[BradB]

Does anyone know where I can get a factory replacement barrel to change my vanguard 300 win mag to 338 win mag? Are the Howa 1500 barrels exactly the same as the ones on the vanguards? Thanks

 

[Tang]

Does anyone know where I can get a factory replacement barrel to change my vanguard 300 win mag to 338 win mag? Are the Howa 1500 barrels exactly the same as the ones on the vanguards? Thanks

Howa builds the Weatherby Vanguard. So the barrel should be exact.

 

[Rugerfan0374]

I would think they would be the same. However you may want to contact a gunsmith and ask him. He may be able to contact weatherby and get you that replacement barrel and fit it. As the gunsmith should have most of the tools to fit that barrel.

Also another option maybe is to contact a aftermarket barrel company.

I know the Savage Barrels can be a do it yourself job, but I am not sure about the vangaurds. You will have to make sure that the headspace is correct.

 

[bsn]

Any good gunsmith can fit a barrel, I doubt you would find a take off barrel anywhere so you would have to use a factory supplied new barrel or an aftermarket barrel. You would need acces to a lathe to headspace it-not a do it yourself project for the newbe. For what you would have tied up in the cost of a barrel and labor it would probably be less expensive to buy a whole gun $300.00-$400.00. Since just about all of them shoot very well you wouldn't be taking much risk.

 

[BradB]

Yes, I think I would be better off to buy another gun. The problem I'm having right now is trying to sell mine. You know how it goes, when you try to sell its only worth 300$ but if you want to buy it's worth 400$+. Gunshops are about like used car sales. They won't budge on the price of a gun you want to buy all while telling you the market's flooded with bolt actions and their not worth anything. I guess taking a 50 or 100$ hit on mine is still cheaper than re-barreling. I thought maybe I could get a factory barrel for 150$ or so. I'm no stranger to precision work and have a full machine shop to work with so I could make all necessary tools and I thought it would be kinda fun. Thanks for the input.

 

[carpooler]

hammer forged bbls., vs..

If you have the hammer forged almost straight taper bbl., maybe you can go with a higher quality hook rifled barrel. The hammer forged jobs are ready to go, right from the rifling machine, but they can't be rebored, since their steel has already given too much. These rifles have really good chambers, right from the git go. So maybe the question is do you want to spend a bunch of money to upgrade? I'd want a really precise "smith" before I chopped into a brand new Vanguard. Carpooler

 

[Leosniper]

Brad, just call Weatherby directly Weatherby Custom Shop at (805) 227-2600. They can answer all your questions and or do the installation for you at a reasonable price. They are in California but have authorized service centers all over the USA. The website is www.Weatherby.com. I own 3 Weatherby's myself. Although I gave my son my trusty Weatherby 30-06 as a gift hoping he would catch the hunting/shooting bug and carry on the tradition that has been in my family throughout the years.
Good luck and be safe.