My daughter has decided that the Weatherby Vanguard Youth Compact feels and fits her the best. So it will be her first deer rifle. I also like what I see in the Vanguard over the 700 SPS Youth (which was the other contender in the choice). But I do not like the fact that the Vanguard's bolt is locked when the safety is "on". Seems to me, this could pose a potential, albeit slight, risk of accidental discharge when unloading the chmber with the safety "off". Is it possible to have the rifle changed to have the bolt open with the safety "on"?? And how much of a job would it be??

There is a tab on the safety lever that moves up as the safety is pulled back and engages a slot in the bolt, thereby locking it.

A Dremel tool will fix your issue once yout ake the action out of the stock.

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Originally posted by Strut10:
My daughter has decided that the Weatherby Vanguard Youth Compact feels and fits her the best. So it will be her first deer rifle. I also like what I see in the Vanguard over the 700 SPS Youth (which was the other contender in the choice). But I do not like the fact that the Vanguard's bolt is locked when the safety is "on". Seems to me, this could pose a potential, albeit slight, risk of accidental discharge when unloading the chmber with the safety "off". Is it possible to have the rifle changed to have the bolt open with the safety "on"?? And how much of a job would it be??

IMO this is a wise move.....Remington now charges $20 to fix their old M-700 in this fashion. They too locked the bolt and the new ones do not

The three position safety is still the best and I still don't understand any company that don't adopt it.

Thanks for the help fellers!!

I'm looking to make the rig as simple and safe as I can for her. One of the (other) reasons I didn't like the 700 was the floorplate release. It is inside the trigger guard whereas the Vanguard's is outside. Maybe picky.....but it bears considering for a 12 year old.

The web site for Legacy Sports (importers for the Howa line) says they now come with a 3 position safety.
They are not Weatherby, but the 1500 Howa uses the same action. Whatever modificaton was made to the Howa for a 3 position (side) safety should be applicable to the Weatherby. Unless they use an entirely different trigger system.

I never have understood why anyone thought it was a good idea to lock a bolt with the safety on, requiring the safety to be off to unload it. I've got several bolt actions so afflicted with two-position bolt locking safeties, including a Vanguard.

Having just read a lengthy discussion of Model 70s' gas-handling features or lack thereof, I'll point out that my 1998 Vanguard has a wide open left locking lug raceway with a little projection on the bolt shroud around it that blocks the direct line-of-sight path of gas to the rear, but that projection is far enough behind the receiver that it'd likely just disperse the gas spray over a wider area of the face.

In my opinion, safeties are far “safer†when the user only has two distinct choices...ON or OFF.

Strut10: Buy her the Remington and as she gets older you can replace the stock with any number of synthetics out there. On top of that the Remington will shoot better. She would probably never have a problem with either gun but in this case the Remington is the way to go. Read on if you dare this is meant for the rest of the riff raff not you Strutt10 ...... ahhh well you too Strutt10!!!!!!!
Why the hell would anyone want a safety to begin with? I never load a round till I am within stalking distance then I chamber a round but do not close the bolt. When I’m ready to shoot I push the bolt slowly down with my thumb and shoot. It makes no sound and if I trip and fall in the stalk it will NEVER go off! I have seen far to many Remingtons, Winchesters and Mausers fire when the safety is let off. As for shotty guns I can close a pump or a double gun as the gun comes up. On top of that you do not need to close the bolt to clear ammo from even a blind magazine bolt gun. Just point the muzzle to the sky and push the bolt till the shells clear the feed rails. Pull back the bolt and let the shell fall in your hand and repeat. A safety is for paranoid people that need to have controlled round fed guns because they get so excited when they see a deer that they short stroke the first round, leaving it in the chamber and then try to chamber a fresh round and find that their gun is jammed with 2 rounds of ammo. Walking through the bush with a loaded gun even with the safety on is like walking around with a grenade in your hand with a string on the pin, the other end of the string tied round your neck and the whole kit-en-caboodle is over your heart. If you fall its up to you to control it some how. Walking around with a revolver which is not cocked is a totally different thing so don’t bring it up. It’s a totally different scenario. A hammer is not a safety in a properly designed gun. I can’t believe I said kit-en-caboodle next thing you know I will be saying Mercan words like ..... golly, gosh and shasam! God help me

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I never load a round till I am within stalking distance then I chamber a round but do not close the bolt. When I’m ready to shoot I push the bolt slowly down with my thumb and shoot. It makes no sound and if I trip and fall in the stalk it will NEVER go off!

Yep I do the same thing but when I unload at camp I like the safty of the CRF just use it as a straight pull action to unload. No need to turn the bolt handle down to do this. But on the other hand I have the floor plate also on top of the 3 position safty.

I dont rely on the safty but it is nesesary for the gun mfgs to have them for inexperianced shooters.. Liabilitys you know.

If a guy keeps his muzzle pointed in a SAFE
direction nobody would have to worry about it.