Weatherby vanguard issues

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slug1977

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Pulling out my hair with this rifle .I have a Weatherby vanguard in .243 that I could shoot quarters with at 100m .accuracy has declined over the last couple of years like center of the x first shot from a cold barrel then every shot after that wanders further and further and no rhyme or reason . Action is proprely torqued , no fouling , scope and mounts are tight , same loads as before , I've tried a couple of different scopes but thinking it is time for a new barrel .anyone have any suggestions ? Looking at a .308 . Anyone ever rebarrel one before? Cost?
 
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Id still keep it as a deer hunting rifle if the first shot is always spot on. Proce of vanguard 2 is so cheap when theres a sale you might as well buy a new one... Sub moa guarenteed. Better then re barrel or other options.
 
Are you shooting with any pressure on the fore-end?

I have a Vanguard (.257) that does NOT like being shot with a bipod. Pressure on the forend from the bipod would cause enough flex to throw off grouping. Tried shooting off a bag placed further back and the issue disappeared.

Just a thought......
 
Rebarrel around $6-700, rebore (Ron Smith) around $4-500 depending on options.

Id suggest getting the bore inspected before re barrel, but first, when the first shot is dead on, then it starts to wander, thats usually a sign of heat causing the barrel to expand, that may be aggravated with a pressure point/contact on the stock, have you checked to see if its free floating? might benefit from a bedding job and making sure the stock is clearanced from the barrel.

How many shots till it wander? Walnut or synthetic?
 
I've thought of that . Most of the time first shot is the most important , but , if a second one is needed I don't have the confidence that the bullet will go where I need it to .
 
Synthetic stock . A gen 1 vanguard . Tried off a lead sled , a bipod and just a rolled up rifle case . All same results . Second shot is off . I can group tight with my other deer rifle and my wife's rifle so I am ruling me out as a factor . I tried a free float on another stock I have but worse results . Might try rebedoing
 
from my understanding, and hearing from the other guys at work, the vanguard is famous for a perfect first shot and it only goes down hill until the barrel cools. Is there a block or something touching the barrel in the stock? One fella was telling me that there is a tension piece mid way up the barrel under the stock. I do not own a vanguard so i cannot confirm this. Everyone I talk to says the same thing you are telling me though. Perfect first shot then the group opens up until you let it completely cool off.
 
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yeah here it is. look at point number 1, it "supports" the barrel. This post says to remove the "barrel supports" to float the barrel when you bed the action.

again i do not own one. i just know the fellas at work who do, all talked about removing the "barrel supports" to float the barrel.
 
Try changing the factory stock to something more rigid. I've had great success with the Houge Overmold stock that is pillar bedded. I've also used the Boyd's Thumbhole stocks and they will free float your barrel also. Good luck.
 
I'll pull the spare stock I have out tonight and look for the supports . Gonna bed that stock (wood) and check afterwards for free float and try it again .I love the rifle and the caliber but losing faith in it as coyote season is getting close . (This rifle is another exercise in procrastination ) .
 
The barrel is touching the stock as designed, it just may have lost it's tension over the years. Build uo that pressure point with some thin leather or electrical tape and try her out again.
 
I bought a Vanguard R/C in .223 a couple months back. It was never a true moa rifle. The test target was a very vertical three shot .9" group. I've shot a few sub moa groups but its more like an 1 1/2" rifle. So thinking I could do better I removed the pressure point and rebedded. Now it doesn't string vertical groups, it just shoots 2" groups. Pretty frustrating...now I think I have to put the pressure point back in. Everything else about the rifle is nice. I'd hate to have to get rid of it.
 
cdn shooter said:
I bought a Vanguard R/C in .223 a couple months back. It was never a true moa rifle. The test target was a very vertical three shot .9" group. I've shot a few sub moa groups but its more like an 1 1/2" rifle. So thinking I could do better I removed the pressure point and rebedded. Now it doesn't string vertical groups, it just shoots 2" groups. Pretty frustrating...now I think I have to put the pressure point back in. Everything else about the rifle is nice. I'd hate to have to get rid of it.
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don't the range certified have a bell and Carlson stock? the bell and Carlson are free floated.
 
I have an old sub moa varmint, same thing as the new rc. it was floated. it benefitted from a good glass bedding job, it shot plenty well before though. I have done load work for the series 2 rc varmint and it was floated. or are you talking the standard barrels?
 
Add a pressure point and put it down in a vice. see if the POI changes then.... Im assuming its a faulty pressure point. vanguards were made to use pressure points on the S1. They have very light thin barrels that dont do great when free floated in my experience.
 
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