Weatherby sub MOA varmint: this .204 is as accurate as a varmint rifle and portable as a hunting rifle

Guns Magazine, Feb, 2008 by Dave Anderson

The Weatherby Vanguard, one of our most popular bolt action rifles, is offered in a wide variety of models, including wood or synthetic stock variations, hunting and varmint models, full-size and compact youth models,

Vanguard quality has always been exceptional and the actions have always been made of the best gun steels available, precisely machined and smoothly finished. The cold-hammer-forged barrels are renowned for their accuracy and consistency.

Back in the early '70s when the Vanguard came out, it was priced substantially higher than the three "Seven" bolt-actions, the Remington 700, Ruger 77, and Winchester 70. The higher price was primarily due to the high-grade walnut stocks with the typical "Weatherby" flared pistol grip, a design requiring considerable handwork.

New Design

When Ed Weatherby became company president in the early 1980s he had the stock redesigned with a more conventional pistol grip, though still using a good grade of walnut. Doing so let Weatherby price the Vanguard more in line with the "Sevens" and, at the new price point, sales skyrocketed. Today, in all its variations, the Vanguard has become a top choice for American hunters and shooters. In terms of accuracy, quality, reliability and appearance there just isn't a better value in a modern sporting rifle.

The action design is quite conventional. It uses twin forward locking lugs with a substantial hook-type extractor built into the bolt face. Ejection is by a spring-loaded plunger. The forged and machined receiver has an integral recoil lug.

None of these features are particularly innovative, they are proven design features just done very well. For example, the Vanguard is one of the few current bolt actions in which the bolt is forged and machined in one piece. Obviously, many actions get along just fine with bolts assembled from two or three components, but a one-piece bolt is a feature many riflemen appreciate. The bolt is fluted for smoother operation and has three gas ports to handle escaping gas in the highly unlikely situation of a case failure.

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As with the flagship Mark V rifle, the Weatherby Vanguard comes with an accuracy guarantee; three shots in 1-1/2" or less at 100 yards, using quality factory ammunition, from a cold barrel. I read funny comments about this guarantee sometimes, like it isn't that great. Apparently some shooters have the notion each rifle just barely squeaks by, with 1-1/2" groups, no more or less. In fact they generally do much better. I've never shot a Vanguard, even the basic synthetic-stock blue steel models, that wouldn't beat an inch for three shots at 100 yards. Some do much better.

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A while back Weatherby decided there are enough real accuracy buffs out there it would be worthwhile to offer specially selected models, stocked in accuracy-enhancing synthetic stocks. These rifles are guaranteed to provide sub-minute of angle (MOA) accuracy and the floorptates proudly carry a sub-MOA logo.

The model shown here is a Varmint Sub MOA in the very popular .204 Ruger caliber. The .204 has proven to be wildly successful. Personally, I've pretty much retired my .22/250 and .220 Swift rifles in favor of the .204. It uses a .223-level powder charge, giving long barrel life and a modest report, along with a laser-flat trajectory.

Excellent Ammo

Hornady makes outstanding ammunition and they really outdid themselves with their current .204 Ruger loads. They are downright spooky accurate. Bullet action on prairie dogs is absolutely spectacular. I've read the bullets are unusually wind-sensitive, but not in my experience. Wind drift is a function of ballistic coefficient and velocity. I have no more trouble with wind than with a .223 Rem. Mind you, it is easy to miss a 1" thick gopher at 300 yards, but there are plenty of reasons for missing besides wind. And the utter lack of recoil means you can watch the bullet strike through the scope and quickly make adjustments in hold.

Weatherby wisely chose to fit the Sub-MOA Varmint model with a medium-contour No. 3 barrel, 22" long. In doing so they made this a very versatile varminter. Long, heavy barrels have their place, say for shooting prairie dogs from a fixed position, but they are not very handy. I used to hunt coyotes occasionally with a 26" heavy barrel .220 Swift. On one long trek through deep snow and I seriously considered taking the bolt, hiding the rifle and hiring someone to go back for it.

There is some velocity loss with a 22" versus 26" barrel (about 125 to 150 feet per second) but the .204 has plenty of speed to start with, and it is a price I'd cheerfully pay. With its compact overall length of 41-1/2" the sub-MOA Varmint handles and balances beautifully. Basic weight is 8.25 pounds giving an all-up weight of around 9.25 to 9.5 pounds, an excellent compromise between steadiness of hold and portability. That's a pound or so more than I want to carry on a long hike, but for a tough, fit young fellow like you, it's a handy weight to carry and will hold steady when it comes time to shoot.