300 Weatherby Mag

[Frosty Z06]

Sorry for the new user stuff...it seems that my account had been deleted. I haven't been on here in a very long time...

Anyhow, narrowed it down between the Weatherby Vanguard s2, Vanguard Deluxe, and the Browning A-Bolt. They are all fairly close in price.

The Deluxe is about $400 more though.

I've chosen the caliber based in part on ballistics, reloading cost, cross caliber usage as I also reload for the 30-06 and 308, cost of the firearm and availability and cost of retail ammo.

If you have thoughts of other calibers please let me know. I had previously looked at the 460 weatherby mag and the 30-378 weatherby mag but the brass cost and retail ammo was just stupid expensive.

So I'm fishing for opinions/owner reviews of such. What should I choose? Or is there an alternate that you might recommend? I'd like to stay under $600 if possible but would consider up to about $900.

What are everyone's thoughts?

 

[jmr40]

What are you going to do with it? The 30-06 will do anything at 500 yards or less that the 300 will do at 600 and the 308 will do the same at 400. Are you good enough to be shooting at 600 yards? If not another chambering might be something to look at.


Between the rifles you are considering the chambering would decide for me. In my opinon the Browning is too light for a 300 WBY mag. It would probably be my 1st choice in a standard caliber. I'd go with the S2 if I was sold on the 300 WBY mag. They are heavy rifles and more than I like to carry around most of the time, but would help tame a 300's recoil.

 

[Frosty Z06]

I'm mostly a big bore shooter. But what I don't have is a long range flat shooter in a bolt action. Well that being said I don't have any bolt actions at all.

All of my rifles are autos.

I wanted the most durable best shooter for the money.

I hunt hog, deer, etc. and wanted something to take to eastern Oregon where I grew up (now live in TX) long range shots 400+ yards are easy to run into there. I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything that I have now at that range.

I'm a decent shooter but was better in my youth. I already have a great scope.

If there is something that is better ballistically that I should consider please let me know. I've run over all the charts and looked at where the cross roads of cost and ballistics meet. So yes, a 30-378 is an amazing caliber but not for $7 a shot brass! Or thereabouts. I don't mind recoil or weight. Actually I really LIKE recoil. Sort of a junky that way. I like getting beat up. Getting old though it hurts a while longer now lol.

 

[pbrktrt]

The Vanguard S2 is the way to go. The Deluxe if you can swing it, but the synthetic will probably be the better hunting rifle because of the nice wood on the Deluxe. I'd probably be too careful to hunt the way I want for fear of messing it up.

 

[tryshoot]

I love my vangaurd. It is ugly. Wish it had the wood stock, but not enough to buy one. And it is also in 300 weatherby mag with factory muzzle brake. Hell on ears, but great on shoulder.

 

[Captcurt]

The Vanguard S2 is the way to go. The Deluxe if you can swing it, but the synthetic will probably be the better hunting rifle because of the nice wood on the Deluxe. I'd probably be too careful to hunt the way I want for fear of messing it up.

Got to go with this. The S2 is guaranteed moa. I have the old Vanguard and it would shoot moa with factory ammo. They are heavy though.

 

[Dallas Jack]

Another vote for the Vanguard S2.
Dallas Jack

 

[lefteyedom]

If you want a long range Weatherby take a look at the 257 Weatherby.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got an older vanguard in 300 wby and its a good gun but like others said its not the prettiest girl in the safe. I didnt think browning chambered the 300wby in there rifles.

 

[adelbridge]

the A-bolt has a better fit and finish but almost double the price of the Vanguard. I don't like the two stage trigger on the S2 it is too much to think about when a fast hunting shot is needed.

 

[saturno_v]

One observation...if you get the Vanguard is basically pointless to get the 300 Weatherby Magnum since you are shooting it out of a 24" barrel.......out of a 24" is basically a ballistic twin of the 300 Winchester Magnum but you save in brass cost and ammo cost (if you do not reload)...you can find a box of 300 Win Mag even at Wal Mart....

 

[Cluster Bomb]

The 300wby is an awesome round. I used to shoot past 600yd and hit yard sale stickers dead on. Very good balistics too.....god I miss that gun.....

 

[Lloyd Smale]

One observation...if you get the Vanguard is basically pointless to get the 300 Weatherby Magnum since you are shooting it out of a 24" barrel.......out of a 24" is basically a ballistic twin of the 300 Winchester Magnum but you save in brass cost and ammo cost (if you do not reload)...you can find a box of 300 Win Mag even at Wal Mart....

what are you basing that on. did you actually test or are you just repeating what you read. I have 3 300 win mags two are 24inch and ones a 26 inch. My weatherby 300 is a vanguard with a 24 inch barrel and it will give an honest 200 fps more velocity with identical bullets then the 24 inch 300 wins and a 150 over the 26 inch 300 win. You might want to try a quality chronograph. Just an added note. I also have two 257 wbys. ONe a 24 inch vanguard and one a 26 inch rem 700 cdl. the differnce between the two with the same exact load is less then a 100fps. Sure you might pick two other identical guns and get slightly differnt results but dont buy into the fact that a mag is no good without a 26 inch barrel. Ive allways chuckled at guys with 264s too that claim you cant make them work in a 24 inch barrel. Mine does just fine that you. Funny you see most 7mags come with 24 inch barrels and guys dont worry about them and if there was ever two differnt caliber rounds that were more close in loading i havent found them.

 

[7075-T7]

I vote for the Vanguard Deluxe. I just picked one up in 30-06 and the wood on it is amazing, vertical quilting with some nicely contrasted horizontal grain, the polished blue barrel is like nothing I've ever seen.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

 

[Captcurt]

I vote for the Vanguard Deluxe. I just picked one up in 30-06 and the wood on it is amazing, vertical quilting with some nicely contrasted horizontal grain, the polished blue barrel is like nothing I've ever seen.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

I too worship at the alter of good wood. There is something about deep dark shiny metal inlaid into nicely figured wood that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. That is until I bang one of them on a tree step when pulling it up to my perch. Did it with a beautiful 700 Classic in 6.5X55. Made me cry. Now my "hunting" guns are plastic. I don't have to worry about scratches and dings because the gun is ugly to start with.

Gorgeous rifle 7075. Are do I call you T?

 

[saturno_v]

what are you basing that on.

....based on the Hodgdon reload data....I compared the 300 Win Mag and the 300 Weatherby both out of a 24" pipe in the most common grainage (150 and 180)

Biggest differences between hottest published loads for both cartridges in 150 gr. is around 130 fps, in 180 gr. barely above 100 fps

Hornady, which produces both cartridges, publish a gap that tops at about 100 fps, depending on grainage, with both coming out of a 24" pipe.


So to get a 200 fps gap you are either overloading your 300 Weatherby or your 300 Win Mag barrel is not very efficient....or maybe you have tested them on different days or different bullet styles...whatever it is that is not the expected gap between the 2 cartridges out of a 24" barrel.

So not much difference out of a 24" pipe....I would go for the most common and cheaper Win Mag....now if we talk a 26" barrel Mark V then it's another story....the 300 Weatherby has a huge case and it is very high pressure so it likes longer barrels....

 

[[email protected]]

I have an el cheapo weatherby vanguard in 7mm mag that I bought from wal- mart on sale. It has the brown stock with balck spider webing. I really like the rifle and it will shoot right at an inch group. I noticed that cabelas has the older vanguards on sale for around $350, and the Vanguard s2 is also on sale for around $450.

 

[Judah Ben-Hur]

I picked up a .257 Mag Vanguard Lazerguard from Cabelas recently when they were on sale. I see they list them for $50 more than what I paid on the website. They are not available through the on-line store. It also comes in .300 Weatherby Mag & .30-06 and will be $50 to $100 under your limit. Very beautiful rifle with the engraved stock. They do sell out quick so they might be scarce until next year. They are all 24" barrels.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

...based on the Hodgdon reload data....I compared the 300 Win Mag and the 300 Weatherby both out of a 24" pipe in the most common grainage (150 and 180)

do yourself a big favor and pick up a cheap chronograph. The first thing you will find out is that velocitys published in loading manuals are about rubbish. Its much more rare to find an accurate velocity published in one then it is to find gold laying on the ground in the woods.

 

[quartermaster]

I have 2 A bolts which are both very accurate. On the other hand, I have had 2 vanguards, one of which was a sub minute of angle and neither was accurate enough for me.

I spent a lot of time trying to work up loads for the 257 Sub MOA and finally sold it after 200-250 rounds. I tried a lot of combo bullet, powder, seating depths. I never came up with a combo that would shoot under 1 MOA consistantly. 1 1/2" maybe, but not what is advertised.

IMO, the A bolt is the way to go if you are willing to spend the extra $

QM

 

[snowbird]

If you want a 300 Bee, you cannot go wrong with the SUB MOA Vangaurd. I have seen 3 of them and they all shoot tiny groups.

 

[saturno_v]

do yourself a big favor and pick up a cheap chronograph. The first thing you will find out is that velocitys published in loading manuals are about rubbish. Its much more rare to find an accurate velocity published in one then it is to find gold laying on the ground in the woods.

Yes but that works either way...if they are conservative in their estimation, they are for every cartridge, not just one.....we need a frame of reference and published reloading data are the accepted one....we cannot make a general case from the results that each one of us get in real life....