mark V versus vangaurd

[lhrbull]

is there that much quality differs between the two versions or is the japanins made barrel about it

[h2ofowlr]

Cost is the initial big difference.  My Mark V. is a good shooter given the right load.  Not sure about the other differences.

[bearpaw]

Mark V have more locking lugs on the bolt, come in a greater selection of Weatherby calibers, and are fancier rifles.

[hillbilli]

The Vanguard does not just have a Japanes barrel. It is an entire Howa Bolt action rifle, made in Japan, made and marked for weatherby. Howa is a good rifle. for a 379$ off the rack at walmart rifle they are hard to beat. the mark v used to be made in Japan, but I believe are now made in the states- it is much fancier, has a bolt with about 9 lugs.. hope this helps.

[bearpaw]

  the vanguard is one of the best rifles available for the money 

[MADMAX]

.257 roy Mark V
love it
hits like a hammer

[Wea300mag]

I have both, the Mark V is a safe queen because it looks too pretty and the Vanguard (stainless/synthetic) gets used.

[Buzz2401]

My wife has had a Vanguard for 6 years and it is honestly the worst rifle I have ever owned.  The finish started peeling the first year. It rusts if you breath on it.  Can't get it to shoot better then a 1.5" group, and I have loaded over 20 different loads and tried 5 different factory loads. The trigger is pretty average for a stock rifle so can't bitch about that.  Own quite a few rifles and this is the only weatherby in the safe and I am not impressed.  But it was cheap and I am sure the Mark V is a great rifle. This is just my experiance and I am sure others have probably had great luck with these.

[Skyvalhunter]

Love my Vanguard 300 Win Mag. Awesome shooting gun and nice groups. Light but doesn't kick like a mule either.

[Larry S.]

I'd been wanting to buy a 30-06 hunting rifle for several years in order to provide a little more downrange energy on elk than my Howa Model 1500 in .270. After looking at quiet a few rifles in 30-06, I finally stumbled across the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 and was pleasantly surprised at the feel and fit (for me) of this rifle. As the rifle is basically made by Howa (my .270 is a sub 3/4" shooter), I believed that the shooting characteristics would be excellent...and I wasn't disappointed.

I'm not a believer in "barrel break-in" as I've never done it on any rifle I've ever owned and have had great accuracy from all of them. That said, I took three sets of ammunition and the new Weatherby Vanguard to the range. The amunition included Federal 150g Sierra Game King BTSP, Federal 180g Vital Shok Nosler Accubonds, and my hand loaded 165g Nosler Accubonds.

The Federal Sierra Game Kings produced a 5 shot group right at 1.0" with 3 rounds clover-leafed. The Federal Vital Shok had a 5 shot group at .905". The handloaded 165g Nosler Accubonds (5 rounds) grouped at .82" with a 3 shot cloverleaf. These were all shot after an initial barrel cleaning, but with the gun being brand new and unfired to that point.

I couldn't be happier with this rifle and the experience only reinforced my faith in anything made by Howa. If you buy this rifle, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[bigfish9684]

If cost is a driving factor- Vanguard.

If pretty is the driving factor- Mark V Deluxe

If the name Weatherby is the factor- Fibermark or Accumark

YMMV

My experience with Vanguards (both originals and S2's, as well as one Howa 1500) has been excellent.  The Howa rusted in 4 hours so I tripped it down the road.  The Vanguard did not present the same problem although I am having inexplicable rust issues on my stainless Series 2 in 7mm RM.  Whatever, beat it up and refinish in a few years.  They all shoot anything I throw in them from junk handloads to crappy foreign ammo.

[troyspinetar]

I have a Vanguard .300 winmag. It's a great rifle for what I need. I love the bolt, it's stout and locks up nice. I would definitely agree with rust being an issue. However, I ALWAYS clean it after EACH use (ballistol) so it's never an issue

[Bofire]

Vanguard

[Hunterman]

Compare the two like this.  Cadillac, or Chevy. Johnson, or Evenrude.  They all come off the same line, just different times.

Hunterman(Tony)

[WoodlandShooter]

well, IMHO, it's a no brainer...Mark V!!!

Shoulder a MK-V and a Howa side by side and well, you will know!!

I have a MK-V in 270 winchester...found it a wally world....best 700 Bucks I ever spent...it "was" a delux sporter 24" 1/10 twist, with a 9 lug mag bolt.

I think Wally World ordered a batch of Rifles from Weatherby, and the one I have got miss-shipped.