By Alex Loegering

May 13, 2013

After 2 tours with a USMC Scout Sniper team, it was time to purchase my own bolt-gun. I picked up a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 in .30-06 as an inexpensive hunting rifle. I wasn't looking for a tack-driver but I wanted something that would hold a 1.5" group. I had a few boxes of extra rounds from buddies including some Remington, Winchester and Wolf.

While I refuse to put Wolf through any of my firearms, I wasn't getting good results with either of the other manufacturers in either 150gr or 165gr. A 2.3" group at best isn't a group. At the suggestion of one of my good friends, I picked up a box of Hornady 165gr SPBT to try out as a hunting load.

After walking 8 rounds of Remington 150gr, I put in 3 of the Hornady and shot the first tight group I had seen from this rifle. With some elevation adjustment, I moved to a smaller target to confirm what I was seeing and threw the next 3, key-holing 2. The flier on the smaller circle is from a bad trigger pull (fundamentals are key).

Long story short, thank you Hornady for the great product, and a reasonable cost as well. I'll be coming to you first when I'm looking for new hunting or match ammo for any of my weapons.