Stock Question

[army_eod]

I have a nice Weatherby Vanguard First Lite. This rifle is very accurate. The factory stock is polymer of some type and hugs the #1 contour barrel snugly. There is no aluminum bedding or pillars, yet this rifle is extremely accurate.
Now I have a new HS Precision stock for this rifle. It has full aluminum bedding but the stock does not hug that barrel profile; it free floats the bbl.
Wondering if I would lose accuracy with the HS Precision. That barrel is very long and thin and I think the factory stock is engineered to eliminate the barrel whip.

 

[lightman]

I would think that your accuracy would be better with the HS Stock. But I understand your hesitation in changing it. If you already have the HS stock I would do a quick switch and try it.

 

[army_eod]

I spoke to Weatherby. I am staying with the factory stock. They said that bbl is not to be free floated. It will whip and lose accuracy. I am attempting to send the HS stock back for a refund. I am not messing with the HS so I can hopefully send back.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

When dealing with those long "skinny" barrels, I'll install what I call, a "dampening pad" a couple of inches in back of the forend tip, in the barrel channel. This pad is like putting a finger against a tuning fork to quell the harmonic nodes involved when shooting.
So, I have to sorta agree with Weatherby about allowing the factory barrel to freely whip around, at least until the vibrations simmer down for the next shot.

 

[doubleh]

I have a nice Weatherby Vanguard First Lite. This rifle is very accurate. The factory stock is polymer of some type and hugs the #1 contour barrel snugly. There is no aluminum bedding or pillars, yet this rifle is extremely accurate.
Now I have a new HS Precision stock for this rifle. It has full aluminum bedding but the stock does not hug that barrel profile; it free floats the bbl.
Wondering if I would lose accuracy with the HS Precision. That barrel is very long and thin and I think the factory stock is engineered to eliminate the barrel whip.

Swap stocks and go shoot it. That is the ONLY way you will know for sure. If it is better that's good. If it isn't it's time to try SGW's suggestion or switch back to the old stock.

 

[army_eod]

Good morning,

Thank you for contacting Weatherby! We do not recommend making alterations to your rifles factory configuration as we do not guarantee accuracy in aftermarket stocks.

Weatherby, Inc.
1550 Yellowtail Drive
Sheridan, WY 82801
Ph: 307-675-7840
Fax: 307-675-7801
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm MST www.weatherby.com

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My Gen-1 is still sitting in the factory McMillan-pattern stock and I dont think it oculd get much better even with free floating, so I've left it alone.

Seems like the biggest hindrance to great accuracy with the Vanguard line is usually the trigger. Fixing that made a huge difference on mine.

 

[Varminterror]

If a rifle shoots better with pressure against the barrel than it does when full free floating, something is wrong with the rifle. Period.

 

[jmr40]

There most likely won't be any measurable difference in accuracy either way. But a free floated barrel will almost always shoot more CONSISTENTLY. While the ACCURACY probably won't be any different, if you have the barrel in contact with the stock the point of impact is more likely to change. Group size will still be the same, but the where the groups impact on target could change over time and as conditions change.

It will whip and lose accuracy.

All barrels whip and move when shot. If they are free floated nothing interferes with that barrel movement and the bullets leave the muzzle at the same exact spot every time. Using a tight fitting stock to help make the barrel stiffer may help slightly with very thin barrels but it has to be done very carefully. And it doesn't help with sporter weight or heavier barrels. Many old school gunsmiths would full length bed the barrel and stock for a perfect and consistent fit. But almost no one does that anymore. Free floating and just letting the barrel move freely works even better and is a lot easier to get right.

What you're getting from Weatherby is their standard reply. No manufacturer of any product will EVER advise anyone to modify their products. FWIW I'd send the HS stock back anyway. Bell and Carlson makes a stock that is every bit as good ( I think better), and costs less. In fact Weatherby uses that exact stock on some of their models, or at least have in the past.

Bell Carlson Medalist Rifle Stock Howa 1500 Weatherby Vanguard Long (midwayusa.com)

 

[mshootnit]

I have the original Vanguard and mine is also very accurate in the original black stock. I dont think I will plan on changing it, however having an extra stock on hand like the HS is not a bad deal.

 

[taliv]

HS is always a bad deal.

 

[army_eod]

I returned the HS

 

[Skylerbone]

If you should decide to chance a new replacement stock or modify your current, remember that your now pet load may not be optimal for the new set up.

Biggest hindrance to shooting a lightweight rifle accurately is the shooter, but a stock that makes contact isn’t helping either.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

If a rifle shoots better with pressure against the barrel than it does when full free floating, something is wrong with the rifle. Period.

Interesting. How could the rifle possibly shoot BETTER with a pressure pad, if there's something initially wrong with it? The pad is designed to quell the barrel vibrations, or harmonics, not to correct any issues if the barrel is bad. Besides, if the pressure pad doesn't tame the barrel nodes, it can easily be removed and the barrel completely floated.

 

[WVRJ]

I have a little Vanguard VGL in 223.It has a 20 inch pencil barrel and is in the original synthetic stock that has the Weatherby lines.I bought it used and when I got it set up I took it to the range in the outback(out in the backyard,one great thing about WV-no nosey neighbors whining about the noise)and shot it.Accuracy was about what I expected,sometimes close to 1 MOA,but more often 1.5 MOA which is good enough for a light rifle.I played around with it for a while,and I did find that how I held it made a difference,especially in hot weather.It was enough for me to free float the barrel and bed the recoil lug.Accuracy tightened up a small but noticeable amount and how I hold it doesn't change POI.The biggest accuracy improvement was the Timney trigger.They make a great one for the Vanguard/Howa actions.It has a 3 position safety,and is near perfection when I set the pull weight to 2 pounds.I can shoot 3 55 grain ballistic tips into around an inch,and it's great for a walking varmint rifle or a coyote rifle.My opinion of the stock is that it's ok,well fitted and a very good feeling balance for such a light rifle.Most of the time,a light barrel rifle is too heavy in the rear to shoot good offhand,but Weatherby has this lil guy nicely balanced.OP,take the money you get back from the stock and use some of it for a Timney,you won't regret it.Personally,I free float all my rifles,and if one doesn't shoot as well that way,I'll go looking for something in the action bedding,and I usually find a problem there.