Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles previous generation Weatherby Vanguards

Is there any reason to avoid a previous generation Weatherby Vanguard as opposed to a series 2? I know the trigger is better and there is a three position safety on the new generation. Otherwise, are there any issues with the older ones?

The newer Vanguards also come with a 3-shot MOA guarantee. I believe the older ones came with a 1.5 MOA guarantee - does that mean that the newer rifles are going to be more accurate on average, or does it mean that Weatherby simply upped their guarantee?

I ask because I recently came across a good deal on an unused but older Vanguard.

I have one of the early ones and it has worked like a charm for me. Course it does have a Timney trigger.

I wouldn’t hesitate, especially if the deal was good enough to justify a timney.

No worries. My older [circa 2009] 257 Bee has shot 300 yard groups that matched the factory 100 yard target. Right a inch and a third. Only upgrade was a Timney trigger.

I owned half a dozen and only one was not easily under an inch and that one was before i reloaded so I am sure it would have done so as well with a little load work.

I like the older ones better anyway.

Based on my 2 series 1 vanguards......absolutely no reason to avoid them. Both have crisp triggers, both shoot moa or better......

If you can find a first generation Vanguard Back Country (all stainless, not cerakote), buy it.


https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2009/9/16/weatherby-back-country/




P

Always been good guns. I was a firm believer and owned several of them. I upgraded them to Series 2 just because I like to barter and trade. I am on the Tikka bandwagon now, and have been for the last 4 years or so. I like the light weight.

The series 1 Weatherbys shoot very good. Most will be an inch or under, for sure with reloads. I have a .223 that I put in a Bell & Carlson stock and it made a big difference in feel, and appearance. I like it. Didnt change the way it shoots, which is good. Very good guns for their price point and adding a trigger makes a big improvement. I would run these before the cheaper built Americans, Axis etc that came on the scene.

The factory triggers and synthetic stocks on the V2s are an improvement over the pre-V2s.

The only downside is they are heavy

With a bit of know how and time, the gen 1 vanguard triggers can be a very good trigger. Once I learned how to work on them, I quit buying timneys.

I like them. They have metal instead of plastic magazine followers and the stainless finish on the older ones seems to be more durable. I have replaced the factory trigger with Rifle Basix on the last couple I have acquired and have been very happy with them. They are heavy but heavy can be better when aiming and shooting as long as you don’t have to carry it all day or long distances.

I have a vintage vanguard in 300 win mag. spot on rifle, i have a slightly newer one that is a 350 legend after rebore, both will do the job, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

I had one, damn fine shooter, gonna get a new one for a friend.

I had a series 1 in 257 mag and two series 2's. All three were great rifles but heavy

Whats old, early?

I have a 243 from when all they made was one model.
Wood/blued/full Weatherby look.

Before the VGS/VGL/VGX.

Shoots fine.

Metal rusts in the blink of an eye.
They used a long action to build it,
no block.
Point it up, the rounds slide back.

Click.

Point it down...

Click.

Stretched the spring, couldn't figure it out for a long time.
Finally, realized the issue.

Bought it with lawn mowing and lunch money when i was 13.
Ruined me on Weatherby.
Provides safe ballast.

Previous gen is good to go so long as twist rates, etc, match up with your aims and purposes for the rifle. Helps if it's a good deal because a trigger upgrade is worth it in my opinion.

Bought one a few years ago . Stock was really tight to the barrel all the way out .
300 weatherby , could not get consistent groups , eventually came across gen 2 varmint stock that has bedding block and being a varmint contour it left the sporter barrel completely floated .
Made it a keeper , 130 TTSX shoot well under an inch
Kenneth