I've been shooting a .300 WBYMag Vanguard for 7 years now, and haven't carried another rifle since I bought it. I have a Vanguard in 7mm Rem Mag as well, and I love BOTH of them. I just bought my woman a Vanguard Compact in .308 Win this fall, and that too is a great little gun. Rammer, I've never heard of anything like what your buddy's gun is like and certainly nothing like that from the 3 in my house or the one my brother has as he also shoots a .300 WBY Mag Vanguard.