How to Clean a Weatherby Vanguard

Weatherby's Vanguard Sporter is a bolt-action hunting rifle available in fifteen calibers ranging from .223 Remington to .338 Winchester Magnum. All feature a 24-inch hammer-forged barrel and a fully adjustable trigger. Internal magazine capacity is 5 rounds, and the overall length of Weatherby Vanguard Sporters ranges from 44 inches to 44.5 inches, depending on the caliber. Total weight is 7.5 pounds. All Weatherby rifles come with a written accuracy guarantee when used with Weatherby or other premium brand ammunition. The manufacturer's recommended procedure requires field-stripping the rifle prior to cleaning.

Things You'll Need

  • Gun cleaning kit
  • Screwdriver
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Instructions

  1. Field Stripping

    • 1

      Make sure that the rifle is unloaded. Move the safety lever to Off Safe, unlock the bolt and draw the bolt all the way back. Visually verify that no rounds are in the chamber or magazine.

    • 2

      Turn the rifle over and push the floorplate release on the bottom of the stock to open the floorplate.

    • 3

      Unscrew the front and rear trigger guard screws.

    • 4

      Lift the trigger guard assembly out of the stock.

    • 5

      Separate the stock from the receiver.

    • 6

      Push the bolt release button on the left side of the receiver and pull the bolt out of the receiver.

    • 7

      Hold the bolt assembly and rotate the bolt sleeve clockwise approximately 170 degrees until the firing pin assembly unlocks from the bolt.

    • 8

      Slide the firing pin assembly out of the bolt assembly.

    Bore Cleaning

    • 9

      Attach a bore brush to the end of a cleaning rod. Wet the brush with gun cleaning solvent. Insert the brush into the bore from the chamber end and pass the brush through the length of the bore several times. Remove the bore brush from the cleaning rod.

    • 10

      Attach a gun cleaning patch to the end of the cleaning rod. Push the rod through the bore from the chamber end until the patch emerges from the muzzle. Remove the patch and back the cleaning rod out of the bore. Attach another cleaning patch and push it through the bore from the chamber end until it emerges from the muzzle. Repeat the process until the patch emerges from the muzzle clean and without discoloration.

    • 11

      Attach a gun cleaning patch to the end of the cleaning rod. Soak the patch with gun oil and pass it though the bore from the chamber end until it emerges from the muzzle. Remove the patch and back the cleaning rod out of the bore.

    • 12

      Attach a dry, clean gun cleaning patch to the end of the cleaning rod. Pass it through the bore once to remove excess oil. Remove the patch and back the gun cleaning rod out of the bore.

    Cleaning Trigger Assembly and Trigger Guard

    • 13

      Apply gun cleaning solvent to a gun cleaning patch and clean the inside and outside of the receiver and the outside of the trigger assembly.

    • 14

      Lightly oil the trigger assembly points on both sides of the trigger assembly.

    • 15

      Spray the interior of the trigger assembly with gun oil. Spray the interior of the receiver with gun oil. Wait 15 minutes then shake out excess lubricant.

    • 16

      Wipe the trigger assembly and receiver with a light coat of gun oil.

    • 17

      Clean all trigger guard components with a gun cleaning patch wetted with gun cleaning solvent. Wipe the trigger guard components with a light coat of gun oil.

    Cleaning Bolt and Firing Pin Assembly

    • 18

      Clean all parts of the bolt body and firing pin assembly with a gun cleaning patch wet with cleaning solvent.

    • 19

      Spray the firing pin assembly with gun oil. Wait 15 minutes, then shake off excess lubricant. Wipe the firing pin assembly with a light coat of gun oil.

    • 20

      Reassemble the bolt. Wipe the bolt body with a light coat of gun oil.

    • 21

      Clean all parts of the bolt body and firing pin assembly with a gun cleaning patch wet with cleaning solvent.

    • 22

      Clean the inside and outside of the magazine box with a gun cleaning patch wetted with gun cleaning solvent.

    • 23

      Wipe the inside and outside of the magazine box with a light coat of gun oil.

    • 24

      Reassemble the rifle.