rifles, Howa offers thumbhole sporters, varmint heavy barrels, etc, that most are not aware of and point blank, out shooting the Remingtons, Rugers, etc.
Wonder why Weatherby would re-introduce something that was not doing well!!!! :whazzup:
Weatherby, and others, finally realized they were losing big time market share in the $350 - $800 price range.
Also, all of their fancier laminate stocks are produced by Boyds (old Fajen) and are beautiful.
Save yourself a few bucks, check out the Howa line on www.legacysports.com
All rifles are different and to make a general statement of Remington is best, or another brand is best, is just one persons opinion and not a fair comparison. This is why when your sports writers make comparisons, they do it as scientifically as possible, before they post their results.
Just my $.02, but well worth the price to look. :smile:

[ORoutdoorsman]

ORoutdoorsman, if you put three rounds into 1 1/2" out of a remington with iron sights at 100 yards, i'm sorry but you got lucky. As far as Iron sights go it just seems to me that without the help of magnification a 1 1/2" group is far fetched.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Salmonator, That sounds a little bit to me like you were trying to say you doubted I was able to what I had claimed. And when you come out and claim that what I am stating is "far fetched", I respond unkindly. If you don't like the way I responded, don't make claims that what I am saying is "far fetched". I don't appreciate being called a liar, or being accused of stretching the truth.

[ 01-11-2004, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: ORoutdoorsman ]

[Salmonator]

Blah blah blah. My opinion came from my experience with remington. Bottom line, I gave my opinion and the reasons for it and did so without questioning your abilities (I said you got lucky, without knowing how often you might peg three shots with your open sights) and also offered an apology for being so quick to say what I did. You can't say the same. I guess if you don't like it, then too bad there's nothing I can do about it.

[KingFisher85]

boys...lets take this to the range

[Salmonator]

There's no way in hell I'm going to take the chance of gettin' beat by some guy with a remington with open sights :blush: :grin:

[ 01-11-2004, 09:57 PM: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

[ORoutdoorsman]

Salmonator, while I was offended by what you said, I have learned through my relatively short life, that there are alot of things I am better off just letting go. Making a big deal out of things, and getting offended over something relatively small is not worth it. I appologize for getting hot, and writing what I did. I would hate to have a grudge against someone when we are just trying to use this board to further our enjoyment of the outdoors. Having people you dislike just takes away from the fun.

[billc_sbio]

Hehe, guys!

Please KNOW this...with your run-of-the-mill "Production" guns, you can get good ones and you can get bad ones! Doesn't matter if it's Remington or Howa/Weatherby, Winchester, or Browning! They all turn out some "pretty good" average guns. Occasionally you get one that shoots far better than you'd expect and sometimes you get one that won't shoot for beans!

I have a friend, a very accomplished machinist
by trade and "hobby" gunsmith (better than some pros!) He bought a new Rem. 700 BDL-V in .243. He took it out to the range...shot all kinds of different loads...trying to "work up" a good accuracy load. Didn't matter WHAT he did, it wouldn't shoot.

So, back to basics, let's inspect things and see what's wrong?!! Oh, what's this?!! Hey, look at this! There's one land entirely MISSING in the last 1/2" of the barrel! :shocked: Hmm...wonder if that might cause it to not shoot so well?!! [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Hmm...well chucking the barrel up in the lathe and cutting 1" off of the end, then recrowning, made the thing a tack driver!

A number of years ago, one of the gun magazines did an article on the cost of making Production hunting rifles. In their article they discussed the fact that, at that time, a premium quality custom "match grade" barrel cost a gunsmith around $150 and that he'd probably charge about $250 for it, installed on a rifle. That barrel would cost a shooter more if he didn't get the gunsmith's discount. At the same time, a VERY popular firearms manufacturer was buying barrels from a sub-contractor (who was focusing most of their effort supplying this one mfg.) for about $12 a barrel!

Before you went through all the middlemen before the final selling dealer, this company's hunting rifles were costing them about @$30 to make, and they were selling them to their 1st line distributor for ~@$60! The distributor was selling them to the Wal-Marts and Bi-Marts for $120, and they were selling them to you for $240.

So there you go...when the manufacturer can make an entire rifle for less than 1/4 of what a premium barrel (the true SECRET to guaranteed accuracy) costs wholesale, HOW can you expect to get "great accuracy" out of a typical rifle?!!

You might, if you're lucky...but then again, you might not!

[ 01-12-2004, 04:09 AM: Message edited by: billc_sbio ]

[bignate]

I have shot a .243 Vanguard and have got 5 deer. It is a sweet gun for the price. I shot factory rounds and had no problem keeping them in a 2 inch circle. The gun has a 4x scope on it. The people who say that you need a 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards are right but you really dont need anything better than that. A shot that was a 1 1/2 off will still kill a deer, trust me.

[chummer]

Weatherby Vanguards are now on sale at Bi-Mart for $339