What can you guys tell me about this rifle? I am looking for a sporter weight 25/06.
I am a dyed-in-the-wool SAVAGE fan, however, Savage does not have a 24" sporter weight rifle in 25/06 listed on their web site. Weatherby lists the Vanguard Synthetic for MSRP $399.
What can you tell me?

As you can take by my handle, I am a died in the wool Weatherby guy but the Vanguard does nothing for me. I would jump on the Savage and never look back.

quote:

Originally posted by the jigger:
What can you guys tell me about this rifle? I am looking for a sporter weight 25/06.
I am a dyed-in-the-wool SAVAGE fan, however, Savage does not have a 24" sporter weight rifle in 25/06 listed on their web site. Weatherby lists the Vanguard Synthetic for MSRP $399.
What can you tell me?

Just like any other "synthetic" the stock is classic tupperware. That said, synthetic stocks work and it's a good fitting one while the Howa 1500 actions are very good. It is an outstanding rifle for the money. I have a stainless sporter in 257 Wby and love it.

Ken....

I have a 300 wby vanguard. My best group so far is .605 I am very happy with it.

Jason

Between the two, I'd be all over the Weatherby. Savages make me nauseous. sure they're accurate but FUGLY, and that matters to me. The Weatherby Vanguards are accurate, and to my eye have much better lines. Lou

One of the most accurate store bought "deer" rifles I ever had was a Vanguard VGX .300 Win Mag(Howa) , simply unbelievably small groups with factory winchester ammo.

The Wby Vanguard is a very strong action that can be very accurate. I would plan on putting an after market stock on it or glass bedding. This will help with the accuracy.

I wore out a 300 Wby Vanguard and rebarreled the action to 300 RUM and it will keep em in a paper plate at 1000 yds.

A buddy of mine just purchased one at wally world with the brown spider web stock for $350.
That is a steal for the quality.

It is hard to beat the Savage accuracy; but I do like the Vanguard looks alot better.
God Bless, Louis

My kids both have Vanguard Compacts in .308 Win. My daughter's is the only one I've fiddled with thus far. But it will go 1/2 MOA with a 150 gr. Win Power Point over a slightly reduced load of IMR-3031. Yes...... 1/2. All that whilst bedded in the black, painted beechwood youth stock.

I'm impressed.

About a year ago, there was a posting one another forum about some factory rifle testing and which modern factory rifle was the most accurate out of the box. The posting said the Vanguard came out on top. I had never owned or shot a Vanguard before that. One day crusing my local gun store, I saw a neat little Vanguard on the rack in 223 Rem, with a 20" barrel. It's the model Weatherby makes as a kids rifle, but comes with two stocks, one for and adult and a short LOP stock for a kid. Was on sale, so I bought it. After making up loads, and testing them, low and behold that rifle shoots several 3 shot groups at 100 yards that measure 3/8", using a 20x scope. Can't say enough good about the rifle and the excellent Speer 50 and 52 grain bullets that delivered the accuracy.
The rifle has a plastic stock and is light weight, which I apreciate.
The rifle came glass bedded at the recoil lug too. All in all, a very fine rifle.
Based on it's accuracy, I bought another Vanguard in 25-06, but haven't shot it yet due to all the snow we had last winter; our range doesn't get plowed in winter. But, I will be shooting it soon.
So, I must add good words about Vanguard rifles, based on my one rifle experience..
The Vanguard is the same rifle as the Howa.

Don

The Vanguards are indeed accurate, and a lot of rifle for the money. Only downside I see is that they are heavy. For $100 more you can have a Tikka T3 -- lighter and even more accurate, and it comes with scope mounts.

It's unfortunate that folks that have the "real" Weatherbys tend to look down their nose at the Vanguard but I have three and all three can shoot better than a 1/2" group any day of the week. I've put timney triggers on all of them and set them for 2 1/2 lbs trigger pull.

I have a Vanguard Sporter in 270Win. I absolutely love this gun. I have had no trouble getting .75 MOA with factory ammo, and .5 with handloads.

I never understood the disdain from the Mark V guys either. Vanguards are the best value for the money out there in my opinion. Plenty of caliber choices, plenty of stock and finish choices. The only thing I would not recommend is the "Sub-MOA" model, since I have never heard of a "normal" one that didn't shoot that good once handloads were involved.

If I ever had the need for 30cal magnum, it would be another Vanguard in 300 Wthby... if they offered it in 375H&H I would have bought a Vanguard instead of the CZ... it's the first make I consider when considering a new gun.

You won't be disappointed.

While a friend just picked up a Howa in 22.250 on my advise and ended up shooting a one hole group with it with one of my recommended handloads.. I think it is a great rifle...

however if you are a dyed in the wool Savage Fan, check out Savage's 2009 catalog...

If I am not mistaken, there is a 116 in 25/06 in sporter weight barrel...

I was also surprised, and surprised I haven't seen other folks ranting about it yet ( the word must not be out).. but they also are chambering the 16 Stainless in 250 Savage and 300 Savage this year...

the 300 Savage does nothing for me, but the 250 Savage is a great move on their part as far as I am concerned...

I have several Wby. Mark Vs and one Vanguard in .243. The 243 will shoot .75 in. groups with any factory load I run thru it. I have not tried any handloads yet, but imagine I could do better. Get the Weatherby. I have owned my share of Savages and while most shot well, I snuck most of them to the range when no one was there so nobody would know I owned one. In general they are hideously ugly and the pistol grip is like holding on to a 2x4. Yes, most will shoot but damn. Even the new models that are upgraded just lack something.

I would take a Vangard over a MK V anyday. My stock Vangard 257 Wby shoots .5 at 200 yards. Not a problem from the get go. I will never buy a Wby Mk V again. Most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever owned.

About a year ago, I bought a Vanguard in .300 Wby. It is fast becoming my favorite rifle. I'm getting sub-.75" groups with 178/180 gr AMAX and TSX bullets at 3200-3300+ fps.

I had to do a trigger job on it, and it now has a crisp 2 1/2 lb break. I re-stocked it in Fancy walnut that is pillar and glass bedded, installed a KDF brake and a mercury reducer.

It's now a beautiful rifle that shoots great.

I have several, and two Savages too. Sorry guys, the Vanguards are more accurate out of the box.

I have owned two Savage 110's and a Weatherby Vanguard as well, and the only one I still own is my Vanguard. Savage makes a good gun, but the Vanguard shoulders better, is more comfortable to shoot, has much nicer lines, is smoother operating, and has a "normal" trigger (I understand the Accutrigger is nice, but I just don't like the feel) which is fully adjustable. They can both be quite accurate, but judging by the rifles at the range and my own experience, the Vanguards have an edge there too.

But that's just my take on them. Someone else may prefer the Accutrigger and a normal straight-comb stock and might not care so much about aesthetics or off-the-shelf smoothness. To each his own.

I am strongly considering a Vanguard Stainless in .300 WBY to sit in the rack with my Synthetic .257 WBY. Great guns.

Funny, I always considered the Vanguard as the REAL Weatherby.

Can't like the boat anchor, 54 locking lug Mark Vee

I own the Mark V WBY Mag in 257. How do those Vanguard rifle shoot. Are they like the Mark V?
I have never seen one.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
I own the Mark V WBY Mag in 257. How do those Vanguard rifle shoot. Are they like the Mark V?
I have never seen one.

I have both a Accumark and a Vanguard. They shoulder about the same while fit and finish is excellent in both. The shorter bolt lift on the Mk V as well as it's silky smoothness is second to none. The Vanguard (Howa) action is very good but uses the standard bolt lift as it is a 2 lug bolt. I like the Vanguard alot and it is very accurate with factory ammo or handloads. It's hard to compare the two as the Accumark is a boomer (338-378 Wby) and the Vanguard is a wood stocked Stainless Sporter in 257 Wby.

Ken....

I have a Vanguard in 7mmRM with a B&C Medalist stock. Gun still shoots great after 1900 rounds. The throat is almost shot out. Can't shoot 140 bullets now so Berger 168 is the ticket. Have a Shilen barrel on order to replace the one on it now. This is how much I like this rifle.
JDY

I have a Vanguard in .243, really like it.

A friend has a 7 mm Rem. Howa labled barreled action in a B & C stock, he likes it.

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