Thinking of buying a Weatherby Vanguard 338 mag.Stainless,wanting to hear how ya'll like or dislike this gun and caliber for an all around big game rifle?
If you can handle the recoil I think the 338 makes an excellent all around North American big game cartridge. With the 200 gr. NBT you have an excellent deer killer that is flat shooting. You can take elk with the 210-225 gr. bullets available. You have enough gun for the largest bears if you use controlled expansion 250 grainers. My cousin has a Ruger 77 MKII stainless/synthetic that is a tack driver with his handloads. I mean an honest sub MOA grouper. The recoil is also manageable for him without a muzzle brake.
As far as the Vanguard goes they are made by Howa of ***an. These are good rifles for the money and come with the Weatherby accuracy guarantee. These rifles are a little on the heavy side which should help with recoil. I have a rifle that is a Smith & Wesson 1500 which is also made by Howa and a clone of the vanguard. It's a 25-06 and is very accurate with a 115 gr. NBT and IMR 4831.
I had the vangaurd in 7 rem mag and it was a great gun. I didn't like the trigger as well as a 700 rem or win model 70. I also think the 7 mag is a better all around cal. but that's just my humble oppinion.
I had aVanguard 7 Mag.and liked it real well for Deer but didn't think I could get the bullet weight I needed for large game.I know its where you put it that counts though.Is the 338mag.recoil much more than the 7Mag?
I've one shot killed elk at considerable distance with the 7 mag. The sectional density with the right bullet works great on elk. Now for a big bear I'd go 338 but you were looking for an all around cal. I still think the 7 rem mag is the way to go. Especialy on those long range antelope or big horn.
My opinion is that my rem 700 and win pre64 and post 64 model 70 are better guns. The vanguard is a howa action if I remember right. I like the win adjustable trigger. You can adjust the creep and the spring tension. It was cheaper than the weatherby but I had a nice stock on the vangaurd.
The Vanguard will serve you well but the .338 is a heck of a lot of gun.....Mine recoils like a .375 H&H....
I'd think any of the .300 magnums would be a lot more useful and if you need more punch than a .300 magnum you should really be looking for the .375 H&H anyway.
In any case, you will not likely find yourself undergunned anywhere in North America with a .338.
Weatherby Vanguard 338Win.Mag.
