Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Dakota vs. Cooper vs. Weatherby

I would go with the weatherby and if you aren't satisfied then you can always buy the cooper or dakota and get your money back out of the weatherby. I bought a SS Regular Vanguard in .257. The factory target measured .89"(they have to go .75 or smaller to be sub moa). I never shot it with the factory stock. I bought a like new mcMillan for $325 and my first 100yd group with factory 110 AB's was .42" I shot 5-6 shots and cleaned after each one at 25 yds then went to 100. My last groups with several different factory loads are all under an inch but I haven't had a good range day yet-rain, wind etc. I have not touched the trigger but it feels pretty good. No creep and around 4-5lbs is my guess. I am very pleased with what I have for about $800. Hope this helps.
Lee

The weatherby makes more sense money wise right now. I have had good luck with all but one of them in the past. Would love to get a Dakota or Empire to play around with.

If the Vanguard were about a pound less in weight, I'd be right there. Rifles that creep up to the 8 lb level (I think the specs are 7 3/4 lbs for the bare rifle) just don't feel right in my hands...especially once I add a scope, sling and full magazine.

What are the odds Weatherby will come out with a lightweight Vanguard? Howa makes one, and they are the source for the Vanguard line.

Weatherby shows a 6 3/4# backcountry Vanguard rifle
http://weatherby.com/product/rifles/vanguard/back_country

I havent looked at all of them lately because I bought two Dakota 97s when they were a lot cheaper.....I was tired of pumping money into 700s and not getting results I wanted....the 97s shot very well right out of the box.....Their synthetic stock is so-so but actions are smooth and trouble free. I suspect my Dakotas are still worth close to what I paid for them and that is difficult to do with a custom unless the smith is reknown.

The Dakotas do seem to hold their value. Hard to find a deal on one. That's why I am looking at them.

Weatherby must have changed the Mark V ultra-light that I have to the Vanguard Backcountry recently. The Mark V has a gray stock with black spider webbing and the flutes are black. I wonder if there are changes other than cosmetic?

Bought a Howa varmint in 223 Rem and a Weatherby Vanguard in 308.
Dumped the factory stocks and added a Bell & Carlson Medalist (full length aluminum bedding block) $625 total before I sell the other stocks. It may not be a sub-MOA but it may work just as well.