• Home
  • About
  • Team
  • Contact

TopGunReview

Expert Firearm Reviews & More

  • Gun Review
    • Handgun
    • Rifle
    • Shotgun
    • Shootout!
  • Gear Reviews
    • Accessories Reviews
    • Ammo Reviews
    • Cleaning & Maintenance Reviews
    • Knife Accessories
    • Storage Reviews
  • Resources
    • Brands
    • Buying Guides
    • Glossary
    • How To
    • New Shooters
    • Ladies
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events

Weatherby PA-08 Review

The Weatherby PA-08 presents beautifully and has a great feel to the gun. The walnut forend and stock is pretty top notch, lending a much higher-end display that one would see on a shotgun at twice the price range.

We didn’t have very high hopes for this Turkish gun, but it shot every shell reliably, which was enough to help us consider the fact that it could be on par with manufacturers more known for their high-quality shotguns.

The Weatherby PA-08 is definitely on the lighter side of the scale, making it an option for young or female shooters. But on the other hand, the PA-08 is also good for more experience shooters when you consider the recoil you’ll feel from such a light gun. Our shooting tests were somewhat problematic in that we were surprised by how poorly the firearm performed at targets.

After a couple rounds of clay birds that laughably escaped their intended destruction, and the assumption that we was having an “off day” or that the noticeably heavy trigger was “messing” with us, we brought the gun over to one of our outdoor patterning lanes. The result, despite trying three different kinds of 2-3/4 shells from different manufacturers, offered poor results all around. Now is it possible that the shotgun was defective and in a state of disrepair? Sure. There are endless Weatherby PA-08 reviews that never mention any issues of accuracy. It is even more than possible that the issues were due to a broken choke tube.

However, others who own and use the shotgun for everything from pheasant and chukar hunting to filling deer tags, have only good things to say, the Weatherby PA-08 is definitely worth the consideration of comparison and purchase.

Available in 12 gauge, synthetic stock or walnut stock and standard chokes.

Honorable Mention in our Best Pump Shotgun Comparison

Weatherby Vanguard Series II Review

Weatherby_Vanguard_Series_IIThe Vanguard rifle imported by Weatherby has been around for a long time. This action is a push feed design that features a relatively large rotating extractor affixed to one of the bolt lugs and an enclosed bolt face. In design the Vanguard is very similar to the push feed version of the Model 70, but has met with greater success. Ergonomically the rifle has much in common with the Remington 700 but can be produced at a lower cost. This combination of good ideas has made the Vanguard very appealing to shooters.

The Vanguard has a reputation for accuracy and dependability at a reasonable price. Until recently, the Vanguard line was considered lacking in flash, but the introduction of the Series II rifles is a departure with special purpose models and more features. The Series II rifles are the same reliable action the Vanguard always had with a new, rather ingenious, three-position safety and the addition of extras like special coatings, bedding blocks and adjustable triggers.

Now that the Vanguard line has begun to offer special models, the sky is pretty much the limit with a flexible design like the Vanguard’s; given the low initial cost of production the Vanguard may even pop up some day in different action lengths. In their current versions, any of the Series II rifles are an excellent value available at prices lower than can be had for similar rifles from other companies.

The Vanguard lost one point in our comparison in the category of Ergonomics because the bolt throw can at times feel less-than-smooth with an occasional bit of binding. We also deducted one point in the Long Term Cost of Ownership category because the Vanguard can be a little difficult to find replacement parts for due to its foreign manufacture which, seeing as Vanguards rarely require replacement parts, is not that big of a deal. Two points were also deducted in the Versatility category due to the fact that the Vanguard’s design does not lend itself to conversion and it is not factory chambered for a very wide variety of cartridges, somewhat limiting the possibilities with this action.

Ranked #5 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison


Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Copyright TopGunReview © 2023