Weatherby Vanguard Sporter - does anyone own one?

[scootrd]

Looking for an honest assessment from those who actually own or have shot a Weatherby Vanguard Sporter model.
Likes?
Dislikes ?
How do they stack up compared to other MFG Sporters in the same price point  600.00 and under?
Reason I'm asking is I have never owned a Sporter model rifle and I have a limited number of $$ coming my way.
Was thinking of purchasing one in .22-250 or 243.

[mjbgalt]

every bit as nice as any other sporter. it's better than the SPS remingtons, i would say they're about the same as a ruger. in fit and finish i mean.

accuracy-wise, as good as they get. they are glass-bedded at the recoil lug.

-Matt

[Catfish]

My son-inlaw picked up one in 7 mm Rem. mag. that I have plaied with alittle. Not bench rest accuracy, but have got some 5 shot groups under 1 moa. I don`t think it shoots any better or worse than the Rem. or the Savages I been playing with lately. In fact I have been pleasantly supprised with the accuracy I`ve got from all of them.

[timothy]

I just got a vanguard deluxe and its a very heavy rifle. In fact this will be my first hunting rifle with a sling. The trigger on mine was terrrible, but I worked it over a bit and now its quite useable. I believe they changed the triggers recently however and hear their fine out of the box now. Accuracy is the easy part, mine even before I worked on the trigger gave 1'' groups off the top of my truck. Looks are another plus both the sporter and deluxe are fine looking rifles imho. The barrel on mine is thicker than my 700 cdl which is also considerd a heavy rifle so be warned they are very heavy.

[scootrd]

Ok , I was just getting ready to pull the trigger on purchasing The weatherby Sporter in 243 599.00
and then found Reeds sporting goods has a Browning Abolt medallion 243 on sale for 599.00
Now I have to rethink. 

[hunt-m-up]

Quality and accuracy good, but heavier than most. I like mine in .270.

[saltydog]

Good rifle - the sporter is available all day long for under $550 - not sure why you would not go for the $399 Vanguard as you are are getting a shorter barrel than is most efficent in a 243 WIN.

[LunaticFringeInc]

I have shot several and have found them to be pretty good guns.  With he cost of Remington 700's being what they are these days the next two rifles I buy will likely be Wby Vanguards.

[jager]

   I've got a 7RemMag in a Vanguard Classic II. It is basically a "slicked up" Howa action with a "sporter" weight barrel. The trigger on my rifle was not all that great, but installation of a Timney solved that problem. While the overall weight is about a quarter pound heavier than most brands, it is about perfect, IMO, for the caliber.  A set of light weight bases and rings, plus drilling out some wood out of the buttstock can help reduce overall weight.  (I don't care for "pencil" size barrels on rifles regardless of overall weight.)
   It is easily one of the most accurate 7Mags I have ever shot or owned.  Compared to a Howa or Remington 700ADL in the function and fit category, it is like comparing an "old Wingmaster" to a Walmart "Express" (it's a much refined product).

[mannyrock]

  In looking at the Vanguard versus the A-Bolt Medallion, I believe that they are of equal accuracy, but I would personally take the Vanguard.   I believe the Vanguard has the regular loading system, of feeding your rounds down into the magazine from the open action. 

   Tha A-Bolt has a different system, which I personally can't stand.  The floor plate swings down, and then there  is a small sheet metal magazine that attaches to the floorplate (and only holds 3 rounds?), that you have to pull off to load, or that you can reload by putting rounds in it while it is hanging on the swinging floorplate.  Perhaps I am wrong, and you can also load the magazine by shoving rounds down into the magazine from the top of the open action?   But, all in all, I think the system is very cheesey and ruins an otherwise excellent rifle.

Regards,

Mannyrock