I purchased four Weatherby Vanguards for gifts and I was looking at the targets and one of them is 5/8 center to center. The calibers are 300 Weatherby. How are these guns? I know they are made by Howa and I paid $400 a piece. This seems real accurate for a $400 dollar gun. I was just curious on peoples opinion on this line of guns. Thanks Doug

The Weatherby Vanguard (Howa) rifles are good useable firearms. They are rumored to be held to quite precise manufacturing tolerances. Sounds like one is a keeper if it is shooting that well. My only gripe with the Vanguards in .300 Wby. Mag. are they come with 24 inch barrels. That is fine for a 300 Win. Mag. but the Weatherby needs 26 inches. Keep it, shoot it and may you wear it out on game.

I have an older Vanguard VGX Deluxe that I purchased after getting out of boot camp. After attaching a Leupold VariX-II 3-9x40mm, I started hunting the end of deer season. This rifle has served me well and has a very nice fit, finish, and accuracy for the price. Even the wood is pretty on the Deluxe. Being as this rifle is a 300 Wby chambering, I can agree with Mag Hunter that I wish it had the 26" tube, but this rifle will always have a place in my gun rack. It is my opinion that these are the best bargain rifles you purchase as they are relatively inexpensive, accurate, and if mine is a testament, hold up well over the years...enjoy

This gun is possibly the best push feed a-going...

I'm among the few that believe 26" barrels are for catching more brush.......I'd be happy with a 300 Wby in a 22" barrel!

The only negative about the Howa is the metric thread in the receiver.....it's not as readily rebarreled but this isn't a condomnation of the whole.......I'd far rather have a Vanguard than a Mark V any day.

I've owned 2 of the vangaurds and while nice and accurate the 3 shot target from a COLD barrel was a hint, on both of mine, a22-250 and 300wsm the barrel got hot real quick and accuracy went out the window.A 5 shot string ,even out of the 22-250, was impossible

I've owned several Howa's, my favorite is the 300 Weatherby

I have had a Vanguard Classic II in .30-06 for 18 years, and it is a good performer. With handloads it can shoot under an inch for three shot groups (it seems to like 180 to 200 grain bullets the best), and the straight comb stock is comfortable for me. I did glass bed the stock, with a slight pressure pad under the middle of the barrel. It started out life with a Leupold Vari-X II 4x12, but I later switched to a Burris 3x9 Signature. The bolt is smooth and the trigger, when adjusted, is very good for me, even though the trigger itself is narrow. I won't give it up, even though my Mk V in 340 is a spiffier gun with more power.

I have a "$369 at Wally World" Vanguard. The trigger is marginal and it wouldn't shoot under 3" when I got it. It came with a factory target that was .35". I replaced the stock with a Bell and Carlson and it will shot as many rounds as I can fire into a very small hole. Heat doesn't seem to bother it now. It is 300 Weatherby and is the most accurate Weatherby I own. I have 3 Mark V's .
The Howa is a very good rifle! I also have one labeled Smith and Wesson.

I have a Howa with a 26" Krieger 270WSM barrel that shoots .5moa or less. Currently having a 25/300WSM built by Hart. Metric threads don't seem to pose a problem and the rounded action is very rigid according to the gunsmiths I have worked with. Tolerances on both my actions were very tight requiring very little work. Throw a Timney trigger on it along with a good stock and you have a good, inexpensive rifle.

Doug - The Vanguard is basically a "slicked up" Howa action that is strong and accurate. I have one in a 7RemMag that is one of the most accurate (if not the loudest) rifles I own. I did, as Billyboy suggested, install a Timney trigger early on, for I could not adjust the factory trigger below 4 pounds. I have the Classic II stock with a "Decellerator" pad and a Luepold VarII 3X9 mounted in Millet rings and bases. I'm not partial to 26" barrels in "bolt guns", but agree that magnums gain more fps than "standard" calibers per inch of barrel. (I traded a 26" barreled rifle for my current 24" 7Mag.) I think you got a good deal money wise; especially how well it is shooting. Mags

Thanks everyone for your comments. I was thinking of keeping this one and getting another one to replace it. Doug

I have a VGX that started as a 7mm that I turned into a .257 Wby. I really like it. Fit and finish are very nice and it shoots great (partly the Vanguard and partly my 'smith I'm sure)

Has anybody tried the new Vangauard with a wood stock? some reason just didn't feel the same.The top of the comb felt to sharp or at wrong angle....

quote:

I'd far rather have a Vanguard than a Mark V any day.

No kidding?

A good friend has a Vanguard .243 that shoots very nicely, and the stock is great too! Why spend the extra for the Mark V, then, I suppose?

How would the Vanguard compare to Kimber (the woodstocked Kimbers)?

Thanks,

friar