The first thing you’ll notice about the Vanguard First Lite Spector, aside from Weatherby’s legendary fit and finish, is the stock. The Monte Carlo design, complete with a right-side palm swell and textured forearm and grip areas, is appointed with innovative First Lite Specter camo.
FINISH
Barrel/Receiver/Trigger Guard – Patriot brown Cerakote
Bolt/Safety – Graphite black Cerakote
Stock – Polymer Monte Carlo, First Lite Specter camo pattern
***As of 07/01/2024 the Weatherby Vanguard will now come standard with a threaded barrel. There are still options without a threaded barrel available until inventory is sold out. Some barrel lengths have also changed. Please view tech specs below for updated information.
Andrew Rose –
I have laid down a couple of elk with the 6.5 PRC edition of this rifle. My daughter took her first elk ever at just under 400 yds with a heart shot. Very accurate rifle, easy to carry and trigger is great for a stock lower tier rifle. Takes a beating in the Montana backcountry and have never had any issues. Only con is that the stock finish does rub off in heavily rubbed areas.
Steven Sowar –
My go to Virginia deer rifle is, you guessed it, yes, a Vanguard Carbine that I purchased new maybe ten years ago, and I just can’t put it down. It just works and very well at that. I have a few Mark V’s which are excellent, but to get down and dirty in those Virginia and West Va woods I prefer my Vanguard. Now my new Vanguard “First Lite Specter” is actually my first camo pattern stocked rifle and it is awesome. What surprised me the most was the weight. This is a very long rifle which I love with that 6.5-300 caliber, but when they handed me this great looking rifle, I could not believe how light it was. I don’t know if people will believe me, but the action of a Vanguard I would put up to any modern action. They are so smooth and work just like butter and I really mean that. I’ve had my fair share of Winchester 70 and Rem 700 and Savages 110’s and I would put the smoothness of a Vanguard (Howa) action up against any of them. The only rifle that I know that might give it a run would be an FN from Belgium. One other thing I want to mention is I started deer hunting when I was 40-year-old, and I will be 71 this coming year so it is never too late to get out there in God’s country and just do it. Plus, it keeps the freezer full. Hope this help’s your purchase, Steve.
Dennis Jones –
I picked this up over the summer in anticipation of a Wyoming hunt in October. The fit and finish is just what is needed in the back country . Accuracy out of the box was more than respectable with a couple of groups less than .5 inches. What is especially nice is the included muzzle brake. As I get older the recoil seems to be more noticeable and it tamed with the brake. I’ve had a German Mark V for many years and this Spector Lite is of the same quality and craftmanship. I highly recommend this Vanguard model.