ligonierbill
New member
How good is it? Compared to, say, Weatherby's well respected Vanguard. I have not fired either. A wise man once told me that you don't always get what you pay for, but you rarely get what you don't.
Why is that? Howa 1500's are excellent rifles in their own right, though I would agree that in the more powerful Weatherby magnums the Mark 5's are a better choice overall.I don't think I would bother to buy a Vanguard, but Mark Vs, yes. I have one in .338-06 and it is easily my favorite Elk rifle.
I would agree that a vanguard is a plain old Howa 1500 dressed up--but that is hardly an inferior grade rifle.A vanguard is a plain old rifle dressed up like a Weatherby.
Why is that? Howa 1500's are excellent rifles in their own right, though I would agree that in the more powerful Weatherby magnums the Mark 5's are a better choice overall.
The 300 Weatherby would be a great long range plains game cartridge, you'll have a huge point blank range (no fussing with turrets) and it will deliver a wallop when it gets there. It does hit hard so if you don't like recoil get one with an Accubrake.OK, I'm convinced. The Vanguard is a good rifle, but I have a bunch of good rifles. I don't have a Weatherby. I started this thinking I would finish my collection of quarter bores with Roy's reported favorite, also his first, right? Now I'm not so sure. I like heavy hitters, too. Reading up for Africa - I'm taking my good 'ole Savage 338 Win Mag - many experienced people think the really big Weatherby rounds are just too fast. If your 416 bullet is breaking 2,400, you're good (assuming you shoot well). My PH loves the Win Mag for plains game, and tells me 200 m is the range to plan on. So, if it turns out to be 400, I'm still not undergunned. So, new question. Which one of the Weatherby rounds is really the greatest thing since sliced bread? Still the 257?
I had one in high school and heck ya, I'd take a Malibu.To me, comparing the Vangard to the Mark V is akin to comparing a Malibu to a Masserati...
You mentioned needing a secondary to your 338 for reaching out long on African plains non-dangerous game and the 300 wby mag excels in that role.OK, nobody doesn't like Mark V Weatherby's. But except for Stagpanther, I see a distinct lack of affection for Roy's rounds. My target will be a Mark V in 257 Weatherby. It will have to wait, though, until I can sort out my 250-3000 and work up loads for my new powder acquisitions. The 300 Weatherby is reported to be the most popular, but my 8mm Rem Mag runs close, and I'm a sucker for the oddball. So, the 257 "Roy" it is.