Weatherby Vanguard in 300 WBY Mag Range Report. LONG Winded

[v3glassworks]

I have been lurking on this forum for quite some time but this is my first post.  To start I try not to get caught up in MOA's.  If I can hit a 4" circle at 300-400 yards thats good enough for me.  But I have to admit I get caught in the MOA search.  I love hearing about sub MOA rifles and methods used to achieve that kind of accuracy.

Bought a new Weatherby Vanguard blued in 300 WBY Mag. from Wally World.  Placed a Leopold 4-14 50mm. with a 30mm. tube and Boone & Crockett Reticle.

Overall the stock is very low end, not really flimsy like a savage (older savage, I am a huge Savage fan by the way), no pillar bedding just an injection molded stock (from Butler Creek I believe).  

Overall finish is what I expected of a Howa 1500 action as I have one in 300 Win. Mag.  

Slide is very smooth.  No feed problems.

Trigger was adjustable but need a little work from a pro as when I take all of the creep out of it the safety will not engage.  So I took the already modified trigger from my other Howa.  

The scope is MAGNIFICANT.  It will be great for 500 - 600 yard shots.  Though I would probably not pay for the B & C reticle again as a wide duplex would give me the range out to 400 pretty well just by using the lower part of the reticle where it gets wide again as the 400 yard mark.

AT THE RANGE

The recoil was not as much as I expected,  I shot the 40 rounds without discomfort or flinching.  I have a 300 WSM Savage 11f that kicked the heck out of me until I got a Vais Muzzle break on it.  

First range day consisted of firing 40 rounds through it to break it in.  First ten shots cleaned after every shot.  Next 20 shots cleaned after every three.  Best of that day was a little over 1" three shot group at 100 yards with Remington brand 180 gr. 300 WBY Mag.  I used Butch's Bore Shine with a Graphite rod and bore guide.

Second range day I had some handloads to try out.  The best grouping was with a Remington case, Federal 215 primer, 77 grains of IMR 4831, Nosler 168 gr. BST.  The overall case length was 3.457" on all three shells.  The grouping was 5\8" center to center.  

At 100 yards it is 3-4 inches high, at 200 the same and right on at 300 yards.  At 100 I used the top of the skinny part of the reticle right before it gets wide and was right on.  No chronograph info yet.  Will do that next time.

I am hoping to better that group with Norma cases and trying out Barnes Triple Shocks in 168 gr.  I am also eagerly awaiting a Wildcat Style Thumbhole in Tiger wood from Richard's.  Not sure if I am going to pillar bed it but will probably glass bed the action.  I may get a Vais muzzlebreak but still unsure if I need it.

I had tossed around buying a Tikka (which I still want), Savage and several others but decided on this one because of the 300 WBY caliber now available in the Vanguard.

The experience was wonderful, just getting out and shooting different loads in the never ending search for accuracy to me is heaven.

Thanks for listening
Victor

Side note.  Also have a Vanguard in 300 Win. Mag. getting a carbon barrel from Magnum Research and getting a Lone Wolfe 15 oz. stock put on it.  Will be waiting until around August for that one to be finished.
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[longwinters]

V3,

Nice report.  Boy! You sure do upgrade your rifles.  What do you figure you will have into this Vanguard when you are done?  I would think that for your total cost you could buy a more expensive rifle up front, but then you strike me as a guy who likes to get a solid rifle and build it up to your own specs.  If you can, maybe you could post a pic of this rifle when it is completed.  It sounds like it'll be pretty cool.  And like all the Vanguards that I hear about it seems to be a shooter.

Long

[v3glassworks]

Total expected cost would be:

$388 for the Vanguard (The way it is now and shot the 5\8" group)
$260 for the thumbhole stock in Laminate
$60 for the pillar and bedding kit
No rebarrelling

Total is $708 add the scope at $679 and total is $1387

$700 range is pretty good for a 5\8" group and should get better after the stock enhancements in the powerhouse 300 WBY.

Scope was kinda a luxery on this one.  Never had a scope that cost more than $150.  I wanted a proven sturdy scope to handle the recoil of the 300 WBY.

Everybody allways seems to do the same things.  Take a Remington 700 or Winchester model 70.  Get all the bells and whistles lapped on it and buy a match grade barrell.  Nothing wrong with that.  I found that you could by alot of aftermarket stuff for the Howa\Vanguard and did not want to follow the beaten path.  I wanted to see if you could get a rifle to shoot just about as well without going that route.  I personally feel that the break in and handloads have alot to do with the accuracy.

The other Vanguard is a project of my father's that I am helping with (in other words not my money).  The carbon barrell and 15 oz. stock is because he does not want to lug around a heavy gun.  I think his will cost around $1700 before the scope.

[ihuntbucks]

V3,very nice report.I have been looking at the "Wally World" Vanguards also.Matter-of-fact,I had looked up on website a few days ago and wrote down a list.Looked at the cheapest priced Vanguards ($367.38),257 Wby Mag,300 Win Mag,308,243,338 Win Mag.Must have missed the 300 Wby Mag.A note on your .300 WSM.I had a A Win "Super Shadow in 300 WSM;weight about 6 lbs. loaded w/scope.Damn thing kicked like a p- - s off mule  :lol: .I traded it for a Remy 700 adl  .3006.Much,much easier on the shoulder.I find myself thinking about that .338 Win Mag.I must be losing my mind .Nice to have you aboard..............Rick

[Jimi]

I am a huge .300 Weatherby Magnum fan, and the Vanguard is a fine rifle... as you've experienced.

I am particularly pleased that you have discovered the joy of quality optics. Most of us in America tend to spend as little on our scopes as we possibly can. It wasn't until I got the safari bug in Africa that I came to appreciate how a top quality scope and binoculars can change your experience of a hunt.

It's a hard one to pay the price for sometimes, and I'm partial to Swarovski so it is particularly painful... but you really do get what you pay for.