Considering new rifle

[Alaskabound2016]

Hey guys. I am considering a new rifle. I currently have the Ruger American and it has been a pretty decent rifle. I am in the mood to upgrade to a better, more reliable rifle. I like the Kimber rifles but I just cant spend that much money on one right now. I have been looking at Weatherby and also really like the lineup they have. I am looking between the Vanguard Wilderness, Vanguard Accuguard, and the Vanguard Back Country. Either 300 Win. Mag or 30-06 (my ruger is 30-06 so I am leaning more towards the 300). This rifle will be used primarily for Deer and Elk in Colorado.

Thanks for all the help I really appreciate it!

 

[troybackman]

Check the tikka question thread. You will not be disappointed if you choose tikka. I am setting up a new tikka T3X in 300 wm for a customer. I'll get you a review on this rifle soon.

 

[mcseal2]

Just curious, what is wrong with the Ruger? I have one in 270. I beat it around in the feed truck and it seems to keep functioning fine no matter how dirty or beat up it gets. I figured it was a good inexpensive gun for that. My only complaint with it is that I have to be careful that I don't put to much pressure on the forend and contact the barrel when shooting it off improvised rests.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

I actually have not found anything wrong with the rifle and I have been pleasantly surprised with it. I plan on keeping it, just looking to add another rifle to the arsenal really. Haha But my brother in law is looking to get into hunting and he is not in the same financial situation I am, so I was going to let him use my Ruger and I would use whatever new rifle I purchase.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Don't know what tour total budget is (not any of my business), but remember good glass could very well cost more than the rifle. I am a Weatherby guy (have 2...300 & .257 mags) and really like them both. Only trouble with them is cost of ammunition if you don't reload. I also love Leupold scopes.

I am sure you will get all the advice you can handle from some very knowledgeable hunters here.

 

[JimP]

I picked up a Weatherby Vanguard S2 a couple of years ago in .25-06 and found that it is a tack driver. A couple of weeks ago I was out burning some rounds through it and put two shots through the same hole at 100 yards with reloads that I hadn't even started to work up for accuracy.

They are not the prettiest rifles but they do shoot.

 

[Gr8bawana]

My brother bought a weatherby vangard in .308 for his wife years ago and I must say that rifle is butt ugly. A wooden club would have more appeal and on top of that it kicks like a mule. I thought it would be pretty tame in .308 compared to the 7 mag I shoot.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

I do plan on eventually reloading whichever caliber I end up going with. And I am a Vortex guy so there isn't too much difference in price as far as glass is concerned. Both make great glass. Still leaning more towards the 300 Win Mag like I said.

But again, thanks for all the help fellas!

 

[mcseal2]

Both the Vanguard and Tikkas are darn nice rifles. I personally prefer a tang (like the American) or 3 position (Winchester M70 or Kimber style) safety or I'd probably own some Tikkas. I like to switch shoulders when carrying my rifle on a sling and I find that when carrying a RH bolt action on my left shoulder the safety can rub into the fire position on my pack. I know lots of other people use them and don't have an issue, maybe it's just me or my pack.

I really like the feel of Kimber's light rifles but the one I bought didn't shoot worth a darn. It is getting a different stiffer fluted barrel now so I hope it becomes the rifle I wanted it to be. Kimbers seem to be all over the board from reading reviews. Some people get one that shoots great and love it, some people don't. I bought mine used and thought it might not be one of the great shooters since it was for sale. I got it priced right and figured I'd use the action and stock to build if it didn't shoot.

The Browning Hells Canyon Speed series rifles look really nice but are priced higher. I'd have to think about them if I was buying a new factory rifle the factory brake would help me to shoot a 300 win in a light rifle better. The Winchester M70 Extreme series is about the same money and are nice rifles.

The Browning A bolt and several of the Savage rifles are priced lower and have the tang safety also, darn nice rifles.

 

[JimP]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I will have to agree that the Vanguard is nothing to look at but it shoots.

But then if I wanted a pretty rifle I would do a custom wood stock on one and then leave it at home instead of dragging it through the brush but as I said I haven't seen a rifle shoot like it does right out of the box for the price that it is listed for.

 

[Murdy]

The Vanguards come in standard calibers as well as the Weatherby ones, which, I think, would really mitigate the cost of shooting them.

 

[Alaskabound2016]

Are you guys looking at the old Vanguards? I am looking at the new 2016 models and most of them have that "spider web" charcoal grey stock. It has a Cerakote Grey finish on the barrel. I think it is a pretty bad ass looking gun if you ask me!

 

[mcseal2]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I will have to agree that the Vanguard is nothing to look at but it shoots.

But then if I wanted a pretty rifle I would do a custom wood stock on one and then leave it at home instead of dragging it through the brush but as I said I haven't seen a rifle shoot like it does right out of the box for the price that it is listed for.

A buddy had a 25-06 built off a Remington 700 that has never been afield. He had a really fancy thumbhole stock done on it and we worked up a load, then he stuck it in the safe. He doesn't want to scratch it up. I've been trying to convince him to get a Bell & Carlson Alaskan stock for it and leave the fancy thumbhole stock in the safe, use the rifle.

 

[go_deep]

Just buy a couple in a few different calibers.

 

[droptine]

I've got four browning rifles. Two A Bolts, one in 300 wsm and one 270 wsm. Two X Bolts, one in 7mm-08 and one 22-250 and love them all!

 

[sneakypete]

Try this on for size, it'll blow your budget but what the hell. proof research 300 win.

 

[rjroberts15]

The Vanguards that I've shot are good, accurate rifles. My brother in law has one in 30-06 that puts 3 shots inside a nickel. I'm a model 70 guy myself. The 22" barrel Extreme weather ss in 270 win being my favorite.

 

[sneakypete]

I recently won a Browning x bolt 30 06 at a RMEF dinner. I didn't know what to expect, but after putting a vx3i 4.5x14 on it. I took it to the range shooting 165 gr nosler accubonds. Here's the results after sighting it in. The group slightly low and left were my last grouping and I'm a model 70 7mm man!

 

[CrossCreeks]

I am a Browning A-Bolt man have 3 and love them all (25/06 , 30.06 & 300 WM) but I think Kimber is great rifle and so is a Weatherby, you cannot go wrong with any of them. All are great choices and so are several not mentioned. Awful nice to have some many great choices !

 

[ColoradoV]

Might also want to check out a Remington 700p ltr. A .308 will come in at about 7.5 lbs and every one of them I have seen shoot great right out of the box. I have one and the 20" barrel is short but still a very capable rifle for elk and deer out to 600yds.