Author Topic: Weatherby, Good or Bad (Read 1210 times)

Matt_243 · « **on:** September 30, 2003, 07:02:12 PM »

Hey there guys, By the way, great index for a novice rifle shooter like myself.

I'm looking at purchasing my first rifle, been looking hard at the Weatherby Vanguard in .243 stainless, synth stock with Leupold rings and 3-9 x 40.

Please give me some feedback on any good points and bad points about the Weatherby's in general, or other alternatives to the Weatherby.

The way I look at it, its a good rifle to start with.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2003, 10:21:34 PM »

Well I've had several Weatherbys and they're great rifles. The cartridges sometimes are a bit superfluous.. like the 224 Weatherby mag. A 22-250 with a belt??? and a huge pricetag on the cases. I traded into a 7mm Weahterby mag in a left hand MkV and it will soon be on the market... The MkV action is a real gem but the Vanguard is not really a Weatherby designed action. It built by Howa in Japan or at least was.. Almost the same as the 1500 S&W and Howa's marketed here.. Not bad rifles but not special either.. I'd call them utilitarian...

Matt_243 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2003, 12:58:42 AM »

Thanks Gunnut,

Have you heard of any problems with Weatherby/Howa actions? I understand everybody has their personal preference in rifle, and you can't always believe a manufacturers brochure, so have you heard of any issue's with these rifles?

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2003, 04:40:46 AM »

Actually I've not heard of any major problems with the Howa rifles. There are differences in triggers but haven't heard major complaints about any of them. All I've heard from produced at least acceptable levels of accuracy, and as usual some were amazing shooters.. If the price is right that rifle will quite probably do quite nicely...

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2003, 10:46:09 AM »

Matt_243,

I collect Weatherby's, Mark V's, but I don't own a Vanguard. Won't until they blue the barreled actions and install a real wood stock(laminates don't count as wood). Any way the Vanguard was designed by the people at Weatherby and Howa as a lower priced rifle that would still carry the Weatherby name. From what the people that have bought them tell me they are a good value. Wal-Mart was the company that got the original contract to do the retailing for Weatherby but now that market is opening up. If you like that Vanguard then by all means get it. It's equal to any other rifle in that same price range. Lawdog

Big Tom · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2003, 11:40:51 AM »

I just swapped for a new Weatherby Ultra lightweight in .300 Wby. I had an old really nice Vanguard that was actually a Mark V in a regular non Wby caliber( 30.06). I should have kept it...
I don't know of any complaints or problems with the newer Howa made models. Go for it! :grin:

Matt_243 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2003, 02:35:02 AM »

:grin:
Thanks guys,
Its good to hear from a wide variety of guys with a vast amount of experience. Thanks for your help. I'll let you all know how I get on with it.

Matt

crow_feather · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2003, 05:18:26 AM »

Matt,
I am curious about your choice of caliber. You didn't say if you were target shooting or hunting - and if hunting - what you will be hunting.

Three factors should determine what your first rifle should be.
1. What is the use - you don't need a 243 to target shoot
2. What recoil level can you tolerate
3. What can you afford and are you positive that the above 2 are satisfied before you plunk a lot of money on a rifle that you might not like.

C F

Zachary · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2003, 09:32:22 AM »

Quote from: Matt_243

Have you heard of any problems with Weatherby/Howa actions?

I know that the Vanugard had a recall recently on their older models, but I think that the problem has been solved.

Zachary

Matt_243 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2003, 05:17:27 PM »

Hey there Crow-Feather,

I've though long and hard about this for sometime. In answer to your questions, the rifle will be bought purchased for hunting. Time spent on the range will be because I can't get away from the city, or just for the time spent relaxin on the range doing something I enjoy. In the hunting stream of things, I picked the intermediate caliber for close to anything that I will find here in Australia, which for me will be rabbits, roo's, goats, foxes, pigs, and maybe even some of the smaller deer variety. I have been told by some old hands over here that .243 will pretty much knock most things on its ass in the areas I will be hunting.

In relation to the recoil, I'm 6'4 and weigh 100 kilo's (I think thats about 220 pounds...), so I do not believe that the recoil of a .243 will worry me. While I have never shot a .243, I have shot a lot of .223 with the military and larger, and have not found recoil a problem. Maybe I'm just a fat immovable lump!

In relation to the rifle and the money, I have been in and seen and played with the rifle. I have asked advice from as many sources as I can, this great board being one of them. So far, all the feedback has been good.
The question of money! Always the one factor that often decides. I have gone for something middle of the range and have organised a good package deal through a reputable dealer. Now I can't wait to get out and shoot!

Matt
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longwinters · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2003, 07:39:39 AM »

The 243 is a joy to shoot. No adverse recoil and tend to be very accurate. I have one in a Tikka and really like it. Weatherby rifles are very good, although I would also look at Sako rifles in the same price range.

Long

crow_feather · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2003, 06:43:44 PM »

Matt_243

O K So what's a kilo? I bet you guys use those "meter" and "liter" things also.

I wish you the best of luck with the new rifle. However, a new 243 is comming out. The 243 WSSM and from what I've seen, you might want to investigate before you buy. I won't give you all the specifics, but it is a fast and accurate 243.

C F

gunnut69 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2003, 07:34:51 PM »

I love the 243! It doesn't have any appreciable recoil and is usually quite accurate.. It've killed deer that field dressed over 160 pounds and 1 I shot from behind running. Broke the hip joint, a couple of ribs and punched through the shoulder blade.. He only made acouple more jumps before passing.. The bullet was a 95 Nosler Partition, a favorite.. For smaller beasties such as coyotes and woodchucks I load the 75 HP Speer flatbased bullet.. Expansion is explosive!! The vanguard is an old design and has always used the Howa action. While Roy Weatherby SR was running the company they sold nothing thru WalMart, now they sell a lot through any place they can! The only non-Mk-V rifle designed by weatherby was the Varmitmaster and it's essentailly the MK-V scaled down. It's the basis of many of the currently made lightweight rifles. It has only six lugs rather than the MK-V's 9... Good luck with the Vanguard, I'm betting you like it just fine... You will want more power for anything much larger than a large deer though... good shooting!