Well, put in the order yesterday,
1 weatherby vanguard series 2 223 rem wood stock w/twist rate of 1/14
1 weatherby vanguard threat response 6.5 creedmoor w/twist rate of 1/8
supposed to be in by the end of the week. finally getting a 6.5 creedmoor. I hope for the best. Will let ya know how things go.......
I have a Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Weatherby Magnum. For a sporter it's a pretty accurate rifle.
I didn't see it mentioned in this thread. But just so you know, Weatherby Vanguards are nothing more than rebranded Howa 1500's. Weatherby does not manufacture their own rifles, and haven't for years.
The Mark V Deluxe is currently made by ATEK Corporation in Brainerd, Minnesota. While the barrel and action for the Vanguard Series is still being manufactured in Japan by Howa.
There is nothing "wrong" with this. It's simply the way Weatherby has chosen to operate. I believe some of the older Weatherby rifles that came out of the Southgate, California plant were actually manufactured by Roy Weatherby. However, this was back when Weatherby was first starting out, and before they utilized the Mark V Action. Many of the older Southgate rifles were built on Mauser actions.
Weatherby used to offer the "MOA" version of the Vanguard. Basically all they did was test fire the new guns for accuracy, as they came in from Howa. Then they would segregate the most accurate one's, and charge a premium price for them. They would then embellish the floorplate of these rifles with "MOA" on the bottom, in order to distinguish them from the run of the mill Vanguards. I believe they also included a test target.
My older Weatherby Vanguard was purchased before the whole "MOA" deal was started. It came with a signed and dated test target as well. I don't know if the newer non "MOA" models do or not. When you get your rifles, let us know.
Weatherby's new Sheridan, Wyoming facility is little more than a office complex, along with a warehouse that contains a small assembly area. There is no manufacturing machinery in it.