Weather Vanguard Problem

jackjacker

jackjacker

New member
I am having accuracy problems with my weatherby vanguard in 7mm rem mag. The first image shows the first (flyer) and 2nd, 3rd and 4th shots (group) at 100 yards with hornady 139grain btsp.

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The second image is after I let the barrel cool for few minutes until it was barely warm to the touch. Again, the shot on the left is the first cold barrel flyer.


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I'm thinking there is a problem with the barrel and/or stock that resolves itself as it warms up. Clearly, I can't afford a warmup shot out in the field. My question is can this be remedied by a pillar bedded stock like the bell and carlson? If not I don't want to invest the $250. If so, then I'm very happy with the groups once warm and would gladly spend the money.
 
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Depending upon where your first shot hits... how big is the target? What game are you hunting? The first shot is usually the most important. What are you shooting? On a big animal it may be of little consequence.
 
That flyer is 1 1/2 to 2 moa away from that first group. This would be my elk rifle or long range deer rifle. My concern is that at 500 yards that is a 10 inch difference between the first and second shots. Even more conservatively at 300 or so yards there is a six inch discrepancy. I could zero in for that first shot but if a good stock with tighten things up, I'd rather do that. If it can't be fixed then I rather just go with with my savage 10 PC in .308 limit my shot to 300 yards or less. Just seems like a waste of a rifle if it can't be fixed.
 
Clean barrel before the first shot? Barrel break in at all?

Give us a little history on the gun and the different ammo you've tried.
 
Have you only shot the one load? I'd try a couple more loads and see if it repeats. Couple different bullet weights and designs. Maybe even a premium load. $40-60ish could save you alot of unnecessary gunsmithing. 139gr is probably a bit light for elk anyway.
 
I've tried the aforementioned ammo, federal 110g tsx, remington 160 core lokts. I don't trust my data with those first few because there was a lot shooter error and flinching from firing a magnum. As I practiced more, the hornadys gave me the groups above. I didn't do much of a barrel break in. I don't think the flyer has to do with a fouled barrel because I didn't clean between the two pictures.

@shoes- withe the twist rate of my barrel I should try 150-160 grain bullets which would also be more appropriate for elk. I was thinking of doing this but I'm afraid of trying 3 or 4 different boxes of ammo at 50 buck a pop and getting the same result. I'll try it anyway. I wish they sold 5 cartridge boxes. LOL.

I guess if my cold barrel shot is consistently 1.5 to 2 moa to the left I could just account for it in the field. I was just wondering if anyone had a similar experience. None of my other rifles do this.
 
If I was to make a guess at your problem, I would say that you need to possibly glass bed the action and free-float the barrel. I'm not sure what stock you have, but the action bedding and torque on the action screws should be checked. The Weatherby/Howa action is one of the easiest to bed yourself.

Hope your not flinching on the first shot each time. The 7mm Mag can make a wooden Indian flinch sometimes. Have someone else try it just to be sure the flyer is repeatable before you spend a bunch of bucks fixing anything.

Heavier bullets are definitely needed for elk.

Good Luck
 
I am not sure if your vangaurd is brand new or new to you, but on the 30-06 my bil had bought a few years ago we found the front swivel stud was very loang and actually touching the barrel. We undid the swivel scewed on a #8 mchine nut cut off .25, unscrewd the nut to clean up the threads, and it was a totally different rifle. Some of the Vangaurds also have a pressure point at the end of the stock we relieved this and fully free floated the barrel, used acraglass to bed just the recoil lug. It is sub moa with 165 gr accu bonds, and also shoots moa or just over with 180 gr hrndy interlocks.
 
I don't think I flinch anymore but having someone else try is a great idea. The swivel screw thing is a great insight. It's a cheap stock and I think your are correct about the pressure point. I think I'll try some of these cheaper fixes before spending the 250 for a B&C stock. Thanks guys! Exactly the info I was looking for. I really like the trigger and the Howa action on the Vanguard. You guys give me hope that I can make a shooter out of it after all.
 


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