2 Vanguards, 2 days

[dpe.ahoy]

Just off the phone with my favorite candy store man, had him set back a Vanguard 243 they have on closeout, plus a 15% sale on certain brands and weatherby is one of em.  I bought a 223 there yesterday, blued, 20" plastic stock, the 243 is it's twin.  These are just under $280.00, set of the Remington ring/base setup and out the door for less than $301.00.   Sale runs 2 more days and they still have the 308's in the same set up,  nah, better not, to cold to sleep on the porch.   223 test target was about 3/4 ", stock is tight against the barrel for about 4-5" in the middle of the barrel.  I'm sure with the barrel freefloated, she will be even better.  I just love my kind of candy.   Now for the excuse, need em for the cabin, nah, several there now, girls talking about hunting, used that one several times now, IT WAS ON SALE!  Works for her shoes, purses and clothes, should work for me.   I'll let ya know.   DP

[mjbgalt]

wow. better not tell me where the shop is lol

[Graybeard]

That's a really good price. BTW test targets supplied with Weatherby rifles are NOT shot with the rifle you buy. They have a bench fixture of some sort the barrelled actions fit into and don't use the stock you are buying on it so it's not really representative of what the rifle you take home will do.

I had one in .257 Whby and fed it the factory ammo they said they used for the target. Not only did it not shoot anywhere near what they showed in the test target it never shot decent with any ammo I fed it factory or hand loads.

Same ammo thru my Remington LSS limited edition in .257 Whby is superbly accurate. I've done nothing to it but reduce trigger pull and scope it otherwise the R700 is bone stock. It's also not nearly so heavy as my Vanguard SS .257 was.

I'm not trying to knock the Vanguard as a whole as I've seen some shoot some nice tight groups, mine just didn't happen to do so. I'm sure they would have made it right if I had sent it back but it was just too heavy for a .257 now if it had been a .300 mag I'd have wecomed that extra weight.

[hunt-m-up]

At that price a guy I'd say you're showing pretty good restraint. The new triggers are better than on the older ones, which a Timney would remedy. The actions are heavy, but at that price with a hinged floorplate, they will make you laugh at the other "budget" bolt guns. I'm glad there's no one around me offering them for that price.

[bobg]

Don't count on Weatherby makeing it right.  Had a Vanguard in 22-250 that just plain would not shoot. Took it back to the dealer and he shot every brand of ammo he had in the store through it. Same results as mine. He sent it back to Weatherby. When it was returned there was a letter in the box stateing there was nothing wrong with the rifle. If i wanted a target rifle that is what i should have bought.
  Had a Lazer Mark in 240 Weatherby mag. No way it would feed a round from the magazine into the chamber. Sent it back twice without it ever being fixed. Took it back to the dealer and traded it for a Ruger.  After my long rant. I do own a Vanguard in 270 Win. That just plain shoots.  It is the only Weatherby i own now. Almost forgot. Had a Weatherby 22 also. That didn't make the grade either. Traded it for a Ruger 10-22.

[valvesinmyhead]

Thats a great deal on two rifles. You will be happy with both. I have shot 5 three round 1/2" MOA groups with my 270 win Sportster.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Just FYI,

That's no longer the case with the Weatherby's being shot in a fixture. They now state that all their rifles are shot in their respective stock, as shipped. It has been this way for a while now. I only have one vanguard, and it's a real shooter. I have a Timney trigger in mine. Mine's also a 257 mag, and yes it is heavy for a "sporter" quarter bore, but it makes really small groups on paper, and big holes in bobcats!

 

My only other Weatherby is a German 375 wby mag. Not the same comparison at all.

[dpe.ahoy]

My 257 Weatherby Vanguard is kinda picky on loads, if it likes it, .6-.7" if not 2.0" plus.  My Howa 22-250 shoots tiny groups and my old 7 Mag howa shot most loads very well, don't know why I sold it.   These new ones are pretty light for Howa/Vanguards, it's a proven design, same basic action for Mossberg 1500, S&W 1500 ect.  If they get to heavy I'll either exercise or take one out of the safe that's lighter.   DP