Weatherby price question

[skeezix]

Found a Weatherby Vanguard at the gun show today. Gloss-finished walnut stock with a black fore-end tip and rubber butt pad. Stock has a few minor dings and scratches. Looks like a 24" barrel. .30-06. 99% bluing. Bases and rings (no scope).

Made in Japan. S/N VS240890.

It is priced at $499 - which means I can probably buy it for $450 OTD.

So, the questions are: Is it a good rifle? Any idea how old it is? Is $450 a good price?

Thanks,

Lorin

 

[mickeydim468]

Unless my research on Weatherby's is wrong, they didn't make a Vanguard with a wood stock, so that stock is probably and aftermarket addition. Therefore the buttpad is probably aftermarket too, unless it says Weatherby on the butt. You can buy a new Weatherby Vanguard in anything from .243 to .300 Weatherby mag out the door for $359.00 for non mag and $369.00 for mag. at a large box store IE Wally World or Bi-Mart Etc... However you do not get wood, and you will have synthetic. You do get a factory target and a guarantee from Ed Weatherby, that the rifle will shoot 1.5MOA OTB with premium factory ammo. I have 2 of them. One in .243 and the other in .300 Win Mag. They both came with the target. The .243 target showed a 3 shot group within .5" and the 300 target showed 1.25". I handload and shoot both of them with smaller groups than that. I love my 2 Weatherbys and if I could afford it I would want what you are looking at and would buy it in a heartbeat as long as that stock was done right. I would check it out and make sure it has been bedded properly and has been free floated. Also as if it has the factory trigger or if it has been upgraded. The factory triggers are a little hokey and I plan on upgrading mine, but then again I am getting used to shooting my other rifle with a nice Timney trigger, so all factory triggers I have felt feel hokey!

 

[ArmedBear]

Unless my research on Weatherby's is wrong

Uh, you could have just gone to their website and seen the Vanguard Sporter they offer... That's what this gun is. VS in the serial number means that, also, AFAIK.

I have one in .30-06, and it's a good rifle. Accurate, well-balanced, well-made. Mine is VS128XXX so yours is newer. It is a pretty recent gun, within the last few years at the oldest.

I just saw one on sale (7mm Rem Mag) today for $499 at Sports Authority. No bases and rings, though. Of course, there are some scope mounts worth a few bucks, and some worth a good hundred. Not knowing what bases and rings they are, I can't say whether they add any real value.

The gun comes with sling swivels. Does this one?

At least here, big game seasons are long over, Christmas is long over, and this is a good time to get new stuff on sale.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Weatherby's website has the Vangaurd Sporter MSRP of $689.00. I'm sure you could find it for a little less. If the rifle is in that good of condition, I don't think $450 would be too much. Maybe not a great deal, but a fair price. I have a Vangaurd .30-06 in synthetic and love it. They're a good rifle. Can't beat them for the money IMO.

 

[Geno]

Weatherby is a great product. Buy it with confidence, and if you have any issues whatsoever, contact Weatherby. Ed has as-much pride in that company as his father did. 8^) If you like wood, it's a good price. I like synthetic stocks because I see firearms as tools to be used. I sold my vault queens. That stated, Weatherby does a good job of sealing their wood stocks. You shouldn't have issues with your zero shift...I never did with any of my wood stocked Marks Vs or my VGXs. They all held their zero.

Geno

 

[lopezni]

Put $400 cash in front of him see what he says. It is a good rifle, my father has one in .270 that I've seen my brother shoot a 2" group at 200ydrs with Remington Core-Lokts. If it is just a few minor scratches some boiled linseed oil will take care of them.

 

[coleslaw]

I have a Vanguard Sporter in .308 with a walnut stock. Paid close to $600 OTD late last year. I haven't been able to shoot it yet but the test target has a small cloverleaf shaped hole. The fore end tip on the stock is rosewood with a dark wine color, which I thought was the standard deal on the Vanguard walnut stocks. The Weatherby stock has a unique shape, should be able to tell if it is a factory stock. Have heard nothing but good about these rifles and I don't see a lot of used ones around.

 

[shell70634]

I have a 30-06 vanguard vgx with a high gloss wood stock, black tip, and a Weatherby 3-9 scope. My wife bought it for me on my birthday in 1988 from the Army rod and gun club. It's one of my favorite rifles.

 

[mickeydim468]

Sorry for the incorrect info on the stock. I have been to the Weatherby site before, maybe I just overlooked the wood stocked Vanguards because I was looking for synthetic at the time. But I really never saw one. Good to know. Thank you for the corrections everyone.

I still stand behind the fact that the rifle is a good one. It will be very accurate as long as the barrel is in good shape. The action is smooth and they have many built in safety features too. Not as many as the Mark V but you are not paying the price of the Mark V either. Good gun! I would try what lopezni suggested. You may get lucky! I always say... "You never know the answer to the question unless you ask!" What's the seller going to say? No! So what, he may counter offer less than $450 and your still ahead of the game. But even at $450 it sounds like a good deal to me! Go for it!

Good luck!
Mikey!