$399 Weatherby Vanguard offer...help me select the caliber...300 Wby or 338 Win Mag??

[saturno_v]

Folks

I'm seriously considering getting one of the Weatherby Vanguard rifle at $399, the least expensive way to get into a brand new Weatherby...that price sounds a very very good deal to me, I know it's not a Mark series rifle but still I heard very good thing about the Vanguard. I had the chance to have it in my hand and I like it a lot...very light and handy it reminds me of the Mark Series look and feel.


Let me tell you what what I would like to do with the new rifle.

I already own an AK, a Marlin 336 30-30, 2 excellent 30-06, a Remington Semi Auto and a Mauser 98 bolt action and, finally, 3 Mosin 91/30 in excellent conditions to have some fun at the range.

So I own plenty .30 cal rifles from mid power to high intensity.

I do not hunt.....my purposes are:

1) To have some fun for very long range target shooting,

2) A friend of mine invited me for a hike in Alaska this year so I would like to have a rifle for very serious grizzly medicine (I know I can bring my 06 or my pump shotgun...but I want a rifle with that capability too...)

3) Overall I want to have a rifle in a different power class compared to what I own and with significant more knock down power to add more diversity to my collection within the limit of the $399 Weatherby offering.

So my dilemma is, in what caliber?? 300 Weatherby Magnum or 338 Winchester Magnum??? (these 2 are the most powerful chambering in the Vanguard Synthetic line)

Which one is the best (with appropriate bullets and loads) for large predators like grizzlies??

Which one of the 2 would perfom the best at very long range?? (flat trajectory and punch)

Which one is, indeed, a better caliber overall and the best suited to complement my collection???

Thanks for the input!!!

 

[Dallas Jack]

Since you already have 30 caliber covered how about the .338 Winchester Magnum.
Dallas Jack

 

[blindhari]

It's more money but the big bear guides I have seen who want something light and devastating carry Marlin 45/70 to keep thier clients alive.

 

[oregonhunter]

338 win

 

[saturno_v]

I forgot to mention another criteria for my selection......easy to find ammo (between the 300 Weatherby Magnum and the 338 Winchester Magnum)

Please do not suggest any other rifle or chambering unless they fall in this price range, ammo are easy to find and the cartridge fired is a modern high velocity spitzer round (for my long range purpose).

The 45/70 doesn't fit the bill.

Few months ago I did look around for a used 338, found few Rugers and prices were higher than the Vanguard new....

Thanks!!

 

[ojibweindian]

Where I live, at the local stores I've seen more 300 Weatherby Magnum ammo for sale than .338 Winchester Magnum.

I'd suggest going with the 300 Weatherby, then reload for it. Lots of options open up once you start reloading. And, because neither cartridge is inexpensive, reloading will save you money over the long haul.

 

[ArmedBear]

For bear hunting, those rifles could work well. I have a Vanguard (different variant) that shoots very well and handles very well.

For bear defense, though? I'd say no. A full-size push-feed bolt action rifle is not what you want when you're being charged by a Brown Bear. You want something that you can point fast and shoot fast, and you don't want a scope on it.

Most of the time, even in the wild, the things are intriguing, interesting creatures, shy, and even "cute" when your life isn't threatened. They're all around you, but you may not see any, since they don't much care to see you. If you have to defend yourself with a rifle, the bear will be close, and it will be attacking -- not the time when you want to swing your 24" or 26" barrel scoped gun off your shoulder!

Also, these are full-size rifles, not lightweight "mountain guns." I wouldn't hike around with mine if I weren't hunting at the time.

In other words, your shotgun with slugs in it would be a better choice than any rifle Weatherby offers, for a list of reasons.

For range use, those magnums are no fun -- unless you get a muzzle brake. A Vanguard in .300 Wby feels like a 7mm-08, when you add Weatherby's muzzle brake from their custom shop. That kinda breaks the $399 barrier, though.

If you don't hunt, and you don't want to start, I'd get the Weatherby in .308 and set it up for target shooting. It's one accurate rifle, especially for the price. Throw the Mosins in the nearest dumpster, or better yet, sell them so you can afford a better scope for the Weatherby.

Sounds like you just want an excuse to buy another rifle.

Do you reload?

 

[rangerruck]

no doubt, 338 win mag; very fast, less recoil, far, FAR, less expensive, more ammo availability. You can't go wrong.

 

[ArmedBear]

Either round is a reloading proposition, rangerruck.

And if you handload, I think the .300 Wby (with a brake) can be one cool long-range toy.

 

[Matrix187]

.338 win mag is good. But for grizzly defense, 12 gauge with atleast 6 quality slugs in the tube

 

[saturno_v]

ArmedBear what you said about bear defense did make sense, a bolt action is a rather slow weapon that make sense for a bear hunt but not much for bear defense thanks.
I guess it leaves the "collection diversification" argument

When you said in your message "I'd get the Weatherby in .308 and set it up for target shooting" you really meant a 308 Win or you made a typo error meaning 338???

I ask this because I really do not want another regular .30 caliber in my "arsenal"...I do not shoot for competition, just for fun so I do not need a particulary accurate round like the 308 Win.

My Mauser 30-06 is very accurate (and beautiful to look at to boot ) and it satisfy me completely.

I absolutely do not agree with you about my Mosins...why should I throw them away??? They are very accurate and in gorgeaous conditions....you cannot do better than that for $79 a piece...yes you do not get the best triggers....but who cares?? Shiny bores, crisp rifling, tough as nail, very well balanced, they shoot straight, they are fun and they are cheap.

And they are regularly used in Russia to hunt the great bears (including polars).....they can pack quite a punch..


And yes I always look for a reason to buy a new rifle!!!

I do not reload.............yet....

I have already a scope for the Vanguard (if I get one), It's a Center Point 4-16X 40 with illuminated mil dot reticle, zero lock rings and variable eye relief and parallax settings...I have another 3 of them installed on my Mauser, Remington and Marlin and they work very very well.

These are my 2 of my 3 1891/30 (the other one is momentarily loaned to a friend)...tell me if they are garbage material.....at the range people always ask me to try them out!

 

[JWF III]

Why not consider the .340 Weatherby? Uses the same bullets as the .338 WinMag (if you reload), but you get better long(er) range performance. Granted it does come with a price. Recoil, (could be controlled by a brake). Cost of ammo and availability (reload for it).

Wyman

 

[ArmedBear]

If it's a fun gun, and you want a magnum, I'd reload and go for flat.

.240 Weatherby, .257 Weatherby, and even .300 Weatherby shoot almost dead flat to 300 yards.

Get some Tannerite and go to town.

 

[saturno_v]

JWF

A 340 Weatherby rifle doesn't come at that price point ($399)

 

[rangerruck]

Reloading would seem best, and if you don't mind the cost of Weatherby brass, you could really send these long range, and flat. the Weatherby's are allways in the top 10 of flatest, longest carts out there, that aren't pure wildcats.