Weatherby Vangaurd ????

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bighoss

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Has anyone had experience with a Weatherby Vangaurd .223? The price is right but I would like to know good, bad, or ugly???
 
I don't have any personal experience with one but I've only heard good things about them. Supposedly they are on average more accurate than the Mark 5 and a really good bargain. I plan on buying a sub-moa vanguard in 257 Weatherby as soon as my wallet will allow it.
 
I have one in .308 and never looked back. With 180gr Hornady bullets I've printed 1/4" groups at 100 yards. I have to do my part, of course, but my rifle is insanely accurate.

Now, the action was not very smooth when I bought it, but after a year or so it smoothed right out, and now is a very slick action. The trigger is nothing special, but it's not horrible either.

I use mine to hunt everything. It's the only hunting rifle I own, and don't even have a desire to buy another. You don't need to spend a lot on a rifle - if you have some extra, get a good scope.

I'd buy the gun in a heartbeat, if I was you.

Tom
 
Vanguard

I shoot a Howa factory bull barrel .223 with a snythetic stock, like it so well I was going to order the same thing in a.308. The only problem is Howa doesn't make a complete rifle in ss with a bull barrel, so guess I'll have to order a barreled acton. Howa has some tack drivers in just about everything else.
hogbody 74
 
I like my .30-06 Vanguard Sporter. It's also accurate. It is heavy, but I'm guessing that a .223 bolt gun is more about accuracy than carry weight.
 
My Vanguard Sporter is in .270Win that's been cut down to 22", free floated, with a target crown, and had the trigger smoothed up and lightened by my gunsmith, it's one of my favorite deer rifles.
Don't be discouraged reading about my version, I fiddle with almost all my rifles trying to eek out a little better preformance, LOL. Vanguards are great rifles, best wishes.
 
The Good: I have had several Weatherby rifles, both Mark V and Vanguard. I have the Vanguard Varmint Special in .223 Rem. It averages 0.25" to 0.50" at 100 yards with 45 grain factory HPs, and that was with the factory trigger. I just bought a Timney 1.5 trigger for it. Now I have to get back to the farm. :D

The Bad: The worst groups I ever fired with it were 0.25" to 0.75" at 100 yards, but that with 23 MPH wind gusts. Again, that was with the old trigger!

The Ugly: They are great rifles, and I can't afford to own 1 in every caliber they offer them! Oh that I could.

Re: the weight, yes, the Var Spec has a heavy barrel, but weighs about the same as the synthetic or sporter. The synthetic and sporter have #2, 24" barrels. The Varmint Special has a #3, 22" barrel: 7.5 Lbs. The barrel is not even close to as heavy as a Rem M700 Varmint barrel. The muzzle diameter is considerably smaller. NOTICE: The Varmint Special does not use the same scope base as the short action. It takes a "Howa 1500" base.

Geno
 
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I concur, a vanguard is a great rifle; mine did dime sized groups at 100 yards with varmint grenade handloads. I had assembled a 20" barreled ar 15 hence why I sold my 223 weatherby vanguard otherwise I would have kept it; too many guns in the safe now. I no longer wanted a 3rd bolt gun.
 
Howa makes only the action, the barrel and final assembly are done in USA (assembly at the California plan)
 
Have enjoyed my Vanguard (Howa) 223 rifle very much. On a good day it will keep some nice tight groups at 100 yards and once you get a good point of aim hit a metal gong regularly at 600 yds, privided the wind is not stirring up the dust.
 
I know! I know! My groups have really suffered due to 46 surgeries following my car accident. :scrutiny: Worse yet, I confess I was using the 36X Weaver, a bi-pod and sandbag rest. :neener: I really should have shot better. I'll make it back...just give me time to get the rest of the scars off my spine. Well, I didn't blame my poor rifle. :D

Geno :cool:
 
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