Weatherby Vanguard vs Howa 1500.....

[Southernfried]

Thanks in advance and I have searched but cant find the info. I know the Weatherby Vanguard is the Howa 1500. But what, if any, differences between the two? Trigger, quality, stock, customer service, etc and is one worth it vs the other ? Both good and bad. One reason I ask, buddy at work has his grandfathers old Weatherby Vanguard in 243, that literally almost has no rifling left and youd be lucky to hit a barn with it. He wants to hang it on the wall and never hunt with it. Im trying to convince to just re-barrel it, but he doesnt want to because he "dont like messing with stuff" lol so I told him about the Howa's being the same if he wanted to save a few bucks instead of just buying another Weatherby Vanguard, but I dont want to lie to him if there is a difference? If you were choosing between the two, which and why? Thanks again!

 

[nobody]

Mechanically, there’s no difference. They function and feel exactly the same, internally they’re identical, and They come with the same barrels installed. Even the weatherby’s are stamped “Howa Japan” on the side. Only difference is the badging and the stock they come with.

If he has to have the same rifle but new to replace the other, buy the Howa and put a decent stock on it. Heck, he could even buy a weatherby takeoff stock with their awful Monte Carlo cheek piece if he wanted to and he would just have another weatherby to the untrained eye.

 

[Southernfried]

Thanks Nobody! just what I needed to be able to explain.

 

[Shō[t]gun]

Brownells sells Howa 1500 barreled actions, he could buy one of those and pick up a vanguard S2 or 1500 stock that fits the nostalgic look to drop it into. Saves a little bit of $$

 

[Madfisherman_1]

Mechanically, there’s no difference. They function and feel exactly the same, internally they’re identical, and They come with the same barrels installed. Even the weatherby’s are stamped “Howa Japan” on the side. Only difference is the badging and the stock they come with.

If he has to have the same rifle but new to replace the other, buy the Howa and put a decent stock on it. Heck, he could even buy a weatherby takeoff stock with their awful Monte Carlo cheek piece if he wanted to and he would just have another weatherby to the untrained eye.

There is a slight difference between the Vanguard and the Howa 1500. I love my Vanguard. The Howa is ok but it has a little slop in the action. The Howa also does not lock the bolt when in safe mode as the Vanguard does. Both shoot fine.

 

[Wrench]

There's been a few changes over the years to the howa/wby/S&W 1500. They're all essentially the same but there are some revisions over the years.

Ps, my howa bolt does lock.

 

[Wacko]

Only real differences between the two are the bolt shroud and cocking indicator are different on the weatherby, and the stock. Personally if staying stock...the howa hogue stock is "better" than the weatherby stock. The hogue has pillars and free floated barrel.....the weatherby is all plastic and has a "pressure" pad in the forend.

The possible upside to the weatherby is you can get the VG2 SSR...which has a threaded barrel. Howa / hogue usually are not threaded.

Of course there are several models from both...just depends on budget..

 

[Madfisherman_1]

I bought my Howa 270

There's been a few changes over the years to the howa/wby/S&W 1500. They're all essentially the same but there are some revisions over the years.

Ps, my howa bolt does lock.

I bought my Howa 270Win in 2010 .

 

[AkRyan]

There is a slight difference between the Vanguard and the Howa 1500. I love my Vanguard. The Howa is ok but it has a little slop in the action. The Howa also does not lock the bolt when in safe mode as the Vanguard does. Both shoot fine.

All rifles lock the bolt in safe mode including my howa 1500..the vanguard and 1500 are IDENTICAL in every way possible other than the stamp.

 

[WW2 Buff]

Howa ships the barreled action to Wyoming. Weatherby does the threading and cerakote and assemblies the rest of the rifle.

 

[bpitcher]

There is a slight difference between the Vanguard and the Howa 1500. I love my Vanguard. The Howa is ok but it has a little slop in the action. The Howa also does not lock the bolt when in safe mode as the Vanguard does. Both shoot fine.

Howas now come with a 3-position safety, which locks the bolt.

 

[bonepoint]

The actions and triggers are the same functionally, but I am pretty sure the barrels are different. I have been told that Weatherby puts their own barrels on the Howa action.

From my limited experience, both shoot pretty similar and I don't think one barrel is, on average, any better than the other. I have always been able to find a good shooting load with a little effort.

Stocks are interchangeable.