Purchasing a new rifle! 2 options. Which one do you think?

Alaskabound2016

Alaskabound2016

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Finally narrowed it down to two rifles to choose from.
Browning X-Bolt Hell's Canyon SPEED-300 Win Mag.
Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness-300 Win Mag.

This will be my go to rifle for years to come on all my hunting adventures so I figured I would spend a couple extra bucks and get a really good quality rifle.

They have about a $300 price difference between the two. Browning comes with a Cerakote finish on the bolt and barrel, the Weatherby does not. It also has the tang safety, 26" barrel vs the 24" on the Weatherby. It also has a removable brake as well and detachable magazine. But, at a price of over $300 difference.

So, my question to you guys, is it worth the extra money for the better finish and barrel? I figured if I did all of the extras like the Browning on the Weatherby it would actually be more money. But are they worth it? Anybody own these rifles and have a comment?

Which rifle would you choose and why?

Thanks in advanced for the input and help guys!
 
Ikeepitcold

Ikeepitcold

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I would look at the cost difference with ammo. Weatherby ammo is spendy. As far as the $300 cost difference I would go for the Browning.
 
JimP

JimP

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I believe that the Weatherby is in .300 Win mag also and not a .300 Weatherby mag. Of the two I would go with the Vanguard, I have a S2 in .25-06 and it is a tack driver. As for the stocks I am getting to the point that I prefer plastic and fiberglass over wood. You don't have to worry about it getting wet and changing your point of aim and then there are the scratches that you will get on a wood stock, it is just a matter of time before you hit a rock or put a deep gouge into it if you use it as a hunting rifle.

Back onto the Weatherby mags and the ammo, you need to reload if you plan on purchasing one of these and shooting them. I have a .340 Weatherby mag and the factory ammo it loves is over $5.00 a round. I can reload the same round for around $1.25, still not cheap but at least I can afford to shoot it.
 
mcseal2

mcseal2

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Of your choices I'd go Browning. I have owned 2 A bolts that shot very well. I really like the looks of that Hells Canyon rifle. Biggest reason for me though is I like a tang or 3 position safety, the Weatherby has a safety similar to the Remington 700. Biggest downside to that particular rifle/chambering combo to me is the 26" barrel plus a brake adds more than I like to the overall length. I had my 300 win built with a 23.5" barrel plus the brake that adds 1". I still get 2950fps with 180gr bullets with no problem. In the Hells Canyon I'd personally lean toward the 300WSM due to the shorter barrel and action, had an A bolt in 270WSM I liked really well with the 23" barrel and short action.

Good luck with getting the right rifle for YOU and enjoying it for years to come.
 
hoshour

hoshour

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I vote for the Vanguard for pretty much the same reasons as Jim P - shorter barrel and no brake means less weight, Vanguard tends to be very accurate and I've put too many dents and scratches on rifles to pay for a nice stock. The synthetic will also shoot better than a wood stock and probably weigh less.
 
JimP

JimP

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mcseal2 said:
Biggest reason for me though is I like a tang or 3 position safety, the Weatherby has a safety similar to the Remington 700.
Click to expand...
The Vanguard has a 3 posistion safety. While it isn't a tang safety it doesn't take much to get used to. But don't confuse a Vanguard with a Weatherby MKV.
 
Alaskabound2016

Alaskabound2016

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The wood stock was definitely my biggest concern. But I do like the cerakote finish and removable brake for peace of mind. Would that outweigh the wood stock concerns for anybody here? Even with the longer barrel?
 
droptine

droptine

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Although I've never owned a Weatherby.. I'd pick the browning all day long. All I have is brownings, along with two x bolts. All are laser beam shooters!
 
Alaskabound2016

Alaskabound2016

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Droptine, does your x bolts have composite stocks as well? I've never owned a rifle with composite for the stock. I understand it's a wood mix with other compounds. But I've also seen composite as a form of plastic? So which is it? How do you like it?
 
Alaskabound2016

Alaskabound2016

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Straight from Brownings website "Composite stocks provide superior durability and accuracy as well as a defense against the elements that can cause wood stocks to warp and swell. Browning composite stocks are made from the toughest materials; many of them, such as the stock on the x-bolt are made from glass fiber reinforced polymers." So they aren't wood. Does that change anybody's mind about which one they'd go with?
 
mcseal2

mcseal2

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JimP said:
The Vanguard has a 3 posistion safety. While it isn't a tang safety it doesn't take much to get used to. But don't confuse a Vanguard with a Weatherby MKV.
Click to expand...
I think it's a Howa action right? You are right that it is a 3 position safety, but it is still a straight forward push to remove it from safety. Not exactly like a Remington 700, but not like a Ruger M77 or Winchester 70 that has to swing around to be taken off safe. You are right, I should have explained what I meant better. I don't like any safety on the side of a rifle that can be pushed straight forward to take it off safe. I had a Colt light rifle with a Remington style safety that kept rubbing into the fire position against my pack when I carried the RH bolt rifle over my left shoulder. Never had that problem with a tang or Winchester/Ruger style 3 position so I stick with them now. May not be an issue for most, but it's why I don't own a Tikka despite all the good I hear about them.
 
P

Packer79

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Jun 7, 2016
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Of the two I'd pick the weatherby. I've never had a x bolt but do own a abolt, vanguard and a mark v. Betterment them all the best gun for my money was the vanguard.
 
droptine

droptine

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Alaskabound, all my mine have wood stocks. Although I did put a Bell and Carlson on my 300 wsm. That's my go to elk rifle. I also have a 270 wsm in the same model A bolt but with the factory wood stock. My x bolts are in 7mm-08 and 22-250. Both wood.
At 500 yds I can hit a 6" gong all day with the 300, 270 and 7mm -08. Haven't tried the 250 at that range
 
6

6mm Remington

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Mar 27, 2011
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I really like wood stocks for the way the look and the way they feel in your hands. That being said all of my wood stocked rifles I have made sure the barrel channels are very well protected with finish, and I like having them pillar AND glass bedded with the barrels floated. They will shoot just as accurately as a synthetic stocked rifle with the aluminum bedding block and be just as consistent. Sure you can scratch up a wood stock easier, but I just like them. Each scratch tells you about a memory from days in the field!
 
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