I'm not "up" about all the boltguns out there, but I know the Vanguards are made from the Howa 1500 - which I do like that series. I just noticed a Vanguard 2 series, which I'm curious as to whether it too is from the 1500 series. Or is it a whole new platform?
Lately I've been thinking about having a boltgun for marksmen duties, woodchuck, possibly deer when I'm in the mood. I tend to stick with break-open single shots and leverguns. But I have owned boltguns in the past(you're not dealing with a newbie).
What is the word on the Vanguard 2's? Any good compared to the original Vanguards? How about rebarreling, anything like the Rem700's or the 1500 series? (I prefer to rebarrel for a longer tube and/or wildcats).
The difference is the trigger,fancy stock,3 position safety. The rest is the same.
As for rebarreling, the Vanguard has metric threads.
The Vanguard rifles are known for their accuracy and I would see if it was accurate enough before jumping at rebarreling.
In the last little while , I have built more varmint rifles on the 1500 action than the rem 700 action.
So basically the action is the same... Which is good for me, because I do like the 1500's action.
I have no doubts on factory performance, Weatherby makes/imports good stuff.. This would be a project rifle personalized for myself. I do some sort of gun project each winter since I cant do much else. Custom stock, 28" to 30" heavy barrel, hone the action and trigger to my liking, then develop some loads to that particular gun..
The action is the same. If there is a short coming to the Vanguard rifles , at least mine anyway is that it is a little too smooth. Even though I've never had a bad pickup on a cartridge ,I am often looking at the action to make sure I've chambered a round because I can't really feel the round being picked up and being chambered.
My favorite Vanguard is in 270WSM.
My old Smith & Wesson 1500 was like that. ...smooth. I often had to back the bolt out to make sure I chambered a round because it was just that slick. I've referred to that action in the past as being like a greased up half melted ice-cube on pane of glass.
Now, just have to find the cheapest one in the area. Then to figure out what kind of stock that I want to build or customize, what I want to chamber it as, then what barrel that I want to go with. ...damn decisions.
When it comes down to all the different models any firearm company has to offer, you more than likely can't go wrong with any of the choices. You can get lost with all the different configurations of the Savage 10, 110, 11, 110 options. Even the 12 series has half a dozen varmint ones, and another half dozen for the precision target model 12.
With the Vanguard 2, Weatherby cut a few corners on finish quality....matte blue steel and usually a synthetic noodle stock...just to stay competitive pricewise with the Howa 1500 (it's "twin" cousin...erm...brother...erm...you know) and the other good quality "basic" rifles out there.
As far as accuracy or general build quality, I haven't seen any cut in the quality of the rifle. Just final fit n finish.
You'll probably find a new Vanguard 2 is just as slick as your old S&W was. It's a sweet action!
I still like the good old Weatherby Vanguards (or the S&W as noted above) for the beautiful wood, nice polish, and mile deep blue job. But for a working rifle, I don't mind a matte finish on the metal either. I am a little concerned about the flimsy factory stocks they use though. I put a Hogue overmolded on my current Howa1500 and I'm convinced that's the bare minimum quality synthetic they should use, regardless if Weatherby or Howa marked.
As mentioned, I'd take a close look at the factory barrel before swapping out unless you're on the hunt for a real oddball bore/chamber. Every Howa/Vanguard/other1500 that I've owned (vintage or current) has had a very good barrel on it right out of the box.
They're still M26x1.5 thread if you do decide to rebarrel.
Yes, I'm looking to do some odd-ball chambering. It will definitely be something that you cannot buy factory ammo for. The only things I do know is that I'll want a long/magnum action, and it may turn into a single shot, and it will either be 6mm/243cal, or 25cal, or 7mm/284cal, 30cal, or 338cal. (leaning towards 7mm/284cal and 30cal for bullet selection)
Stock, if I can get a hold of some purple heart - I'll probably carve up a heavy target type stock. Otherwise I may just modify some 3rd party stock(wood).
I like your style, but lately I haven't been able to shoot my H&R Buff Classic 45-120 "Express" because of the recoil. There is no way in the world my shoulder would handle your beasts.14
Knight0334 I'm totally with you. I'm absolutely totally fascinated by Ed Hubel's wonderful innovative work out on the cutting edge of really big bore wildcat rifles and cartridges. He is doing stuff that I would dearly love to do, but my age and stage has finally caught up with me. Personally, I'm at the point that I think that a 3" slug in a 12 gauge H&R USH is a devil's device. I cannot really grasp the type of shoulder pounding and potential retina ripping that Ed deals with on a regular basis. I truly love all of the innovative large caliber work that he is doing, but I shall forever have to remain just an onlooker. So, carry on Ed, we love what you're doing.
I've been following Ed's work for the past decade or so(give or take). When he did the 12gaFH in the Handi I about had a joygasm.
I've been a fan of the bigbores ever since reading an article in G&A or some other gun rag back in the 1980's about the 4-Bores.
My closest thing I have is one of my H&R Buffalo Classics that I reamed to .45-120. My loads are in the lower .460WbyMag energy levels, but the recoil is not very friendly at all in the <11lb rifle. ...not even with custom 255gr and 300gr bullets. (I dare not shoot anything heavier)
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