I rarely see anyone talking about Weatherby rifles in here, they have some nice looking varmint/tactical rifles but the MSRP is up around $2700. The Mark V, Lazermark and Accumark rifles look really nice as well. They have a package in the Vanguard series, stainless receiver and barrel, synthetic stock, Bushnell Banner scope and case for around $750. What's the general opinion on these rifles? I know some of their magnum calibers really crank.

The Vanguard rifles are Howa 1500's, made for Weatherby.

The Weatherby calibers rock but a lot of their "Blue collar" line up really leave a lot to be desired in the way of quality.

The Vanguard/Howa 1500 lineup is just fine, and a complete setup for $750 sounds like quite a deal for a varminter. If I remember correctly they use the same bases as Rem700's.

The downside is that not a lot of 'smiths specialize in that action.

The upper end Weatherby's are really nice rifles, not made for the blue collar crowd. Roy Weatherby was of the "Velocity rules all" school of thought, so his magnums easily pass the "More gun than you need" barrier.

A 375 H&H will kill a buffalo just as dead as a 378 WBY, but with a third less kick out of a similar weight rifle.

Another thing is weatherby ammo costs, after a few boxes you will want to handload...

Jimro

The biggest downside to getting a weatherby in a proprietary cartridge seconds Jimro's comment. The boxes go for $30 EASY for stuff that should cost somewhere around 18, but not saying you want one in their own calibers(examples below). Now as far as the rifles go, the have a nice finish from the ones I've handled, but can't really say on the accuracy. At the time I was shooting standing. For what its worth I wouldn't go buy one of their rifles, even if I had the money to do so.
Weatherby Ammuntion

James

This is the package deal, $715 and it's not a heavy barrel.

http://www.weatherby.com/products/guns.asp...code=VSP223RR4O

They have a model called the Sub-MOA, they give you a written guarantee. The only other production rifle I know of that does this is Tikka.

So how do the Vanguards and the top of the line Weatherby's shoot?
I was reading reviews on the ammunition, mainly reloading components, most reloaders are getting at least 8 reloads per casing and some were getting 10.

Hmmm, looking through the link makes me think that it isn't such a great deal, isn't a bad deal by any means, but not stellar. For that money I'd get a CZ or Savage heavy barrel and add my own scope, or get a Howa 1500 and not pay for the Weatherby name. http://www.snipercentral.com/howa.htm

The Bushnell Banner 3-9x40's are an ok hunting scope, but the glass "greys out" in low light, even with the "Dusk and Dawn" reticle.

Jimro

I do think Weatherby's are worth the price. A few years back I decided to add another .243 sporter to the safe. I'm kind of a pragmatistic sort. I chose the Mark V Fibermark,blued for somewhere just under a grand, if I can remember correctly. Thereis nothing guady about it and it gets to ride in my truck a lot in quest of targets of opritunity. It'll shoot into an inch with what ever I feed it. Mine has been worth the dollars spent..........Essex

Do yourself a favor, save your hard earned money and buy the Savage. You will be far better pleased with the accuracy.
-----------Mil-Dawg

Already have a Savage

I have a mark V 7mm mag, it's never missed anything I've pointed at. Real nice and smooth bolt action, smoother than my 10FP-LE2.

I have a weatherby trr desert magnum custom cal 338-378. with 200 grain nbt i get 1/4 moa out to 300 yds. havent shot it it further than that though.
This rifle is very $$$$$ but it is a cool rifle. kinda light and i hate the break but i cant argue with success

I'VE GOT HOWA .223 NOT HEAVY BARREL AND SHOOTS .8MOA ALL DAYLONG.WEATHERBY ARE THE SAME ACTION +BARREL SO GO FOR IT.

The Howa is the same action as the Weatherby Vanguard series. The more expensive Weatherby "Mark" series rifles are a different action.

Schmidt_Rubin,

i was intersted in a Weatherby mark 5 muliple locking lugs, but at the end of the day a Savage 10fp-le2b with a extra barrel or 2 would be more versital.

riedog

The Weatherby Mk V is one the most under-rated of all rifle designs. I own two Wby .340 Mk Vs; a Japanese Deluxe, and an American-built Accumark. My personal experience with these rifles is that they are of top-notch manufacture, and MOA accurate with factory ammunition. My Accumark is an exceptionally accurate, .5MOA out-of-the-box, shooter. Moreover, I am of the opinion that Weatherby's Mk V action makes for an excellent precision rifle platform, but it's ahead of it's time multi-lug bolt design leaves the vast majority of riflesmiths sighing, "Why bother, when there are soooo many easy money 2 lug Rem M700 actions to work on?".




PS: Don't let anyone tell ya that a Mk V, when set up propper, can't run with the best of 'em! -Check this out.

-and this! (lousy vid work, great specs!)



In short: Yes.

In Weatherbys,...I owned a Mk V deluxe, 270 with 5 numbers in the SN that I got in 98 from a pawn shop for $250. Was a steal and collectible. But the 270 beat hell outta my shoulder, and I gave it to the now EX Father in law....son of a *(&(&*%(^&%!!!!! What a loss. The vanguard for 750 to me....is a waste. Get a Savage for that with a nicer trigger, and a better scope. I have a 3 x 9 leupy I'd let go for $95 shipped, with rings.