Weatherby Vanguard .350 Legend initial review

Michigan recently legalized straight-wall rifle cartridges that do not exceed 1.7" in length for use when hunting deer in the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula.

I am a northern Michigan hunter and have used a variety of traditional bottle neck cartridges my entire life, always out of Winchester Model 70s. This tradition cemented my preference for three position safeties and internal magazines.

Last season I experienced southern Michigan hunting for the first time when my niece invited me to join her in the area where she now lives. To my surprise I loved it. I borrowed a Winchester XPR .350 Legend for that hunt, having had the benefit of numerous range trips with it prior to joining her. The cartridge quickly proved fun at my local range, with a mild report and negligible recoil when fired from field positions (I hate shooting off a bench). What I didn't expect was it to drop deer with the authority I had mentally reserved for bottle neck cartridges.

The Winchester .350 I borrowed was really nice, but I can't get around two position safeties and detachable box magazines.

The Weatherby Vanguard Compact fit the bill on paper, but I had no experience with the brand or model.

That changed yesterday when I took my new rifle to the range. I mounted a 25 year old Leupold VX-III 1.5-5 Heavy Duplex in Talley fixed rings and mounts and headed to my club, which has 50 to 600 yard rifle ranges.

Wow. I'm smitten with this little rifle. A reasonable question would be why I went with a compact when I'm six feet tall, and the answer is clothing. I am a "wear it loose and in layers" late season hunter, and I've come to prefer shorter stocks for the contorted positions I often find myself in when I finally get a shot on a wary Michigan whitetail. Same with low magnification scopes. They're not gang busting fun at the range, but I really prefer them in field.

As for shooting the Weatherby Vanguard in .350 Legend I have nothing but praise. The bolt runs smoothly and responds to rapid cycling with crisp ejection. So far I've left the trigger as it came from the factory at around 3.5#, but I may reduce that a bit later.

I like to practice firing not only with a full magazine, but top loading individual cartridges one at time. The rifle did both without a hiccup.

After getting a quick zero at 50 I moved out to 100 yards. The images attached are a sample. I will get serious about a zero after the rifle digests a few hundred rounds, but so far so good. 5x magnification at 100 with a heavy reticle is a concentration affair and I think the little rifle proved itself. I am pleased it groups the affordable target ammo well.

So far so good! I can't wait to join my niece again this fall and really put this rifle to the test in its natural habitat.

100 yards

Another 100 yard group from a very hot rifle

This is also 100 yards and typical of what both the Weatherby and the Winchester I mentioned in my full review can do with this particular factory whitetail load.

The tedious start with any new rifle. : )

Some assembly required.