Weatherby Vanguard vs Savage

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baindoor

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You may recall my last thread 25-06 vs 7mm-08. I've decided to put the cartridge debate away and find the rifle first, as both cartridges will do the job just fine. So, lets leave calibre/cartridge out of it, both rifles are available in plenty of deer-worthy calibres/cartridges.

I'm trying to decide between a Vanguard synthetic and a Savage synthetic. It will be primarily for deer hunting at this point. I have weeded out the rest of the rifle pack due to cost, feel and other factors (like plastic stuff --no offence Tikka owners).

Both rifles have lots going for them. Both are know for accuracy.

Savage advantages (over the Vanguard):

Trigger -- adjustable (easily by the user), and safe
3 position safety
Detachable mag -- not a big deal, but nice
Price -- its cheaper for both the blued and stainless versions
Many accuracy improving features

Vanguard advantages (over the Savage):

Weight -- heavier is better (for me) as it reduces felt recoil
Quality/stiffness of the factory stock
Monte Carlo style stock
Accuracy guarantee
Overall better fit and finish
It just feels better -- nice to hold, comes to the shoulder easily. This probably has a lot to do with the Monte Carlo stock. I haven't handled one with a scope though. Maybe I should.

I'd like to get some feedback on my overall take on the two. For those that have the Vanguard, how is the trigger? Is the extra cost of replacing the Vanguard trigger (~$150) worth it over the Savage?

If anyone has seriously compared the two or owned both, it would be interesting to hear those opinions.

Thanks all,

baindoor
 
baindoor said:
Vanguard advantages (over the Savage):

Weight -- heavier is better (for me) as it reduces felt recoil
Quality/stiffness of the factory stock
Monte Carlo style stock
Accuracy guarantee
Overall better fit and finish
It just feels better -- nice to hold, comes to the shoulder easily.
Click to expand...

I think you've already made your choice, by the comments you posted ;) . Both are accurate rifles, but if one has a better stock and feels better, that's the one. A gunsmith should be able to tweek your trigger for you.


go get one :)
 
I have no experience of either, but...

Monte Carlo stocks will make you feel more recoil upwards towards your face and in extreme cases gives you a nice scope cut or bruise on the eye, but we aren't talking big boomers with the calibers you mention, so it really isn't an issue here.
An adjustable trigger is essential to owning a precise firearm. I'll bet the Savage will be just as accurate(maybe more), regardless of any accuracy garantees one may claim, but the Vanguard will be no slouch either.

In the end , buy whichever feels better to you. You seem to be leaning to the Weatherby anyways.
 
Well - for me, the detachable mag is a major consideration. Here in Central Ontario, we're in and out of camp several times a day, crossing roads, etc. Its a PITA to deal with shells fumbling out of/through the action with numb fingers.
 
I recently purchased a Vanguard in .243 for myself. The trigger pull is easily adjustable on it as well. I got mine at P&D and it was labeled as a Rifle Of the Year (ROY) edition. It has the tan/black webbed rubberized stock and matte black steel. So far I really like it and have no regrets. I have only had it for about 6 weeks but the accuracy is great. The test target printed < 1". I topped it with a Burris 4.5-14x42 AO w/ Ballisticplex. It should do the trick for coyotes, wolves, & antelope quite nicely. Good luck with your choice, you will be pleased either way I am sure.
 
I love my Vanguard its the "deluxe" model.
I think either choice would be a good one.Both will provide your table with meat.

Enjoy your new gun

Tim
 
Well,

The Vanguard with the accuracy guarantee (SubMOA) is not in the same price range than the Savage.

Vanguard: 539$
Vanguard SubMOA: 879$
Savage DM: from 439$ to 541$

Did you looked at the Remington SPS?
 
I kinda hummed and hawed myself when I was looking for the first rifle in these two calibers, ended up with the 25-06 and shot it lots and learned to really enjoy it. I found the recoil to be a non factor once I started to shoot and the gun I got was a Stevens. I have since bought myself some nicer 25-06 guns and still have great enjoyment shooting this round. A big part of my decision was based upon the fact that all of my hunting buds also had a 25-06 in their collections, but none of them said that anyone brand was going to out perform another. And I still believe that. FS
 
Good stuff....

horse_man and Timo: Did you need to have the trigger adjusted for creep, or was it decent out of the box?

Jimbo69: I'm looking at the regular Vanguard, not the sub-moa one. The reg one is still guaranteed to shoot 1.5 moa or less. I'm sure that most shoot considerably less. The reg ones are about $540 in a few stores. I looked at the SPS but I wasn't impressed.

Fasteel: I agree that most rifles in the same calibre will perform similarly, its more just a matter of deciding which rifle is best for me personally...

The rifles are both good, I'm just trying to determine which one is best for me....
 
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Id go with the Savage over the Vanguard. The trigger is alot better and when you factor in the cost of replacing the Wby trigger, the Vanguards bang-for-buck value dissapears
 
My trigger does have a small bit of creep to it. While I am sure I could get it adjusted or replaced, for hunting accuracy it shoots just fine at < 1 MOA as is. If I wanted to use it for BR competition I may look at doing something but for coyotes I can deal with it as is.
 
As a couple people already said, you KNOW which gun fits you better, so what the heck are you waiting for? You are evidently not a competition bench-rest shooter, and a dead deer is a dead deer, it does not know if your gun shoots sub-moa or three moa.

Buy the gun that fits you, and to hell with all of these opinions, including some from people that would not know a good gun if it hit them in the forehead.

Do you REALLY think that anonymous people on an INTERNET forum can give you better advice about something than you can experience yourself?????

Doug
 
Man Doug, you made me laugh pretty hard. What can I say, I like to make an informed opinion... hahha.

All I know is that some people on this forum know a hell of a lot more than some of the salespeople I've talked to... a few have known absolutely nothing.

Guido: Can you tell me why you'd buy another Vanguard, but not another Savage?
 
Trigger shmigger:D
My rifle shoots minute of vitals and that's all this Alberta beer bellied redneck needs:D
That said ... the trigger has creep but I can live with it. It is not a deal buster in my opinion.

I only notice it bench shooting and still I group under 3/4"@100 meters.

Mine just looks better is all;)
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Your going to be all right whatever you choose between these two rifles.
 
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I've had a very good experience with a Savage rifle I purchased. It was the 111FCNS, and the action was very slick -- I was pleasently surprised. I thought it was slicker then the 700 imo.
 
Not to mention "Weatherby" has cool factor... :cool: :cool: :cool:

When you brag about the new rifle you just bought, leave off the "Vanguard" part & just say you bought a "Weatherby"... :p
 
Just because I've been trying to decide the same thing myself. But wouldn't the Weatherby handle the magnums better because of the stock design? I've been thinking about all of the new short magnum cartridges and have pretty much decided on a 270wsm. I really like the accu-trigger but beyond that can't think of a reason to buy a Savage. There isn't a good selection of wood stocks, mostly all synthetics and the price is essentially the same. Everyone seems to agree that both will shoot sub MOA with a bit of experimenting and that is more than enough for a deer.

So if you were buying a magnum calibre what would you consider? A nicer trigger pull or better recoil handling?
 
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