Weatherby vanguard package

[corbanzo]

I was wondering if anyone had bought one of the weatherby vanguard packages??  I mean, it just seems pretty cheap, for what you get.  (rifle, scope, case)  Even though the scope and case are cheapies, was wondering how the rifle shoots?  I know that weatherby isn't known for making cheap guns...  I was going to get one in 300 weatherby mag, love that cartridge.  But just didn't know if the rifle was a good choice.

[myarmor]

Well, I haven't seen the packages, but I have shot and used a Vanguard in 7mmMag. Shot excellent and very smooth action too. If you don't know much about the Vanguard, I am sure with a search you will find out that the action is made by Howa from Japan, and is a well respected company with a continuing reputation for accurate quality rifles.. I normaly wouldn't recommend such a large caliber, but up there in Alaska with a 300 WeatherbyMag....why not.

[Zachary]

The rifle will shoot well.  I have very little doubt about that.

With regards to the scope and the case, you said it yourself...they are cheapies.  Remember, with optics, there is a general rule that you get what you pay for.  Personally, I would just get the Vanguard, and spend a little extra money and get a better scope.  I'm not saying to get a $500 scope, or even a $400 scope (although it would be great for you if you did) but you can get a great scope for under $300.  A few scopes that come to mind are the leupold VX-II, the Bushnell Elite 3200, and the Nikon Buckmaster, all in about 3x-9x-40mm.

Zachary

[muzzleblast525]

I just picked up a Vanguard Sub-MOA and hope its a shooter.  Its a .257 Weatherby Mag and I topped it with a VX-II....Loaded up some bullets just a moment ago and headed to the range in the morning.....

[Texgun]

I just got a Vanguard 300 Wea Mag. I put a Leupold on it. Very accurate but kicks like a mule. Do any of those special butt pads work good?

[PEPAW]

I have hunted with an old, old Vanguard that needed some bedding work to be accurate, but more recently purchased a Howa that was a real shooter.    Straight out of the box for a little more than $300.   I prefer to pick my own rings and scopes.
As far as the caliber, best wishes.   I wouldn't shoot a 300 W unless it was self defense!        Thank god I hunt little bitty deer. :grin:
The thickest Pachmayr Decelerator pad is the best I have seen.   Works very well on my old turkey gun with those high powered loads.

pepaw

[lilabner]

I agree with Zachary about package scopes in this case. With a cartridge like the 300 Weatherby, you are putting some major G forces on the scope internals and considering what people intend to hunt with this cartridge, a malfunction could be dangerous. Get a quality scope, mount and rings that can take a pounding. I'm not familiar with the Howa but trust that it has controlled feed, which is necessary if you want to hunt something that might eat you. Even if you don't plan such a hunt, if there are large bears present in the hunt area you should be prepared to defend yourself if need be.

[PEPAW]

"I'm not familiar with the Howa but trust that it has controlled feed, which is necessary if you want to hunt something that might eat you. "

Sounds like sound advice.   Is a Vanguard or Howa controlled feed?

pepaw

[cmb3366]

no, the vangard is a push feed action, it is a very good one however as it uses a sako-style extractor

[targshooter]

corbanzo,
If you are going to use the rifle for local hunts where a failed scope is not a catastrophic event, I'd say go with the package. A friend bought the set-up last year. It is quite a good buy if I remember, much cheaper than you could put it together for.  He has used the rifle and scope for antelope and deer hunts in SD (he lives there) with no problem, and he will be using it this Fall as well. There's my 2 cents, but for a person on a budget the package provided a great buy.

[Bart Solo]

If your choice is between buying a package gun and getting a scope you can use for a year or two and not buying a rifle because you can't afford to put a good scope on it, buy the package.  You can always upgrade the scope later.  A lot of folks seem to forget that there is only so much money in a family budget and every dollar counts.  Weatherby's Vanguards have a good reputation. I haven't heard many say they wouldn't  buying one if the price was right.  Now if I was planning to take a gun across the continent for a once in a lifetime hunt, I might spend a little extra and buy a better scope. Of course, when I was young I went on a once in a lifetime hunt with an inexpensive Tasco scope that did the job, but I took a risk.

[muzzleblast525]

Went to the range yesterday and found this gun to be joy to shoot.  Recoil not bad at all.  Tested several loads and found that at 100 yards, using IMR 4350 (58.2 grains) and 100 grain Sierra Pro-Hunter Spitzers, I could only group three shots into .25 MOA ( :shock: ).  To say I was pleased is an understatement.....QUITE HAPPY AND MIGHT BUY ANOTHER  :-)