vangaurds

[billy]

What do you think of the weatherby vanguards ?

[Arkie-06]

One of the best rifles for the money.I have been thinking hard  like a lot of people on getting one in .257 Weatherby. I hear it shoots flat!

[mjbgalt]

i have one in .243 and i love it. its the best rifle i have owned. it shoots great and handles even better. the synthetic stock is a good fit as well.

so far no complaints and a lot of compliments from others.

[JDK]

Our local Wal-mart had Vanguards priced at $287 (not a typo).  They sold out of their inventory in less than 2 days.  Great rifle for that price.  Wish I had found out about it earlier.

[mjbgalt]

um, wow. so if they do that again you buy one and i will pay shipping and pay you $50 for doing it for me. seriously.

i paid $389 for mine and it was a deal.

seriously. in .223. lol

[JDK]

Same Wal-mart has savage bolts (with accutrigger) for $300.  At least they did last weekend.  I don't know what is going on but their sporting good section has dwindled to nearly nothing and they are only carring 30-06 and 12 ga shells.

[John R.]

I bought an older one last year in 270 for my son. With 130 gr. Interbonds it shoote 3/4" @ 100 yds. My son killed three deer with it last year. They are definitly worth the money.

[dbuck]

I have one in 30-06 that I'm taking Elk/Mule deer hunting in three weeks.  It shoots like a house on fire.  The three shot group target that came with the rifle showed 1/2 inch group and it does shoot that.  You will be very happy with it.  I took the stock off and put on a Bell & Carson stock which cost about 200.00 which has aluminum pillar bedding and deaccleator pad installed already.

dbuck

[Graybeard]

Just picked up my Vanguard SS .257 Whby. Mag today. The test target with it was 0.65" with 100 grain SP factory load. It will be awhile before I get it all together and out to the range to see how it does for me. Trigger is fine for me right out of box. Haven't put the RCBS Trigger gage on it yet but I sure see no need to mess with it.

[mjbgalt]

:grin:  glad you're starting to appreciate these rifles. i cant believe how nice mine is for the price. i think its still a decent rifle even if it was in the $500 range too.

overall i am really pleased. i hope you will be too.

[lancer1558]

Graybeard, how is your Vanguard Wby 257 coming along?
IMO, for long range, flat shooting this caliber is excellent for almost all purposes, hunting or target shooting.
I have interest in the Wby 257 as well, cost of ammunition is a stumbling block for me.
Kings ammo has good prices on ammo, has anyone used them?
Their web address is:
https://corsica.globat.com/~kingsammo.com/catalog/about.php

I am not associated or connected with Kings ammo.

Thanks,
Gary

[pastorp]

Lancer1558, There are several calibers that you really ned to reload for in order to be able to afford to shoot them. The 257 WM is one of these. You really can't improve on factory performace, but you sure can reduce the cost of shooting it. Just order one or two hundred cases and a set of dies from Mid South and your in business. IMR 4831 powder works best for me. Regards, Byron

[Donaldo]

I picked up a Vangard in 270 Win. during the WW sale.  I have no need of it really, just bought it because it was a good deal.  I have not even shot it yet.  The test target showed 3 shots in about 3/4" with 130 grain bullets.  It really looks like a nice rifle even though it has the syn. stock.  I would let it go if anyone is interested.  I am in SW Oklahoma.  It would have to be picked up or could meet.  $325, includes new Weaver bases I just put on it and a new box of Rem ammo.  PM me if your interested.

[HogFan]

If I was staying permanently in MT, I would pickup a .257 WBy. Vanguard for deer and antelope. Since I am PCSing back to the south, I see no need for a gun of that type. The ones that I have will handle the thickets and a few bean fields just fine.

HogFan

[Graybeard]

Graybeard, how is your Vanguard Wby 257 coming along?

I junked it.  :eek:

It's gone.  :roll:  It had a serious bedding problem and I just wasn't in the mood to work thru it. The target that came with that rifle was NOT shot with that rifle. No one on this earth it was. It makes me doubt if any of the targets sent with their guns are. No I can't know but I am sure that gun didn't shoot that target.

I have too many projects ongoing to worry about that one that didn't want to shoot no matter what it was fed.

[Bart Solo]

I have read repeatedly that a Vanguard is really a Howa 1500.  If you go to Boydboys you will see that confirmed.  Same stocks fit both actions.  Now, the Vanguard is about 30 -- 40 bucks more than the Howa 1500.  What are you getting for the extra 30 / 40 dollars?

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

My experience with the Vanguard was very similar to GB's---7mm mag---that wouldn't group for anything.

I tried various loads----messed with the stock-----nothing really made a difference------it would be a very hard sell to ever get me to buy another one.

[Greybeard]

Guys every body is free to believe what they wish about these rifles. After all it is still (for now at least) a free country.

This isn't the first one I've seen do this same thing out of the box. I'm convinced that they do not shoot each rifle for accuracy. What they do I dunno. Maybe they have a single gun all groups are shot from. Maybe they do shoot the gun you get but at 10 yards rather than 100 yards. Maybe they have a machine rest that only barreled action fits and stock is later added.

But the ONLY way I'd believe they actually shoot each gun at 100 yards and include that target is if I were in Japan watching it for 2-3 days actually happening. Just too many of them with serious bedding related problems that no way they are going to shoot the groups delivered with them out of the box without work.

Now I'm sure they'd have fixed it had I sent it back but dang it that ain't why I bought it. Yeah I'm getting ornery in my old age. Don't ya'll believe those stories that I was ALWAYS like that. I know for sure I wasn't back when I was two years old. Not sure about since then tho.  :lol:

[Ramrod]

I have read repeatedly that a Vanguard is really a Howa 1500.  If you go to Boydboys you will see that confirmed.  Same stocks fit both actions.  Now, the Vanguard is about 30 -- 40 bucks more than the Howa 1500.  What are you getting for the extra 30 / 40 dollars?

Here is what I think.
What are you getting? Nothing, just a different stamp. You might fool some people into thinking you have an expensive rifle when they hear that magic word, "Weatherby". These are bottom of the line Wally-World specials, for folks who can't or won't ante up for the better guns. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but jeez, why do people expect the Vangard to be anything close to the Mark V.  You really do get what you pay for in this world.

[Bart Solo]

On balance I think I agree with you, but did you know that you can buy Mark V's at Wally World, too.  Got to be special ordered, but they sell them.

[mjbgalt]

for the extra money you get the guarantee that they will fix em if they wont shoot an inch and a half. the 1500 isnt part of that guarantee.

i am not convinced you guys are right about this though...i know theyre made by howa but the vanguards have 2" longer barrel and none of the howas have that.

mine shoots as well as the target with it showed. and mine was simply rested, whereas the target was benched.

-Matt

[Graybeard]

mine shoots as well as the target with it showed. and mine was offhand, whereas the target was benched. or maybe i am just damn good lol.

If you actually shot even one single target as good as the one that came with it off hand at 100 yards what you are is lucky. You should take up gambling. Which by the way, I'd be willing to make some bets with you regarding your repeating that performance if we were able to meet some time somewhere.

[mjbgalt]

let me clarify...not OFFHAND, what i should have said was rested. i meant to say that the group i got wasnt locked into some sort of bench apparatus, which i assume they use.


i edited my post to say what i meant to post.

thanks for pointing out my error GB, i dont want my fellow members here to think i am full of it.

-Matt

[mjbgalt]

also, my group on the target i got with the gun was almost exactly an inch, not some tiny little group.

i sure as heck didnt stand up at the range and hold still enough to put 3 shots into a half inch or something lol....i wish i could but no way.

i think i could probably shoot a 3 or 4 inch group offhand at 100, and i have. but that holding still without a bench stuff isnt easy lol.

so i dont think i will be betting with you GB. plus i am fortunate that youve said too much already, i aint shooting against you when youve told us about those tiny groups your remingtons can make lol.

-Matt

[HuntingGuy]

Guys every body is free to believe what they wish about these rifles. After all it is still (for now at least) a free country.

 Should say

Guys every body is free to believe what they wish about these rifles. After all it is still (until Kerry becomes president) a free country.

[deerhunter10]

It is true, the Vanguard barrel is made by Howa, I called Weatherby myself along with Legacy Sports the company that imports Howa. The stocks and triggers are a bit different and the price is about $80 -$100 higher for the vanguard here in California, where you can no longer buy a gun at Wally-World. I chose the Howa 1500 s/s in .223 for some practice at the range, and was shocked at the 1 inch groups this thing shot at 100 yards with so-so ammo. I was so pleased with this gun, I just bought one for my daughter in .243 s/s and it shot the same 1 inch group. Just something to think about.

RC

[Triple4]

I have three Howa's one is a 300Weatherby Vanguard, one is a Howa 1500 in 22-250 with a Bull barrel and the other is a Stainless 1500 with the Pepper laminate stock in 338Win Mag.  They all shoot very well
they shoot like a $400.00 gun that they are, would I buy another you bet, would I buy one and try to turn it into a tack drivin bench gun ......NO.

The two most accurate rifles I have in the safe are Remingtons one is a 7mm-08 Mountain rifle the other is a Remington 700 in 25-06 and both of them shot worse out of the box then any of the howa's.

[Triple4]

You all have to remember that the Howas are a low end rifle, keep in mind that not everyone of us can shell out 600.00 for a Rifle.

What you get with the Howas are a proven action and good accuracy at a low end cost ( yes Savages are as cheap but I can't take the Butt ugly looks ) so you can have a rifle with a scope for less then some of the other name brand rifles cost.   My 338WM with the pepper lam stock and stainless cost brand new $399.00 thats a lot of bang for your buck!

[tscott]

I bought a .270 Vanguard 20" barrel 20 years ago. It has a beautiful figured walnut stock, that looks nicer with age. Maybe the stock increases the price.... I don't care. I shoot 1 shot a year for zero. This Vanguard has been a terrific deer rifle for me. Obviously I'm not a range person
but for the 20 or so deer I have shot with this rifle, and less than 40 rounds through it, I can't ask for more from a deer rifle. Even the relative shortness, on my 6'5" frame is fine...
Favorite deer rifle = Savage 99f in .300 (nostalgia)
Best deer rifle= vanguard .270 (most 8 pointers / never 2nd shot)
Most accurate= original offering Mountain .243 (don't care for the caliber,
but I loved the concept when it first came out, and the wood was the best on this particular rifle).
Range = great sport!! Just not for me!

[M'issippi Bruce]

I have a second-hand one in .300 Wby that shoots 1" groups with Federal Premium 180gr loads.  No complaints about it at all.