Hello everybody,

Im new here but I recently scored a Weatherby Vanguard in 375HH for a price I couldnt pass up. I got it for 600 bucks off the shelf and out the door, I cant believe I could get into 375HH for that price.

Anyways, I took it out and it shoots quite well. The Williams sights seem well built And 5-6 types of ammo all shot very well, I wasnt making tiny groups as I was just shooting with Irons but I was keeping it accurate enough considering I havnt shot with irons in several years.

Anyways, Im looking for advice on putting a scope on this rifle, Id like to keep the cost sort of low because this isnt a very expensive rifle and I plan to get a Kimber Talkeetna and put a nicer scope on it,

What would you put on this weatherby as a sort of all around, beater, loaner, brush, camp gun?

Also, does anybody else have one of these? I havnt come across any reviews or anything online.

thanks!!!!

I came close to buying one last year, but read several on-line complaints about them having a fragile bolt stop screw. Anyone else heard of that?

I'd put a matte 3-9x40 Redfield Revolution scope on that rifle in that 50 dollar set of matte Buehler rings and bases down in the classifieds.

I read that somewhere too but I have never heard of there being any sort of problem first hand and I even contacted weatherby and they said that it was a non-issue.

Ive used vanguards for awhile now, almost 10 years all over Alaska, Montana, New Mexico and Canada and never had the first hint of a problem with one. Seems like you can find a negative about any rifle if you look around enough.

That would make a nice solid set up, I'll look into that. Im hoping to take a bear this year on the peninsula with this rifle.

I have owned about 10 Redfields mostly from the 70's all of them went bad. I'll never own another one.

The new Redfields are from Leupold and have nothing but the name in common with the Redfields made in Denver.

If guess that it depends on how you're planning to use it. If you're going to use it in heavy/thick cover, I'd prefer a variable with a low magnification setting and a heavy reticle, something like the Leupold VX3 1.5-5x with a heavy duplex.

My 375 H&H currently has a 1986 vintage Leupold 2-7x28 on it, but if I was actually going to hunt with it, I'd upgrade the scope to a current Leupold in either the VX2 or VX3 lines. Regardless of what scope I put on it, I'd want a heavy/think reticle that grabs your attention the instant that your eye comes into alignment with the scope.

Yep they are low end cheap scopes made by leupold. Leupold makes a lot of low end scopes under the name leupold also.

Great score, man...that is an $1100 rifle! (Fiberglass w/express sites...that one?). I spent a while looking at the newest range certified Vanguards and bought a 6.5 Creed Fiberglass. The box store had it priced $549! toe to muzzle this gun is as nice as any until you start talking a custom built rifle.

Nice score on the 375! Have owned several Vanguards and been happy with them all. I'd put a low power variable Leupold VX3 on it and forget about it. I don't find a 375 to kick as sharply as say a 338 Win mag. My two 375's both wear 6X Leupolds, but probably wouldn't be the best for close in cover shots. Especially in bear country!

I own a Howa 1500 (unbranded Weatherby Vanguard) and I have broken the bolt stop screw.

The bolt stop screw is very small and weak and if you pull the bolt back hard, like you might do if a cape buffalo is charging you, you may find the bolt never stops and comes right out the back.

I contacted Howa about it, was given the response that I should not be working the bolt so hard. I thought that to be an unsatisfactory answer and, can't remember if I said it or just thought it, hoped they never made a DG rifle.

Great rifle otherwise. Would recommend having a side bolt release installed (like many do on a Remington action) if you intend to hunt anything that may bite back.

Please explain this modification further. I am not familiar with this and am interested in learning more about it. Who offers this service? Any insights on costs, lead time, etc?

Do you happen to have any pics of this?

Probably more heavy cover than open country (I have other guns for that). Leupold vx3 is a great scope, I have a few.

550.00 for a Vanguard RC is an awesome deal. Id have been all over that.

Just google "Remington side bolt release mod" and you'll get plenty of results and images. It's a pretty common mod offered by most gunsmiths who work on remington actions - especially in the benchrest and tactical crowds. Nosler uses a Howa action on the patriot rifle and also puts a side bolt release on it - seems like a heck of an improvement over the tiny screw Howa/vanguard provides.

VX-3 1.75-6x32 or 2.5-8x36
VX-2 2-7x33
Fullfield II 2-7x35

I'm in the same position as you, but with a 416 Ruger.
After a lot of consideration, I'm going with a Nikon Slug Hunter 3x9x40mm.
They claim 5 Inches of Eye relief in all magnification levels and that's what really sealed the deal.
It's priced under $200 most places and that leaves me with some cash to buy the reloading components I need to feed the beast.

AKPENDUDE - " ...putting a scope on this rifle, Id like to keep the cost sort of low..." Don't short change yourself in this area. Spend a decent amount, for a reputable scope, so you can transfer it to the Kimber later. If you can't see your target chances are you won't be able to hit it. Remember that less expensive optics cost less for a reason...no free lunch here.
Homesteader

Ive also had the bolt stop screw shear off on a Vanguard

dont think it would be a big deal to tap out the hole for a bit larger screw

I have a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5x heavy duplex on my 375. More than enough magnification at 5x and about perfect at 2x. Leupold QR mounts and it is good to go to irons.

Pretty hard to beat leupold at the prices you can pick up a Vari-X III these days. Customer service is hands down the best.

Had vanguards in 30-06 & 300 WSM and never had a problem with the bolt stop. Great guns for the money if not a little heavy.

This would be the easiest fix. My .375 wears a 1.5-6x Leupold and it is about ideal for my use. I would put a variable with the low end at 1-2x or maybe a fixed 3x scope but nothing higher. I like how a low power scope allows you to shoot like aiming a shotgun with both eyes open. This could come in handy in the Alder jungles or when all you can see is hair in the scope.

I just picked up one of the Vanguard's in 375 H&H from Buds Online for $605. Putting a Leupold VX2 2x7 on it. Also, contacted B&C about putting their Vanguard/Howa 1500 long action sporter style stock on it. They said it should fit. Worse case the action may have to be opened up a tad. The factory stock is OK, I just like the straight lines of the B&C better, and thinking it may help with recoil a little better.

AS far as I know, B&C dosent offer a stock that will fit this barrel profile, if you want the B&C stock to fith this rifle, call weatherby, Ive been told they have them for sale.