Browning AB3, X-Bolt or Weatherby Vanguard

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Moparnut

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I may need to replace a Savage rifle that I am having issues with. I narrowed my possible replacements to three, Browning AB3, X-Bolt or a Weatherby Vanguard.

My question is does anyone have experience with all or one or two of them?

Never owned a Browning and never owned a Vanguard model. Just want some opinions or info. Open to other suggestions except for a Ruger American and a Savage.

It will be chambered in 7mm-08 and mainly used for hunting. Thx.
 
I've had 4 vanguards, 2 shot well and the 4th has not been fired yet. Not a big fan of their triggers. I just put a Rifle Basix trigger in a predator 223 because of the creep in the factory trigger. The Browning/Winchesters seem to be lighter in weight and I do like their stocks. Another rifle to consider in the same price range would be a Mauser M18, but to be honest, any of the 4 will serve you well. It is a matter of personal preference.
 
I have an X-bolt that I like quite a bit after the stock was replaced (finish was peeling off and it was getting sticky - Browning replaced the stock). The magazines are pricey for being polymer. Not all scope rings are made to be compatible with the X-bolt mounting pattern. It is accurate and the trigger is good right out of the box.
 
My Howa is great for hunting now that I have a load it likes. It is sub Moa for the first 3 or 4 shots. But its group starts walking after 5 or 6 rounds and this is has been experienced by many others as well. If this is going to be a range gun, then just be aware that you're not gonna like 10 shot strings with the stock barrel on the Vangaurd/Howa.
 
I am a big fan of the ABI/II's, but not so much the ABIII's. The 3's feel much more like cheaper economy rifles than the older guns.

I've got no experience with the other two, but have heard very few complaints about either.
 
Bandit67 said:
The AB3 feels cheaper than the older A-Bolts because it is.
It is an economy rifle as far as I'm concerned, however for the money, I think it's a great hunting rifle.
My .30-06 AB3 is light, reliable, and accurate.
Click to expand...

One of my kids has an AB3 in 300 WM. I volunteered to do some load development work for him last year and took it to the range and shot 5 - 5 round groups with an assortment of powders I had on hand. Somehow, I managed to keep it together through that punishment and shot a couple of nice, sub 1 1/2 minute groups. Some load tweaking will only improve on that. I was very impressed with the trigger, as it broke at a very crisp 3 pounds right out of the box.
 
Bandit67 said:
The AB3 feels cheaper than the older A-Bolts because it is.
It is an economy rifle as far as I'm concerned, however for the money, I think it's a great hunting rifle.
My .30-06 AB3 is light, reliable, and accurate.
I have no experience with the other 2
Click to expand...

I've had all three, a 300Wm AB3, a 7mmRM AB2 (with BOSS muzzle break), and currently have (and plan on keeping) an ABI in 280Rem.

For an economical hunting rifle, the AB3's are very nice. But the ABI/II's were more of a premium offering.

The X-bolts replaced the A-Bolts as their top shelf rifles and the AB3's became their budget line.

I will say, of all the budget lines the AB3's are very nice rifles still. Much nicer than the Ruger Americans, Savage Axis, the various T/C's and Winchester XPR's. Especially for a dedicated hunting rifle.
 
Went by my local gun store just to see what they had in stock and what they could get. Looks like they can't get a 7mm-08 right now. May be doing some internet shopping.

I was able to handle a 2 of my choices, the Vanguard and the X-bolt. The Vanguard is out. Something about the stock, I just don't care for.
 
Moparnut said:
Went by my local gun store just to see what they had in stock and what they could get. Looks like they can't get a 7mm-08 right now. May be doing some internet shopping.

I was able to handle a 2 of my choices, the Vanguard and the X-bolt. The Vanguard is out. Something about the stock, I just don't care for.
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Vanguards tend to have blocky stocks, at least the walnut guns do. The synthetic didnt feel as bad to me but still not a huge fan. I actually prefer the hogue stocks on the Howas.
 
The old A-bolt 2 were the best. AB3 went cheap and they just messed up the A-bolt design creating the X-bolt. The little feature of allowing the bolt to open with the safety still on is the only feature that I could consider any kind of improvement and that is not really needed if you are safety conscious enough to be handling a gun.
 
Cowhide Cliff said:
The old A-bolt 2 were the best. AB3 went cheap and they just messed up the A-bolt design creating the X-bolt. The little feature of allowing the bolt to open with the safety still on is the only feature that I could consider any kind of improvement and that is not really needed if you are safety conscious enough to be handling a gun.
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I like the old A-bolts myself, but I've not seen one that will shoot like my 300wm LR Pro X-bolt. Even my Bil's Medallion won't.
 
Hugger-4641 said:
I like the old A-bolts myself, but I've not seen one that will shoot like my 300wm LR Pro X-bolt. Even my Bil's Medallion won't.
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Medallions just have prettier stocks they don't have anything to make them shoot better. I've got an A-bolt stalker 7wsm I'd like to run next to that X-bolt to compare. I've never seen a factory rifle shoot as good as it and had a lot of rifles come and go over the years but none add up unless they are high dollar custom builds. I've got a spot on my farm that's 500 yards that's a good place to test. Not real long range but long enough to see if one hums or not.

In fact I don't understand how a pencil barrel shoots like it does but all I can figure is the barrel harmonics are just perfect on it with my loads but it even shoots the factory loads extremely well. I have sat in a lawn chair with shooting sticks and literally sat and heart punched deer at long ranges at a couple places I hunt. One evening I had three laying literally almost on top of each other and the distance to my chair was ranged 435 yards.

Only problem is that lightweight gun kicks like a dang mule so it literally only gets shot during deer season anymore. I really need to make myself test it at some range sessions to make sure it's still humming like it was and the barrel not getting burned out.
 
Cowhide Cliff said:
I've got an A-bolt stalker 7wsm I'd like to run next to that X-bolt to compare. I've never seen a factory rifle shoot as good as it and had a lot of rifles come and go over the years but none add up unless they are high dollar custom builds.
Click to expand...
Below is what my LR Pro did right out of the box the first night I shot it. I was working late hours and got impatient so I zeroed it in the dark , as you see in the pic , with some fowling rds I had thrown together the night before.
That's a 12" reactive target at 100yds and that black square in center is 1". I've actually shot smaller groups off bags with a load I developed for it.
Recoil is no worse than my 30-06 thanks to the butt pad and muzzle brake. Granted, this is not a budget level X-bolt, but if you ever get to West TN you can come by and try it out.
20210417_214848.jpg

20210417_221019.jpg

20210413_205228.jpg
 
My Xbolt SLR never turned in the kinds of groups i wanted, tho it was easily hunting accurate. My Abolt in 7mag was similar.

After re-barreling my Abolt ill put it up against any similar weight factory rifle.

I havent shot it for groups in anyear or two but ive got a picture somewhere of 3 shots in a group less than 1/2" across edge to edge at 75yds.
 
LoonWulf said:
Vanguards tend to have blocky stocks, at least the walnut guns do. The synthetic didnt feel as bad to me but still not a huge fan. I actually prefer the hogue stocks on the Howas.
Click to expand...

While I could give or take the overmold material, overall I do like the Hogue/Vanguard combo.

20220225_134135.jpg
 
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