Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness
Weatherby, Inc. · Rifle · Discontinued · 2016
Also known as: Vanguard Wilderness
Overview
The Weatherby Vanguard Wilderness is a lightweight bolt-action hunting rifle built on Weatherby's Vanguard action, itself derived from the Japanese Howa 1500 barreled action. Aimed at backcountry hunters, it pairs a hand-laminated carbon fiber composite Monte Carlo stock and aluminum bedding plate with a cold-hammer-forged, fluted, free-floating barrel finished in matte bead-blasted blued metalwork to keep total weight around 6.75 pounds. Like all current Vanguard rifles it carries an adjustable two-stage match trigger and a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. In its flagship .257 Weatherby Magnum chambering the 26-inch barrel drives light bullets past 3,700 feet per second for an exceptionally flat trajectory.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3062 g (108.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1187 mm (46.73") |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Adjustable Two Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 3 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Fixed Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 1140 m/s (3740 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 4210 J (3105 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Carbon Fiber Composite |
| Finish | Matte Blued |
Calibers
- .257 Weatherby Magnum · primary — also known as .257 Wby Mag, .257 WM
- 6.5 Creedmoor — also known as 6.5 CM, 6.5mm Creedmoor
- .30-06 Springfield · 7.62x63mm — also known as .30-06, 7.62x63mm
- .308 Winchester · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as 7.62x51mm, .308 Win
- .300 Weatherby Magnum — also known as .300 Wby Mag, .300 WM
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Three Position Safety
- Features: Howa 1500 Action, Push Feed Action, Two Lug Bolt, Cold Hammer Forged Barrel, Fluted Barrel, Free Floating Barrel, Monte Carlo Stock, Carbon Fiber Stock, Aluminum Bedding Plate, Adjustable Match Trigger, Sub Moa Guarantee
Base model
Production
Production years: 2016-2020s
Civilian backcountry hunting rifle; later discontinued and succeeded in the Vanguard lineup by other lightweight models.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Roy Weatherby
Notes
Barrel length is 24 inches for non-magnum and .240 Weatherby Magnum chamberings and 26 inches for the belted magnum cartridges such as the .257 Weatherby Magnum. Select non-magnum calibers were offered with a detachable drop-box magazine that trimmed weight to about 6.5 pounds. Now discontinued from Weatherby's catalog.
Background
Roy Weatherby founded his company in 1945 on the conviction that high-velocity cartridges were the future of hunting, and the .257 Weatherby Magnum he developed in 1944 remained his personal favorite. The Wilderness adapted the value-priced Vanguard platform for mountain and backcountry hunters who wanted a light, weatherproof carry rifle without stepping up to the flagship Mark V.