Author Topic: Accurizing a Weatherby Vanguard (Read 2304 times)

RonO777 · « **on:** September 20, 2004, 04:56:33 PM »

I have a Vanguard in 22/250. It will shoot 1 3/4 groups at 200 yards most of the time. When I shoot of bags the groups will be in the 1 3/4 range only if I put the front bag under the front trigger guard bolt. But off a bipod its a differant story. The barrel has a lot of pressure at the tip of the stock. Should I try to free float the barrel or get a stock that wont have as much flex? I really like the Boyds Ross thumbhole sporter and for $78 for the VIP stock its really not a bad deal.
Any ideas? Just so you know when I hunt its mostly with a bipod.

Ron

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2004, 08:43:59 PM »

A group of 1 3/4 inches at 200 yards isn't too bad for an unmodified sporter. I am afraid the problem with bipods is that some do create bounce which acts as if the rifle were shot from a hard rest. I've avoided bipods for extreme range shooting and where maximum accuracy is needed. Crossed sticks do a better job for me. The 'V' of the cross is padded and I seen really good work done from them. If you'd like the Vanguard can be temporarily free floated by introducing shims into the inletting. This is a temporary thing but will give you a good ideaa as to how the rifle will perform with it's barrel floated. Good luck!!

safetysheriff · « **Reply #2 on:** September 23, 2004, 01:32:31 PM »

I would actually contact the Weatherby people to see what they suggest. It's worth the price of a phone call. I partly suggest this because I think you are on to something when you get at the amount of flex in the factory stock. The problem might be remedied with some round steel rods ( like Motorola two-way radio antennas cut to length? ) glued into the stock to remove/reduce the flex that it allows. With proper gluing (using JB Weld?) I can see how someone might cure a problem with a stock.

Good luck.

SS'

gunnut69 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2004, 07:44:54 AM »

No stock is flex free and some actually call it a virtue, as recoil is supposedly ameliorated. I don't really believe the problem was with the stock. I think bipods cause and awful lot of accuracy problems. Any rifle the is shot off an unyielding surface(such as a locked pair of bipod legs) will recoil away from the hard surface, and slight changes in level will cause random dispersal of the shots, a levl rsting surface for the legs will lead to stringing and the flex and shooter hold tension becomes the variable. Bipods are great for hunting but bags and adjustable rests are better off the bench.

As an aside. I've used rods forms to attempt to stiffen a sybthetic stock. The forearm was hollow and guite flimsy. I filled the forearm with aluminum arrow tubing. The ends were cut square and sealed. The tubes were embedded in a matrix of bedding compound. The Graphite arrows made now would be even better as they are lighter and stiffer..but they are price prohibitive.. The aluminum shafts were slightly bent rejects and the bends were strainghtened as much as possible and cut out when they could be. Clean the shafts with acetone and allow to dry before bedding and seal the ends of the tubes to keep the matrix as light as possible.

RonO777 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2004, 01:34:31 PM »

I floated the barrel It took quite a bit of work to get it to clear. You can push up on the stock at the tip and see it flex but Im not going to take any more off the stock Then I dropped the trigger pull down but it wouldnt go any lower than 4lbs. But it did tighten my groups up quite a bit. The best was a .89 the worst was a 1.34 at 200yards off sandbags. That was with Federal Premium 55 grain. I think it would get even better with a better trigger. The one thats in it now feels a little rough. Maybe I'll look into a Timney trigger next when I get a little extra money.

Ron

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 28, 2004, 08:22:59 AM »

Once again I would say that less than 1/2 minute of angle is pretty fine shootin' for a factory rifle with a very small amount of tweaking and using factory ammo.. I would most assuredly keep that rifle and tressure it greatly...

SeaBass · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:01:17 PM »

How did you go about free floating the barrel? I have a Vanguard in .270win. With 140gr core-loct ultra's it would shoot 1" to 1.5" 3 shot groups at 100yds and 2.75 to 3.25 inch 3 shot groups at 200yds.

(with 130gr ballistic tips it would do .75" and 2.5" but I did't have any for this test.)

I shimmed the action with just enough washers to temporarily free float the barrel.

(There was a fair amount of pressure on the front of the stock. It gives it a very solid feel, but i wondered if it was affecting its accuracy.)

My average groups were better but not by a huge margin. My best groups however were much better! .75"@100yds and .9"@200yds! 5 shots groups <1"at 100yds and this is not the most accurate ammo in my rifle.

I'm hoping the larger groups were do to my shooting in rather windy conditions and because the action was only resting on washers.

I would like to free float the barrel. I was thinking of adding fiberglass and resin under the action until the barrel is just barely free floated. The barrel is in full contact with the synthetic stock from the factory so shaving it down doesn't seem the best route to go for me.

What would be the best way to free float the barrel? Thanks.

gunnut69 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2005, 01:49:52 PM »

When free floating a barrel normally the barrel channel in the stock is sanded out until the barrel is not contacted. In a synthetic stock this is fairly easy.. Sand paper wrapped around a wooden dowel or something similar is often used. It doesn't require a gap between the barrel and the side of the channel in the stock, just enough clearance to allow a dollar bill looped around the barrel to pass from the front of the stock to within a few inches of the action. The rear portion of the barrel SHOULD be suported by the barrel channel as should the action.