The vanguard is weatherby's economy model, made in Japan actually. Dont go thinking I got something with hand checked walnut stocks or anything! It's just good old injection molded poly and your standard blued barrel. Lots of folks swear by the vx-III but I didnt have the coin to get one at the time, so I got the vx-II but I love it and it has the same quality and guarantee behind it. Definitely a solid combo.