Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Vanguard

What is the difference between the S1 and the S2 Vanguards

2 stage trigger on the S2 and a few cosmetic differences.

Different stock?

All that and price.

Steelie is that any big deal? I looking at one on GB with a Bushnell Banner 3X9 (I know banner aint great) but for $430 shipped im thinking on it

I believe the S2 I had also had a 3 position safety.

Vanguard 1

SS is 410 alloy
SS magazine follower
bolt shroud is longer
single stage trigger

S2
SS is 416
Plastic magazine follower
Streamlined shroud
2 stage trigger..cheap flimsy and requires a Timney IMHO

I will take the original over the S2 any day of the week.

Yep, 3 pos safety too.

Youre correct Tate

Thanks elkhunter,sounds like S1 is a good deal. Are the stocks the same?

The 3 V2s that I currently have, have been more accurate out of the box than the couple of V1s that I no longer have. All three have shot MOA or better OOTB with Hornady factory ammo. The 223 has shot the 50 grain VMax from Fiocci MOA, first time, every time.

As injection molded stocks go, the V2 stock is as good, or better, than many. I like it better than the B&C(?) stocks on the V1s.

The two I have print .6, .5, and .4" groups with the loads I've loaded for them.
The 243 does the .6 and .4 with 85gr Nos Part and .4 with the Nos AB 90 gr. The other one is a 7mm-08 that puts 5 shots in .5 w/ 140 gr NBT. This one will also put the Hornady ammo under an inch as well as the cheap Prvi 140 gr ammo just a touch tighter than the Hornady.
The two stage trigger is adjustable. I haven't played with the one on the 243 but I've dropped the 7mm down to 3 lbs. The first stage is barely noticeable and the trigger breaks clean on both rifles.
They aren't the lightest rifles on the market but they aren't a real load to carry around either. Topped with a good quality scope they are worth the price.

The one V1 I had was a crap-shoot. Poor trigger, could feel it dragging, 'cold' stock, just never felt right. Accuracy wasn't bad but wasn't up to the level of these 2 S2's. Best I could wring out of the S1 was just under an inch. Worse, it didn't hold the group past 200 yards. Both of the S2's have gone out to 300 so far with sub-moa results. Next weekend I have available, a friend and I will take them out to 700 and see what happens, as long as the wind plays nice!

HMMMMMMMMM... thanks for that input Bbear.

THe synthetic stock on the V2 is better but it is heavier as well. I see no accuracy differences between the first and second version. Of course I only dealt with them in 308, 270 WSM, 300 WSM, 300 weatherby,300 win mag and 257 weatherby to come to that conclusion. They are sorting the S2's automatically at the factory for group size and only stuff that shoots inch or better gets thru. That said I never had one that didn't shoot better then I can shoot. The SS Version 1 is made out of better materials where it counts.

If I got this gun for $375 NIB w/ a bushnell banner 3-9X40 and the trigger isn't up to my liken, is it worth doing a trigger upgrade or just go with an S2

Replace the trigger or, trigger jobs aren't that hard to do on the S1's.

I replaced the trigger on my S1 Back Country. Tack driver.



P

The S1 with a Timney would be a good way to go. I'd prefer that over the 2 stage deal, personally. Said Timney is about $115 and comes with the 3 pos safety option.

I have two of the S1's. I replaced the trigger with a Timney in one and just replaced the trigger spring in the other. They are pretty close now. If I hadn't won the Timney in a bowling pin shoot, I'd regret spending the money on the Timney rather than just replacing the spring.

Got an S1 on a close-out deal a few years ago. The LGS let dry fire to evaluate the trigger, took the first crisp one I tried. During break-in the rifle shot well within the 1.5" guarantee, as tight as 5/8" with a Nikon Monarch scope. Compared with others in my locker the trigger is as crisp as any and measured right at 3#, the lightest as well. Put the action in a B&C medalist fully bedded stock, drop in fit, groups didn't change, still getting an occasional sub MOA group with factory ammo. Cleaned it up, put it up- a college graduation gift for one of my kids.