Ruger American Predator vs Weatherby Vanguard

[Olympus]

What is everyone's thoughts regarding these two guns? The Weatherby is a Howa 1500 barreled action which has always been regarded as good quality and accurate. The Vanguard has a 24" barrel and the Predator has a 22" threaded barrel. I can pick up an American Predator for $130 less than the Weatherby synthetic stock.

Caliber of choice would be 6.5 Creedmoor for hunting whitetail.

 

[jmr40]

Had em both. I'd take the Predator if it were $150 more.

 

[Olympus]

Had em both. I'd take the Predator if it were $150 more.

Can you tell me what you like and didn't like about both?

 

[mshootnit]

Have not had both. Only the Vanguard. 257 Weatherby Mag stainless. 0.75 MOA shooter, perfect trigger. Maybe I was lucky.

 

[jmr40]

The Howa/Vanguard is a good solid old school action. They are also the heaviest action you can buy. If I wanted to build a custom rifle and weight were not a concern either would be a good place to start.

The Predator comes with a heavier barrel, but is a much lighter rifle. Has a much better out of the box trigger and the bedding system Ruger uses prevents a lot of problems. No need for bedding or trying to tweak the stock for better accuracy. The only place the stock contacts any part of the action is on the metal V blocks where the action screws go in.

You'll get lots of complaints about the flexible stock and lots of guys coming up with ways to make it stiffer. All of which is irrelevant with this bedding system. At most you might need to remove some stock material from the forend to give a more generous free float. It doesn't matter how flexible it is as long as it never touches the barrel. With older bedding methods this was a concern.

It also has a heavier bolt with a more modern 3 lug system. Overall the Ruger isn't as pretty. But out of the box I'm betting it is a lot more accurate. Mine in 308 is more accurate than any gun I've ever owned. Some costing a lot more.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

After my experience with a Weatherby Vanguard, I'd take the Ruger 100%

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I guess I'm another fortunate one.

I've only had experience with the Weatherby Vanguard. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

 

[Olympus]

Also what if I threw out the idea of a Howa barreled action and an aftermarket stock in the mix? Essentially the same thing as the Vanguard just in a different stock.

 

[offthepaper]

I bought a Standard Ruger American in 243 on a whim. I put a cheap scope (about $180) on it and took it to the range. Holy Chit!! I have a lot of rifles. It has to be the most acurate , out of the box, rifle I have ever owned. The trigger is very good. Its adjustable, but I wouldn't touch it. feels like a crisp 3.5-4 lb. Very nice. I bought this rifle out of Wallys and got a great "roll back" price on it. Crazy as it sounds, straight out of the box, a few rounds to sight in he scope, and it's very close to MOA out of the box with factory ammo. Once I am able to work up a good handload I have confidence that the rifle will shoot solid MOA. Great rifle for the money (or a lot more).

 

[2zulu1]

I'm a Weatherby fan, have one of the SUB-MOA Vanguards 5/8" group 338 Winchester magnum, pillar bedded, nice trigger and smooth trigger. The new Vanguard S2s are also guaranteed sub 1".....hard to go wrong.

 

[sayak]

I have the Vanguard in a .270 Win. Older model, but deadly accurate. The Ruger American is a fine rifle too. I have had a 7mm.08, a .308 and my son has a .300 Blackout. All are great guns as well, and you will pay less. My advice is to purchase whatever balances and feels best in your hands. You'll always get the opinions from the fan boys, but your own opinion is the one that counts the most.

 

[Ash]

"a more modern 3 lug system"

Such systems have been around more than 50 years. My own Mossberg 800, itself a semi-centernarian, has six locking lugs. Number of lugs doesn't make something more modern. Heck, the Mauser Model 98 had three lugs, albeit the third lug being in a different location than the other two. Degree of bolt-throw is given way too much weight.

 

[HexHead]

Maybe the older Vanguard, but you guys that think the Ruger, any Ruger, is better than the Vanguard S2 are just plain nuts.

It's so good, Weatherby is revamping their Mark V to catch up.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I wouldn't put much faith in Weatherby's MOA guarantee because I was told by a CS rep at Weatherby "I'd be wasting my time and money" to send them my Vanguard S2 for them to accuracy check it.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Do they not come with a target anymore?

I bought my Vanguard at Wally World and I asked them how many they had in .30-06. They said they had 3 in stock. I asked them to bring all 3 out and they did.

I looked at the targets and they were indeed all under an inch. One of them was one ragged hole, so that's the one I bought.

It's been MOA or right at it with every load I've ever shot in it.

 

[Olympus]

The Range Certified guns come with a target, but not their regular models. They do guarantee sub-moa with premium ammo though.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The Range Certified guns come with a target, but not their regular models.

Gotcha.

I really think you should just get whichever one feels the best to you. I really think both are fine rifles as far as function. Handle them both and get the one that you feel most comfortable with.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

My Vanguard S2 didn't come with a target. It is a 7-08 and I asked what premium ammo they guaranteed it with and Weatherby told me Federal Premium 140gr TTSX. I bought a box and it was 2 1/4 inches for me. When I called Weatherby I asked if I was to send the rifle in to have it accuracy tested do they provide the target back to prove it was under an inch. I was told "NO" also they fire the rifle in a "master stock" and not the stock that is shipped with the rifle.

The rifle now has a Bartlein #4 barrel and will put 5 shots in the .6xx range any time I shoot it. If I throw out shot #1 and shot #5 and only count 2-4 it's in the .3 range everytime.