BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[caveman]

Could someone give me info on the quality of this rifle, and their opinions please?

[gunslinger338]

A good friend of mine has one and swears by it says its the best thing in the whole world. I know he shoots really well with it.

[ChesterGolf]

I think the Vanguard would be just fine... weatherby quality without all the fancy stuff. I kind of compare it to the Remington 870 express. It is built to all the specs of the 870 wingmaster but doesn't have the same finishes. They are the workhorses of the line. If you want a gun to look at get the lazermark if you want a great hunting rifle get the Vangaurd.JMHO

[ This Message was edited by: ChesterGolf on 2002-09-14 05:58 ]

[coonelkhunter]

I have a .270 weatherby vanguard. What a great gun! Mine is the older vangaurd with a really nice stock and barrel. I recently sent it in to have the safety changed. It still shoots great with 140 grain barnes x molly coat bullets. I have a simmons aetec mounted on it. It has killed elk, and countless mule deer.

[caveman]

Thanks guys

[jsalas68]

Thats good to hear because I seen one at Wal-Mart for $388.00 300weatherby Magnum in the vanguard. I was thinking of buying but I thought it wasnt a real weatherby. Thanks for the info

[Keepitsimple]

What would an older Vanguard be worth. Excellent condition, less than 20 rounds through it?

[ChesterGolf]

Although I may be wrong, I suspect that it would not lose its value as fast as a more expensive firearm. Buy an expensive firearm and try to re-sell it and you lose $$$. Buy a cheap firearm and re-sell it and you propaply don't lose as much. People will only pay so much for used rifles and any functional firearm will only command a certain price.
I don't know what a nearly mint Vanguard would be worth but $275-300 still would be a good deal... atleast to me.

[StrokerAce]

I like the Vanguard. Unfortunity for me, it dosn't come in a left handed model

[cdhunt]

STROKER-check the latest issue of GUN LIST, they have lefties advertised on the 2nd or 3rd page.

[EJ65]

Vanguard - I own a .270 Vangaurd and it is without a doubt the best thing I could have bought for the money. I had an old Ruger 77 in 25-06 that needed replacing just because it was a very beat up hand me down. I shot a 7mm rem mag Vangaurd at the range and couldn't believe the feel, accuracy (gaurunteed), handling and probably the most amazing thing - the lack of felt recoil. It felt like it kicked about the same as my 25 ought. When I went replacement shopping I had forgotten about the Vangaurd. I had my sights set on a Model 70 featherweight in .270. I went to a large distributor near where I live and saw the Vangaurd. Saw that it was a 270, asked to handle it a little bit and that was it. I installed a Redfield Widefield 2-7. This scope supplies a very large field of view at close range. This is necessary for Blacktail and Mulie hunting in the Sierras. My "spot" has two distance dynamics. One is hiking to a series of stands. This almost 3 mile hike is through very ugly terrain. A Mulie will spring up from anywhere and hop away - in and out of a narrow site picture. These shots take place from 5 to 150 yards. The other dynamic is found near the top of a mountain as I said, in a series of stands that are along a ridge about 25 to 100 feet from the top. Shots here range from 50 to 350 (or more if you can do it. I don't feel good about shooting over 350 in broad day light, but that's just me).

At the range, it has that length, pull and stock shape that makes Weatherby's feel like they kick less than they actually do (also weight - it weights around 8.7 lbs. with scope). I keep telling people that this rifle gives me about the same sense of recoil as does the the 25-06 or even a 6.5x55. You can concentrate on the target. I have had my Vangaurd for two years and I love it. I do miss control extraction, but I have not ever jammed a round while chambering a follow-up shot no matter the angle. This is a modified Mauser type. It is tough. The factory supplied target that shows just under 1.6 inches is almost a worst case scenario. I found that my Vangaurd likes Winchester premium 130 grain bullets. It shoots around 1.2 inches in three shot groups.

If you can't tell, I am very sold on this rifle.

Oh, people like to talk about the fact that they are built in Japan - that that is un-Weatherby. Only recently have these rifles been built in the U.S.. They have been built in either Germany or Japan for over 50 years. The standard of quality and accuracy is what Weatherby insists on.

[Captain_Obvious]

My own Weatherby Vanguard is chambered for the 300 Weatherby Magnum cartridge. It is a very fine rifle, it's beautiful to look at, it feels very confident in the hands, and is as accurate as any hunting rifle ever needs to be.