Weatherby Vanguard MOA stocks

26 September 2006, 05:17

Does anyone have any knowledge of just how good these fiberglass stocks on the Vanguard MOA are?

Compared to the McMillan stock for the Vanguard?

Do you think the Weatherby custom shop upgrade, from the standard pillar bedded version normally provivided, to the fiberglass stock with the machined aluminum bedding plate be worth the addtional money?

26 September 2006, 09:15

Zeke

If we are thinking of the same stock, Bell & Carlson makes fiberglass stocks for Weatherby.

I bought a non sub-MOA Vanguard and put a Bell & Carlson Medalist stock on it. The Medalist has the full length aluminum bedding block. It is a huge step up from the Vanguard's tupperware stock. Helped groups and recoil.

ZM

26 September 2006, 10:10

Kabluewy

Zeke,
Thanks for the info. I had no idea that the stocks were made by Bell & Carlson. I looked at the pictures on Midway, and they darn sure look the same. I like the design. It just doesn't make sense that they make the stocks at the custom shop, when they can just buy them from B&C, and mark them up. And the custom shop makes out like they make them there, and they ask suggested retail a lot more than Midway prices.

I have never owned a B & C stock, and always wondered if they were special.

How do you like your Vanguard?

KB

26 September 2006, 10:19

hoghunting

The American Rifleman had an article about the Sub MOA Vanguard and I believe the stock was made by H-S Precision.

26 September 2006, 11:12

Kabluewy

I looked at HS Precision web site, and the description of the methods and materials in their stock fits the Weatherby Vanguard MOA description. They don't show a stock for the Vanguard, but their stock for the Mark V looks similar.

It's certainly possible you are correct, but I would like to know for sure. Either way, I think H-S or B&C makes a good stock. I might favor the H-S, given a choice, but I don't know for sure.

Probably, I'll call the Weatherby custom shop tomorrow, and just ask them who makes their stock for the MOA. It's an easy question, but I didn't think to ask before because I got the impression they made the stocks at the custom shop.

KB.

26 September 2006, 11:36

Zeke

quote:
Originally posted by Kabluewy:
Zeke,
Thanks for the info. I had no idea that the stocks were made by Bell & Carlson. I looked at the pictures on Midway, and they darn sure look the same. I like the design. It just doesn't make sense that they make the stocks at the custom shop, when they can just buy them from B&C, and mark them up. And the custom shop makes out like they make them there, and they ask suggested retail a lot more than Midway prices.

I have never owned a B & C stock, and always wondered if they were special.

How do you like your Vanguard?

KB

I put my Vanguard side by side with a Sub-Moa at the gunstore. They sure looked alike. But I'm not going to bet on it. I have the article hoghunting refers to. I'll check.

Anyway, I like my Vanguard. It's a 300WBY. The B&C stock makes a lot of difference. Comes with a Decelerator. Recoil is mild. Very accurate gun. It likes 180gr TSX bullets.

Let us know what Weatherby says about who makes their stocks.

Here's a pic of the rifle.

26 September 2006, 21:09

Heat

The Sub MOA Vanguard is a composite stock which is better then just your plain tupperware version. The main difference between these and the Mark V Accumark or Sub MOA option is the aluminum bedding block....

The Sub MOAs come with the Pachmayr decelerator to help on the recoil.... At least they pillar bed it but the aluminum bedding block would make a big difference...

Even if you have the aluminum bedding block added it is alot of bang for the buck so enjoy....

Ken....

26 September 2006, 21:14

Heat

quote:
Originally posted by Heat:
The Sub MOA Vanguard is a composite stock which is better then just your plain tupperware version. The main difference between these and the Mark V Accumark or Sub MOA option is the aluminum bedding block....

The Sub MOAs come with the Pachmayr decelerator to help on the recoil.... At least they pillar bed it but the aluminum bedding block would make a big difference...

Even if you have the aluminum bedding block added it is alot of bang for the buck so enjoy.... After all, it will still be several hundred dollars less then an Accumark. I'm going to fork out the extra dollars for the Accumark because they don't offer the Vanguards in 340 Weatherby (plus I like the Mark V action) ...

Ken....

26 September 2006, 21:17

stubblejumper

I prefer pillar bedding to the aluminum bedding block myself.Many gunsmiths are actually skim bedding the stocks with aluminum bedding blocks.

27 September 2006, 02:58

minneshooter

Maybe just a bit off thread......but, I have a Vanguard I just picked up in the "Rifle of the Year" model. The stock looks to be the same synthetic that the sub-moa uses. Anyone know? Also, I am not real fond of the trigger, anyone have any similar issues with the Vanguad?

27 September 2006, 04:28

Kabluewy

Today I spoke with the customer service Guy at the Weatherby Custom Shop. He said the Vanguard MOA fiberglass stocks are Bell & Carlson. Mark V stocks were made by H-S under contract a few years ago, but not currently. H-S has never made the Vanguard stocks for the custom shop, or the production rifles.

He said the variants offered in the custom shop are the color pattern, which B&C makes special for Weatherby. Otherwise the stocks are the B&C Medalist pillar bedded or the one with the full aluminum plate. The custom shop glass beds the lug area on the MOAs they send out.

KB