Author Topic: considering a Weatherby Vangaurd Varmint special in 223 (Read 661 times)

nofun1 · « **on:** March 06, 2006, 03:27:06 PM »

It looks like a pretty good gun for the cash what do you guys think of it?

SeaBass · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:02:42 AM »

I have a Vanguard in .270 win. It will shoot 1/2 to 3/4 MOA if I do my part. It's a good quality rifle.
However there are a couple of things to consider.

One the triggers are OK but not what I would call a Varmint trigger. They are adjustable but I think mine would only go down to 4#'s and wasn't super smooth. A Timney trigger is about $80.00 for it, or the factory trigger can by worked with pretty good results.

Two every since they started with the whole Sub-MOA thing I suspect it will be alot harder to buy a regular Vanguard that will shoot <1".
I would imagine when they test fire the rifles the ones that shoot <1" get tagged as SUB-MOA and the one that shoot 1" to 1.5" get tagged as regular Vanguards.

So if you need to work the trigger and it has a barrel that shoot's 1"-1.5" it's not as good a deal as it seems. You might find a load the will shoot real small but you might not.

If you want this action you might consider the (they make the Vanguard on a 1500 action)Howa 1500 Varmint with the Laminate thumbhole stock. Like I said the triggers need a bit of work but with the Howa at least no one is snapping up all the sub-moa rifles and charging hundreds extra for it.

I have a Vanguard for a deer rifle but my new Varmint rifle will be a CZ or a Savage. I don't want to have to tinker with this one.

If you don't mind tinkering a bit the Howa would probably shoot very well and the stocks are real nice. The Vanguard is a very good rifle. It's just the whole SUB-MOA line limits the chances of getting a super accurrate regular Vanguard.

nofun1 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:49:48 PM »

SeaBass Thanks for the input I did buy the Vangaurd and after I bought it I saw the test target and my heart sunk. 1.4" put it was to late, I took it home and did the trigger took off 1 coil of the main spring, stoned it. and it breaks like glass at 2-2.25lbs with no creep so I cleaned the barrel and shot 5 groups 2 at 1/2" and 3 under 1"So I think I'll keep it.

SeaBass · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2006, 07:11:54 PM »

I did the same thing w/my trigger. The spring was too heavy. I think I stopped at 3#'s or so since I deer hunt with it. I'm glad it worked out for you. Good luck searching for that one ragged hole!