Lessons from rifle break in and shooting groups to test ammo- Weatherby Vanguard Meateater 300 WBY

Just some early thoughts after a few range days breaking in the new Weatherby Vanguard Meateater Edition in .300 Weatherby Magnum. I also tested Weatherby's loading of the 180 grain Nosler Accubond and 180 grain Barnes TTSX as well as Hornady Precision Hunter in 200 grain ELD-X.
Even Weatherby ammo has been hard to find recently (particularly Accubond). I've had decent luck with Palmetto State getting stock: bit.ly/2Ssrsbn
Weatherby's recommended break-in procedure (with podcast link): faq.weatherby....
homegrownoutdoors.us
homegrownoutdoors.us

[@andyc.947]

Public service announcement on this rifle: I've tried a few different types of ammo out of mine and what i've found groups the best is Winchester. Specifically their Deer season XP load but i would guess other Winchesters would group fine as well. I'm grouping a 1/2 MOA with them. It's a little tough to come by, like everything right now but not to bad. also, mine is chambered in 300 Win mag

[@andyc.947]

update; Federal trophy bonded tip also shoots well. 180 grain. Sub MOA.

[@Tyanmax99]

@@andyc.947 I just bought one in 300 WM today. Any other factory ammo you recommend?

[@wrigman]

I have two Weatherby vanguards(207 WSM, 7mm Rem mag,)Begaura 6.5 CM, Tikka T3x lite .270 win and a Smith & Wesson AR10. I have never “broke in” any of my barrels. I’ve been able to put 1” groups to get together. Not saying it’s good to do it this way, but it works for me…….

[@ashforkdan]

Stick with the 180 gr and add a EC tunner. You can cut that three quarter to one quarter.

[@jstraus34]

Each rifle has a favorite ammo or round that it will like best, seems accubonds are the ones for this rifle. I've got boxes and boxes of ammo that I'll never use after running some test groups, probably 3/4 or better of my ammo won't be used for anything other than fouling shots.

[@EnkeiTenjin]

Can you do another video on this rifle please mate? More in depth look at it and it shooting

[@youknowit8799]

Hey Roger, look up some of Eric Cortina’s videos. He tells in there that you can run those factory shells through the chronograph and find the ones with the lowest es and sd. Once you find the lowest ones, then you take a die and start pushing the bullets .003 deeper than they came and shoot a 3 shot group. Then go another .003 deeper making them a total of .006, then another .003 making them .009 deeper than the factory and so forth until you find the group that will tune the best out of them. You might find an accuracy node in some of the factory rounds that could work well for hunting. Be sure to record the oal or base to ogive on the depth that works best so you know where to set them when you buy more.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

I was just watching some of his videos today, he seems to know his stuff. I’m hoping to be able to pick up some powder and primers to start reloading the 300 soon, but availability is obviously pretty rough right now.

[@miguelrivera3471]

Do you know witch Videos that is? Would you mind sharing the title of it?

[@carfvallrightsreservedwith6649]

Good tip for factory ammo. I also use my Hornady Concentrisity kit to check and adjust run-out to .001 or less.

[@Simon-talks]

they are cartridges, not shells

[@ingelri2]

I have several rifles that love the Accubonds over any other projectile.

[@scottydoesntknow254]

Id be sending this video to weatherby

[@stephenvikla6926]

thanks for the video. I had a remington 700 that handled most ammo just fine but my weatherby backcountry mark v is very picky on ammo, mine is 6.5 creedmore Weatherby has some ammo recommendations on their site for each gun/caliber but obviously it’s not always possible to find those. I found one that works for me outside the ones weatherby recommended. I do think they meet their accuracy standards but a really picky eater on ammo. So much so that one ammo brand will be 2.5” groups at 200 yards and another will have one hit on the target with 2 total misses not even on the paper.

[@philipfreeman72]

I have been shooting 3 shots & letting it cool . It seemed to work on my 17 wmr.

[@pipedreams57]

I had a set of Talley rings on a Savage 110. They were milled badly and needed a precision lapping job to fix it. Then one side of the clamshell arms were not level with the other clamshell when compared [front mount versus rear mount]. I would not waste any money on Talley stuff. For me I like the Weaver bases with their Weaver Grand Slam steel rings. Much better stuff.

[@claytonjustensen9042]

Same experience I had.

[@Gearsofchocolate]

I have this exact same rifle in 308 that I just got last month. I have tried a few loads and so far, it does not like 165 GMX bullets, or 165 grain accubonds. It’s super allergic to those. Which is a huge disappointment. 150 grain loads I tried are not bad and I tried one load of the 178 grain Hornady precision hunter and it did not too bad with that. But so far I’m not really impressed with it. Idk what’s going on there.

[@kasonwhite6681]

Did you ever find what ammo the rifle likes?

[@Gearsofchocolate]

@@kasonwhite6681 last factory load I tried was the 175 grain terminal ascent and it did ok. Still not great. Ended up selling the gun and bought a browning hells canyon in 7mm Rem Mag. So much more pleased with that rifle.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Thank you

[@gunman-6646]

Wondering, do you think that it is really needed to use the westherby breakin? I bought a vanguard 6.5-300 , i did not do the break in but it seems to shoot just fine. Just curious as to if you think it is necessary. I am buying another weatherby soon.

[@brandoncarey2329]

Until recently you could buy 150 gr loads for the .300wby. 3500 fps out of the box. There is handload data. Super flat shooting and more than any deer or elk can stand up to. Just a suggestion. Also does cut recoil a little for some people that might help.

[@rogerramjet7567]

Moa guarantees are really worthless. All manufacturers. Kimber in particular, does not say what ammunition they used. I spent over three hundred bucks and best three shot group was just under two inches. Always cool down between shots. My handloads group at 1/2”. Not any factory ammunition. 👎

[@brettorton2363]

I mean, that’s a sub Moa so it’s not worthless

[@royleerobinson5]

I found it take about 100 rounds of barrel break in to get it settled In. But I would be looking at all the bolts and screws making sure everything is torqued and blue lock tighten.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

Yep, screws are all tightened to spec. Weatherby's guarantee specifically calls out 1MOA groups out of a cold barrel, so the rifle is doing what they say it'll do. I was just a bit surprised at the difference cooling the barrel made.

[@jheckert1]

@@homegrownoutdoors6519 I just bought this same rifle and shot it yesterday for the first time. Cold it shot well while sighting in the scope, but once it got hot it would shoot 4" high to 4" low. I never did a barrel break in with a new gun before and this barrel does seem thin so it gets hot quick. I am going to clean the rifle and try the 3 group test again and let it cool between each test and fine tune the dialing of the scope. So far i like the gun, just never shot a 300 before and didn't realize it gets that hot that fast. I was a box of ammo in and started to see heat waves from the barrel through the scope...

[@nmelkhunter1]

I think the 180 Accuobonds could very well be the load for that rifle. If you get 3/4" or better from that rifle with that load I would use it and not look back. Of course I'm assuming you get 300 Weatherby type velocity or otherwise what's the point? As an aside, I have found 180 Accubonds from a 300 WM and 160 Accubonds from a 7MM Rem Mag to perform very well on bull elk.

[@blakeridley2806]

I have this gun in 6.5-300 wby mag and it took about 100 rounds to get it broke in I love it now tho killed a Couse deer at 550 with it

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

That’s quite a shot on a relatively small target! I’m debating between the 6.5-300 and 6.5 RPM for my next Weatherby.

[@bartowpd342]

See I’m stuck between the 300 wby or 6.5-300 in this rifle. I have a 6.5 creedmoor and 6.5 prc. I love the 6.5’s but I don’t know if it would be worth it getting the 6.5-300 for mid to large game hunting.

[@davidking6663]

@@bartowpd342 the 6.5 prc is real hard to beat when talking about cartridge efficiency, quality factory ammo, and such low recoil when compared to other 6.5mm and 270 calibers. I would love for weatherby to make a mark v in 6.5prc I’d definitely dump my bergara in a heartbeat

[@bartowpd342]

@@davidking6663 I love my Bergara’s, I would have to shoot a mark V to compare.

[@justinkessler9532]

@@bartowpd342 is this Johnny bravo from you tube with the trading course?

[@alpiacente9731]

Good video. Exactly what are you doing when you state that you are “cleaning” your barrel are each three shot group. Just a simple clean patch, solvent? Thank you sir

[@tomschumacher5434]

I’ve had bad experiences with heavy hitting calibers on light weight polymer stocks like this just because the flex from the recoil it can cause. I had a howa 300 win mag that would not shout groups. I have this meat eater in a 6.5 CM and it shoots sub MOA with three different types of ammunition. Also weatherby says to torque your action to spec upon pulling it out of the box. Also some barrels come ready to shoot and groups nice and some just don’t from my experience with rifles

[@jaykecraig6708]

Specially Kimbers over over over rated kick like a mule with a magnum and hit any which way but straight

[@n8ivemorty337]

Have a bergara 300 win mag and can pull sub moa with janky ass bullets no probs with Synthetic stocks

[@theshootindutchman]

@@n8ivemorty337 great guns!

[@77dragraceRT]

I have the Meateater in 6.5 CM as well and I had a heck of a time getting it to group. I have it sorted out now but I know they don't have free floating barrels on Vanguards but mine was really tight on the one side so i took it apart and wrapped some sand paper around a deep socket and sanded the stock for even clearance on the barrel and the gun tightened right up on the groups. Even with ammo it didn't really like. 140gr in Hornady and Federal work great

[@brandonkruckenberg2316]

Love this gun vise

[@cutter-pilot8234]

Kinda silly to recognize the bumper sticker on your truck...is that Keezletown School. If so my kids don't go there but know some that do or have.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

Yep, small world!

[@280Ackley]

I went there.

[@ZackRobi30]

Thinking about picking one up in .300win mag. How has yours held up?

[@carlmarks6145]

Is the rifle barrel 26 inches plus the muzzle break or 26 inches including the muzzle brake? Great group for the accubond. Looking for the same rifle in 300 win mag or 7mm Rem mag.

[@edgarlombera7066]

It’s 26 inches without the muzzle break on magnum calibers

[@elkhuntr2816]

If it wasn't for their sub moa guarantee, I wouldn't consider a long range hunting rifle that shot like that. Should all be under an inch.

[@rotasaustralis]

If you have some reloading gear, try simply pulling the bullets with a hornady collet bullet puller, leave the powder in the case & everything as is, chamfer the neck ID & reseat the bullets to 0.020 from the lands or, as close as you can get to the lands & still fit the cartridge in the magazine. 0.020 should be about minimum in a hunting rifle. I've had some success with doing this as, pulling & reseating greatly reduces the neck tension &, seating closer to the lands reduces combustion chamber inconsistencies.

[@olblue2623]

Don’t try this!!! You will just waste money, with a different cartridge maybe but not with anything weatherby. The chamber that weatherby uses has lots of freebore and you won’t be able to seat even close to the lands. That is their technique to get get high velocity out of a cartridge.

[@rotasaustralis]

@@olblue2623 If he's using 180gr barnes, he should reach the lands. It's not a Weatherby, it's a Howa so, I don't know if the freebore will be any longer than standard Howa issue chambers. He only has to try with 5 or ten. I've had good success with this &, if there's no improvement, he should then check the bedding after he checks his rifle scope, & mounts. Factory ammo usually has crazy high seating tension to the point where it's near on impossible to pull the damn bullets. This causes the bullet to absolutely hammer the throat of the chamber when it finally bursts from the neck, setting up all manner of nasty, very intense vibrations. If he pulls, chamfers & reseats, the neck tension will be drastically reduced which allows the bullet to be pushed out into the lands much earlier in the burn phase, with correspondingly lower bullet unseating force, reduced throat hammer & reduced vibration. There could well be another problem but, if he's got the gear, it's a place to start.

[@olblue2623]

I thought I heard him say 300 weatherby and I tried with long 210 Berger’s and still didn’t have enough bullet in the case to safety seat the bullet, afterwards I looked into it and the reamer for Sami spec 300 weatherby had a huge amount of freebore which then I thought I was an idiot for trying to measure CBTO and buying the tools for it

[@rotasaustralis]

@@olblue2623 It's chambered in 300 Weatherby but, it's a Weatherby Vanguard which, is a howa 1500. Can't say as I know if they're using a Weatherby reamer or their own version thereof however, just reducing the neck tension will yield results should there be no other issues.

[@olblue2623]

That’s the action, not the reamer used to cut the chamber. The chamber is all inside the barrel, neck tension is a factor and something that can be used to tune but without measuring you won’t be able to achieve consistent neck tension which means you cant duplicate a good shooting round.

[@shannonsalvestro5902]

Hey mate, I have just purchased this rifle, and I have a couple of questions about how you have set up yours. What size Leupold did you mount/ what height mounts did you use and do you have any issues with the bolt being to close to the optic? Just checking to see if the optic I plan to purchase will sit nice and low with out any issues.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

Hey Shannon. That scope is a VX-2 3-9x40 with 1" main tube. The rings are Talley lightweight, medium height (regular, not extended) and I think it's a good fit for scope height without any bolt clearance issues. I have a VX-5HD 3-15x44 with 30mm tube on the way. I intend to mount it with Talley lightweight medium height rings as well (obviously 30 mm version). Let me know if that's more in line with your planned arrangement and I'll follow up once I get everything mounted. I'll do a video on the scope once I get a chance to test it out.

[@shannonsalvestro5902]

@@homegrownoutdoors6519 thanks for the quick reply. Yeah I'm considering the same VX5HD scope or a vortex razor lht for the same rifle. I like how low your current scope is mounted.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

I got the VX-5HD on there today. Good height using the 30mm Talley medium height rings, similar to the VX-2 from the video.

[@shannonsalvestro5902]

@@homegrownoutdoors6519 do you plan on doing another video?

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

It’s on my list, I just haven’t gotten much time with the VX-5 yet. Make sure you’re subscribed, I’ll try to get that one together soon.

[@daveharding2610]

What calibers are available in this rifle

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-300 WBY, 7mm Rem Mag, 308, 300 Win Mag, 300 WBY.

[@tannerbakker4299]

All of the calibers

[@EnkeiTenjin]

@@tannerbakker4299 except 30-06 lmao. Dunno who thought that was a good idea at Weatherby.

[@tannerbakker4299]

@@EnkeiTenjin I agree

[@RECNYC21]

@@EnkeiTenjin they make it... just very hard to find . 308 is more aviable

[@TECH-dj8in]

please comment back: does the meateater only use weatherby bullets, or can you use hornedys?

[@77dragraceRT]

They have multiple calibers and you can use different brands

[@jeffreyweekley6974]

Read my comment about my experience with those Talley scope rings in the video you posted earlier when you refer to mounting the rings . Your scope may be in a bad bind and not able to function correctly

[@stevewalker4638]

That’s the way to do it…

[@catjackoff-road855]

I handled this rifle today! It is heavy

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

Its for men

[@acevent5759]

Like most American companies Wetherby is also all over the place. you’ll get one that’s amazing and a piece of artwork, and then you’ll get some that are just pieces of shit.

[@mr.mr.3301]

Wonder if in part it’s because they do not have free floated barrels.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

I wonder the same thing.

[@kevintickner7265]

I'm been thinking about 6.5 300 weatherby I shoot a 300 win mag just curious if you shoot a 300 win mag if the recoil is the same of the 30 weatherby or if you no heard they have a. Bad recoil just wondering

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

The 300 Weatherby probably out kicks the Win Mag a bit, but I’d expect the 6.5-300 to kick less with lighter bullets.

[@kevintickner7265]

@@homegrownoutdoors6519 thanks j

[@brandoncarey2329]

The wby is superior on both ends of the gun. Noticeably.

[@Mylittlewhiskers223]

The break in barrel controversy is very broad no “fouling shot” necessary... clean the rifle when you buy it shoot 20 rounds get it close to the bullseye then clean it go back the next day and shoot to zero after that it shouldn’t move anymore ..weather the rifles cold or warm or hot shouldn’t change the point of impact or the tightness of the group whatsoever I shoot norma match Ammo and go out with a cold barrel shot 3 it’s sub Moa, and after it’s hot and the barrels nice and dirty still shoots sun moa exactly where it was when I started..your shot results look very inconsistent and it’s not the Ammo.. now you could have shot a very tight group with a certain round but it’s just coincidence.. all modern Ammo shouldn’t move the point of impact or tightness whatsoever only variable being one grain will drop faster than another.. but the inconsistency has to be you ..being up down left right of bullseye by inches do you have a shooting bag in front and back of the gun using tip of your finger exhale being dead still slowly squeezing the trigger you should be so relaxed and so calm that when the gun finally goes off from the trigger pull it surprises you.. bad scope or mounts could be and issue to..or worse yet make sure the two set screws to the stock to the receiver are nice and tight if those are loose the results are about the same as a loose scope.

[@offroad6309]

Don't forget how some pull down or flex the stock with the fore hand. Eliminate shooter introduced issues first. In today's world it's easy to video with your phone your shooting. Might be a eye opener.

[@steveespinosa7427]

What size scope

[@markhighfill]

I think fluted barrels might heat up faster.

[@EnkeiTenjin]

Technically they would because there is less material to heat up. But it would be negligible. The quicker cooling due to the flutes would outweigh the insignificant increase in heating up when shooting.

[@stevenscofield401]

They also cool faster

[@jeremehinkle7752]

Sell it and by an x bolt or tikka your groups will be half that

[@wolverinekut]

👍👍💯

[@bobwills7607]

Barrel breakin is BS

[@jerrymartin2275]

If it's made in Japan, then it's more expensive to be constructed than American Made

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

Perhaps, I’m just trying to be honest about where the rifle is made in relation to the focus of the channel.

[@jerrymartin2275]

@@homegrownoutdoors6519 oh yeah I completely understand that and respect the transparency. But often times if a product is made and constructed in Japan it's usually of higher quality than American made. Even their national minimum wage is higher than ours

[@kalebmcdaniel9147]

Well the barrels and bolt action comes from Japan but the rest is assembled in Sheridan Wyoming!

[@pipedreams57]

The 300 Weatherby is too much gun for most game.

[@peteperkins3859]

I can't get my 300 WinMag to zero. I've tried Luepold scopes, Vortex scopes. Winchester, Hornady ammo. Im I've gone through 4 boxes of shells and it hits all over the place. Tried sand bags, LedSleds. I'm selling it to some unsuspecting sucker. My first Weatherby purchase turns out to be a pos.

[@wayneknack6657]

Sounds like a scope mount problem. Check your scope mounting screws with a torque wrench. If the screws are not holding torque then you will need lap your rings and remount your scope! Make sure your rings are torqued to at least 25 inch pounds.

[@Xsheaffer]

You sound like a great guy.

[@boydcrowder6130]

100% user error. I have 3 howa's and 3 vanguards in various calibers. Including the meateater edition (308) and the First Lite edition (6.5 creed). Every single one of the guns shoot sub moa from a bench. I swear by them. Several friends have purchased these rifles based on my recommendation.. After I mounted their rings and scopes, and walked them through the breakin process, they all shoot sub moa from a bench as well. I've personally set up 11 of these rifles and all of them did just fine. You are definitely doing something wrong. Take it to someone who knows how to set up a rifle correctly.

[@offroad6309]

Make sure the rings are aligned and lapped as well.

[@sparky_-mf2cs]

@@boydcrowder6130 what rings did you use for the meateater vangaurd???

[@Simon-talks]

Rifle "break-in" lol

[@angelor9433]

Talley mounts you have to lap them they suck I try about 3 sets of Talley rings and they dint not aligned right . stay away from them

[@Bigfhoot]

What you use in the end?

[@angelor9433]

@@Bigfhoot nighforce 30 mm rings

[@angelor9433]

Nightforcefor rings and picattiny base

[@EnkeiTenjin]

Have used leupold backcountry rings on 4 different hunting rifles and they have NEVER let me down.

[@3006USMC]

Beautiful rifle… How’s the recoil?

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

The recoil is manageable, but you know when it goes off. I’ve been shooting it with the brake, and I’d say it still out kicks a non -braked 7 mag by a fair margin.

[@kencrowe1965]

Yeah, shoot it without the break... Don't have one on my 300 Weatherby Mag!! It kicks like shit!!!

[@robertjenkins5338]

Made in Japan? It’s made in Sheridan, WY, it says so right on the receiver.

[@homegrownoutdoors6519]

Weatherby is based in Sheridan and the Mark V rifles are made there, but the Vanguards are imported from Howa in Japan.

[@kalebmcdaniel9147]

Actually this gun is assembled in Sheridan and the barrel and action comes from Japan.

[@WayStedYou]

Did you not see the made in Japan howa at 2:17