Guys,
In talking W/my FFL about wanting to order a Weatherby rifle, it just so happened he was coincidently trying to sell one in the caliber I was looking for IE: 300 Wby Mag! He said "It has never been shot, and was as new in the box."

He went on to explain that the rifle was made in Japan (yes, Howa) W/ MK V action being very nicely blued (barrel and bolt included). He also told me the wood was beautiful, however it did not have the rosewood tip end as in the Deluxe model does!

With that gentleman, I'm trying to find out what model then is this rifle and the round about value? he sayes he may take $720.00 out the door for the rifle!!!! I think this is a REALLY good deal. Am I being taken to the cleaners, and how are the Japan Wby's compared to the older German, or the new American made rifles?

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to waste $720.00 bucks....
Thanks,
Dennis

If you check out www.auctionarms.com you may be able to find several rifles like you mention.

I am no expert by any means but a Howa is not the same action as a weatherby. I think it is just weatherby putting there name on a good cheap action to bring interest to there Mark V. If it says Vangaurd on the side it is not a Mark V.

I have seen Mossberg rifles that are Identical in everyway to weatherby Vangaurds.

Spend a little more money(approx. 250bucks) and get the real deal. Get an Accumark V and enjoy the benefits of a Kreiger barrel and accuracy you have to see to believe. I own an Accumark V in 300 Weatherby and it is a beautiful piece of workmanship. In my opinion they are the best factory rifle available today. If the price sounds steep just compare to a custom rifle. Weatherby's are as good as custom as far as performance goes and their a very nice looking rifle also. My Weatherby shoots under a 1/2" at 100 yards any day. Their triggers are adjustable and are easy to tune to a crisp squeeze. As you can tell I love my Weatherby and lovingly named it "Thunder"

I believe the model you are talking about is the Mark V Sporter. The normally sell for around that price new. Used would be in th $600-$650 range.

Jim

I second 338Lapua's opinion. Howa made ALL Weatherby (Mark V and Vanguard) rifles before production was moved back to the US in 1994. Howa made Mark Vs had to meet the same Weatherby quality standards as those made by Sauer (Germany) and Saco Defense (US).

Just because it was made by Howa, it is not necessarily a Vanguard.

[ 12-12-2002, 23:37: Message edited by: ksduckhunter ]

I agree on the Accumark suggestion. I bought mine used in 30-378 for $900 w/3 boxes of ammo. I'm a fiddler with rifles...bedding, triggers, stock, etc. Didn't touch a thing on that Weatherby. just about perfect in every way I would want one, and shoots under 1/2 moa all day. Some older Mark Vs are fininky with ammo, and Vanguards are nice but just don't have the feel of a real Weatherby. The Accumark is a great rifle. Spend the extra $. I saw a used 270 wthyby magnum Accumark recently in my town for $675. Gone before I got the $ for it but the deals are out there.

Is a new Japanese Mark V worth $720, tax, title, and license? Sure it is. Those Japanese Weatherby's were nice and in every way the equal of both the previous Sauer-built models and the current SACO-built guns.

BTW, Saco Defense is no longer in business with Weatherby. Saco got bought out by General Dynamics a few years back, and since they have stopped civilian rifle production. Weatherby Mark Vs are now made by Acrometal, in Minnesota.

Acrometal Manufacturing

Yes guys it has the MK V action. It is not a Vanguard from Walmart of the sort. I talked W/ my FFL dealer today, and my offer of 650.00 didn't fly. I re-offered at 700.00 to see if he would bite. Yes, I think it is the Sporter older version from Japan....
Just for the heck of it, I'll keep ya all posted on the out come.
Thanks for the info,
Dennis

For those that think that the kreiger barrel used on the accumark is the highly reguarded cut rifled barrel it is not.It is a cheaper button rifled barrel called the criterian line.

BTW, don't anyone think that the Weatherby Vanguard is a cheap rifle. It is inexpensive, compared to a Mark V, but cheap it is not. The quality of the machining on my Howa 1500 is outstanding (not surprising since Howa's main business is CNC machining centers), and my rifle beats the 1.5" Weatherby accuracy guarantee by a MILE with cheap Remington ammo.

Are they still making weatherby vangaurds or are they discontinued?

Walmart in Canada doesn't sell rifles anymore. Actually I don't think they sell any kind of firearms other than pellet guns and paint ball guns.

Guys,
I just couldn't resist ! I bought the Weatherby Vanguard Dlx at Wally World. I did not even go to my FFL dealer to look at the Japan Wby. Once I seen the Vanguard Dlx pulled from the box, AND THE PRICE, I'll I can remember saying is, "Yes, I'll take it, yes I'll take it, yes I'll take it", and out came the check book.

Bought it out the door at 552.17 with a box of factory Rem 180 grain Wby ammo included ! With the money I saved, I'm up grading on the scope I'm wanting to get.

Thanks again all. I'll post range results. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.
Dennis

what is the model you bought? What kind of stock and blueing does it have?....I have an older Vanguard VGX in 30.06. I also have a Mark V sporter light weight. Both have high gloss blue and 24" tubes. The Mark V is in 270 winchester.I looked in all the books I have and couldn't find where they made a Sporter model with high gloss blue. I'm thinking maybe it was a factory option or maybe custom shop?........anyone know?