Help me identify this 300 Weatherby

[magnatecman]

I just found this rifle at a gun store 2 hours up the road, and it's not one I've seen on the website before. I'm guessing it is old stock, they pulled it out of their storage room in the back when I went in asking if they had any Weatherby sporter' s with wood. When the guy brought this out and I saw the great looking wood I knew it was coming home with me.

Thing is I never wanted a 300 magnum, I went in looking for a 30-06. Anyway it's serial # is VSxxxxxx, it is a vanguard sporter, with a matte stainless finish. It also say Atascadero, Calif. Made in Japan on the receiver. But the new Weatherby's say Paso Robles, Ca.?

IMG_0349 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

 

[magnatecman]

IMG_0348 by Cornivorus, on Flickr

 

[Robert]

The Vanguards are built on Howa 1500 actions, Howa is from Japan. There is nothing wrong with the Vanguard line as Howa makes good actions. I bet if you email them the serial number they can tell you all about the rifle.

 

[redneck2]

Is it .300 Win Mag or Weatherby?

 

[old heeler]

I use to live Ca and I dived @ Moro Bay which is close to Atascadero and Paso Robles is just little north few miles. You can do search find out what years they moved. Nice looking rifle.

 

[jakk280rem]

Looks like a first gen, pre-S2, Vanguard Stainless Sporter.

 

[magnatecman]

Is it .300 Win Mag or Weatherby?

300 Weatherby

Also it came with a 3-shot target , which I've learned they discontinued doing in 2009 so this is definitely old stock.

 

[243winxb]

Safety notice http://www.weatherby.com/support/safety-center/vanguard-safety-notice.html

 

[magnatecman]

Safety notice http://www.weatherby.com/support/safety-center/vanguard-safety-notice.html

Thank you for the heads up on that.

 

[magnatecman]

I entered the serial# into the registration for this safety upgrade and it says that this serial # is NOT affected by this safety problem. Yet it does fall within the serial # range specified on their notice.

It also mentions that it affects rifles made from 1970 to 1993, so initially I thought that meant this rifle was much older than I originally believed it to be. But now, since it is not affected, I am unsure on that?

 

[magnatecman]

UPDATE: I emailed Weatherby about this and the next day had an email back stating that they had looked up my serial# and it is clear of any recalls, and it left their factory back in 2006 !

I suspect it did fall under the recall, as the serial # suggests, however, it has the last three digits of serial# inscribed under the bolt handle. I read somewhere that this is how you can identify if this recall work had already been performed.

Makes me wonder how many gun shops hold onto stock for 12 years ?

 

[DM~]

Makes me wonder how many gun shops hold onto stock for 12 years ?

OR was it some ones safe queen, and they just resold it?

I've seen that happen more than a few times...

DM