Are Vanguards safe to reload?

[gaileyr]

The website “The Reload Bench” had this to say about 300 Weatherby load data. “Handloaders should be aware that much of the .300 Weatherby Magnum load data published over the years was developed in Weatherby Mark V rifles with freebored chambers. Some of those loads can generate excessive chamber pressure if used in other rifles with shorter chamber throats.”  I own a Weatherby Vanguard and was wondering if this statement holds true for Vanguard also.

[lucky guy]

Yes, vanguards are safe to reload but I don't know about reloading for that particular round.  The precaution you read has to do with the Weatherby rounds that are developed to max safe pressure with with a weatherby style long freebore, and that if you've developed loads for a Mark V, be careful with them in a Vanguard or any other rifle if it might have a shorter freebore.   Some loads require a little jump by the bullet before it engages the rifling.  You can get unsafe pressures if you don't get that part right.  

If you haven't reloaded before find a buddy that has and get the basics.  Also, buy a reloading manual like the Nosler or Barnes that has a good long reloading instruction section at the front and read it a few times, like you're studying for a test.  These instructions will include how to determine the max cartridge length, where you are wrt the lands of the rifling, etc.  Don't skip steps, this is one thing you want to do by the book.  Reloading is not hard to do, but the penalty for screwing up or not paying close attention can be expensive, painful and leave a mark!!  

[Slowpoke Slim]

The Weatherby vanguard is no less safe to handload for than any other modern bolt action.

The warning about Weatherby chamberings has to be put in the proper context. "Back in the day", Weatherby chamberings were popular among gunsmiths both professional and garage types (one of the early "magnum" line of chamberings through the 40's and 50's),  for rechambering from "standard" calibers. One of the more common found was 30-06 rifles rechambered to 300 Wby mag. It would dramatically depend on where that reamer came from and who did the chamber reaming as to how much "free bore" the rifle had. Some of these rechambered rifles were down right scary. I recall seeing a blown up Springfield 03 in an article some 20 odd years ago.

The vanguard is made to Weatherby's chambering specs, and Weatherby stands behind the rifle to be safe to shoot with the corresponding factory Weatherby ammo. So what I'm trying to say is, the vanguard is just as "safe" to shoot with handloads as a mark V rifle is. The biggest issue is MAKING safe handloads...

You still have to take all the same care with either rifle (mark V or vanguard) when you develop your handloads. I have a vanguard in 257 Wby mag myself. I've never fired a factory round down the barrel. My handloads are loaded to SAAMI spec max over all length, and they chamber perfectly in my rifle. My powder charge is slightly below the "max" listed in my reference reloading book, as are most of my own handloads. The last thing you want to do is start off your load development by just cramming the case full of a "max" load and seeing what happens when you pull the trigger...

That could be a bad day no matter what rifle or caliber you're working with.

Each and every rifle that comes down an assembly line is it's own unique individual rifle and should be treated that way. You should always start your load development well below the "max", and work your way upwards in slow increments until "your" rifle tells you when to stop. Either by too much pressure, or too poor of accuracy, or you hit the "just right" recipe that makes your rifle print the accuracy you're looking for. Very often what happens is that a particular recipe of bullet, primer, powder, that works great in "rifle A", will not shoot worth diddly crap in "rifle B" (even in the same brand and model rifle). That's just part of handloading.

[gaileyr]

 So... the freebore on the Mark V and the Vanguard is the same. Therefore the latest published reloading data should be safe in either model Weatherby. It that a correct? 

[charles p]

I can't attest to the safety of the 300WTBY but I have an old Vanguard from about 1980 that I mistakenly fired some very hot loads through and it performed well.  Mine is in 7mmRem.  Don't know if the 2010 and 1980 Vanguard specs are the same.  Never exceed safe pressures on purpose.  It rarely delivers an accurate load so you have nothing to gain and everything to loose.