Weatherby Vanguard S2 user reviews?

preacher

Handloader
Aug 19, 2012
2,294
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I would like to hear from any of you guys that use or have used the Vanguard S2? I understand it has an adjustable, two stage trigger? Did you have to add some bedding or did you keep it stock? Thanks.
 
I bought for Dad a few years ago. I swapped it into a Boyd's thumbhole stock, bedded it, and we gave it to him for his birthday as he was looking for a good rifle in 270 Win.

It's probably the only Vanguard I haven't swapped triggers on, as the two stage is nice if you don't mind the change in function compared to a single stage.

I've had excellent success with my original Vanguards, and would have no hesitation to buy an S2 version.
 
While I've never owned the vanguard, I have two howa rifles which is the same barreled action. Two most accurate rifles I've ever owned.

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I've had a few Vanguards and/or Howas...very good quality rifles that just plain work. Howa's machining is as good as anyone in the world.

I never changed anything on any of mine. Just scoped them and shot them.
 
We have a few Vanguard 2 - I'm impressed with them. I did put mine in a B&C Stock and changed the trigger but it shoots great. No complaints.
 
What torque setting for the receiver screws or do you guys just gorilla tighten them?
 
preacher":3baig89l said:
What torque setting for the receiver screws or do you guys just gorilla tighten them?
35"# front
35"# rear
Drop rifle on butt a couple times .
65"# front .
65"# rear

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I've used 65 "# on riflestocks that were "pillar bedded", but that seems a bit much for this factory unbedded synthetic. Am I wrong?
 
On my howa's which one was pillar bedded, and the other in a B&C stock with aluminum block. I had my best accuracy at 50 in-lbs for both screws in both rifles.

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I plan on using it stock, at first, see if it "wants to shoot". If it does, I can always have it tweaked. 25yrs ago, I tried a Vanguard in 243 and even tweaked, it was about 1 1/4". OK, but didn't blow my skirt up. That's when I sprung for the dough and bought that first 240W a Mark V Ultralight Accumark. It was a whole new experience for a flat shooting 6mm on deer/exotics! I gave it to my Pastor down there as about that time I was gearing up for South Africa ( 35 Whelen AI). Now, this S2 is said by many to be a much better rifle than 25yrs ago! :)

Hope so. I had a custom Howa ( I like Howa actions) actioned, 338 RUM ( Lazzaroni inline magazine)in a butt ugly Boyds laminate that a Timney trigger. It was pure posion with handloaded Nosler 180 BTs going 3500fps! :) I sold it to the outfitter...too ugly for me...:) Not really, it was gifted to me, yet the man offered me $1300 for it....so...I got permission from the friend who gave it to me ( we had really traded a bunch of stuff to each other, but he threw in the RUM...he thought it was ugly too! ha)
 
I bought a 240 wby from Fotis and car as I know, its bone stock. The trigger is good out of the box. I dont mind 2 stage triggers at all. It is a 1/2-3/4 MOA rifle with my 87g VMAX handloads. I'm looking at another one in a 6.5-300 WBY. Can't beat em for a $500 rifle IMO.
 
Thanks Remingtonman- I grew up with surplus military rifles, I don't mind them either. Glad to hear your 240W shoots so well. That's what I hope to get with mine!
 
Just got an email today that my rifle has been shipped! Getting jazzed about the 240! :)
 
Got the rifle in my hot little hands! I am impressed with the quality of fit and finish. The trigger is really nice, though I want to lighten it a bit, just to see if I can. It breaks clean and no creep or after travel! Factory! I will put the scope on it tonight or in a couple days.
 
Took the rifle apart tonight. Wiped her all down, backed off a full turn on the trigger adjustment. After tightening the nut as much as I dared, a put a drop of Loctitie on the edge of the screw/nut. Hopefully it won't vibrate loose. I then removed all the oil from the scope base screw holes and mounted the Redfield ( Leupold STD type for a Vanguard) bases, Leupold rings and a proven Burris 3x9 Ballistic Plex. I also removed the oil from the receiver screws/holes and applied Loctitie, torqued them down to 35 "#. Sweet, I like it so far!
 
This afternoon, I put some WipeOut in the bore, then cleaned it all out, ran some EezOx. Found a 6mm Boresnake I had hidden from myself ( or it could be a 6.5?) Anyhow, I really impressed with the quality of this rifle! I hope to shoot it before long...
 
preacher":10qbw2lz said:
This afternoon, I put some WipeOut in the bore, then cleaned it all out, ran some EezOx. Found a 6mm Boresnake I had hidden from myself ( or it could be a 6.5?) Anyhow, I really impressed with the quality of this rifle! I hope to shoot it before long...
Cant wait for you to report back your range trip. Those two stage triggers on the vanguard and howa 1500 really are great triggers.

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