I understand Weatherby released the Series 2 Vangaurd to recitify minor issues with the earlier Howa Vangaurd. Local seller has a NOS Series 1 in 308, 24" barrel standard synthetic stock and wants $400. Original case and box. Unfired. Seem high to me. Weren't these $350 new? In the big picture probably a good value. I'm assuming it's the earlier series due to serial number, date on box and 2 position safety.
Thank you.
Depends on what you're calling a "Series 1". If by that you mean anything prior to the S2 generation, then many different factors and variables apply. Pick up a gun guide and you can see how many different iterations of pre-S2 rifles there were. This goes all the way back to the late 1960s when they were introduced.
Then there was the period between 1994 and 2002 when they only sold Vanguards to Wal-Mart stores.
In 2003 they came back as a regular catalog item and started introducing some Weatherby cartridges (ie: 257 & 300). I think the S2s came out around 2010-2011. I remember reading that they offered a 240 Wby Mag in the new generation.
I own 3 Vanguards (all pre-S2). The first one I bought was a "Sporter" model chambered in 7mm Rem Mag and with a blued (matte) finish and a walnut stock with rosewood tip. The second 2 were 257 Wby Mag & 300 Wby Mag, both in synthetic with matte blue finish on the metal. I found a used Vanguard sporter stock on eBay for $80 shipped and re-stocked the 300. It looks much better now. Plan on doing the same for the 257 at some point but haven't gotten around to it yet.
I recently picked up a 270 Wby Mag in a Mark V sporter. The Mark V certainly has a better fit, finish, and feel to it compared to the Vanguards. But that's not a shot at the Vanguards. They are quality, good-shooting rifles and if I had it to do over, I wouldn't change anything.
FWIW, the last Vanguard I bought was circa 2011. It was on closeout at Cabelas for $350 + tax. This was due to the new S2's debut.
I don't have an S2 to compare against my pre-S2 rifles, but I don't have any "issues" with them at all. I would say that my only gripe is the triggers. They are adjustable but not as much as I would like.
