Weatherby Vanguard

[CoyoteConquest]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this.
Why is there no love for Weatherby Vanguards?
Everybody always talks about Remington actions or Tikkas and Savages and a lot of other rifles.
I don't understand why people don't talk about Vanguards. I have 18 firearms. My most accurate is a whetherby Vanguard 2 .243. it seems the machining on them is really good. The triggers on the 2s are decent. The actions are solid. You can get them and buy decent stalks.
Just curious of people's opinions

I know Howa makes them and it's the same action. I don't have a Howa so not sure if everything like trigger and barrel are the same

 

[Ol' Red]

I did not like the first vanguards. They felt cheap and the stock flexed too much. I have a Vanguard 2 in .338 Win Mag, just haven't had much chance to shoot it. It has a decent trigger. Good enough for prairie dogs next summer.

 

[JMW67]

the howa and vanguard are both fine rifles I have owned both and was very happy with them

 

[1maxhunter]

They do have a one piece forged bolt. I have cut the bolt knob down to put on a thread on knob on a few. And i can tell you it is of some of the hardest steel i have had to machine! They are a solid gun. Priced very well. And i don't think i have shot one that's not a great shooter! My son just got one in 6.5-300 and so far on just breaking it in it is showing great potential for accuracy. We just put it in a B&C stock so will see if we get more improvement out of it.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I view them as today's Savage. Savage used to make sporting rifles that could vee we upgraded and really made to shoot. Some shot pretty well ootb. They were easily upgraded and cheap to start.

Howa/Vanguard is the same today. I'd buy one but my collection isn't growing that way.

 

[LongWalker]

Cook it well.....to many parasites in all those critters....not from experience...just common sense

They do have a one piece forged bolt. I have cut the bolt knob down to put on a thread on knob on a few. And i can tell you it is of some of the hardest steel i have had to machine! They are a solid gun. Priced very well. And i don't think i have shot one that's not a great shooter! My son just got one in 6.5-300 and so far on just breaking it in it is showing great potential for accuracy. We just put it in a B&C stock so will see if we get more improvement out of it.

I bought a Howa 1500 heavy barrel .308 (20") as my first target rifle. It shot pretty good out of the box. Dropped the action in a B&C stock and it shot great. It'll still ring the 8" plate at 1000 all day long with Berger 185 Juggernauts. Only downside is the mag length which just meant I had to single load them.

 

[mitebeck]

Will the Howa 1500 in 300 win mag have a 3.6 inch magazine?

 

[Dosh]

I did not like the first vanguards. They felt cheap and the stock flexed too much. I have a Vanguard 2 in .338 Win Mag, just haven't had much chance to shoot it. It has a decent trigger. Good enough for prairie dogs next summer.

Red, you hunt prairie doge with .338? I see red mist.

 

[Ross1147]

I have been looking at the vanguard for a month or 2 now. Seems to be one of the only factory guns that's chambered in 25-06 that has a 24" barrel on it. I owned one of the first vanguard back in the 90s. I didn't have any issues with it other than it was a 30-06. Ever since I changed my 25-06 to a 280ai I've had the itch for another and I think the vanguard may scratch that itch!

 

[Deleted member 115360]

I own at least a dozen vanguard rifles. I have some accuguards that I did nothing but adjust thr trigger, but most of them I use for donor actions. I order new barrels, replace the stocks and triggers, and for just over $1k, my vanguard will shoot like these $5k custom builds. They are always overlooked. I buy used vanguards all the time for between $250 and $400. I have 2 at the Smith right now for threading and such, and 2 barrels on order. They make fine rifles..

 

[Patriot007]

Vanguard is just a higher end Howa. The Actions/Bolts are trued up and the rifling is Lapped/Polished a little better, and the finish is better. They say it has a little better trigger system,,, but.,,, The first thing to go, in any rifle I buy,, is to replace the trigger system with a Timney or a Jewell. My 26" Howa 1500 with over 1000 rounds down range is still punching 1/2" holes down range at 100yds. "When I'm having a good day.",,, Our 24" Vanguard SS 6.5 Creeds will do the same also. The only thing about the Vanguard is,, They have a nicer action, Smooth, no raddling or chatter in the action.. Heck, I'm very pleased with my Howa 1500 tobe honest. As far as stocks go. You can't go wrong with a Stocky Stocks or Boyd's Stocks. After aluminum pillars and a good glassing your shooting in high cotton.

 

[1maxhunter]

LongWalker... its the type of gun that you dont want the other match shooters see because they spent $2000.00 on a gun that shoots like yours is doing for maybe $600.00!!!

 

[1maxhunter]

They are a great starting point for a build. We did one from a .338 win mag to a 28 Nosler... A great shooter in 28 now..( .338 was a good shooter also he just lost the interest in it)

 

[LongWalker]

LongWalker... its the type of gun that you dont want the other match shooters see because they spent $2000.00 on a gun that shoots like yours is doing for maybe $600.00!!!

I don't know about that but I'm pretty sure I would always win the holdover contest at almost 40 MOA.