Vanguards?
The Howa/ Vanguard actually started life as the Sako L-61. Along with the MkV the L-61 is the pinnacle of the push feed bolt actions, IMO.
I'm not sure what year Roy Weatherby purchased the rights the the L-61. He wanted to offer a quality rifle for less than the MKV. An American contractor was unable to meet contract and Roy chose Howa.
I own both MKV and Vanguard, 340WBY, and 300WBY. I have several rifles in the past, Interarms MKX, 30-06 was my first rifle, left by my father, who KIA on his third tour, Oct 67. Mdl 700's, Rugers, Arisaka MDl 99, Marlin's, S&W. all worked fine.
I learned later what made the Weatherby's better,IMO. They are as solid as modern industry can make then. No drilled bar stock or washered recoil lugs, or fused, alloyed or semi-hollow bolts.
With today's CDC capability, even entry level rifles are capable of accuracy almost unheard of in this type rifle 40 years ago. This same technology makes the old designs as or even more consistent than most modern designs.
The Weatherby rifles I own are sure not range toys! I reload so I can shoot as much as I want to. Only now I don't want to pound the snot out myself anymore. I have switched to heavy varmint rifle in 6.5/284, and it's fun to shoot again.
I'm not going to trash the newer designs. They are perfectly serviceable and with accuracy we only imagined a generation ago. Plastic and stainless, welcome to the millennium.
My Vanguard was impulse purchase. I was in Sheels in Billings, buying boots. I saw sales tags on three Vanguards a 270 Stainless, 25-06 Stainless, and 300WBY blued synthetic. I saw the factory targets and left with the 300. $299 out the door, no sales tax in Montana. I figured I'll never get more rifle for the money.
The factory target was .6"-.7". MY son, all 130 lbs of him, has come very close, but haven't beaten the factory target yet. I suspect they used a slave stock with the operation bolted to the bench.
I don't see how a hunter/shooter could go wrong with a Howa/Vanguard.
