Picked up a used Weatherby Vanguard Sporter

[High Desert Hunter]

It was $325 picked up from my FFL, wood has a few dings, barrel was sorely in need of cleaning, but doesn't look like any permanent damage, just the worst copper fouling I have ever seen. I bought this because i didn't have a shootable 30'06 in my stable, but I reasoned that if the bore were to be bad, I could have it rechambered to 338-06, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, or 375 Whelen (has intrigued me for some time). I am going to put a decent 3-9x40 scope on it, it came with nice rings and bases, may end up doing some trigger tuning or replacement, see how it shoots first. Looking forward to a 30 caliber that doesn't beat me up as bad.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Sounds like a good deal and a good plan. It will be interesting to hear how the gun performs after a good barrel cleaning and mounting the scope.

 

[Areaonereal]

A good price on an "experienced " rifle. Bore Tech has a copper removal product that works wonders, just need to repeat until copper is dissolved. Good luck and hope it shoots well.

 

[enysse]

Congrats, looks like a nice gun!

 

[Rob404]

One Vote for 338-06 larger bullet 06 Brass

 

[High Desert Hunter]

I really like the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen, but I am hoping that this is a shootable 30'06, it is more of a "back to my roots" deal. That is some good shooting Rob!

 

[Mekaniks]

Nice Rifle I like the 338-06 but there is also some good things to said about a 9.3x62. In my opinion it really depends on what weight bullets you want to shoot? If want 250g 286g, 300g bullets I would go with the 9.3. On the other end from 160-250 grain bullets I would go .338.

Can't wait to see the finished product

 

[Rob404]

I really like the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen, but I am hoping that this is a shootable 30'06, it is more of a "back to my roots" deal. That is some good shooting Rob!

Thanks ,I like the Idea of using the same Brass for two different calibers,the 338 is a real thumper and not bad to shoot with 200 gr loads, these were shot with a fresh barrel out of a Cheap Savage action go figure

 

[High Desert Hunter]

I picked up Patch-Out by Wipe-Out, and it worked like a Champ, the Bore Tech was working, but this other stuff was like a miracle worker, I am sold! I am going to the range today, stole a Nikon Pro Staff 3-9x40 off of my #1 in 45/70, have some 180gr Sierra BT, Remington Core Lokts, and some Midway Blemished 180gr bullets loaded to see how it shoots. Using RL 22, and RL 17, they were on hand, and I still can't get any 4350. Looking forward to putting it through the paces.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice rifle. Good choice.
Witold

 

[High Desert Hunter]

So the new rifle was showing great promise until the copper fouling showed up again. I am not sure if there is a problem I can't see in the bore, or if I sabotaged it with the patch I ran down the bore midway through the shooting session, wondering if it had some remnants of the copper remover on it? I am now soaking the bore again in hopes that maybe I didn't get all of the fouling out, barring that I may need to try some sort of bore polish. Best group of the day was turned in by 3 shots with Hornady bonded core 180gr bullets over RL 17, they all landed in .75", unfortunately the load is a little warm and will need to be reduced, have to see how it shoots with a slight reduction in powder charge.

 

[Rob404]

I was at the range yesterday the gentlemen next to me had the Mark V in 30-06, it had some experience marks on it but it was still beautiful

 

[High Desert Hunter]

This bore seems to have a fair amount of tooling marks in it, I know it has accuracy potential, but if it continues to foul the way it is now, it will become a 338-06, 35 Whelen, or a 375 Whelen. I want a rifle that can shoot an entire box of shells without the accuracy turning from groups into patterns, and doesn't take a day and a half to clean it.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

This bore seems to have a fair amount of tooling marks in it, I know it has accuracy potential, but if it continues to foul the way it is now, it will become a 338-06, 35 Whelen, or a 375 Whelen. I want a rifle that can shoot an entire box of shells without the accuracy turning from groups into patterns, and doesn't take a day and a half to clean it.

Could be the barrel is tight. If the bullets have a soft copper jacket, then this I'd think would make the fouling that much worse. Perhaps try a different bullet?

 

[High Desert Hunter]

I am definitely going to try some different bullets, right now I have 2 different Hornady bullets, Some Sierra BT bullets, Rem Core Lokts, Nosler Partitions, Nosler Accubonds, and Some Barnes Triple Shocks.

 

[Rob404]

I really like the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen, but I am hoping that this is a shootable 30'06, it is more of a "back to my roots" deal. That is some good shooting Rob!

If your going to re-barrel you might look at Apache Arms great SS barrels I paid 220.00 for mine

 

[Rob404]

Well lets keep this on the down low as I occasionally post on the 375 and over forum but my love has always been light calibers.For a while now i have been researching something in a more than 20cal but less than 30cal that could attain 3500fps and shoot flat,Then I saw a Weatherby 70th Anniversary Edition. I own some nice looking rifles but there is something about a Weatherby that makes me warm in the under regions,and while I could never afford the Mark5 at over 3K the 70th Anniversary has the MK5 Wood and the gloss finish and the caliber that will give me what I want and was Roys Favorite a 257Weatherby Mag. I should have it in my grubby little hands in about 10 days

 

[Aaron N]

I love my sporter, just hate how they have cheaped out on the wood in recent years!

 

[Rob404]

I love my sporter, just hate how they have cheaped out on the wood in recent years!

The Anniversary Edition comes with AA Walnut

 

[lcq]

This bore seems to have a fair amount of tooling marks in it, I know it has accuracy potential, but if it continues to foul the way it is now, it will become a 338-06, 35 Whelen, or a 375 Whelen. I want a rifle that can shoot an entire box of shells without the accuracy turning from groups into patterns, and doesn't take a day and a half to clean it.

I have a rem 783 in 7mm mag that shoots only flat based bullets but they are all less than 0.75" some repeatable <0.5". All with a bore with so many tool marks it looks like tree rings. Yes it is a pig to clean but it is a hunting rifle and as long as I can get 15-20 rounds before accuracy degrades who cares.

my $0.02