I'm looking at a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe in .257mag at a reputable sporting goods store that moves alot of used rifles. Typically, I like to buy new and was going to move toward the Vanguard basic synthetic stock and blue barrel but along comes this Deluxe that is a spittin' image of the Mark V. Not being crazy about wood (I'm utilitarian and cheep) this one is a beauty and a nice low price of 490.00. It's worth taking a look at. I'm thinking maybe the rifle came back and put up for sale because of ammo availability and price issues.

Should I be concerned about throat erosion since it's a blazing .257 or would this type of rifle not attract the high volume shooters?

Anything I should be concerned for?

Most of the guns in my safe are used. That being said I'd be thinking of having a gunsmith check the throat of that high a velocity cartridge with a borescope.

Some of your decision can probably be based on the looks of the gun. I've bought several used guns that were basically new inside and out. Once in a while you get stuck with a "stinker", but that can happen even if the bore looks prestine. Sadly it can happen with a brand new gun off the rack also. Look for any darkening near the throat is the best advice I can give you if you can't get someone to stick a bore scope in it.

Most of my favorite hunting rifles were purchased used. They had a little wear but then I didn't have to worry about putting that first ding on the stock.

My favorite rifle was purchased used. I wish I could buy another dozen just like it. As for as guns that I've sold, I've sold some shooters, but I've also sold barreled fense posts. The only way that you are guarenteed that you will get a shooter is if you buy a rifle with an accuracy guarentee, like weatherby, I believe that only applies to new purchases.

Have bought more used than new guns - never had a problem with any of them. As faucettb recommends, wouldn't hurt to have a knowledgeable person look at the throat condition. Chances are, it's in good condition and the previous owner merely wanted something else.

I'm looking at a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe in .257mag at a reputable sporting goods store that moves alot of used rifles. Typically, I like to buy new and was going to move toward the Vanguard basic synthetic stock and blue barrel but along comes this Deluxe that is a spittin' image of the Mark V. Not being crazy about wood (I'm utilitarian and cheep) this one is a beauty and a nice low price of 490.00. It's worth taking a look at. I'm thinking maybe the rifle came back and put up for sale because of ammo availability and price issues.

If you're "utilitarian and cheap", the .257 Weatherby may not be for you. I've had a Mark V Accumark for quite a few years and seldom shoot it unless I draw a pronghorn tag. The purchase price you mentioned will buy about 10 boxes of Weatherby brand ammunition for it (I am not aware of any other commercially available ammunition in this cartridge). I cannot get handloaded ammunition for Weatherby cartridges near to the velocities of the factory ammunition. Commercial ammunition availability for this chambering has improved with the spread of the big box outdoor stores (Cabellas, Bass Pro, and Sportsman's Warehouse, etc.), but about 10 years ago I could not find ammunition prior to a pronghorn hunt and had less than half a box left - fortunately I only needed 1 shot.

My .257 Weatherby is more accurate than I can shoot. My longest shot at an animal was a 1 shot kill of a deer at a surveyed 400 yards with using an electric pole to rest against, but I've passed up several deer and pronghorn at that distance because I did not have a solid rest. The main advantage of the cartridge is the flat trajectory that allows a hold on the animal out to 400 yards with a 300 yard zero.

I recently put a stronger scope (6-20X) on it and re-zeroed for 300 yards since I drew a pronghorn tag this year (1st in about 6 years). However my last 2 pronghorn bucks were shot at less than 80 yards. I consider it to be one of the least useful rifles I have. Every time I fire a shot after a scope adjustment, I think "there went another $2+".

Irv, it's for me :)

I may be cheep but the .257mag is one cartridge I want to shoot. Didnt mean to say I dont spend money....love to shoot and love work up loads. My next shot out the back of the house where I hunt just might be 350yds.

Of course, this means I'll have to get that chrono now. :)

Most of the guns in my safe are used. That being said I'd be thinking of having a gunsmith check the throat of that high a velocity cartridge with a borescope.

Some of your decision can probably be based on the looks of the gun. I've bought several used guns that were basically new inside and out. Once in a while you get stuck with a "stinker", but that can happen even if the bore looks prestine. Sadly it can happen with a brand new gun off the rack also. Look for any darkening near the throat is the best advice I can give you if you can't get someone to stick a bore scope in it.
If I get the rifle I'm hoping it will be a good shooter like the rest of the rifles in the case. Been quite fortunate so far.

I'll take your tip on the darkened throat with much appreciation. Thanx.

At least 80, maybe 90% of the guns I have owned were purchased used. If you shop and buy right, a guy can always sell the gun just like you bought it. If it's a keeper you have a gun as good as new for maybe less than half the price. Of all the firearms I have owned over the years (75 to 100 at a guess, maybe more) only one or two were much of a problem, those were resold. But then maybe I have been lucky.

Most heavy recoil rifles are not shot much, in fact I don't think many hunting guns are, which are the kind I buy mostly.
I would tend to worry more about the use of a hotter varmint gun than a mid sized Weatherby.

Perferator...

Is the gun at a store with a in-shop gunsmith? If so, does it carry a warranty like used guns at Gander does?

Jim

Perferator...

Is the gun at a store with a in-shop gunsmith? If so, does it carry a warranty like used guns at Gander does?

Jim
Yes, they do. The guns they sell are probably a cut above what you might see in a pawn shop. I'll be asking about a warranty. They are very reasonable in their dealings and have an excellent rep with the sportsmen in the area.

Irv, it's for me :)

I may be cheep but the .257mag is one cartridge I want to shoot. Didnt mean to say I dont spend money....love to shoot and love work up loads. My next shot out the back of the house where I hunt just might be 350yds.

Of course, this means I'll have to get that chrono now. :)

I'm sure you will like the cartridge.

If you happen to find a reload that approaches the factory velocities, please let me know so I can try to adapt it to my rifle and reduce ammo costs. I chronographed a 100 gr factory load 3 years ago, the last time I used the rifle, and it was well above the factory velocity listed and so far has performed well on game. Previously I used the 120 gr Nosler factory load, but was not satisfied with the performance (even though I did not lose any animals) because the high velocity blew off the portion in front of the partition and the remaining ~60 gr base did not have sufficient mass and momentum to give good penetration - in one case giving a large surface wound on what should have been a good broadside heart shot on a pronghorn.

I'm sure you will like the cartridge.

If you happen to find a reload that approaches the factory velocities, please let me know so I can try to adapt it to my rifle and reduce ammo costs. I chronographed a 100 gr factory load 3 years ago, the last time I used the rifle, and it was well above the factory velocity listed and so far has performed well on game. Previously I used the 120 gr Nosler factory load, but was not satisfied with the performance (even though I did not lose any animals) because the high velocity blew off the portion in front of the partition and the remaining ~60 gr base did not have sufficient mass and momentum to give good penetration - in one case giving a large surface wound on what should have been a good broadside heart shot on a pronghorn.
I'll have to pick up the (yup, cheap) chrony to check. There will be a need for watching the velocity for this one. I wont be pushing max's until I can chrony the rounds.

What was the distance to the pronghorn on that bullet failure? I'm thinking you were pretty close? Pretty good hunting on your part I might add.

I'll try to keep in touch here, probably up on the reload forum. Thanx for the input.

The vast majority of my my gun collection came off the used gun racks in local gun shops. If you shop carefully and get a decent price it is usually just fine. In some cases I have had to get rifles rebarreled, but I knew that when I bought the gun and it was reflected in the cost. Minor repairs, touching up the bluing or refinishing the stock are things I like to do. So far, I have never lost a dime in these trasactions. Take care...
Oberndorf

I'm sure you will like the cartridge.

If you happen to find a reload that approaches the factory velocities, please let me know so I can try to adapt it to my rifle and reduce ammo costs. I chronographed a 100 gr factory load 3 years ago, the last time I used the rifle, and it was well above the factory velocity listed and so far has performed well on game. Previously I used the 120 gr Nosler factory load, but was not satisfied with the performance (even though I did not lose any animals) because the high velocity blew off the portion in front of the partition and the remaining ~60 gr base did not have sufficient mass and momentum to give good penetration - in one case giving a large surface wound on what should have been a good broadside heart shot on a pronghorn.
I found this on "realguns" so please be very careful to run these stats against an updated guide and start at a lower load for safety sake......
Barnes XLC BT 100 .257" 3.250" 79.9 Reloder 22 72.6 CCI 250 3680 3008 1.0

(3680fps)

Just bought the rifle (on layaway). It's a Vanguard sporter in .257wby mag. Fantastic shape, looks to be new. He said it was unfired but I dont care, it's that nice. They still have the box for it (maybe the target too). Supposedly it's what he called a "dinner rifle" where someone wins a gun at a sportsmans dinner but would rather trade it right away for something they really wanted.

Anyway, cant wait to get it. Thanx for the help! It's greatly appreciated.

I just bought a new (used) Sako 85 stainless, synthetic in 30-06 and put a 3-9 Ziess on it. I went out and shot a box of Rem green box in it and was just amazed how accurate the Sakos are. I'm not loading for this one, just factory bullets. MAybe some Hornady light mags will be the ticket.

I think most rifle buyers, just want to trade for something else, the barrels usually don't get much use at all. I have found some great used rifles in the last few years since my old arsenal was stolen and I've had to replace them. But it has been fun.

Some of the best times have been at the used gun rack, coming across one of those gems you've been looking for! It takes a keen eye though to not get taken sometimes. Sometimes rifles have been crowned, bedded, and tweaked in every way that you have to wonder, with all that "love", why did they get traded in!

I recently came across a Win Mod 70 "supergrade" in 300 Win Mag that was a push-feed action, dropped into a recent spotless supergrade stock, but had also been crowned. Best to walk away unless the gun shop owner will let you shoot it and it's at a fair price.

Sometimes, you come across one that you know has some faults, but the price is right. Years ago, I came across an old Mod 700 17 Rem, knowing that the barrel was probably shot out, and the magazine block (for those short 17 cartridges) was missing. I bought it anyway at a fair price, and yup, it was tumbling bullets, but a barrel replacement, and a piece of oak for the magazine block and it's a really fine shooter now.

I still remember when I walked into a local shop, and there was a pre-'64 mod 70 featherweight in 30-06, with a no-name scope on it, and probably a cut stock with recoil pad added, for $380, but that rifle just goes to the shoulder naturally, with a new scope on it, and shoots great....

And the time I got a mint Rem Mod 600 in 350 mag for $300. Such deals are fewer all the time, but they're out there sometimes. But beware....

That's the fun of shopping used. Last year I picked up two, A Remington Mountain Rifle with a Weaver 3 by 9 Classic scope in Leupold bases and rings with a super sling for $550.00 This gun looked just like it came out of the box.

I also picked up a Rem model 7 carbine with the 18.5 inch bbl in 308 with a Leupold fixed four power in Weaver bases and rings. This gun also looked new and the pawn shop owner where I bought both these guns said he sold the model 7 new and the guy shot one box of shells thru it and traded it back to him.

The first group of my handloads thru it went into a once inch hundred yard hole.

Two years ago my son was looking for an 8mm Rem mag when we stopped in the same shop. When he didn't see anything he liked the owner ask him if he was looking for something special. When my son said he was looking for a Rem 700 in 8 mag the owner said he only had a new one. He told Tim that he had closed his shop in Pierce and had this one left over from 1998. He said no one was interested in it.

He offered it to Tim for $550.00 new in the box and took off 10 percent for a sale he was having. It was a 1998 yearly classic new in the box. It's now in the gun safe with a new Simmons AETEC 2.8 to 10 on it.

He's been offered a grand for it twice now.

On the other hand I bought a Ruger all weather standard barrel 22-250 that wouldn't keep five shots in a four inch circle at a hundred yards. I did all the tricks I knew to make it shoot, but it wouldn't. It did however make great trading material and we all should have some of that around at all times.

i love the used gun rack. most of the people out there don't shoot as much as we do and even more of them are cluless as to how to make a rifle shoot if it doesn't shoot their first choice of factory ammo.
ironically enough i just got back from taking my kids back to iowa and i was in the iowa city sheels store and in the cabelas at mitchell, s.d. and the first place i went was the used gun rack, didn't even bother with the new stuff.
i bought another rifle in iowa city, a remington 700 classic in 300 savage.... very minty, 399.00 plus tax. i just got done adjusting the trigger and mounting a 3x9 bushnell elite on it, picked up some ammo in mitchell so i'll shoot it tomorrow if i get the bore cleaned. there are bargains out there everywhere, it's just a matter of being able to spot 'em. remember, most people buy rifles and then rarely if ever shoot them.