I am looking at a low cost .338 Win Mag for an Elk hunt. I looked at building a .338-06 on a 98 action I have but both the Vanguard or Savage can be had for the same cost of the build.

I like the looks of the Vanguard better than the Savage. I like the fact I can get the Savage in lefty. I shoot right handed guns lefty but it would be nice to actually get a lefty rifle. Both rifles are stainless and plastic stocked.

Pros and cons from owners of each please.

if the Vanguard is still on a Howa action, can't miss with either. Might as well go lefty, I should think.

IMO the vanguard is a better rifle.....

As to LH....you have to judge!

i'd get the rifle that fit me best, so if i were left handed, i'd darn sure get a lh action. savage4 makes a fine rifle. lots of folks kill everything on the planet every year with em'. same can be said of the vanguard.

I've got a Howa 1500 (aka Vanguard) and I've got to say, it's a heck of a rifle for the money. Shoots well, rugged, large recoil lug and has a Sako style extractor. It's my primary hunting rifle; I have a lot of faith in it.

The only downside to the Howa/Vanguard is it is a little heavy. I would imagine if your re-barrel it this will become irrelevant though.

Dittos to what Sevens said about the Vanguard/Howa rifles being a wee bit heavy in standard cartridgess, e.g .270 Win. Not a lot mind you but they could be a 1/2 pound or so lighter.

Two of my Vanguards are in .300 Win Mag and .300 Wby Mag and for these cartridges I wouldn't want them any lighter. Since you're looking at a .338 Win Mag I think you'll find the weight about right.

Nothing wrong with a Savage I guess. For my $$ I would buy a Vanguard or better yet a Howa and put the extra $$ in my pocket.

Vanguard.

There's 3 of them in the family. One (a .300 Win) shoots 1/2" 3-shot groups at 100 yards. The other (a .308) shoots 1/4" 3-shot groups at 100 yards.

Kinda makes me feel like a smacked butt for spending more money on the rifles I shoot.

Vandguard, no doubt

Oscar.

Thanks for the answers. So far they back my thoughts as I like the Vanguard better so far. I have to actually see and hold the Savage yet. Have not seen the newer ones. As for the left/ right action I am comfortable with a righty action because all my rifles are righty. I would have to get used to a lefty.

Of the two mentioned, I'd definitely go with the Howa/Vanguard. Irrespective of any positive attributes, the Savage has to be one of most butt-ugly rifles made extant.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Of the two mentioned, I'd definitely go with the Howa/Vanguard. Irrespective of any positive attributes, the Savage has to be one of most butt-ugly rifles made extant.

I agree with that. Even if it had nice wood the bolt and action is ugly. I will check one out though as I hear the new ones are different than the older ones.

The Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic is on sale at Sportsman's Warehouse for $379.00 tomorrow. I plan to get one in 300 Weatherby. I've got an old Redfield 3x9 Tracker scope to put on it. Should be a great knock around hunting rig for medium size game.

To bad the SW near here closed after only a few years.

The Vanguard offers a floor plate which trumps it as a hunting gun for me. I do have a couple of custom Savage rifles but their all in varmint configurations.

I have both and I have built rifles with both. The Savage on average is slightly more accurate. If you pillar bed the Vangard it will shoot beside the Savage. Out of the box, the Savage is the most accurate medium priced rifle you can buy. The accu-trigger is great in my opinion, but some don't like them. As the man that taught me gunsmithing would say,"beauty is as beauty does". After you shoot a Savage they get prettier. Both are fine rifles for the money......Tom

Another vote for the Vanguard...have the stainless in 338...

We ended up replacing the trigger with a Timney (sp?)..made a big difference...I was surprised because I have had a couple of other Howa's and the trigger's were excellent..not so with the Vanguard.

It shoots 250 gr Speer Grand Slam's over 73 gr of RL19 into one ragged hole. My son has killed moose and elk with it...very effective.

Cheers!

Vanguard SubMoa.
Everyone I've seen just shoots one ragged hole.

Take a look at the Savage, Accustock with accutrigger I think the best value in firearms.

Jim

Donald Nelson: We had a SW here between LA and Lost Wages and it was only open for about 90 days. People here call SW "Cut & Run".

quote:

Originally posted by Fat_Albert:
Donald Nelson: We had a SW here between LA and Lost Wages and it was only open for about 90 days. People here call SW "Cut & Run".

It had lots of competition with all the Gander Mountains and Cabelas not being far away here.

I'd just buy whichever you like the best...feature-wise. They'll both serve you well. If you want stainless you won't get it in a new Vanguard as Weatherby stopped selling stainless rifles except out of their custom shop. You might be able to find one on Gunbroker etc.

I have two Vanguard SUBMOAS and they don't hold a candle accuracy-wise to my Browning A-bolt. It isn't that they're not accurate it's that they're not consistently accurate. I don't know why but suspect it's because the barrels are not free floated...unlike my Browning. They will also shoot high off the bench if I don't place the forearm of the rifle on the front rest as close to the front action screw as possible. Again, not an issue with my Browning.

A buddy of mine has an absolutely butt ugly Savage 110 he has hunted with for years. I call it a tent stake but he shoots it well and I can't argue with the results. Another buddy loves his Savage tent stake too so I think either way you'll be happy.