Cleaned my new Weatherby and WTH???

CBintheNorth · #1 10-24-2015, 06:37 PM

So I just bought a brand new Weatherby Vanguard 2 Stainless in 300 Weatherby from cabelas. Today was break-in day so last night I figured I'd run a swab through it to make sure I started clean.
It was filthy!!
I was under the impression that only the sub MOA rifles were test fired?
With Hoppes #9, the first patch came out black and blue. My whole life I've understood that blue tinge to be copper fouling. But it was horrendous. It took nearly 50 patches to be spotless.
The box had been opened, but was taped shut. The bolt was in its bag with the packing lube still on it. Coupled with the fact that cabelas doesn't return rifles, I have no reason to believe it had been returned.

Any ideas or knowledge about factory test firing would help me sleep tonight....

Smokinyotes · #2 10-24-2015, 06:48 PM

I'm not sure if weatherby test fires the vanguards but I have returned rifles to Cabelas, so it is possible yours may have been "preowned"

WyattE · #3 10-24-2015, 07:04 PM

Maybe they excessively oil the barrel before they ship it?

I use Truly Remarkable Bore Solvent takes quite a few patches to get all the copper out of my rifles when I clean them and not after shooting lots either.

How do you like the rifle?

CBintheNorth · #4 10-24-2015, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I'm not sure if weatherby test fires the vanguards but I have returned rifles to Cabelas, so it is possible yours may have been "preowned"

Interesting. Was this recently?
They have a big sign at the counter that says all guns are non returnable. I was even joking with the guy who was helping me as I pointed to the sign and said "I guess I have to like huh?".
He said it's been like that for a long time for safety reasons.

Bennyj · #5 10-24-2015, 07:07 PM

Hey CB, judging by the way the rifle shot at the end of the first box of shells you should sleep fairly well tonight. I would be more concerned with the Winchester shells for your new .17! But in any event, thanks for sharing your first world problem! Lol Just kidding

Smokinyotes · #6 10-24-2015, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

Interesting. Was this recently?
They have a big sign at the counter that says all guns are non returnable. I was even joking with the guy who was helping me as I pointed to the sign and said "I guess I have to like huh?".
He said it's been like that for a long time for safety reasons.

Year ago last January I took back a Ruger 10/22 target that would only shoot 2" groups at 50yds. I also exchanged a XCR L a couple years ago. Maybe their policy has changed.

elkhunter11 · #7 10-24-2015, 07:09 PM

All Vanguards that I have owned were test fired, in fact all rifles that I have purchased new showed evidence of being test fired.

JCP · #8 10-24-2015, 07:11 PM

I believe Weatherby test fires all of their rifles. My original Vanguard came with a test target. They just pick the ones that shoot the best to be in the sub moa line

leo · #9 10-24-2015, 07:54 PM

All modern firearms manufacturers test fire every gun. They need to be able to handle a proofed load in order to be sold to the public.

CBintheNorth · #10 10-24-2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bennyj

Hey CB, judging by the way the rifle shot at the end of the first box of shells you should sleep fairly well tonight. I would be more concerned with the Winchester shells for your new .17! But in any event, thanks for sharing your first world problem! Lol Just kidding

Lol.
Don't you have some chickens to clean?

Ya, I'll post the pics of the .17 ammo on another thread when I get to the computer.

CBintheNorth · #11 10-24-2015, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyattE

Maybe they excessively oil the barrel before they ship it?

I use Truly Remarkable Bore Solvent takes quite a few patches to get all the copper out of my rifles when I clean them and not after shooting lots either.

How do you like the rifle?

This was definitely copper fouling, not oil.
I cleaned it after every round and later, after every 3. It never took more than a few patches to be spotless.

I absolutely love the rifle. 21 year wait to own a 300 Weatherby.
I may let it sleep in our bed tonight.

CBintheNorth · #12 10-24-2015, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

All Vanguards that I have owned were test fired, in fact all rifles that I have purchased new showed evidence of being test fired.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCP

I believe Weatherby test fires all of their rifles. My original Vanguard came with a test target. They just pick the ones that shoot the best to be in the sub moa line

Quote:

Originally Posted by leo

All modern firearms manufacturers test fire every gun. They need to be able to handle a proofed load in order to be sold to the public.

Thanks guys, that's what I was hoping to hear.

WyattE · #13 10-24-2015, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBintheNorth

This was definitely copper fouling, not oil.
I cleaned it after every round and later, after every 3. It never took more than a few patches to be spotless.

I absolutely love the rifle. 21 year wait to own a 300 Weatherby.
I may let it sleep in our bed tonight.

hahaha, I hear you!

I was at Cabelas today looking at the A7 Roughneck Pro, unfortunately it did not fit. Ended up looking at the Weatherby Ultralight 300 Win Mag.......... nice fit got me thinking thats for sure!

May be my next purchase.

bobinthesky · #14 10-25-2015, 09:28 AM

Wasn't the test target in the box when you opened it? Usually they are, or at least used to be.

elkhunter11 · #15 10-25-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobinthesky

Wasn't the test target in the box when you opened it? Usually they are, or at least used to be.

From the Weatherby site.

Quote:

Why didn't my Vanguard rifle come with a factory shot target?

In an effort to contain costs and keep the Vanguard as affordable as possible, we discontinued the inclusion of a factory-shot target in each Vanguard box in July 2009. All Weatherby® Vanguard Series 2 rifles with a serial number prefix of “VB” are guaranteed to shoot a .99" or better 3-shot group at 100 yards from a cold barrel when used with premium (non-Weatherby calibers) or Weatherby factory ammunition.

All other Weatherby Vanguard rifles with serial numbers beginning withV, VL, VS, or VX, are guaranteed to shoot a 1 ½” or better 3-shot group at 100 yards from a cold barrel when used with premium (non-Weatherby calibers) or Weatherby factory ammunition. Together, the Weatherby system (premium ammunition)

bobinthesky · #16 10-26-2015, 10:19 AM

Well there you go, thanks.

Guess it's been at least 6 years since I purchased a vanguard!

elkhunter11 · #17 10-26-2015, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobinthesky

Well there you go, thanks.

Guess it's been at least 6 years since I purchased a vanguard!

Up until last month, I hadn't purchased one in a long time either, but at $399 at WSS, I couldn't pass up not buying one in 243win. As far as no test target, I could care less, my rifle shot back to back five shot moa groups with the second load that I tried.

bobinthesky · #18 10-26-2015, 06:29 PM

I've never seen a Vanguard that wouldn't shoot!

CBintheNorth · #19 10-26-2015, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobinthesky

I've never seen a Vanguard that wouldn't shoot!

After the first 16 rounds, mine put the next 4 into a 2 inch group at 200 yards. I didn't think that was too bad for factory ammo.