Right now Winchester and Kimber are building the best USA production rifles. A Winchester would be my 1st choice as an all around gun. If you want a true lightweigt I'd go with a Kimber. You could make an argument that Sako is a better rifle. I've owned Tikka's in the past. Good guns that are accurate, but for something you'd be proud to pass down to your grandkids the Winchester is the better choice.
The Featherweight is a good classic choice, but it is a featherweight in name only by todays standards. They are middle of the road in weight compared to everything else out there. A Kimber, Tikka, many Savage and Remington models, the Ruger American, TC Venture, and Marlin XL-7 are all lighter than the Featherweight.
The Vanguard by comparison is the heaviest of all production rifles and is the last rifle in my safe I'd want to carry around in the mountains. They are a decent gun for the money, but not in the same league as the Winchester. If money is tight and you don't mind carrying a heavy rifle around you could do a lot worse.
My next choice would actually be the Ruger Hawkeye. It'll save you about $150-$200 over a Winchester since they come with rings. They weigh slighty more than a Featheweight, but a lot less than a Winchester Sporter. They are not as smooth, but get better with some break in and newer versions made since 2006 are as accurate as anything else beign made. They are as tough as woodpecker lips. You can't break one and if you ever have a problem Ruger CS is the best.
I've 6 Winchesters, 7 if you include the FN Patrol Rifle, and 2 Vanguards. There is no comparison. My 2 oldest are 1980's PF versions of the Featherweight, I have 3 of the stainless CRF Classics and 1 new production Extreme Weather version. The new rifles are the best Wincesters ever made, including the pre 64 models. I'd buy with confidence.
FWIW, my personal chioce is the EW. You get a thicker, stiffer, stainless barrel, but because of the fluting they weigh exacty the same as the Featherweight with it's thinner barrel profile.