New Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe

Im not a rich guy...

if you want a weatherby, Id suggest you save your sheckles to buy a real one. the only thing weatherby with the vanguard is the proprietary wby chamber and maybe, the stock.
I have a accumark ultralite and wby ballistics in general, but, im not a big fan of the vanguard. I dont like the safety button, the loose fitting bolt and that it doesnt come in stainless steel. I see the vanguard is a ecomomy way to get into a hot WBY cartridge(7mm wby 270wby 257wby), if you want a 'traditional' cartridge (30-06,270win) then I would think that my choice would be savage, ruger etc.
I almost got a VanG in 257 wby for the girlfriend, but i just couldnt do it. and coincidentally, i happened to find her a used 257 mark 5 sporter. So its all for the best.
good luck and i hope this helps
 
I have a accumark ultralite and wby ballistics in general, but, im not a big fan of the vanguard. I dont like the safety button, the loose fitting bolt and that it doesnt come in stainless steel

I have owned both mark Vs and vanguards and I find the vanguards to be just as good in quality for much less money.By the way the vanguard is available in stainless steel.

http://www.weatherby.com/products/guns.asp?prd=Rifles&prd_sub_type=3&prod_code=VGS308NR40

By the way weatherby does not manufacture their own rifles,they are built by contractors.Howa manufactures the vanguard and SACO manufactures the mark V.So what is a "real weatherby"?
 
Last edited:
I have owned a 243,30-06 Vangaurd I now have a 223 Stainless Vangaurd,all will shoot less than MOA.They are very good value for the money.You can spend twice the money or more on a(real Weatherby) but i'll bet it won't shoot any better.I'm not saying a Mark V or Accumark are bad,they are very nice rifles.But for a low cost rifle the Vangaurd is hard to beat.
 
I to shoot a 270 WSM Vanguard, the bolt is not loose, not a smooth as a Tika but close. I get 1/2 inch or less groupings with Fusion factory ammo. the fit- it fits me excellent but it may be different for u. Finish - its not as pretty with the matte finish as compared to others with the deep gloss blueing but I have never been into looks for a rifle as long as it shoots well. Here is a link comparing Tika vs Vanguard www.chuckhawks.com/rugged_vs_refined.htm
 
Last edited:
You can get a better rifle than the vanguard, for the money. Fit and finish are good, but you can get better for the same price elsewhere. The bolt is a little sloppy, the trigger is a little rough with noticible play & creep. The wooden stock is decent, but again, not the greatest. I can't comment about the synthetic stock.

For the $$, I'd look to an entry-level Savage, or Remington. If you can find one, you may be able to find an entry-level Winchester 70 for around the same price-point.
 
Heh, the model 70 I have is a pre-64 model. It was considered 'entry-level' when it was purchased. I can't really comment on the new ones as I haven't fired one. From handling one one in the shop I can say that the trigger at least is decent, and the action feels OK.
 
troyski2 said:
Does anyone have one of these? Performance, fit and finish, other opinions? Thanks.
I have not seen one yet, but am eagre too. Weatherbys QC took a bad hit for several years, with some cheesy fit and finish. The joy of the Vanguard is that Howa make a great B/A, with a fantastic design, far better IMHO than any USRAC product.
The downside is that they have taken the Howa core and dropped it into a Weatherby stock. Thats what I am interested to see, how good is that stock.
 
vgd_sporter.gif


http://www.weatherby.com/products/guns.asp?prd=Rifles&prd_sub_type=3&prod_code=VDM243NR4O#
 
vgd_deluxe.gif


Looking at this one. Deluxe model with upgraded stock is new this year apparently. Looks nice in the picture, but haven't seen one in person yet.
 
A good friend of mine bought a regular vangaurd in .223 a few months ago.It seems like a very nice rifle.Looks and feels good.Does not shoot quite as good as my new stevens however.Mind you I have not seen any sporting rifle that shoots as good as that little gun!!!
 
I too am looking at the Vanguard deluxe in 257 WBY. I have seen them in person and some of them have spectacular wood! Only hangup for me is the 24" tube in the 257 WBY. Still not sure if that is enough barrel for the caliber. I already have a 25-06 Husky that shoots little groups all day long. Anyone have chrono velocities to compare the 25-06 and 257 Wby both with 24" tubes?
 
The Weatherby Vanguard has been around since 1972. Also the Vanguard VGX as the Deluxe was called back then. I've owned Howas with three different names on them, they are all very good.

Anyone who thinks the 257 Wtby "needs" a 26" tube should pickup the April 2006 edition of Shooting Times.

In this edition Layne Simpson chrony's both the 24" Vanguard and the 26" MarkV....the numbers will surprise many.

With the six avaliable factory loads the Vanguard averaged 3488fps...the Mark V..3498fps

some factory loads chronyed faster in the Vanguard than in the Mark V...but we all know there can be slow barrels and fast barrels.

and again,....the handloads listed for 100 gr bullets can't match the 100gr Weatherby factory loads....handloads in the 26" should outrun the 24"..but whether the difference is worth it is up to the shooter....

I've been trying to talk myself out of a Vanguard 257 for quite some time.....I'm wearing out....
 
Last edited:
My son has a Savage 257 Weatherby with a 24" barrel and has no problem getting over 3600 with 100 grainer's,I have a 257 with a 27" barrel and it is only about 50 fps faster.The Vangaurds are without doubt a very good buy.I have a new 223 that will shoot 1/4" and it's not a MOA one either.I have owned 2 other ones a 243 and 30-06 and both would shoot well under a 1"
 
weatherby cartridges in shorter barrels...

I wouldn't be too troubled about going with a 24" tube for a 257. ;)

For instance I've got a Husqvarna custom in 270 wby, and the barrel is just over 22". With factory 130gr ammo I get 3360 ft/s which is only 140 ft/s less than any figures I've seen or heard of for this bullet in the 270 wby. And I haven't started reloading for it yet....
 
much bigger capacity to bore diameter ratio (read overbore)

stuffing a 257 Wby will alot of 7828, H1000, RL25, Retumbo etc, is how you gain over the 25-06. Longer barrel length never hurts velocity numbers...
 
Back
Top Bottom